Old Man's Wanderings

September 20th: Adel Dam YWT and Golden Acre Park, Leeds

I'd been meaning to go for a long time to visit Adel Dam. Can't imagine why. It seemed neglected and pretty lifeless. The first hide proudly announced  that hopefully it would soon get an upgrade. There was little to see and it looked overgrown. The second hide was closed for repairs and the lake was covered in unpleasant looking algae. I saw a heron and a dunnock during my visit. Plus 27 squirrels of the verminous variety.

So far so bad...

Don't despair however. Golden Acre Park is well maintained and as soon as I reached the lake by the so-called Duck Hut I saw  mandarins - females and juveniles. I'm guilty of being chronologically inaccurate however as I had to go through the park and past the lake before I reached Adel Dam. If I'd stayed by the lake I'd see what I came for without the longer walk! When I came back from Adel Dam the drake mandarins were everywhere. The drakes must be late risers as befits their high status as mandarins!

Here's some pics!

Juvenile drake's head visible on right.

September 21st: Greatham Creek, Hartlepool and Seaton Snook

I was late in arriving and the tide was low. The best birds had moved on. I found black-tailed godwits and a spoonbill by the creek. The Headland was quiet and the purple sandpipers had flown. I was glad to see Barry on the Headland. I decided to head for Seaton Snook and a long walk on wet sand. Barry headed for Ward Jackson Park where [as I learnt later] he saw parakeet. That would have been a tick for me! No ticks as the bonxie had gone south but still I had a good time.

Sandwich terns are still present.

Guillemots and razorbills in huge numbers on the river. Very strange.

I saw one dead guillemot along the waterline.

Some frighteningly loud explosions somewhere in the industrial area put everything in the air [except the auks]. Knot I think.

Oystercatchers

The birds soon settled down again on the sands. Knot on right hand edge.

An arctic skua appeared.

Time was pressing so I began the walk back but was cut off from my preferred route by the tide that had started to come in again. That was lucky as I now headed back the way I had come along the samphire path. To my surprise I saw these three truants...

More wanderings later, I hope!

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Good Old Yorkshire!

September 17th - Blacktoft rules!

Blacktoft is certainly having a purple patch! Ibis, white tailed thingy and now a bluethroat. Not the easiest bird to see as it hides in the reeds at the back of Marshland lagoon along with a robin. [Can't say I've ever seen robins at Blacktoft before but I may be forgetting...] Anyway on my second visit I got some photos although the bird was still a long way off!

The ruff came nice and close. Attractive birds.

Bluethroat

The white-tailed plover has been present for 3 weeks now. All the crowds! It's exhausting!

September 18th - a morning stroll round North Cave Wetlands

I went thinking I might see something good. I knew a mandarin had been reported but there was no sign. However, half way down Dryham Lane near the gate on the right where there are feeders I spotted movement in the grass. Green woodpecker. The car and camera were 200m away. I made my way quickly to the car and drove down, parking just before the gate. Camera ready, I walked quietly over. The bird was still busy feeding. It's a juvenile and it made my day.

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Autumn birding can be special.

Let's see what happens...

September 6th - a day at Spurn

I began at the Warren waiting for a rosefinch to appear from the bushes. Five of us waited about 45 minutes. And gave up! I spotted grey plover and knot on the mud. Redstart seen as I walked back to the car park. Kestrel flew past.

Kilnsea Wetlands had ruff, little stints and dunlin but they were tucked down at the reedbed end difficult to see from hide or gate. Black-tailed godwits from hide.

A white-headed gull looked interesting but although I like gulls I've never felt I could identify a Caspian gull. But I did wonder - one has been regularly reported recently.

Called at the Bluebell and found a whinchat. Not easy to get close and it was hiding among downy thistle heads. Distant views.

Later I returned to the Kilnsea Wetlands area to walk a long way to Beacon Lane in pursuit of a red-backed shrike that I never saw. Such walks are always much more exhausting when they come to nothing than is a successful walk for a rarity. You walk back then with a real spring in your step!

I was glad to reach the hide for a sit down. The dunlin and stints were just outside the hide.

I drove to Sammy's for a quick look round [saw golden plover] and to get the car ready to load up with garden compost on the way home. Spotted Karen and Simon Spavin in the distance so walked along to chat. Good idea as Simon pointed to a bush where I soon saw pied flycatcher. Seven ticks in one day in September. Crackin' stuff!!

September 13th: a photo jaunt to Blacktoft

Not really fancying the green warbler, I don't know why but if I saw it I didn't think it would thrill me any more than a  nice bright young willow warbler would so I passed and decided to see if I could get better, closer views of Blacktoft's rather special plover. A glossy ibis would be a bonus. Not much sunshine but I had a lovely hour and a half at First hide and then at Singleton.

The white tailed plover did just what I had hoped!

At Singleton I was watching the ibis just after I had sat down when a great white flew in from somewhere out of sight.

Glossy ibis too. No year ticks but I had a lovely time. Blacktoft can be very special if you consider what it can offer through the year.

Also seen were spotted redshank [not photographed as they were too far away], ruff, blackwits and wildfowl.

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