August 13th:North Cave Wetlands
Turret Hide. Nice and quiet when I arrived. Just three or four birders present and all watching the spotted crake in their scope. It was rather a long way off. I did try to get a photo. Don't laugh. You can just spot its little head in between the reeds!
If you can't see it it's in the centre of the image facing left. The other bird is a green sandpiper. I've cropped it again - the image is very degraded now but you can see the bird!
I had to get home by late morning. Five minutes in East hide.
August 15th: North Cave again for a little stint that, unfortunately, was no longer present [or was hiding away somewhere]. I made do with a few photos from the West path. Robin, fresh willow warbler and a chiffchaff.
August 17th: Blacktoft
Hoping to see my third pectoral sandpiper of the year - previous ones were at Staveley and Edderthorpe. The Blacktoft bird was never very close. Here are my best efforts!
August 18th: Old Moor - to try to find a rather mobile little stint. Eventually cornered on Cormorant Island.
August 23rd: Swillington Ings, Cattlegate Pond - a much more showy spotted crake. Also added to the mix great crested grebe and reed bunting.
Interestingly [for me at least!] 191 was my end of year total for 2021