A very good day's birding

All photographs taken 21.04.12

Barry and I set off reasonably early to ensure we got a parking place at Barden Bridge. Barry didn't know where we were going that day as I had promised him a mystery tour. I hope he would get half a dozen ticks; I hoped for two. We just bagged the last official parking place and weather fine we set off south-east to head through Strid Wood down to the Cavendish Pavilion. Things started well: a pair of grey wagtail. Almost immediately a fly-past by a common sandpiper followed by three mandarin drakes. Three for Barry, two for me.

Grey Wagtail Not the greatest photo ever and certainly not as good technically as some of the others taken that day but I like it so much. The wag is in the air, just coming in to land with landing gear down and food in its bill! Who for? Is there a nest nearby?

The mandarins were starting to chase each other and as they did they came closer.

Mandarin Duck Nice reflection when I reflect upon it..

We walked alongside the River Wharfe - sand martins were flying low or resting on the fence; an oystercatcher flew overhead. I did a quick point and shoot. Came out quite well.

Sand Martin Oystercatcher

We walked on towards the waterworks bridge and the climb up to Strid Wood. A dipper was seen gathering nesting materials by the bridge. The photos show growths on one leg but it didn't seem to impede his enthusiastic work.

Dipper

Dipper

Great Spotted Woodpecker Once we were in the wood more birds were seen. Nuthatches seemed to be everywhere. A pair of woodpeckers were mating above our heads. We met a few birders coming from the Cavendish Pavilion direction. They told us there were pied flycatchers nearby. It took us a while to encounter one - in fact we were wondering if we'd missed them all. Oh yes, and lots more nuthatches. Barry even found a spotted flycatcher and blackcap. Ticks were coming out of nowhere!Pied Flycatcher Nuthatch

Nuthatch Great Tits

Nuthatch A very smart drake mallard was preening on the bank as we approached our turn round point at the cafe.Mallard There were more dippers too.

Dipper Dipper

On the return walk -weather, remarkably still fine - we met a close-up firendly pied flycatcher. He was singing his heart out. One we probably missed on the way there.

Pied Flycatcher And a near perfect image...

Pied Flycatcher I must press on. We could tell the day was in decline and knew the rain was coming. My bald head provides an early warning system. We reached the green fields about 600 metres from the car. Mistle thrushes and song thrushes were seen as the hail began to sting our faces. Even the song thrush was being bombarded.

Mistle Thrush Song Thrush

Soaked we headed on to our second destination - somewhere I had never been before. I had seen a garganey in Scarborough but Barry still wanted to see one. There was supposed to be one at Hellifield Flash - there was a pair in fact although it took us a while to find them.

Finally we set off for Malham Cove where I hoped to see a Redstart. However the weather was becoming unpleasant and we only saw the peregrine watching us from his letterbox slit in the face of the cove. An RSPB young lady confirmed the redstarts were there however - she had seen them displaying. I wonder what they were displaying.

Time to pack up, Chris! Go birdwatching or something. Ok, I'm off!Primroses 195. Chris 4 ticks, Barry 8, I think.