Have a gander! Heads back and three shots of the moon!

...and a Merry Christmas to all birders, readers and to Mr. B. Bishop, aka Barry!

Plan R: Fairburn Ings nice & early; Old Moor and Blacktoft. Target: sort of easy-going bird race. Possible practice for the big 70 on January 1st!! [We'll be lucky...]

Fairburn was quiet and windy and my eyes ran; we saw great spotted woodpecker, goosander and other usual suspects but moved down to the visitor centre. Female bulfinch present, some paths flooded. Time for Old Moor.

As we walked in a bullfinch was sunning himself from inside a hawthorn bush.

Bullfinch There seemed to be little to photograph. I picked  out a tufted duck and a greylag goose.

Tufted Duck Greylag Goose

Back at the car park I spotted a reed bunting quite well camouflaged in the hedge.

Reed Bunting A close-up makes him more obvious.

Reed Bunting Brambling were also in the hedgerow. We called briefly at Broomhill to see a duck friend of mine but he wasn't showing. Two drake goldeneye were displaying in front of the hide. I popped back to Tiggy for the camera.

Goldeneye Goldeneye Goldeneye By 2.30 we were in the hide at Singleton at Blacktoft. The moon had already risen.

Moon A shelduck flew towards us giving an unusual view.

Shelduck More conventional scene.

Shelduck Golden plover were rising up in large numbers from over Alkborough way... Spot a couple of dunlin in the mix.

Golden Plover Lapwings too were on the move in the darkening sky.

Lapwings Soon marsh harriers began to appear.

Marsh Harrier One harrier seemed to be escorting a ship as it came up river on the high tide.

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier

More lapwings came over, quite close to us.

Lapwings Excitement swept over all the birders in the hide as, from the left, a male hen harrier came into view as the light began to fade.

Grey male.

Hen Harrier Hen Harrier Hen Harrier Hen Harrier My favourite!Hen Harrier A smidgin beyond belief. Missed me!!

Hen Harrier

We call some hen harriers ringtails. They're all ringtails!!Hen Harrier

In the gloom a female goldeneye that had been flying in and out from the lagoon all afternoon came back in.

Goldeneye The light was now very poor. The moon was shining down on us. [Canon 400mm lens plus 1.4 extender]

Moon Barry spotted the moon reflected in one of the ponds beside the path as you approach reception. I tried a shot... [1/20th second, f5.6]

Moon Didn't really work!!

The grey male went to roost...

Hen Harrier 58 birds seen. 12 short of J1 target.

Still, a really good day. We went home.