A Birder's Week!

Saturday April 14th

The week began with a trip to York University in the rain. I was going to accompany a group from the RSPB members' weekend, along with Barry Bishop, to Blacktoft Sands RSPB. One of my favourite places. It rained a lot that day. It rained while we waited for everyone to arrive. It rained whilst I watched the black swans with their cygnets [they are creamy white rather like mute swan cygnets. You would be excused for expecting them to be black.] It rained whilst we gave out the packed lunches and it rained and hailed on the journey. However the magic of birding is that it didn't rain at Blacktoft. The visitors from far and wide were well pleased. The marsh harriers performed superbly - and they were present in good numbers. The konik ponies attracted attention. The yellow wagtails hid in the long grass and were never seen. One gentleman saw his first ever avocet. Snipe appeared. Everyone went home happy.

Marsh Harrier Common Snipe

In the evening, after a good meal, we were entertained by Bill Oddie. I enjoyed his talk immensely and amid all the jokes and quips he did have something meaningful to say. He signed books for the merry throng who found another excuse to delve into their wallets. Sorry the photo is a mobile phone catastrophe!

Every picture I took seemed to come out with earthquake syndrome. Yet being in Bill's presence didn't really make the earth move for me. Honest!

Oh well, let's move on.

Sunday 15th April

An osprey was reported at North Duffield Carrs on the pager and in a text from Barry. Encouraged to give it a try, I set off. There were some birders in the Geoff Smith hide but the bird had apparently 'drifted north'. I didn't stay too long. A common crane danced distantly in the heat haze.

I thought I'd try Hornsea for yellow wagtail. Nothing there but there were hundreds of swallows at Kirkholme Point, maybe thousands on the mere as a whole. It was cold and bleak. There can't have been that many insects in the air.

I decided to head north. Calling at Holbeck Hall car park for the mediterranean gulls that would be in summer splendour seemed a nice idea for a break. A kestrel hovered really close. I grabbed camera and about twenty seconds later it began to rain. A real downpour. No gulls seen and perhaps I should have taken some bread. I left.

I reached Saltholme eventually [transporter bridge closed for yet more bungee jumping]. After following advice from the man on the desk who meant well, I know, I set off in the wrong direction for yellow wagtails. 'Down by the cattle and the trailer in the corner.' I knew where he meant. Not a sausage although potentially some future beef sausages were there!

I carried on heading for Saltholme Pools hide. Saltholme does like you to walk a long way... I got there running out of time if I was to be home when I had promised. A male yerllow wagtail posed on the mud. 190

Monday 16th April

Worked in the garden. A wren was found in one of the greenhouses. Whether it had exhausted itself flying against the glass or perhaps had got too hot but it let me pick it up. It seemed ok. I opened my hand expecting it to fly off. It stayed put. Eventually it flew to the nearby fence and didn't move.

Wren

Wren

Ha! I thought. I went indoors and changed lenses to  my standard/macro lens. Went back down the garden. The wren was still there so I photographed it at a distance of about 18 inches. The good news is that after taking about 60 shots our little friend got camera shy [at that distance it awould be aware of my rattling shutter] and flew away. It was fine. We saw him again later on an outbuilding next door.

Thursday 19th April

Not a good week for birding. All fairly quiet on the eastern front; weather poor [I could use harsher words]. Put some new shelves up in my study to accommodate more books and a new scanner. Then on Thursday decided there were possibilities at Saltholme. A hooded crow had been reported along with arctic terns moving through. I saw all three hirundines but no terns. Then it took three visits to the North Gare access road before I eventually saw the hooded crow. Big bird. Thanks to the TBC birders who made sure I saw the bird. It rained quite a lot too. Like most days! 'Drink more water!' will soon be the watchword...

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