Welcome to my birding blog - first launched 12th March 2012...
Tuesday 24th April 2012
Blacktoft & North Cave
A fairly early start got me to Blacktoft Sands RSPB by 10am and I loaded myself up with camera, bins and scope on hide clamp only. A wood pigeon was not going to give up his perch on the picnic table very willingly. In fact he never did. They are quite handsome birds - imagine how we'd feel about them if they became very rare...
There were some very smart shovelers about and lots of avocets.
I wandered along the hides starting with Xerox. No sign of the little gull but I didn't mind. I thought I might see a sedge warbler and within minutes I saw three.
At Marshland the avocets were put up by a sparrowhawk that someone else spotted. I was too busy trying to get a focus-lock on the birds as they whirled round!
The marsh harriers were pretty active too and some were coming in a little closer than usual. I was quite pleased with some of the images as the following examples will show.
At Marshland two of the islands had clutches of eggs. In this photo the eggs are unattended. The script goes like this:
B-h gull1: They aren't mine!
B-h gull2: Well, whose are they then?
B-h gull3: They might be his [looking at the avocet].
Avocet: Hmm. I'm trying to remember.
Off to North Cave
I knew there was a pair of black-necked grebes there and hoped they might come a bit closer than the ones at Hatfield. They did.
Spring was carrying on regardless even if spring does seem a bit unwilling to get to full throttle. A mute swan kept a close eye on me from her nest. A pink-billed coot did likewise from her island retreat.
There is a display board at North Cave showing arrival dates of migrants this year with last year's dates to the left. It's interesting to see that most birds are late although the swallow and common sandpiper came in quite early. See for yourself:
A female house sparrow perched on the gate I needed to open. They must be just about the least photographed British Bird. So let's rectify things a little. Can't imagine things changing much!
Finally for this post a pair of great crested grebes were clearly prospecting for a nest site. One of them was getting very cross as can be seen.
197. Yorkshire 92
Monday 23rd April 2012
The Bramblebush
Well it wasn't just a bramblebush there were lots of other things growing in it. Most of it was dead or dormant but there was a green section of evergreen growth. And I spent a couple of hours photographing either dead plant growth or a snatch of blurred greyness as my target eluded me yet again. What am I writing about?
I'll start again. Fairly early I arrived at South Gare and parked as near the end as possible. I set off hoping for a firecrest which had been reported in a bush in the far compound. I saw it within minutes and eventually got a really good view. Then I decided to go back for the camera and try to photograph this tiny, fast-moving bird. A species I hadn't previously had the chance to capture. It took a long time so it's a good job I was alone - anyone else would have become very bored! However, the wait was worth it.
Then on for the main hope of the day: ring ouzels at Hummersea or Boulby Cliffs/Quarry. Unfortunately this didn't come off. I saw far below me two blackbirds but nothing suggested from where I was that they were anything other than blackbirds. There were lots of yellowhammers and linnets and at Boulby Quarry several pairs of fulmars nesting were seen. My presence caused them to fly quite close but I didn't linger. The public footpath along the cliff top passes quite close to one nest just below but out of sight to walkers.
Saturday 21st April
A very good day's birding
All photographs taken 21.04.12
Barry and I set off reasonably early to ensure we got a parking place at Barden Bridge. Barry didn't know where we were going that day as I had promised him a mystery tour. I hope he would get half a dozen ticks; I hoped for two. We just bagged the last official parking place and weather fine we set off south-east to head through Strid Wood down to the Cavendish Pavilion. Things started well: a pair of grey wagtail. Almost immediately a fly-past by a common sandpiper followed by three mandarin drakes. Three for Barry, two for me.
Not the greatest photo ever and certainly not as good technically as some of the others taken that day but I like it so much. The wag is in the air, just coming in to land with landing gear down and food in its bill! Who for? Is there a nest nearby?
The mandarins were starting to chase each other and as they did they came closer.
Nice reflection when I reflect upon it..
We walked alongside the River Wharfe - sand martins were flying low or resting on the fence; an oystercatcher flew overhead. I did a quick point and shoot. Came out quite well.
We walked on towards the waterworks bridge and the climb up to Strid Wood. A dipper was seen gathering nesting materials by the bridge. The photos show growths on one leg but it didn't seem to impede his enthusiastic work.
Once we were in the wood more birds were seen. Nuthatches seemed to be everywhere. A pair of woodpeckers were mating above our heads. We met a few birders coming from the Cavendish Pavilion direction. They told us there were pied flycatchers nearby. It took us a while to encounter one - in fact we were wondering if we'd missed them all. Oh yes, and lots more nuthatches. Barry even found a spotted flycatcher and blackcap. Ticks were coming out of nowhere!
A very smart drake mallard was preening on the bank as we approached our turn round point at the cafe.
There were more dippers too.
On the return walk -weather, remarkably still fine - we met a close-up firendly pied flycatcher. He was singing his heart out. One we probably missed on the way there.
And a near perfect image...
I must press on. We could tell the day was in decline and knew the rain was coming. My bald head provides an early warning system. We reached the green fields about 600 metres from the car. Mistle thrushes and song thrushes were seen as the hail began to sting our faces. Even the song thrush was being bombarded.
Soaked we headed on to our second destination - somewhere I had never been before. I had seen a garganey in Scarborough but Barry still wanted to see one. There was supposed to be one at Hellifield Flash - there was a pair in fact although it took us a while to find them.
Finally we set off for Malham Cove where I hoped to see a Redstart. However the weather was becoming unpleasant and we only saw the peregrine watching us from his letterbox slit in the face of the cove. An RSPB young lady confirmed the redstarts were there however - she had seen them displaying. I wonder what they were displaying.
Time to pack up, Chris! Go birdwatching or something. Ok, I'm off!
195. Chris 4 ticks, Barry 8, I think.
14th - 20th April 2012
A Birder's Week!
Saturday April 14th
The week began with a trip to York University in the rain. I was going to accompany a group from the RSPB members' weekend, along with Barry Bishop, to Blacktoft Sands RSPB. One of my favourite places. It rained a lot that day. It rained while we waited for everyone to arrive. It rained whilst I watched the black swans with their cygnets [they are creamy white rather like mute swan cygnets. You would be excused for expecting them to be black.] It rained whilst we gave out the packed lunches and it rained and hailed on the journey. However the magic of birding is that it didn't rain at Blacktoft. The visitors from far and wide were well pleased. The marsh harriers performed superbly - and they were present in good numbers. The konik ponies attracted attention. The yellow wagtails hid in the long grass and were never seen. One gentleman saw his first ever avocet. Snipe appeared. Everyone went home happy.
In the evening, after a good meal, we were entertained by Bill Oddie. I enjoyed his talk immensely and amid all the jokes and quips he did have something meaningful to say. He signed books for the merry throng who found another excuse to delve into their wallets. Sorry the photo is a mobile phone catastrophe!
Every picture I took seemed to come out with earthquake syndrome. Yet being in Bill's presence didn't really make the earth move for me. Honest!
Oh well, let's move on.
Sunday 15th April
An osprey was reported at North Duffield Carrs on the pager and in a text from Barry. Encouraged to give it a try, I set off. There were some birders in the Geoff Smith hide but the bird had apparently 'drifted north'. I didn't stay too long. A common crane danced distantly in the heat haze.
I thought I'd try Hornsea for yellow wagtail. Nothing there but there were hundreds of swallows at Kirkholme Point, maybe thousands on the mere as a whole. It was cold and bleak. There can't have been that many insects in the air.
I decided to head north. Calling at Holbeck Hall car park for the mediterranean gulls that would be in summer splendour seemed a nice idea for a break. A kestrel hovered really close. I grabbed camera and about twenty seconds later it began to rain. A real downpour. No gulls seen and perhaps I should have taken some bread. I left.
I reached Saltholme eventually [transporter bridge closed for yet more bungee jumping]. After following advice from the man on the desk who meant well, I know, I set off in the wrong direction for yellow wagtails. 'Down by the cattle and the trailer in the corner.' I knew where he meant. Not a sausage although potentially some future beef sausages were there!
I carried on heading for Saltholme Pools hide. Saltholme does like you to walk a long way... I got there running out of time if I was to be home when I had promised. A male yerllow wagtail posed on the mud. 190
Monday 16th April
Worked in the garden. A wren was found in one of the greenhouses. Whether it had exhausted itself flying against the glass or perhaps had got too hot but it let me pick it up. It seemed ok. I opened my hand expecting it to fly off. It stayed put. Eventually it flew to the nearby fence and didn't move.
Ha! I thought. I went indoors and changed lenses to my standard/macro lens. Went back down the garden. The wren was still there so I photographed it at a distance of about 18 inches. The good news is that after taking about 60 shots our little friend got camera shy [at that distance it awould be aware of my rattling shutter] and flew away. It was fine. We saw him again later on an outbuilding next door.
Thursday 19th April
Not a good week for birding. All fairly quiet on the eastern front; weather poor [I could use harsher words]. Put some new shelves up in my study to accommodate more books and a new scanner. Then on Thursday decided there were possibilities at Saltholme. A hooded crow had been reported along with arctic terns moving through. I saw all three hirundines but no terns. Then it took three visits to the North Gare access road before I eventually saw the hooded crow. Big bird. Thanks to the TBC birders who made sure I saw the bird. It rained quite a lot too. Like most days! 'Drink more water!' will soon be the watchword...
191
Monday April 9th 2012
A very short blog
Went pm to Skipwith Common just to get some fresh air. Weather poor and it got worse. Goldcrest and green woodpecker only real birds of note. No sign of cuckoo or wood lark. [Cuckoo had been seen in last few days]. Chiffchaff tried and gave up.
Got home. Sheila had found a moth in the lounge window area. It is called Angle Shades - latin name is Phlogophora meticulosa
It looks like this: