Left overs and breakfast

The safari was having trouble with Blogger last night but has now discovered that it was some of our pics that hadn't saved properly and wouldn't upload so you only got half the tale.

So below are the missing elements...Coltsfoot first up, so called because the leaves look (allegedly) like a horses hoof, also called son before fathers as the flowers appear before the leaves.

Down on the beach following the receeding tide we noted shed loads of Redshanks...the only decent pic of the dozens taken...really glad we not using slide film anymore...long live digital!
If we thought the Redshanks were hard to photograph because they wouldn't keep still then the Sanderlings were an absolute 200mph mightmare. Fortunately this one stopped for a micro-second to have a little shimmy.
It doesn't help that on the cheapo camera there is a delay between the action and when yuo see it on the screen and the camera doesn't come with a multipicture facility, just gotta point, press and hope...then delete a lot.
Here's a lovely portrait of a Black Headed Gull - note it is unringed.
Here's a lovevly portrait of the correct gull but no chance of reading the ring without an X-ray machine and a mirror!
Shoveler numbers build up on the park lake at this time of year and in the past have reached Nationally Important numbers. Recent milder (hahaha) winters have meant that fewer have been seen here so it will eb interesting to note their numbers this spring. Another species that won't keep still - that gyrating feeding frenzy is soooo annoying!

That's the lot from yesterday.

This morning on patch 1 we didn't see the Peregrine on the way out but he had appeared on our return. Straight upstairs and opened the bathroom window. The scope was balanced precariously between the sink and the bath. I was like a contortionist leaning over the bath with camera in one hand trying desparetely not to nudge the scope out of position and trying not to drag the net curtasins off their rail to keep them out of the way of the lens with the other. Results aren't brilliant but at 225 yards with a 200 quid Chinese wonder-scope and a 40 quid happy snappy camera they'll do for blog purposes.

Woulda been a lot easier if the window's hinge was on the opposite side.

Despite the best efforts of the Peregrine, there were about 16 Woodpigeons in the park hard to count as they scattered off the ground in to the trees and away when we arrived. Not much else in there this morning. The usual Song Thrush blasting away and a few Dunnocks. a pair of Long Tailed Tits was notable for being a pair and not a flock. No sign of the Great Spotted Woodpeckers which bred here last year - still need them for my 'Walking Tick' list.
Where to next? Still undecided about the weekend's safari - Leighton Moss for the chance (slim to remote) of Otter, Great White Egret (still there?) and Snow Goose (feral? tickable? banker?) or Bolton for the Waxwings (lovely little chaps with a tuft). Now if I was Simon Cowell I'd lead you all in to a very expensive and lucrative telephone vote.

In the meantime let us know what raptors are perched up in the bathroom in your outback.