I arrived just in time to see a red kite flying east over the back of Herriot's Pool. At least one cuckoo was calling, with a second bird seen in flight. I had some nice views of birds from Stratford hide. These included great crested grebes.

A displaying male ruddy duck.

This reed warbler has been ringed on its right leg.

Many water birds now have chicks. A pair of mute swans at Stratford has 5 cygnets. The female is feeding a cygnet with algae.

Coot chicks are newly hatched, and look ridiculous.

The parent feeds the chick with algae (upper photo), and then with a tadpole (lower photo).

A roe deer stag was at Heron's Green.

Back to May 2006