Attenborough Nature Reserve - 29th August 2016
On a surprisingly sunny bank holiday, we headed to Attenborough Nature Reserve for a little birding. Turns out we weren't the only ones with that idea as we entered a packed out car park. Attenborough Nature Reserve is a highly popular spot ran by the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
First we headed to the Sand Martin Hide, a few of the Sand Martins were still about, flittering in and out of their man made holes. This hide offers stunning views across one of Attenborough's flooded gravel pits, towards a sadly vacant Osprey platform. As the hide doesn't offer opening windows, birds get very close up along the shore. Among the Canada and Greylag Geese were a few Lapwings and a Common Sandpiper.
After watching the Sandpiper bob up and down in its attempt to find insects, we headed back to the visitor centre and acquired the code for the Delta Hide. I've visited Attenborough many times, and even through they have a trail and a hide named after the Kingfisher I'd had yet to witness one at the reserve myself. However, once we'd sat down in the Delta Hide opposite a purposefully made Kingfisher perch, a Kingfisher appeared that seemed to have its eye in for being a model.
I came away with close to 100 photos of this bird. It was sat right in front of us for 20 minutes. Allowing me to get a good look at a Kingfisher, a bird I'd only observed in the past as a blue flash. They're fascinating birds to watch as they look around for their next prey item, so beautiful and striking.
A few other species of interest that we saw walking around: flocks of Starlings, Gadwall, Long-Tailed Tit, Little Egret and Jay. I'll be visiting again later in the month as hopefully more waders come in!
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