Just dipping my toe in the water...

To mark the end of Lockdown #3 and the start of the easing of restrictions on my birding life I set off for a cautious little trip calling initially at New Flash, Fairburn. Driving through the village I was surprised to see a single sand martin flying up and down the road near the sandstone wall where the sand martins nest every year. An excellent start.

At New Flash, parking at the roadside, I saw ten more year ticks ranging from coot to little egret. I decided I had time for a quick walk along the causeway at St. Aidan's - starting from the Methley end. There were quite a few people about but everyone was very sensible. I picked up just 3 more ticks as I had promised to be home for lunch: cormorant; great crested grebe and a couple of black-necked grebes. My year list increased by 40%!

Goldeneye

Cormorant

Great crested grebe

Black-necked grebe

49 UK 2021