Welcome to my birding blog - first launched 12th March 2012...
14th March 2022 ff
Walk for a pretty duck and other tales
Monday 14th March
The day did not begin well. My car announced that it had a loss of pressure and told me to check my tyres. Again. I pumped one tyre up the day before. So I thought I'd better call at Kwikfit to sort it out. The girl in Reception chatted on and on to a customer laughing intermittently until eventually she found time to tell me I'd have to wait until the afternoon or leave the car overnight as they were short staffed. Not with all my gear, I decided. So, I won't be going to 'Slowfit' again.
I went to York Tyre sales out at Murton. Very good service and eventually I got to Swine Moor for my long walk along the canal bank to find the Baikal teal - or so I hoped.
I spent a fair while scanning from the location suggested on Bird Guides but found nothing, although there were plenty of birds to look at. It was good to see an adult lesser black-backed gull. I don't suppose the other birds would agree with me! I spotted a birder with a scope about 200m further south so I headed that way. He told me the teal was in the grass behind a clump of juncus.
The view - the bird was a very long way away and I'm amazed I got the images I got as I was focussing on the ducks in general as through the camera I couldn't be sure which was the Baikal. Taken with 500mm lens plus 1.4 extender at 1000 ISO. Here's the location.
I saw the bird's head a few times so that was good enough as a Baikal teal's head markings are unmistakable. The other birder left after telling me he'd been a few times and never had a really clear view. I remain grateful to him for putting me on the bird as about 10 minutes later...
Heading home I called at Tesco for diesel. They were closed: 'No Fuel' sign displayed. Got diesel elsewhere.
A 9K Day!
I'll explain at the end of the current post what the 'k' stands for. Any guesses?
March 17th: time to bite the bullet and try for the lapland buntings at Buckton clifftop. It's quite a walk from Bempton especially if, at the end, all you've got to show for it is a ploughed field! I've memories of similar experiences at Long Nab looking for lapland buntings. Best ones were round my feet years ago on the Great Orme and, more recently, on the clifftop near Blackhall Rocks. They can be quite reluctant to fly. Anyway, I set off on my walk. I saw skylarks displaying near the old RAF area...
...obligatory gannets and fulmars...
...and a small tortoiseshell butterfly sunning itself just before the big drop to the sea.
A few lapland buntings, pied wagtails and meadow pipits were seen but eventually I managed a photo of one lapland bunting. Not a prizewinner but I was well satisfied.
Tree sparrows greeted me as I eventually got back to the car park.
I decided to drive south to Kilnsea and see some Brent geese before they depart for the summer.
Curlews on the grass opposite the Kilnsea Wetlands car park.
I called next at Canal Scrape. Very quiet. But I've always found wagtails hard to photograph well so I enjoyed this one. He [I think it's a male] was a bit of a poser!
A teal in the sunshine.
9k day - explanation
Quite simple: I drove a fair few miles that day and by the time I got home I'd seen 9 kestrels.
March 21st: a trip for the afternoon to Middlesbrough to hopefully see an iceland gull. Strange memories of Albert ParK: I once locked myself out of my first Tiguan [the current version is less likely to do this to me!!] and Barry very kindly drove up from York to bring the spare keys after the RAC man failed to get the door open!
The bird was on Lower Lake. There must be a story here: there's only one lake in Albert Park and it's called Lower Lake on all the maps so what happened to upper lake? Someone must know!
Oh yes, here's the bird.
There wasn't much time left so I headed to Greatham Creek for a bit of a walk. Tide was coming in and things were quite quiet. A few godwits [black-tailed] and redshanks were present along with a number of avocets. I smiled to myself as I recalled the lady who said she'd just seen her first exocets!
Pictures that I liked so I've put them on. Godwit and redshank doing the walk!
March 22nd: one hour at Blacktoft! I had mown the lawns, sown seeds and watered greenhouses and felt ready for a more relaxing afternoon so I popped down to Blacktoft as the sun was shining and I thought something will be there. There's always something at Blacktoft.
Spoonbills, dunlins [over 100 - I'm just showing one of 2 islets that held large numbers], fighting avocets, godwits...
Who woke me? [Glad something did!]
Scrum down!
A little egret landed, then got nervous and flew up in the air. This spooked some snipe which also appeared from nownere.
Then a second snipe flew too.
Which left one snipe happily sitting enjoying the sunshine! All done in 75 minutes!
135 UK 2022
8th March 2022 ff
Finished version: Green Stars and Black Stars!
I decided to award a green star to any reserve I visit where the Birds are getting a good deal and where the RSPB or other wildlife body has provided what its members hoped for when they joined: a good birding experience where the birds are given what they need in order to prosper. Note that I said members not the wider public as I think some reserves are suffering from 'theme park syndrome' and are resorting to gimmickry.
On the other hand I'm 72 and past it and what I think is completely out of touch with modern reality. Maybe. But it's just my opinion and I hope no-one takes any of what I say too much to heart!
So on March 8th I visited Wombwell Ings reserve near Old Moor. There have been various improvements to the reserve and there is now water on both sides of the path down to the metal box hide. the hide is primitive and even more draughty now you can look out in both directions but I guess it's pretty vandal proof. Wombwell gets a green star: it's about the birds. There's no neglected sensory garden or line of empty feeders just a plain and simple bird reserve. I saw a green sandpiper and some ringed plovers. Here's a few photos.
From there I went on to Old Moor [half a mile away] and this was black star land. Gimmickry, a new path past water with no birds [what do others think of the closing of Green Lane?]. Tree Sparrow Farm seems neglected. The main lake is still a quality area as are the reedbed trails but otherwise it doesn't feel right. I don't think it's a members' reserve, it's more like a municipal park with some decent birds and other dubious features. So, sorry, it's a black star reserve.
Moving on. Photos from old Moor.
Next I went to North Cave, another green star reserve. It's all about nature, it's well run, well signed and it's just a damn fine reserve...
...and it had a Russian white-fronted goose.
White-front on far left.
From North Cave I drove the last leg of my day's trip, heading for Blacktoft Sands where I have been going ever since I started birding in earnest. Still remember my first avocet! Blacktoft has not succumbed to the diluting effects of gimmickry and I hope it never will. Yes, it's a green star reserve. Someone asked me what comes in between? Well, the two stars are at opposite ends of a spectrum: many reserves won't get a green or a black star. Fairburn Ings for instance. By the way if you look at the RSPB Fairburn Ings website for latest sightings [as at 13.03.22] it says:
Recent Sightings at Fairburn Ings 1st January to 12th January
19 Jan 2020
Wildfowl numbers are uncommonly low around the reserve for the time of year, this is also being experienced at our sister site at St. Aidens, its unknown what the cause of the low numbers are at this moment. Bucking the trend has been a higher number of shelducks with up to 23 noted on one day.
That is 783 days ago by my reckoning! But no black star because the stars are about the reserve not the associated websites.
Ok, back to the day in hand: Blacktoft.
the light was good for photography and a marsh harrier duly obliged. Dunlin and ruff record shots too. Photos taken with 100-400 zoom.
Greylags
A chance sighting of a water rail and a goldeneye to finish.
Saturday 12th March: an afternoon trek to Thruscross reservoir area to hunt a snow goose on the bleak fields east of the reservoir. Sheltering by a stone wall I managed these with the 500mm lens plus extender giving me a total of 700mm. The bird was quite distant and I don't think it was aware of my presence. One other birder was further down the road. The reservoir itself is a wild place or at least it was yesterday. Quite choppy too. Here's the unringed bird.
it was being harassed by jackdaws.
128 UK 2022
1st March 2022 ff
Come-uppance!
Tuesday March 1st was supposed to be a much better day weather-wise than we've been experiencing recently so I planned another trip up to Bowlees to try one last time for the red-flanked bluetail. I even got up especially early and I was on site [all alone] before 8.30am. Others did arrive as the morning dragged on. It was freezing cold although it was bright and the temperature did slowly increase. I felt I had done everything right but there was never any sign of the bird that day. I think it has finally moved on.
I prefer it that way to finding out tomorrow that it's still there! And it was worth going just for those views of the river.
On the plus side 2 year ticks: great spotted woodpecker and mistle thrush. Dipper seen too. A few photos starting with the River Tees and Low Force waterfall.
Preening
I drove to Hartlepool - I enjoy the driving side of birding although there are a ridiculous number of roundabouts from west of Bishop Auckland to Hartlepool!
I think my disappointment meant I didn't try hard enough to find the avocets at Saltholme and I came away with no more than some cormorant flight shots...
Thursday3rd March: a round trip from York to North Cave then to Barton on Humber, Alkborough and finally Blacktoft. North Cave was full of birds from black-tailed godwit to avocets and more. Lots to scan although I must have overlooked the white-fronted goose.
Curlews over Main Lake.
No sign of a cattle egret near the Old Tileworks at Barton on Humber. Alkborough: the water was very high and there were few birds about. Buzzards in the sky and a little egret sitting out the high tide.
Blacktoft: shelduck...
. ..and marsh harrier.
123 UK 2022
24th January 2022 ff
From South Shields to Bempton and places in-between!
Let's begin at South Shields pier...
24th January: They weren't hard to spot. The tricky bit was finding a good place to lie low and wait for the birds to come close. I knew they would.
The guy lying up against the wall [it's not me, by the way!] got lucky. He'd been watching the birds when they were nearer the waterline when they all flew up next to him. Not a case of a' togger' getting too close -rather the other way round!
Low Force first attempt for the red-flanked bluetail. No luck.
I wasted some time when I first arrived at Bowlees by taking the wrong path. However this moss covered wall took my eye.
27th January: Low Force again! No sighting again! Anyway, here's the waterfall!
Sadly I never saw the red-flanked bluetail that is overwintering there.
The red-flanked story gets worse as you will find later...
27th January: a day at various sites but little to report. A treecreeper obliged at Hardwick Park outside Sedgefield...
...as did a bullfinch and blue tit at Cowpen Bewley. Light was poor and getting a pin-sharp focus was a challenge.
6th February: Hartlepool for the red-necked grebe. Ever-changing lighting conditions.
7th February: Scarborough, Hilla Green, Seamer Pools and Bempton. The well-known haunt of Mediterranean gulls at Holbeck Cliff car park was my first call. A few 'med' gulls around. I photographed two of them on the grass. They always look like they're 'in charge' as far as any poor old black-headed gulls are concerned.
'Dipper Bridge' as the late Nigel Stewart called it, on the River Derwent at Hilla Green has always been a good place for a short walk along the river.
Bempton Cliffs same day - an afternoon visit to see the newly returned gannets.
Pipit - rock I reckon.
Stonechats are very reliable in the grassy area near the Visitor Centre.
10th February: Hartlepool for a black redstart that really gave us the run-around. Photographed through fine gauge fencing panels, the definition quality is not bad when I consider the lens was pressed up against the fence.
11th February: Wykeham raptor watchpoint for goshawks. Several seen through the scope plus red-legged partridges on the way up at North Moor. Then I headed west back to Bowlees for the third time. For a third total failure! The consolation prize was 5 black grouse at nearby Langdon Beck. Always distant but very good to see.
120 UK 2022
[87 ahead of this time last year!]
14th January ff 2022
Carpe diem!
Things have been happening in our lives in recent days that can only reinforce for me the need to make the most of the time we have. Combine that with the need to behave with a sensible degree of caution at the moment with this very infectious variant of Covid extremely prevalent in Yorkshire and the North-east and you can understand that I am anxious to go birding as long as the location seems safe. Busy twitches or busy hides are not for me at present.
Ok. Ramble over!
January 4th: Bempton - once the bank holidays were over and the cliffs were quiet. Quiet indeed and cold and windy. However with no shortie last year I hoped to see one. I also thought I might spot the odd gannet or fulmar. No sign of those two. The cliffs were empty apart from the pigeons. But the owl showed up nicely in the afternoon.
Late afternoon and with the light fading rapidly I parked by Scarborough harbour hoping for a glimpse of the great northern diver. I'd never seen so many large trawlers in the harbour before. Between the boats I soon spotted the diver.
January 11th: York University main lake. Goosanders seem to be wherever I go this year!
Drake mandarin was my main reason for this visit.
January 14th: Another visit to Bempton to see if the owls were around. they were but the light was challenging...
A nice if slightly distant view of a fieldfare watching over the Dell.
January 17th: North Cave for a walk round the main perimeter path. Nothing exciting to report but some nice sunshine photos. Reed bunting; robin and long-tailed tits [2 different birds]
January 19th: Kildale for red grouse then first visit to Lockwood Beck reservoir for a while: no sign of any redpolls but treecreeper was new for the year. On then to South Gare. I couldn't find the snow buntings but this goldfinch posed in the dunes area for me.
Siskin and yellowhammers at Sutton Bank on the way home.
January 22nd: morning visit to Swillington Ings to find a great crested grebe which seemed strangely missing from my sightings this month. Soon found quite a few! Here's two of them plus a pair of goldeneye.
Walking back to the car I spotted a great white egret hiding in a dark corner at the end of the causeway.
97 UK 2022. It was May 11th last year before I saw bird number 97!