A rough day on the reserve today, but despite this there were reports of at least eight sand martin over Ibsley Water, so Spring migrants are still arriving. I missed seeing the martins but did see a little ringed plover. Other birds today were a small flock of black-tailed godwit which flew over, a single dunlin, the black-necked grebe, now in breeding plumage and a brambling. The bittern continues to be seen at Ivy North Hide, it is getting very late for it to still be here. At the end of the day it was sitting hunkered down in the reeds near the hide, looking miserable after a wet and windy day.
Miserable looking bittern
It did not look as though it was interested in anything other than keeping out of the wind and rain, however something caught its attention.
What was that?
It certainly seemed worth investigating.
Got to go and take a look
It certainly was!
Definitely worth taking a look
Having made the capture the next trick is was to manoeuvre it into a swallowable position.
sideways is no good
Turning a pike this big whilst it is still alive is no easy task.
Too good a meal to let go
Even when turned it was to wide to get down with mouth agape.
Eventually the head was in
Now it was only going to go one way.
Almost gone
It is a good thing they have expanding necks!
Gone
It then stalked off, passing close to the hide to spend the night digesting, I would guess it won’t be flying off tonight so should still be around for at least another day.
Heading off to do a little digesting
A cracking way to end the day!
Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve 