Female Stonechat

One of my favourite species of bird. The Stonechat. This is a female. I found her and her mate and two youngsters along the Northumberland coast at Beadnell.
Both parents were very protective of their young , trying to distract me by putting themselves into the limelight. I wasn't complaining ! However tempting they were, though, I only took a few photos and then left them in peace.

This is her mate.

Snipe

The water levels at the nature reserve at Hollingworth Lake have fallen in recent weeks. The revealed mud has attracted quite a few birds that like to dabble about in it. There were four or five Snipe pottering about at the waters' edge on the morning I was there. It was great to see them out in the open and to see just how small they are.

This is a view of how they are more often seen......in amongst the grass and undergrowth.

Kingfisher

There were lots of different birds at Hollingworth Lake nature reserve the other day. Water levels have dropped in recent weeks helping a variety of birds that like to dabble in the mud.
There were Lapwing, Teal, Snipe, Gadwall, Heron, young Crested Grebe and this beautiful female Kingfisher.