A Spring Miscellany

1: Kildale, Scaling Dam and Saltholme area - April 5th

Ring ouzels at Kildale  - never close but exciting viewing! Scaling Dam - water pipit and osprey

Osprey seen off by oystercatcher! Saltholme - curlew

Solar panel car park at Saltholme

2: Fairburn and St. Aidan's - April 7th

Whooper swan living alone at New Flash... ...and a very shy blackcap in Lin Dike car park Great crested grebes near the causeway, St. Aidan's

3: Garden orchid - April 8th

Japanese calanthe orchid in the garden

4: Fairburn, The Cut - April 9th

Avocets, teal and...

...the top of the head of a ruddy shelduck. She spent the whole afternoon asleep and, virtually, out of sight. I watched the sand martins - one swallow picked out too

5: Fairburn, The Cut [again] and Cedric's Pool - April 10th

I've heard of ragged robin but I felt sorry for this little chap. Still feeding by the path. Vince told me to head for Cedric's Pool  to see a garganey Gadwall and shoveler too

6: Blacktoft, Potteric Carr and Oddball! - April 12th

I was at Blacktoft where things were pretty quiet even down at Ousefleet. A sole godwit was by the hide... ...but then a spotted crake was paged at Potteric Carr. A bit of quick research told me that the pool in question [Lovershall Pool] was not too far from the visitor centre. I decided to have a go. Plus a reflective lapwing

On the way home I decided to call at St. Aidan's to see if there was any sign of little owl on Oddball, the old dragline crane.

7: Blacktoft - April 13th

Marsh harriers

8: Tophill Low - April 15th

Very quiet and no new year ticks but a close encounter with a friendly kestrel made my day. Grey heron

9: Blacktoft - April 17th

Rats!

Sunshine avocet

Another blackcap playing hard to get! And giving me the look!

Sunshine snipe Finally, some more marsh harriers

169 UK 2019