Stanton Lake in the Spring sun
Pike fishing can be quite drawn out if they're not biting and today was no exception. It was a good 3 hours before I had a run and lo and behold I missed it. At least they were biting, however it was another hour before I had another run, but this time I landed it a beautiful 10lb Pike. A quick photo, hooks out, weighed and back into the water.
10lb Pike on a float fished Sardine
In between all the excitement the bird watching was welcome break, with Black-headed Gulls coming in from all sides throughout the afternoon. Several flocks came in to bathe with a total of around 100+ by mid afternoon.
Black-headed Gull having a scratch in mid-air
Other birds of note through the day were a pair of Buzzards in a courtship display, a fly-by Raven, my first Kingfisher of the year (I just couldn't get the camera out quick enough to photograph it, as it landed on the tree to the side of me). Others were a female Sparrowhawk, which flew straight at me as I was sitting low in the reeds. Another missed photo!! I also had Siskins, Bullfinch and a Cormorant which certainly gave a range of different species around a lake. The finale though was a Tawny Owl calling as I was packing up.
Female Mallard in flight
Courting Buzzards
Mute Swan
Coot chasing off another male
Birds recorded with some numbers seen:
1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swan, 9 (7 drakes) Mallard, 3 Buzzard, 1 female Sparrowhawk, 1 Pheasant, 4 Moorhen, 5 Coot, 100+ Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 Feral Pigeon, 50+ Woodpigeon, 3 Collared Dove, 1 Tawny Owl, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Raven, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Wren, Dunnock, 1 Goldcrest, Robin, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tits, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch and Siskin (Total of 36 Species Recorded)