It's important for birds to regulate temperature in this hot weather as well as us! Cormorants and other birds use a technique called 'gular fluttering' - they vibrate the membranes in their throat while keeping their mouth open, similar to panting in mammals #eastcoastwetlands

UK rare breeding pochards look for dense reed beds (amongst other habitats) like ours as perfect breeding grounds so it's great to see our brood doing ok diving for food. Marsh harrier juvs, bittern, yellow wagtails, spoonbill and green sandpiper are among today's sightings. #eastcoastwetlands

Today's highlights include preening spoonbills, swooping marsh harriers and a great white egret with a fascination for a stick. Bearded tits, barn owl, bittern, tree sparrows, sedge warbler, reed bunting, cetti's warbler (seen) also recorded to name but a few. #eastcoastwetlands

This bittern flew in from across the River Ouse to feed. Not all the bitterns seen are resident on site. Lots of places around the Humber Estuary provides perfect habitat for them. Great white egret, marsh harriers, hobby and barn owls also seen today. #eastcoastwetlands

Diving pochard chicks, snoozing spoonbill and floating marsh harriers are just some of this morning highlights. Bittern, yellow wagtail, tree sparrow, sedge warbler, reed bunting, reed warbler, cetti's warbler, black-tailed godwit and canada goose chicks seen today as well. #eastcoastwetlands

With hungry mouths to feed the barn owls have been out hunting during the day giving some fantastic views. Thanks to regular Pippa for these great shots. There is at least one chick in the barn owl box, possibly two. The stock doves didn't seem to give a hoot! #eastcoastwetlands

Today's highlights include great white egret, bearded tits, yellow wagtails, marsh harriers, oyster catcher, black-tailed godwits, lapwings, yellow hammer, reed warbler, sedge warbler, white throat, black caps, tree sparrow and several bittern sightings as they move around. #eastcoastwetlands

This territorial avocet took exception to a normally elusive water rail this morning but it didn't deter it from making a return before disappearing into the reeds. Bittern, spoonbill, great white egret, yellow wagtail, pochard with young and marsh harriers around the reserve. #eastcoastwetlands

While the garganey was feeding at the back of ousefleet lagoon the great white egret was happy posing and preening at the front. Lots of Avocet with little ringed plover and black-tailed godwit spotted. Yellow wagtail & bittern seen and marsh harriers are food passing too. #eastcoastwetlands

It's been a busy morning for the temmincks stint, protective avocets have been chasing it around ousefleet lagoon. May is a great time to see them in the UK as they travel from there African wintering grounds to their breeding grounds from northern Scandinavia to Russia. #eastcoastwetlands

Temmink's stint, redshank, common sandpiper, black-tailed godwit and breeding avocet, continue to make the most of ousefleet scrape as well as a nice male garganey. Yellow wagtails are taking advantage of the grazing marsh collecting nest lining material and feeding. #eastcoastwetlands

Todays highlights include garganey and yellow wagtails. The garganey showed well close to the hide before heading to the back of the lagoon (as I got there). Other notables this morning was 2 early but long bittern flights, red kite, marsh harrier, bearded tits and house martins #eastcoastwetlands

While ousefleet scrape is still performing for waders like avocets, little ringed plover, green shank and black-tailed godwits elsewhere on the reserve bearded tits and bitterns have been spotted too. Marsh harriers, tree sparrows, yellow wagtails in support as well! #eastcoastwetlands

Avocet adults are very territorial and protective regardless of what approaches, even benign mallard chicks! Ousefleet scrape continues to provide for passage waders with black-tailed godwits, greenshank, little ringed plover, lapwings and oyster catchers this morning. #eastcoastwetlands

Resplendent yellow wagtails are back from their African wintering grounds. At least 2 were hunting insects around the konik pony middens this morning. Other highlights include marsh harrier food passes, bitterns, greenshank, redshank and nesting avocets. #eastcoastwetlands

The chilly start to the morning didn't stop the lingering ringtail hen harrier putting on a fantastic display again seen from marshland hide to singleton. Bittern, little ringed plover, green shank and avocet also seen today with the waders showing well on ousefleet lagoon. #eastcoastwetlands

Mornings are my favourite time when the warblers are singing. Spoonbill, wood sandpiper, cuckoo, bitterns flying, green shank, redshank and black-tailed godwits this morning. Avocets are on eggs and marsh harriers are food passing too.

Surprise flying display of 6 cranes on Thursday as they circled overhead. First year records of swift and cuckoo as well!

The upper Humber is an important breeding area for lots of summer migrants like reed warbler, blackcap, willow warbler and sedge warbler. They also bring the morning soundscape alive. Recent arrivals like this sedge warbler can be heard across the reserve. #eastcoastwetlands

Bitterns have been putting on a show again today. The couple soon became a thrupple showing brilliantly from townend hide. Spoonbill, whimbrel and spotted redshank from ousefleet this morning and a grasshopper warbler heard in the reed beds by the paths. #eastcoastwetlands

Bitterns, Wheatear, Avocet Black-tailed Godwit Spotted Redshank and Common Redshank have all featured today but perhaps my favourite thing was this watervole. #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature

Lots of highlights this morning at the reserve starting with 3 bitterns in flight together. Ring-tailed hen harrier, yellow wagtail, spotted redshank, redshank, avocet, black-tailed godwit, lapwing and ruff all seen. #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature

Spring is definitely hotting up. Marsh harriers food passing, bitterns moving around, sedge warbler, reed warbler, willow warbler, blackcap and yellow wagtail seen as well as spoonbill passing and this curlew posing for photos. #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature

Sunshine and warmth has encouraged lots of activity from our precious tree sparrows. The sun has brought our first records of willow warbler and sedge warbler this year and nice to see growing numbers of sand martins and swallow too. #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature

A breezy Ousefleet lagoon this Easter Sunday with 85 black-tailed godwits, 38 avocets, 2 redshanks, 4 dunlin and a good number of lapwings this morning. Curlew and snipe have been spotted as well. Tundra bean goose still present on arable next to ousefleet trail. #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature

Thanks to one of younger visitors Nathan for this still of the tundra bean goose recently showing well with the young Russian White-fronted Goose on the grazing marsh. Marsh harriers, avocet, black-tailed godwit, lapwing made it on to today's highlight list. #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature

Now is the perfect time to see Cetti's Warblers (while there's not too much foliage on the trees). Other sightings include tundra bean goose, spoonbill, avocet, black-tailed godwit and a male hen harrier flying through towards Goole earlier today. #eastcoastwetlands #humber #Nature

Curlew, black-tailed godwit, lapwing, great white egret, little egret, bearded tit, brown hare and sparrow hawk have all featured today on the reserve alongside these:- Water vole, russian white fronted goose, avocet and marsh harriers. #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature

Lovely to see this snipe feeding up on townend lagoon this morning after a winter where there's not so many around. Often described as 'basically brown' does their plumage a great injustice to the amazing patterning that provides it camouflage. #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature

Black-tailed godwit numbers continue to rise with over 150 in various states moult on ousefleet this morning with dunlin redshank and lapwing while marshland had avocet feeding. Last years hard work on both lagoons is paying off! #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature

Frollicking marsh harriers today. They love a breeze, kiting on the wind is a really efficient way to fly. These are mostly territorial displays but there has been some sky dancing too. #eastcoastwetlands #nature #humber

It's great to see more avocet making use of the 'remodelled' marshland lagoon to feed, preen and roost, 11 this morning in the sunshine. March harriers are continuing to show really well and the tundra bean geese are still moving around with the gray lags as well. #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature

Today the star of the show has been UK endangered water voles in front of reception. Blacktoft and the Humber is an important habitat for them - and a great place for people to see them too. #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature

Tundra bean geese, resting spoonbill, koniks ponies, displaying avocets, barnacle geese and some very late fieldfare feeding caught on camera. Sky dancing marsh harriers, sparrowhawk, goldeneye and a very distant bittern reported. 2 Sand martins reported yesterday #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature

t's #WorldWildlifeDay and I'm celebrating with some pair bonding mute swans and my first chiff-chaffs of the year, taking Blacktoft's species year list up to 100! Tundra bean geese and ringtail hen harrier seen today as well. #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature

A quick saunter around a sunny Blacktoft reserve this morning. Great to see a pair of barnacle geese, a zoomy marsh harrier, goldeneye and a stock dove this morning. Late news just in the first sand martin of the year seen. #wednesdaywellness #eastcoastwetlands #humber

It was a busy WeBS count weekend down at Reads Island reserve but the highlight was this stunning leucistic lapwing in amongst the throng of waders and wildfowl. #eastcoastwetlands 📷Pete Short

The marsh harriers are beginning to feel a little friskier! The females are hassling each other and defining their territories for the season and are beginning to nest build. This one was a little distant but carrying nesting material. #eastcoastwetlands #humber

After a week of severe man flu (it really exists!) it's great to be back at Blacktoft - especially since the russian white fronts and tundra bean geese are still showing really well. #eastcoastwetlands #humber

Russian white-fronted geese in numbers around the Humber estuary at the moment. Apologies for the shaky handheld video it was very windy but here's around 90 in mixed flock of geese on farmland next to RSPB Blacktoft Sands #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature

A few handheld video clips from this week at Blacktoft Sands between showers. The rain has been incessant. But still ... there's always something to see. #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature

Typical ... marsh harrier lands in front of me on a bush but turns it back on me. Such a stunning bird of prey though. The females are starting to claim their territories at Blacktoft - lots of activity this morning. #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature

Another morning birding on the Humber. At Blacktoft Sands of course. A good variety of ducks tufted, pochard, shelduck, wigeon, teal as well as whooper swan and little egret. Here's a quick video 'mashup' of other stuff. #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature

Great to see this fine looking male (albeit a bit distant) @ Blacktoft Sands this morning checking out the females. There seems to have been an influx of coot around too - always fun to watch at this time of year!

The UK's most common hovering bird is the kestrel. Even in a stiff wind they keep their head perfectly still looking for their favourite prey - voles. This attempt was a miss! #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature

The "courting season" starts earlier than you think. changing plumage and showing off to the ladies is happening now! As demonstrated by these goldeneye. #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature

Spurn Bird Observatory do amazing work protecting Yorkshire's only Little Tern colony, benefiting other species like Ringed-Plover. They are struggling to fund their work to protect these vulnerable species. If you are able to help please do! spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/news/urgent-...

You'll find I spend a lot of time at Blacktoft Sands. Today I'm trying my hand at videography. Today's learned lesson - hand held camera for video's isn't easy and should invest in gimble/hide tripod? Anyway here's the result!

Register now for the Big Garden Birdwatch 23-26 January to take part in the world's largest garden wildlife survey Who will be this year's garden faithfuls and traitors? One hour to sit, chill & watch the birds, recording the highest number of each species seen at any one time Link in the comments

Wonderings around the Humber will inevitably lead to RSPB Blacktoft Sands. Here's a recent capture of a female marsh harrier. I've travelled far and wide but the best views of Marsh Harriers is at Blacktoft. #eastcoastwetlands #humber #nature