Marshside RSPB, 17th April 2011

Another glorious April day and an afternoon visit to Marshside to see the summer
plumaged male Ruffs there.
I spent around two hours in Nel's hide, with the highlight being a Little Stint that was a little
camera shy. There were at least 15 Ruffs around and i saw some aggressive behaviour
between the males. One Ruff had a pure white head, neck and belly, again a little camera shy!
Beside the regular birds, there was 6 Wheatears at the sand plant. I called in at Hesketh
out marsh on the way home and of note was: Short-Eared Owl and Merlin there.

Teal

distant Little Stint

Shoveler

Shelduck

copulating Avocets

after mating the birds preened each other

Ruff fly-by