Let's go birding 2015!

A slow start

Barry and I decided to stick to our January 1st tradition and go to Hartlepool area to see how many different birds we could see to kick-start our year list. We debated whether to go for the little bustard but decided not to. Regrets? No, not really - as we set off we didn't know if it would still be around.

The weather was not great but we saw over 60 birds including goosander, long-eared owl, parakeets, purple sandpipers and, perhaps best of all, the Redcar velvet scoters [plus common scoter] and long-tailed ducks. 

January 2nd I headed Bridlington way but the bustard had gone. Generally all was quiet and very windy on the coast. I photographed some rock pipits at South Landing.

Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit

Later I headed inland to Blacktoft. I wonder what frightened off the mallards?

Mallard

Marsh and hen harriers were seen. Practising levitation... Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier

January 4th at Fairburn Ings for a couple of hours. Camera in hand in good light I snapped away at a few fairly common birds. Tufted duck...

Tufted Duck

Barry fed some left-over bread to the black-headed gulls. Time for total chaos!

Black-headed Gulls

Long-tailed tits came to the feeder area.

Long-tailed Tit

...as did a friendly robin who wanted to be photographed by all the visitors!

Robin

Up in the trees fieldfares and greenfinch were spotted.

Fieldfare

Greenfinch

Saltholme 11th January

We set off late morning and spent some time in the hides. Phil Stead hide was very quiet; a shelduck and a redshank were seen. We moved on to the watchpoint hide.

Shelduck

Redshank

I photographed some of the smaller birds. Nice bokeh!

Goldfinch

Goldfinch

Goldfinch

Reed Bunting

We met another reed bunting out on our walk while looking for stonechats.

Reed Bunting

Late afternoon near the fish dock, Barry spotted our glaucous gull land on the quayside.

Glaucous Gull

January 12th: Scaling Dam

Well in truth I started at Redcar looking for the black redstart again but couldn't locate it. I did see my first pied wagtails of the year! Up at Scaling I saw marsh tits and brambling. Later that afternoon as the light failed I was pleased to meet stonechats at Skinningrove - no photos of them I'm afraid... Still, here's a couple from Scaling, including a leucistic coot!

Marsh Tit

Brambling

Record shot at some distance - and then cropped.

Leucistic Coot

January 13th: Swinefleet

Reading Gate Road to be precise. Seven swans and all Bewick's!

Bewick's Swans

Bewick's Swans

All quiet at Blacktoft. The rats were happy!

Rats

January 14th: West Yorkshire Tour

I started at Mixenden reservoir because the pager confirmed early on that the great northern diver was still present.

The whole area was covered by an inch of snow and looked wonderful in the sunlight.

Mixenden Reservoir

I soon spotted the diver. With an exact knowledge of geometry it was equidistant from the shore no matter which direction you approached it from!

Great Northern Diver

A kestrel landed in a nearby pine tree.

Kestrel

Next stop Pugney's to seek the smew. Never found it although I walked forever... Saw 30+ great crested grebes, pochards by the score. Here's Sandal Castle from the main lake at Pugney's.

Mixenden Reservoir

A few goldeneye were about: this female was on the River Calder.

Goldeneye

I always find carrion crows difficult to approach - they fly off or do that bouncing run and keep their distance. For once I found a friendly crow. Enjoy!

Crow

Crow

Crow

Crow

I walked to the nature reserve lake - more pochards and great crested grebes.

We think they're asleep but they are watching you!

Great Crested Grebe

Female pochards get little attention but they are much less common than their brighter male counterparts. I counted 3 to over 20 males.

Pochard

Saving the best till last, but it actually happened that way. Final stop on Wednesday 14/1 was at New Swillington Ings, walking down the causeway from Mickletown. I expected a long and possibly fruitless walk looking for a black-necked grebe late in the afternoon but decided to give it a go. The causeway was passable but only just. Two-thirds of the way along I spotted something other than the ubiquitous coots.

Black-necked Grebe

Black-necked Grebe

Black-necked Grebe

Black-necked Grebe

My best shot.

Black-necked Grebe

Thanks BNG!

Black-necked Grebe

Walking back in the fading light I spooked a little egret from the reedbed.

Little Egret

Current 2015 total: 98