A spare day today while Mrs R was working, saw me heading for a favourite destination locally, Messingham sand Quarries nature reserve.
The forecast had said it was going to be ok in the morning, but by lunchtime it was going to rain, so i headed out and made the most of it.
It was very windy on arrival, but this didn't put the birds off, as when i arrived at the car park, a Chiffchaff was singing away and overhead a pair of Sparrowhawk displayed, with that rollercoaster display flight of the male, just great to see.
As I began to walk, a pair of Crossbills flew overhead and southwest, a first for me personally this year.
The reserve is a very different animal to when i usually visit in the warmer months, but there were plenty of birds to see to keep things interesting.
These included a couple of Treecreepers which gave some lovely, point blank views, a pair of lesser Redpolls feeding on the ground under some Alders, with a small flock of Goldfinches, a pair of Marsh Harrier and Common Buzzards and a further 2 Crossbills, of which one of these birds i managed to take some respectable phone-scoped photos.
Very few insects were seen, due to the cloudy conditions and wind, but i did manage to find a very smart female Gymnochaeta viridis, a species of Tachinid Fly which is a parasite of Common Rustic, Small Dotted-buff & Small Wainscot Moths.
Regarding Wildfowl and Gull numbers the reserve is a shadow of its former self sadly, with hardly anywhere left for the Black-headed Gulls to nest now, as the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust have absolutely ruined their breeding island, what a shambles they are!.
It was nice to watch some 1st winter Common Gulls as they chased and fed over the lake, what a stunning Gull they are!.
An enjoyable visit despite the questionable management practices around the reserve.
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| Female Gymnochaeta viridis |
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| Male Common Crossbill |
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