Black tum, little ears and other tails...

Tuesday, March 10th. I took Tiggy to VW Knaresborough for an MOT. A stroll up the River Nidd from the caravan site by Grimbald Bridge soon brought a pair of grey wagtails - the first of 2015.

Soon done I headed home to pick up my lunch and then made for the east coast. The light was good so I thought I'd call at Harpham for the black-bellied dipper. My second visit but I fancied another go at photographing the bird. To my surprise a group of birders had it staked out only a few yards from the wooden footbridge!

Black-bellied Dipper Black-bellied Dipper Black-bellied Dipper

Now what? A drive along the Wold lanes round Fimber to look for grey partridge only brought me red-legs. Time was passing so I headed for Buckton. The plan was to approach the cliffs up Hoddy Cows Lane to see if the walk was as hard a slog as some say it is.

Skylarks were in the furrows of the winter barley. Skylark

It's probably less interesting than the path from Bempton Cliffs but I did discover the other dell where the owls clearly hang out. After watching the main field and the Heligoland screen for a while I headed back towards the Buckton dell which is about 400m inland from the set-aside field. I was immediately rewarded. First of all the support acts: The Roe Deer, a new age sextet!

Roe Deer

Then a quartet: The Yellowhammers.

Yellowhammers

The main act soon followed. Short-eared Owl

I edged closer on boggy ground. Wear wellies by the way - they should call it Muddy Cows Lane.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl

There were 2 birds. Both headed south-west but soon perched up. I didn't follow.

Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl

168 UK 2015