14th October, RSPB Fairburn Ings

We decided on another trip eastwards through Airedale on Sunday, RSPB Fairburn Ings is only a short drive for us and we enjoyed our previous visit.

We were no sooner out of the car when a plaintive peep from a bush disclosed a young dunnock, a sweet and much loved little bird.

I prefer to photograph birds in a natural setting wherever possible, the feeders by the hide behind the centre had a very disorderly queue of birds waiting for a go on the various feeders...goldfinch, greenfinch, great tit, blue tit and tree sparrows all vying for their turn...

We spent quite a while at the kingfisher wall with no luck, maybe I had used all my good fortune the previous day!

There were a few dragonflies about, this darter was basking in the warm autumn sun.

The various lakes were lovely in the sunshine, resplendent with swans and coots numerous..

One of our favourite water birds is the great crested grebe and we were lucky enough for a juvenile to come near enough for a photograph.

A large series of ponds at the eastern end had evidently been popular with kingfishers earlier in the day, there were none evident when we reached them despite a lengthy search.

As we strolled back towards the centre a strange and unexplained commotion in the water drew our attention. There was nothing visible until this young great crested grebe appeared through the water with its tasty catch!

A pause by the river to photograph the splendid bridge and our lovely day was over....