The Elusive Smew and other stories

Friday 18th January

Once upon a time four redheads and a white nun were reported at Pugney's Country Park. The persistent birder couldn't find any of them, neither on the reserve lake, nor on the main lake nor on the Calder Wetlands. So in the tradition of a true quest he and Tiggy drove off to Angler's CP and Wintersett where even more smew had been reported.

On arrival some redpoll were seen in their kind of favorite tree, a young alder.

Lesser Redpoll Lesser Redpoll Lesser Redpoll Also seen was the world's only legless, self-floating redpoll, carduelis balloonensis

Lesser Redpoll Look! No legs!!

Lesser Redpoll N.B. No image manipulation has been used to remove his legs. Just left of the catkin that is touching his red poll are, I believe, some of his claws.

The smew, a redhead, was somewhat distant but a year tick that proved quite difficult after seeing a few drakes in December.

Smew

Saturday 19th January

Barry and I got out in the afternoon and went along the Derwent valley for a spot of birding, the main premise being to find some Bewick's swans. We saw lots of whoopers but no Bewick's. At North Duffield a robin posed most willingly. Perhaps in hope of some feed so I felt a little guilty about this set of images as he didn't get his just reward.

Robin Robins aren't always quite the shape you expect! This look shows the potential agressive nature hidden behind the friendly facade.Robin Robin Robin Robin

Sunday 20th January

I've come up with a new word: lens-elusive. Not just elusive but constantly being seen and then disappearing, always just as I raised my camera to frame the bird! Well the slavonian grebe in Hartlepool marina was an expert at being there one minute and then? Well, nowhere whatsoever!! After driving from the Premier Inn round to Jackson's Landing and back again I ended up over by the shops [not where I normally go] and by pure chance as I got out of the car a man to whom I had earlier pointed out the bird, albeit distantly, shouted: 'It's here!'

And so it was although it continued to dive under the pontoons and appear where we least expected. Anyway, in poor light with the ISO ridiculously high, here it is.

Slavonian Grebe Slavonian Grebe Slavonian Grebe Slavonian Grebe Slavonian Grebe

Next stop, Saltholme in hope of a water rail. Paths were treacherous so having ventured as far as the Wildlife Watchpoint I decided I would go no further. Fieldfares were feeding nervously in the hawthorns.

Fieldfare I waited an hour and a half for the water rail to appear. Someone baited it with banana assuring one and all that they go crazy for banana. Well that theory fell apart. This chap quite likes banana however!

Magpie

In between times I photographed the reed buntings who were busy in their normal habitat even if, for once, it was a frozen one. These produced some rather nice images with which I was well satisfied.

Reed Bunting Reed Bunting Reed Bunting Reed Bunting Reed Bunting Reed Bunting South Gare produced no snow buntings and the wind was viciously cold. Cars were skidding dangerously on the access road. Common gulls flew around me. I tried for a shot.

Common Gull Big-bellied in flight aren't they?

I drove along the front from Redcar to Saltburn picking up grey plover on the beach and skylarks on the broad grassy foreshore. I had calculated from the wind direction that Skinningrove might be sheltered. It was. Two Northumbria Water vans were unable to get out of the car park. Tiggy coped with ease.

I don't know how many stonechats I saw. Maybe five or six. Amazing!! Here they come.

Stonechat Stonechat This one looked very wretched...Stonechat ...and this one looked rather better.Stonechat Stonechat Smart male.

Stonechat On the beach were a couple of oystercatchers and maybe a dozen or so golden plover, well scattered in singles along the beach.

Oystercatcher Golden Plover Golden Plover Although Skinningrove was sheltered from the worst of the wind, it was still pretty bleak as seen in these views over to Hummersea.

Hummersea Hummersea This morning as I processed my latest photos I was called to grab my camera. Our peanut robber was at the top of the tree nearest the house and looking a bit bedraggled. But not hungry!

Grey Squirrel 4 ticks on Sunday. Total 2013: 120.