To Phill Low...

No, sorry, I mean Tophill Low! Where I went on Saturday 26/4. Hoping for reed warbler, swift, greensand - well at least one of those! Outcome? None! Just a few deer galloped past North Marsh hide along the river bank. 'Tales of the river bank' might have been a better title but there was little to tell.

Roe Deer

Roe Deer

Roe Deer

Sunday 27th April

Another trip, another adventure down into Lincolnshire, to Tetney Lock. I was told to head for the second field after the lock. The only problem was that I, along with other birders, thought the high-tech sluice near the villae pub was the lock, especially as 2 fields later was a ploughed field that looked ideal for dotterel. I couldn't find any.

Reason was that I needed to walk another mile or so to pass the real lock out towards the sea wall and then head for the second [also ploughed] field. Eventually I got there, saw the two dotterel wobbling about in the heat haze and set off back. Lots of yellow wagtails about which was nice. No pics I'm afraid - I didn't take the camera as I expected the dotterel would be well, dotty, if you know what I mean. I met Karen and Simon on the way back and drooled with their tales of Craig Martin [good old Craig!] and the coot. No doubt they saw the ferruginous thrush in Spalding too! [Please don't ask what's a ferruginous thrush: I've promised to suppress all the details!!!!]

Couldn't find the black-necked grebes at Humberston Fitties. Headed for Blacktoft and then Faxfleet for the Montagu's harrier. No joy there either! You know when a batsman is out of form and keeps getting out cheaply? Well, I think I'm having a bad spell. I might get dropped or like poor old Jonathan, trot off quietly and disapper for a while!!

Where are my swifts? I feel things are looking up when I've seen a wood warbler and a swift. Fingers crossed...

Still nothing! April 30th

Flamborough area. Thornwick pool held dunlin, redshank but no greensand. On the headland the fog station was very noisy for obvious reasons but this did little to deter the birds.

A pair of herring gulls were staring into the mist [which really wasn't that bad].

Herring Gull

Herring Gull

A rather grey black redstart was very hard to approach.

Black Redstart

Up to four wheatear were also there - totally preoccupied with chasing each other about and, therefore, less concerned by my big lens pointing over the compound wall. The chase involved all sorts including losing one's balance...

Wheatear

Wheatear

Wheatear

Wheatear

Wheatear

Wheatear

Wheatear

Wheatear

Wheatear

A few meadow pipits joined in too. The coloured backgrounds to these two photos are from the green paint on the fog station buildings and from the new wood preservative on the fencing.

Meadow Pipit

Meadow Pipit

Meadow Pipit

Later on my homeward trek I called at Tophill Low again. I could hear cuckoo and reed warbler but I didn't see either. A ''marlow' tit was more co-operative than the invisisble blackcaps and garden warblers...

Marlow? Tit

...and a great spotted woodpecker was intent on gathering something from D reservoir's concrete wall as it returned repeatedly to different places along the wall.

Great Spotted Wood pecker

Great Spotted Wood pecker

The bad run continues but I had a good day and I do know how lucky I am to be able to just get out there and enjoy the birds!