MSQ Mustelid and Marine Ducks.....

Common Buzzard.

Record shot of distant Dog Otter.

2nd calendar year Mute Swan.

Dunnock.

Moorhen.

My last day off today,saw me heading to my 2nd home at Messingham Sand Quarries and the 6 or so hours on site proved fruit full.After arriving at the car park i made my way down to the edge of Grebe lake and followed my usual routine of scanning for Otters and any avian delights,but sadly not today.I then carried on walking around this cracking reserve in the gorgeous bright sun,if a little cold today in the fresh North Westerly wind.Plenty of bird song was to be heard around the reserve,with Coal Tit,Robin,Chaffinch and Wood Pigeons all joining in the spring chorus and a Common Buzzard displayed and mewed over the plantation.As i got to the edge of the second meadow to view the Grebe lake,there it was!....the hoped for Otter porpoising along the edge of some lakeside reeds.I then spent the next 30 minutes watching this beautiful mammal as it caught several fish and shellfish,as in the past,just too far for any decent pics.After watching this cracker i carried on my walk around the reserve eventually reaching the duck hide,seeing a few Goldcrest,Siskin and a couple of Bullfinch.A scan over the main lake revealed plenty of birds present with mixed flocks of Black-headed and Common Gulls and wildfowl which included 108 Gadwall and highlight of the day bird wise in the form of 2 female Scaup still being present from their long stay through the winter.Other birds observed around the reserve included 4 Willow Tit and a couple more Siskin and Common Buzzard.Another great visit to this super little reserve.