Avocet incubating eggs A peaceful scene with avocet elegant and serene on their nests. So it might seem.
Open the windows of the Allen Hide and the raucous screeching of black-headed gulls hits in a wave of sound.
The closest avocet pair is constantly tending the nest, tidying fragments of vegetation with long, upturned bills. I reckon they're turning their eggs before fluffing up their plumage to sit and incubate. When they both stand I glimpse four mottled eggs in the nest and the waders place their long silver-blue legs and webbed feet with care.
An electric fence protects the site from foxes. But that nest looks dangerously close to the water's edge, if water-levels should rise.
Open the windows of the Allen Hide and the raucous screeching of black-headed gulls hits in a wave of sound.
The closest avocet pair is constantly tending the nest, tidying fragments of vegetation with long, upturned bills. I reckon they're turning their eggs before fluffing up their plumage to sit and incubate. When they both stand I glimpse four mottled eggs in the nest and the waders place their long silver-blue legs and webbed feet with care.
An electric fence protects the site from foxes. But that nest looks dangerously close to the water's edge, if water-levels should rise.
The breeding avocets stay close to their nest, venturing into the water to feed, stirring the mud with long legs and webbed feet and long, upturned bills, creating a pattern of concentric circles. They'll feed on shrimp, crustaceans, worms and aquatic insects in the mud and on the surface of the water.
Feather-care is essential and both black -headed gull and avocet are constantly preening. The uropygial gland (or oil gland) is at the dorsal base of the tail. Rain drops appear on the water as the avocet reach their supple necks to run their bills to and fro. to smear them with water-proofing oil. Preening is constant and intricate as the birds open their wings to reach the preen gland then delve their bills deep into their plumage, to spread the oil which is both water-proofing and anti-bacterial, and to sleek their feathers with much shaking and ruffling. We are within the shelter of the hide but the skies are darkening and a heavy shower is coming.
Feather-care is essential and both black -headed gull and avocet are constantly preening. The uropygial gland (or oil gland) is at the dorsal base of the tail. Rain drops appear on the water as the avocet reach their supple necks to run their bills to and fro. to smear them with water-proofing oil. Preening is constant and intricate as the birds open their wings to reach the preen gland then delve their bills deep into their plumage, to spread the oil which is both water-proofing and anti-bacterial, and to sleek their feathers with much shaking and ruffling. We are within the shelter of the hide but the skies are darkening and a heavy shower is coming.
By the time we reach Causeway Hide we're drenched and rain is hammering on the roof. A couple of cormorant and great black-backed gulls sit out on the rocky islet. A few coot are out on the water but otherwise water-birds are sheltering. Beyond the islet sand martin skim over the water, possibly feeding on the midges we saw as we walked here. Welcome the season of sand martin, with the occasional house-martin. Then an otter breaks the surface of the water, in the distance toward the reed bed. And each time the otter shows for a moment there are sand martin and house martin skimming low above. Rain forms in puddles within the ledges of the open windows and we decide we've had excellent sightings and we're soaked. As we leave the hide we hear water sloshing beneath the boards.
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