This Week - A very good one!

Quite a week and just the ticket to fire the interest for the forthcoming Spring.

Monday at the "Old Sewage" added Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher and a daytime Barn Owl to the Village Year List.

Tuesday I was tempted by the Great Grey Shrike just over the bridge in Lincs. I hadn't seen one in Britain for TWELVE years! You used to be guaranteed a reasonably close one each Winter...sadly, not anymore.

I connected with the Bird albeit distantly in very pleasant conditions. Unfortunately I was looking into the sun. A distinctive "jizz"...

Better through the 'scope

News then broke of 2 Avocets at NDC; an hour later I was looking at my second record for the Reserve after a single in May 24...

I added Coot and Redshank to the Year List. 

Wednesday I was back again as I'd arranged to meet Haydn to try a Site in the Wolds. We met at NDC and had a couple of hours before leaving for the Site. The continuing spectacle of Black-tailed Godwits has been unprecedented this Winter along with the Tundra Bean, Russian White-fronted and Pink-footed Geese!!! I took these pics from the Hide and the Birds were some 600 yards down the Reserve. They came out rather well I thought...

The flock wheeled around the far end for a good 15 minutes before heading off towards Bubwith...

...and gone

We were also treated to a fly-by of 68 magnificent Whooper Swans low over the water...

Around Noon we headed for The Wolds. We'd tried this Site last Year but it was later in the Year. Thankfully the cloud had burnt off and it was now a lovely sunny afternoon. We parked up and started to look for Birds. Almost immediately we found what we had come for...

Distinctive jizz

Not a Species I see a lot, especially in East Yorkshire! They are on the increase but still a great moment. I STILL "need" one at Duff!? We watched the Raven for a while before it disappeared over the ridge. Then...a Peregrine...

The Raven then re-appeared and landed...

Bulky

We also enjoyed the calling...cronk, cronk"!

A Barn Owl joined the Party at 2.20!

A remarkable couple of hours especially when you add on 6 Red Kites and 10 Buzzards!

After saying goodbye to Haydn I headed fro home. I negotiated Hull no problem and arrived at Patrington around 4.30. Why not have an hour down the Haven on this superb afternoon? On arrival my decision was enhanced...

30 agitated and vocal Whooper Swans greeted me. This was a great day! Lots of washing and wing flapping suggested a late departure? 10 youngsters were nice to see. 

The late afternoon light was amazing...

A BIG late bonus. Would they stay or would they go? They moved between two pools and were still very vocal. Then at 5.35...

You may have noticed I do like a "past the Church" shot. The Birds looked like they were heading North but proceeded to do a large loop and initially looked like they were coming back! They flew over me then headed North. I wonder? I positioned my camera towards the "Queen of  Holderness" and hoped...

A fine Church

I got my wish!

Thursday news came through late morning from down the road...

Dartford Warbler at the Old Boat Yard

I missed the 2024 Bird as I was in Cyprus, so, to get another bite so soon was surprising...and very pleasing! I was cordially invited into the garden...

...and some 30 minutes the THREE of us had connected enjoying a mobile and very elusive Bird. My 319th Species for Spurn...give or take a lump or a split!? Too quick for a pic. My Yorkshire Tick was way back in 1989 at Lyndley Wood Res.

Friday it was an early arrival at Duff (8am). I spent some time on the path and it said off when I spotted the wintering Willow Tit in amongst the commoner Tits. It was a cold morning (5c) but I wrapped up for my 5 hour watch. Haydn joined me elated as he'd "had" a SECOND sighting of a Long-eared Owl on Skippy at a different location! Top work pal...

Patch Tick

He also had his first Red-crested Pochard...

...and 2 Crossbills...

Then around 10.30 two small Birds flew low over the water right in front of the Hide. The hoped for Sand Martins has materialized, our earliest ever!!! We also heard Chiffchaffs. After Haydn left I "had" a single Egyptian Goose near the Farm and 6 Russian White-fronted Geese.

Saturdayy...

6 Pink-footed Geese down at Pat' Haven amongst the Greylags...

...and another Barn Owl through the windscreen on Snakey...

6 Pied Wagtails was notable at Cliff Farm...

Today I had a look for our local Rarity on the Village Pond. It showed eventually...

Little Grebe

Nice if it got a partner...

Spring Forward

Decent session at Duff on Tuesday. PLENTY of Geese around still. I estimated c1000 Birds present in a huge elongated raft with c200 White-fronted and c800 Pink-footed. A VERY Rare sight here and gratefully received!

Notable additions to the Year List were...

Egyptian Goose (2)

Oystercatcher

Red Kite

Skylark

Reed Bunting 

It was nice to see Haydn and we had a visit from Andy and Vicky Holden. We couldn't pick any Bean Geese out, granted at some considerable distance.

Popped down to Pat Haven on Wednesday and had a significant Sighting. Avocets are cracking Birds and any sighting on the Coastal Patch is gladly received. I've been anticipating my first view of 26 and today I got it in spades. As I was scanning a flock of c30 Birds suddenly appeared above the bank! This was by far the largest flock I've seen. I did see a lone Bird on the Sea off Holmpton many Years ago!?

(No sign Friday)

Thursday it was back to NDC...via Skipwith Common. No luck with Woodlark but a close Treecreeper was nice. Once settled in the Hut we began to search. The Little Grebe pair are continuing...waiting for the water level to drop...as am I! A pair of Stonechats appeared to the right of the Hide...

Then Haydn picked out a Great Crested Grebe at distance in front of the still flooded Garganey Hide...

A record dot!

Then a lone Snipe finding enough room due to the receding water...

FOY

Then a Warbler!? A Migrant or an over-winterer? A FOY whatever.

Chiffchaff

During the morning we discussed other arrivals, always fun at this time of Year. Haydn left around Noon so he missed the Chiffchaff. Coot had been mentioned but we couldn't find any. As I was leaving I had another look for the Grebe (which I couldn't locate) and 4 Coots suddenly materialized! Always changing.

I also added...

Gadwall

Dunlin

Little Egret

Sparrowhawk

A Kingfisher was also seen flying past by another Birder.

Friday I stayed local and started at Cliff Farm. VERY misty with heavy drizzle but I was pleasantly surprised when a mixed flock appeared in the hedge. I estimated 8 Linnets, 6 Reed Buntings and 4 Yellowhammers. A drive along Snakey produced my first Marsh Harrier of the Year.

Arabian Adventure 26 - Last Knockings

Rob suggested a surprise visit down to Al Qudra as a bonus Saturday morning visit. I wasn't arguing. With it being weekend...it was busy...with Cyclists, as it has a popular track. We plotted our escape whilst having a Latte and started to tour the Expo Lakes. As soon as we left the crowds we saw our first interesting Bird...

They are released Birds but definitely still worth looking at...

Cute!

Plenty of Great White Egrets about...

This is an area where "anything" can pass over...well...a decent selection of Raptors and Vultures! After my earlier purple Patch at the beginning of my visit, I was hoping for a late addition. Lappet-faced Vulture was my "most-wanted" as it would be a Lifer. We'd driven round for about an hour when I saw a VERY large Bird above us...

Griffon

...not the LFV I was hoping for BUT still a rare Bird for the UAE and a Country Tick to boot!

An excellent late addition for the Trip.

Update: No secrets here! I entered my sightings and photos onto eBird. It seems I've made an error. No problem, I'm used to it!! eBird uses the Merlin App and it flagged the above pic as a LAPPET-FACED!!! More than happy to take it. I'd hoped to see this Species during my 3 visits. To see it (albeit retrospectively) as the Last Bird of my Trip was special indeed. Even better to share it with Rob. Wait till I tell him!

I'll do one last post on the Trip to share my overall thoughts and add some totals...once I've studied a few remaining pics. Merlin might come in handy again!