Late-April River Spectacle - and a local 'mega'!

Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Grey Heron and Common Sandpiper were the focus on my photography on 16th - at the River Caldew. It was all a bit frustrating: every one of these species tantalised and teased but ultimately proved hard to pin down.

On 17th I drove down to Bassenthwaite and caught up with more river and woodland specialities:

On 20th, a visit to Lowdore Falls produced Grey Wagtail - again - but I still came away wishing I'd got better shots:

On 22nd I drove to Wigton and got some cracking shots of a pair of adult Dippers - probably my best ever - feeding young:

On 24th, I drove over to Longtown - in search of a rarity; it didn't show but I was very happy taking shots of a confiding Little Ringed Plover - and yet another Grey Wagtail:

On 25th I returned to Longtown determined to nail the rarity - an adult (albeit in non-breeding plumage) Sabine's Gull! Also here were another pair of breeding Dipper and the other common river birds I'd seen before: