Welcome to my birding blog - first launched 12th March 2012...
Tuesday 22nd January 2013
Out & About in Birdland
I had to pop down to Fairburn Ings RSPB today to get more peanuts and bird seed. It's crisis time for my garden birds if I can't top up the feeders in this weather. I started by visiting Pickup hide as the light was ok when the sun was shining which it did off and on. As someone said, the light was best when the birds weren't around. I expect his glass was half empty. Mine's full. Ordinary birds but they look nice, I think...
Long-tailed tit
Cheerio!
Great tit, greenfinch and goldfinch
Good image this one!
The bird I had hoped to see showed up too!
Willow tit
A pheasant skulked down below...
...and a shoveler looked pretty miserable on the ice near the visitor centre. I think he's about to fall over...
The Elusive Smew part two: on the trail of a White Nun.
Thursday 24th January 2013
Today I went first of all to Yeadon Tarn - it sounds very much out in the country but it's on the edge of a small town and right next to the Leeds-Bradford airport runway. However rumours of a drake manadarin were well-founded. Conditions underfoot were lethal so I left the camera and scope in the car. Pity as the drake mandarin was very close and confiding.
Next target was to be Sands Lane GP, Mirfield for the ring-billed gull. No sign but a couple of grey wagtails added a second tick of the day.
I resolved to go to Pugney's yet again as I had discovered that the white nun preferred a fishing lake north of Pugney's CP. So I walked. Signs in English and Polish warned me not to trespass... Was I near the Iron Curtain? No but I was near to my goal.
A crow loitered in my path.
As I reached the fishing lake I saw the smew immediately confidently swimming out in the middle of the ice-free lake.
Do you believe in angels?
I was distracted by birds passing behind me on the River Calder. A swan looked pretty contrasting with the black water.
This goldeneye showed just how green his head is.
Oh yes, out of devilry I've inserted this photo wrong way up! The reflection is at the top!!
The smew swam nearer into the brighter water. Black and white lines!
On the way back the black-headed gulls were gathering on the fence posts.
A shape attracted my eye near the car. I raised my bins.
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Friday 18th January 2013 and following
The Elusive Smew and other stories
Friday 18th January
Once upon a time four redheads and a white nun were reported at Pugney's Country Park. The persistent birder couldn't find any of them, neither on the reserve lake, nor on the main lake nor on the Calder Wetlands. So in the tradition of a true quest he and Tiggy drove off to Angler's CP and Wintersett where even more smew had been reported.
On arrival some redpoll were seen in their kind of favorite tree, a young alder.
Also seen was the world's only legless, self-floating redpoll, carduelis balloonensis
Look! No legs!!
N.B. No image manipulation has been used to remove his legs. Just left of the catkin that is touching his red poll are, I believe, some of his claws.
The smew, a redhead, was somewhat distant but a year tick that proved quite difficult after seeing a few drakes in December.
Saturday 19th January
Barry and I got out in the afternoon and went along the Derwent valley for a spot of birding, the main premise being to find some Bewick's swans. We saw lots of whoopers but no Bewick's. At North Duffield a robin posed most willingly. Perhaps in hope of some feed so I felt a little guilty about this set of images as he didn't get his just reward.
Robins aren't always quite the shape you expect! This look shows the potential agressive nature hidden behind the friendly facade.
Sunday 20th January
I've come up with a new word: lens-elusive. Not just elusive but constantly being seen and then disappearing, always just as I raised my camera to frame the bird! Well the slavonian grebe in Hartlepool marina was an expert at being there one minute and then? Well, nowhere whatsoever!! After driving from the Premier Inn round to Jackson's Landing and back again I ended up over by the shops [not where I normally go] and by pure chance as I got out of the car a man to whom I had earlier pointed out the bird, albeit distantly, shouted: 'It's here!'
And so it was although it continued to dive under the pontoons and appear where we least expected. Anyway, in poor light with the ISO ridiculously high, here it is.
Next stop, Saltholme in hope of a water rail. Paths were treacherous so having ventured as far as the Wildlife Watchpoint I decided I would go no further. Fieldfares were feeding nervously in the hawthorns.
I waited an hour and a half for the water rail to appear. Someone baited it with banana assuring one and all that they go crazy for banana. Well that theory fell apart. This chap quite likes banana however!
In between times I photographed the reed buntings who were busy in their normal habitat even if, for once, it was a frozen one. These produced some rather nice images with which I was well satisfied.
South Gare produced no snow buntings and the wind was viciously cold. Cars were skidding dangerously on the access road. Common gulls flew around me. I tried for a shot.
Big-bellied in flight aren't they?
I drove along the front from Redcar to Saltburn picking up grey plover on the beach and skylarks on the broad grassy foreshore. I had calculated from the wind direction that Skinningrove might be sheltered. It was. Two Northumbria Water vans were unable to get out of the car park. Tiggy coped with ease.
I don't know how many stonechats I saw. Maybe five or six. Amazing!! Here they come.
This one looked very wretched...
...and this one looked rather better.
Smart male.
On the beach were a couple of oystercatchers and maybe a dozen or so golden plover, well scattered in singles along the beach.
Although Skinningrove was sheltered from the worst of the wind, it was still pretty bleak as seen in these views over to Hummersea.
This morning as I processed my latest photos I was called to grab my camera. Our peanut robber was at the top of the tree nearest the house and looking a bit bedraggled. But not hungry!
4 ticks on Sunday. Total 2013: 120.
Wednesday 16th January 2013
Just another day in the cold north-east!
At Fairburn Ings, Pickup Hide, a great spotted woodpecker came along to entertain me...
Heavily cropped and re-angled to cut away a plastic feeder. I don't like feeder shots so the following are preferred and show the bird's charisma, I think.
My favorite!
Funnily enough I saw my second GSW of the year later the same day at Old Moor. Back to Fairburn for now: other birds graced the Pickup hide area including a singing blue tit, who gave me a very careful examination.
And then he sang for me!
Tree sparrows looked well in the light created by the icy conditions.
En route to Old Moor and Pugney's I saw lots of partridge coveys. Otherwise I drew a blank everywhere except for linnets at Old Moor. The pugney's smew had vanished again. Typical smew behaviour!! All the partridge were red-legged.
Thursday 10th January following
A birthday at Newburn Bridge
Thursday 10th January 2013
For want of a better title...
..another may come to me later!
Sheila and I went to Hartlepool in hope of red-necked grebe and great northern diver. We failed again but the weather wasn't good. There were lots of waders for any novice birder - you can get really good views just from the promenade wall at high tide. Yesterday there were redshanks [one ringed], purple sandpipers, oystercatchers, dunlin, knot and well-hidden ringed plovers.
The mediterranean gull was present, skulking atop a lamp-post.
Foray into Lincolnshire
Saturday 12th January 2013
Barry and I set off early to find a great grey shrike near Market Weighton. No show. Then on to Far Ings where we found a party of waxwings for Barry's year list.
Next, a great northern diver at Morrisons, Scunthorpe - or more precisely on Ashby Ville lake, behind the superstore. Once we found how to get to the lake itself we soon saw the bird, albeit distantly. Rather than walk a long way while days are still short we pressed on to Worlaby where a shooting party encouraged us not to linger. On then, to Alkborough Flats for a good long bird watch. A few ticks for Barry; a very early avocet for me.
Approaching the hide, a female reed bunting posed for us. [ N.B. We were approaching the hide, not the bunting.]
Some redshank flew in accompanied, I think, by a ruff. [2nd from the left]
A group of mute swans flew over.
As the day grew old and cold, we set off on the walk back to the car park.
'Toddling whoam'
Old Lancashire folk song - 'Going home'
On the trail of the lonesome grouse!
Tuesday 15th January 2013
In spite of or maybe because of the snow I thought a drive over Blubberhouses might produce a conspicuous red grouse if there was plenty of snow up there. It didn't - at least I couldn't spot any and the snow was not as deep as I expected, so plenty of other distracting objects were visible. Some indeed quite bird shaped! I decided on plan B and went to Barden Bridge where I spotted a few mallard and a fleeing goosander. All otherwise quiet. It struck me from memory that Bolton Abbey Cavendish section might be free admission in these winter conditions. This proved correct.
A quick walk produced dippers on the River Wharfe so I retraced my steps back to Tiggy and got the camera out, being extra careful in the slippery conditions. Only slipped once. At first the dippers were at their normal distance - i.e. not quite near enough for a super shot but ok.
This chap was having a look before diving in. Or he was camera shy.
Slowly the pair came closer. Still being cautious.
I'd never had them this close before but perhaps the weather conditions and the lack of human distractions on the Cavendish Pavilion wooden bridge and riverside walk helped.
Just north of the bridge by the Cavendish restaurant I espied a sleeping goosander. Well not really asleep. She was keeping a weather eye open...
...just in case some miserable human started photographing her. I soon got the telling off I deserved...
Didn't I?!
Back near the car the mallards were resting on the snow. Ever heard of a snowbill? Well, I spotted one...
I set off for home as I had said I'd be back for lunch unless something turned up. On the off chance I stopped in the lay-by at the top of Blubberhouses [just after the sharp right-hand bend] and scanned with the bins. Nothing. I put the bins down. A shape just across from me on the other side of the road attracted my attention as I gazed around. I grabbed the bins again. Grouse watching me!
First strategy: dig with your feet to snuggle down lower.
Enlarged view
By this time I had crossed the road and was firing away. The camera didn't want to lock on the bird for some reason but kept locking on the grass much nearer to me. The fact that it was snowing may not have helped...
Not a bad morning!
112 and counting!
Thursday 3rd January - Tuesday 8th January 2013
Bad light stopped play...
until the owls came out...
Well, not just bad light. My trip to Wales to see all sorts of quality birds dissolved in constant mist and rain. Of the twelve ticks for my year list, only the 8 ravens clonking in the mist as they danced and cavorted in the fog remain truly memorable. Once back in England things improved a little but still the camera remained firmly ensconced in its carrying bag. A trip to Blacktoft on January 7th eventually produced two grey male hen harriers but it was too dark.
I managed a wigeon just to keep my hand in.
Things really got better on the 8th when I went to Far Ings for a smew [which I couldn't find] but I came across some waxwings in an ash tree.
A kestrel came really close as it checked out the hawthorn hedges near the car park.
I went on to Alkborough Flats LWT for the long-billed dowitcher [which I couldn't find either!] but I saw ruff and lots of spotted redshanks. This curlew flew over as I walked back to the old car park.
Wonderful Worlaby
To round the day off I went to Worlaby in hope of a short-eared owl. That was accomplished within two minutes of arriving. Few birders were around. I'm sure that helps.
And then there are those things you dream may happen one day and which invariably take you by surprise and are completely unplanned. I've been to Blacktoft a dozen times in the last twelve months hoping for close-ups of their owls. But to no avail. That day at Worlaby I shall remember for a good while. It's a sort of portfolio of this stunning bird...
...that I spotted in the darkening sky as it emerged from the trees down towards Worlaby village.
I got back into Tiggy and with the camera in my lap I drove slowly back down the road. All the pictures were taken from the car.
Suddenly he would spin and dive into the long grass...
All pictures are taken in the poor light at 1/320th of a second. Sometimes a little blur is quite effective as often the owl's head is moving much more slowly than his other bits!!
UK 103; Yorkshire 17