Welcome to my birding blog - first launched 12th March 2012...
25-26th October 2014
Roughing it!
Saturday 25th October
I got up ultra early and was in the seawatch hide at the Warren, Spurn, for 7am. Plenty of people there. I spent a merry couple of hours watching but failed to see any of my real targets. Nice group of 13 whoopers went south low and quite close, little gulls and a few duck but nothing really exciting. A peregrine showed well outside the hide later and, on my drive back to Easington saw more whoopers and a fair number of brent geese. The black brant was not too hard to pick out in the fields just north of Kilnsea Wetlands.
I headed for Grindale in the hope of seeing a rough-legged buzzard that had been reported on the road between Grindale and Bridlington. A couple of cars parked at the side of the road in the middle of nowhere in particular made me slow to a crawl as I assessed what might be going on. At that moment a large bird of prey began to hover over the hedge about 20m in front of Tiggy. Rough-legged buzzard. I crept low out of the car, got the camera and...well... have a look!
Sunday 26th October
Barry and I headed off to Blacktoft for the afternoon. A redshank dropped in to Marshland.
There were lots of little grebes about.
The konik ponies were very active.
'I wish someone'd do something about this fringe!'
Pinkfeet flew overhead.
A few pheasants were by the path to Singleton.
Marsh harriers entertained us at Townend.
Finally a male stonechat gave the day a colourful conclusion!
257 UK 2014
22.10.2014
It's a Wonderful World!
I had a fabulous day on Wednesday 22nd October. I shall try to be spartan with my words.
First I went back to Sunderland to try to photograph the olive-backed pipit. It showed nicely.
I headed south to Hartlepool Headland to walk the promenade...
What's this I wonder?
I found a med gull [not Medusa - I checked him out at Newburn Bridge later] on the rocks.
There were lots of knot...
...and a few purple sandpipers...
I often look on the Headland for rock pipits but don't find them. I found one...
I included this because I suddenly spotted a ring...
Eider and a lone guillemot were spotted from the Pilot Pier.
Tide was coming in fast: the gulls and waders were forced off the rocks...
This curlew got left behind.
The med gull was eventually forced to fly.
This knot chose to stick it out on his favorite rock.
What's this diving bird?
Turnstone undergoing sea trials!
This drake eider also gave in in the end.
I wound my way to Newburn Bridge, calling at Jackson's Landing. A seagull was playing with a food carton.
Thinking there might be a merganser about a distant shape drew my eye. Grabbed the bins. RTD!
Final port of call: Dorman's Pool. Spoonbill reported.
Could see a heron...
Quiz time: spot the spoonbill.
It is there. Look for the leg!
19.10.2014
Sand Point Road delivers!
Barry and I headed north to try to see the olive-backed pipit which would be a lifer for us both.
When we arrived the lesser whitethroat or putative [lovely word!] siberian lesser whitethroat f. blythi had been seen but no sign of the pipit.Time passed and we wandered around up and down the steps until the lesser whitethroat was located.
Lovely little bird as you can see....first view...
A very busy little bird, often the views were masked by hawthorn leaves but nonetheless there were some nice shots...
We did see the olive-backed pipit but not well enough for me to photograph. Others did very well a little later and I enjoyed their images: smart little bird! Meanwhile we headed south calling at Ward Jackson Park [parakeets heard only] and at Newburn Bridge. High tide and an excellent selection of waders. Here's a few shots...
Medusa was having 40 winks. Here's one of them!
We finished our day in the Saltholme area but saw nothing exceptional apart from a little stint at Dorman's Pool. From magpie to golden plover we saw 60 species of bird - an excellent day!
Some greylags flew past the pool by Phil Stead hide.
407 UK life list
255 2014 UK list
12th-16th October
12th -19th October: I'm back!!
Jack Nicolson 'The Shining' springs to mind....
12th October: Blacktoft Sands RSPB
Well it's good to be feeling better although I'm still not 100% fit. Still, I've been out a few times this week. Last Sunday was my first venture when Barry and I went to Blacktoft for the afternoon. We saw four birds of prey: kestrel, merlin, sparrowhawk and, of course, marsh harrier although the latter were so late in appearing that we began to wonder if a trip to Blacktoft might expire before we saw one!
Almost forgot to mention: at least 2 Cetti's warblers heard along the hedge to Ousefleet hide.
No bird photos but a late common darter basking in the sunshine.
15th October: Filey Dams and Kilnsea
Filey beckoned with reports of two grey phalaropes. By the time I arrived only one was there but the locals told me it was a new bird for the reserve and were quite excited. A good crowd had gathered.
I headed south to Flamborough to try to follow up a little bunting sighting but the trail had gone cold somewhere near the Flaneburg Hotel. A couple of disconsolate birders soon moved on. I lingered watching what was obviously a fall of goldcrests. They were everywhere.
A Radde's warbler [potential lifer] at Easington made me recalculate. Decided I could make it and still be home at a reasonable time. No sign of the warbler although many were still standing around looking in the bushes across from Easington cemetery. Again the place was crawling with goldcrests. A birder asked if I'd seen the shrike. 'Great grey?' I asked. 'No, isabelline, showing well in the hedge by the bend just before the wetlands car park.' I decided to give it a go. I went, I saw and I concurred! Isabelline. Very pretty in the scope but a bit beyond the camera. Still 2 year ticks was very good after a lengthy lay-off. As Barry said, it's good to be back doing my day job!!
16th October: Flamborough - Thornwick Bay
Another potential lifer was reported in a field just north of the cafe at Thornwick- a short-toed lark. Never found it or the 20 skylarks it was allegedly with. Decided to do the Old Fall walk. Lots of blackbirds, even more robins and hundreds of very skittish redwings. All attempts to photograph failed. This lady was much more accommodating along the long hedge. Lots of goldcrests everywhere again!
I was told there was a yellow-browed in Old Fall wood but didn't feel like spending an hour or more trying to find it.
So I headed back along the hedgerow. A white blob in the hedge ahead made me raise the bins. Shrike! I edged close taking photos every 20 steps. Here's a couple of the best ones.
254 UK 2014
25th September ff
25th September: Ruddy duck? I don't believe it!
Look what popped up out of the murky water!
Things got scary. Moorhen, ruddy duck and a shark!
Picture of nonchalance!
27th September: Old Moor
Looking for a hobby. A barn owl was showing intermittently but being harassed by some magpies.
Three hobbies were seen but quite distantly.
A grey heron and a green sandpiper were outside the Wath Ings hide.
There were jackdaws in with the golden plover.
28th September: Bempton & Spurn
Bempton produced the red-backed shrike we hoped to see plus a merlin. Super stuff.
We drove south calling briefly at Hornsea Mere to see any little gulls. No sign but an Egyptian goose was showing well.
At Kilnsea we saw the masked shrike and, a little later, a rosefinch. Jack snipe at Canal Scrape.
Since then [29/09/14] I have been confined to base by a very unpleasant chest cold and hacking cough. Hope to get out again soon.