Window to Wildlife

 After a morning of chores, I managed to persuade Tim to take a little trip out to West Rise Marsh where a Red-necked Phalarope had been reported. This is not a bird we see every year, with most of our previous sightings having been fleeting and distant, mainly in June. When we arrived, I instantly spotted the tiny bird in the adjacent corner of the lake. It was quite windy, making the water choppy, and it had possibly been pushed towards the shore by these conditions. However, for us this was advantageous as it gave some brilliant close views, and good photo opportunities. As is often the case at this time of year, it was a juvenile bird, with beautifully coloured markings on the back and pristine white underparts save for a pinkish flush around the shoulders. The bill was thin and pointed, enabling it to dart at insects on the water surface. At times it stuck its head forwards to drive rapidly across the water. We were treated to just one flight view when a Herring Gull appeared ...