A Couple of Hours at Lemsford Springs

20th July 2022

A couple of hours to spare so off to one of our local reserves Lemsford Springs. Lemsford is a very well managed reserve and even at this time of year there are clear views from the hides over the watercress beds, and not too surprisingly in this heat birds were going down for a drink.

First up was this Wood Pigeon which when you close are stunning birds, but then followed by in my opinion its greatly under-rated cousin, the Stock Dove. Just look at those pastel colours and red legs!!!

Just one Little Egret today but its behaviour was most unusual. Instead of fishing for small fish and freshwater shrimps in the shallows it was picking insects off the watercress. Never seen that before.

A young Grey Wagtail was performing well on the sleepers in front of the hide providing some great opportunities.

I particularly like this one with a background of Hoary Willowherb..............

....................and this one next to Water Speedwell.

This is supposed to be a Kingfisher perch, but there was no sign saying NO GREY WAGTAILS!!!

And then to the site specialities, the Green Sandpipers. During the summer the sandpipers have been away breeding in Scandinavia, but now a few individual are beginning to trickle back. There were at least four birds present, two on the reserve and at least two on the river. But what was different today, presumably because of the heat, the two birds on site spent a lot of their time sleeping on the sleepers, which are very aptly named.

It can clearly be seen that this bird has started its wing moult.