Moor Green Lakes

I went to my usual birding site today, arriving at about 09.40. The sun was shining on what promised to be another lovely day. Birds were conspicious by their absence as far as the New Workings, where sightings began to improve. Lapwings were starting to congregate at Manor Lake and East Fen, a total of 41 were seen, which were with 45 Tufted Ducks. Further on 8 Lesser Black Backed Gulls were resting and preening on the small gravel islands together with 5 Herring Gulls. With the sunny conditions and an almost clear blue sky, it was easy picking out birds in the distance through the scope. A Buzzard was flying low over the western end of the diggings, whilst a male kestrel hunted over Manor Farm. At the sewage farm, 4 juvenile Chiffchaffs were feeding, preening and sunbathing. The sunbathing part was something I had not seen before. They would perch on the concrete wall and lay flat, spreading their wings out, much like a Jay does when wanting ants to clean its feathers of lice. They didn't stay in that position long, certainly not time enough for ants to do their work. It looked as though they were enjoying what they were doing. Opposite to where I was on the far side of the workings I could see the warden and a few other people, one of them carrying a ladder, making their way towards the owl box. Shortly afterwards I saw what I thought were 2 young Barn Owls being ringed and returned to the box. All this was being viewed through my telescope, a distance of about 375 yards. I will contact the bird recorder of the site to confirm my sighting, good news that the owls so far this year have been successful. On the subject of owls, the Little Owl was sunning itself in its usual spot in the old oak tree.