Wash the birdy…

There’s been a change in the weather.  It’s still great.  Just great for ducks.

And cormorants…

And avocets…

Back at the Villa, Nigel Bean and two wildlife cameramen, Mark and Pete, come to see Dorset Wildlife Trust’s reserve manager, Chris Thain, to explore opportunities for filming and hide installation.  Possibilities include the lagoon and a couple of other places on the reserve.

Then it’s down to the jetty to meet the BBC’s Martin Barber who, with a little help, is installing a webcam six metres over the lagoon, which gives great views of the spoonbill, avocet, godwit, oystercatcher, cormorant, teal, redshank and more.

 

As Chris points out which birds are where – and what they’re up to – there’s a bright and brief flash of electric blue.

 

And again.

 

Kingfishers do exist!  I almost thought they were mythical.  Whenever someone points and shouts ‘there’ I’m always that little bit too late.  But I saw this one with my own eyes – and soon, hopefully you will too!

 

Then, suddenly there’s an almighty commotion.  The birds all take off from the lagoon and, although it takes me a minute, we soon see why.  A peregrine falcon has come in from nowhere, causing them to scatter.