You never do know what's about to happen!

Thursday

On Thursday 26/4 I headed north again hoping perhaps for a few arctic terns that may have come up from sites like Old Moor. However that was not to be. I did see a few [probably 6+] common terns but was very thrilled to spot a little tern as well. A yellow wagtail and little ringed plover were seen too. Swallows, sand martins and house martins were present.

I headed back to Hummersea. No-one can say I'm not persistent!! I got soaked and saw no ring ouzels. I headed home. The satnav was set to 'shortest route' just to entertain me. She [she has a female voice] did well and only tried on two occasions to send me down cart tracks. We came home via the old airfield at Harome, then through Nunnington and Hovingham.

Guinea Fowl Guinea Fowl

In Hovingham a number of guinea fowl were at the roadside so I stopped and got the camera out. They come, apparently, in a range of colours.

Two ticks on Thursday - guinea fowl don't count!! So, 199 so far this year.

Friday - an amazing birding day!

Arctic terns were reported at Fairburn Ings on Thursday so I got up very early and was there in village bay [well not actually in it!] just after 7am. There were a few terns but they all looked common to me. I went home and planted sweet peas. Then as I was having a coffee break a black tern was reported at Thornaby Ings.

Rush upstairs for scope and bins. Off I go. Adult bird spotted straightaway. Watched it do its dipping, graceful flight for a quarter of an hour. Bird number 200.

Back home for lunch. Just as I was finishing lunch a female bufflehead was reported at Covenham reservoir in Lincolnshire. I've seen some good birds there over the years like the American black tern and little stint.

American Black Tern Little Stint I went outside and checked with TomTom [real name Tomasina] how long it would take to get there. About two hours. I went, I saw and I concurred: it was a female bufflehead. Quite a tiny duck amid the tufties. A bit too far for a photo but good views in the scope. After a while I decided to scan the reservoir properly and soon found a swift. Once I had my 'swift eye' back in I found more. A clever man who knew he was clever told me knowingly: 'There's fifty of them.' How does he count them?

On the walk back - only about 400m, a lot less than it usually ends up being at Covenham - a man said he'd seen two arctic terns but hadn't seen them again. I decided to have another look. He said they were in the middle with the gulls. They were indeed. I found them both and, happily, they both alighted on a white buoy so I could have a good look.

Four ticks in a day, one lifer. 203. Brill!