3rd-4th February 2017
East, West and a little bit in between!
February 4th: Redcar-Hartlepool
I started at Redcar beach looking for waders. No godwits but lots of sanderling and they were feeding energetically.
Sanderling
Sanderling
Sanderling
Sanderling
Sanderling
Sanderling
Ringed plover
Ringed Plover
On to Fox Covert where I tried again for those elusive corn buntings. Tree sparrows and yellowhammers.
Tree Sparrow
Yellowhammer
Bar-tailed godwits seen at South Gare from car park area. I was contemplating going down onto the beach to get a bit closer but a dog decided for me and made everything fly off. Later at Tilery Wood I added goldcrest to the day's bag. Not the most productive day as I think I wasted a lot of time but it was pleasant and good to be out.
February 4th: Bolton Abbey and the North Fylde
En route a brief stop at Bolton Abbey. Dipper seen immediately but for second time in two days an idiot scottie dog disturbed it [not the same dog as yeaterday!] and the bird flew off upstream. The owner came over. 'Sorry about that,' he said.
I tried to be pleasant. 'What's her name?' I asked.
'It's a he,' he replied. 'We call him Donald.'
'I'm not surprised', I said with a smile and walked on. Soon spotted a grey wagtail.
Some mandarins were on the bank.
Mandarin
Mandarin
Quite belligerent!
Mandarin
Mrs Mandarin posed. I wonder if she likes having grass up her nostrils?
Mandarin
I drove on as my main target was a bit of a goose fest near Pilling not that far from where I was brought up. In particular I hoped to see a red-breasted goose along with lots of pink-feet.
Pilling Lane Ends. Along with over a hundred pinkfeet and 21 whitefronts I was reliably informed.
Red-breasted Goose
They were a long way off. Note the white-fronted just right of the red-breasted.
This pinkfoot was exceptionally dark.
Pink-footed Goose
The lesser snow goose was more elusive but eventually tracked down on a large building site pool in a country park outside the village of Nateby.
Snow Goose
Snow Goose
Snow Goose
Calling David Armitage!
Sorry about the non-existent pinebunt pic. I did go 3 times! Anyway regards from Tiggy and me. Good birding wishes to you!!