Tidy up

Monday started on Skippy with Haydn before we moved onto Duff at 11. No luck with Woodlark unfortunately. Once ensconced we enjoyed a good session. 

Highlights...

40 White-fronted Geese

c400 Pintail

Spotted Redshank

c200 Black-tailed Godwits

5 Oystercatchers

Great White Egret

Male Sparrowhawk

The Carrs is looking a picture (except for the heavy cloud) now with optimum water levels for most Species...

Islands forming

Spits forming

Dabbling Ducks moving in

Another pleasure of Patch watching on a flood plain is observing the subtle (and not so subtle) changes in conditions and habitat. A Great White Egret finally gave "great" views...

...before flying back towards Bubwith...

Coots starting to do what Coots do...

As I left I noticed a huge number of Swans across the road on the Farm fields. I pulled over and estimated at least 200 Whoopers...

Once back on the Coast I checked a few local Sites for an early Wheatear. No luck but 6 Red-throated Divers close in off the Old Sewage was a nice surprise...

Tuesday afternoon I had a ride down Pat' Haven. Still no sign of any Avocets. I checked out the large Greylag flock in the adjacent fields. I'd had some Pinkfeet there recently, you may recall? To dark-headed Birds stood out, even with the naked eye and despite the unfavourable aspect? They warranted a closer look.

Orange Bill and distinctive head profile

I'd found a couple of Tundra Bean Geese! 

Size and leg colour comparison 

Always better to "find your own"!

Wednesday started earl as I'd arranged to take a Steve Lawton up into the Wolds to try Raven and Peregrine, hopefully the latter hadn't lived up to the latin meaning!? We started at Skippy and bumped into Dave Tate. Still no Woodlark but we had a good chat before moving on to "you know where"! We did hear some yaffling but alas no views.

23 White-fronted Geese appeared after some time in front of Garganey Hide...

...and we picked out the continuing Spotted Redshank ...

...as well as a FOY Ringed Plover (81). I also added Linnet (82).Some 45 Whooper Swans were present at the far end but 4 decided to fly across to the Farm giving us superb flight views...

Around 11.30 we decided to head for the Hills. It took us around an hour to reach the area and we pulled up at the same spot I'd watched with Haydn. Immediately we could hear..."cronk, cronk" and one bird was in view across the valley...

Exuding power

It was nice to see the "sheen" in the sunshine on this beautiful afternoon. It was soon joined by a second bird...

We both remarked how they looked longer-winged than the pestering Buzzards. They also seemed totally unconcerned by the hassle.

The Peregrines also gave an amazing prolonged show all over the area for quite some time. The weather was obviously helping, being the warmest day of the Year so far.

We also saw a couple of Red Kites as well as c8 Buzzards. It was an idyllic couple of Hours. After saying goodbye to Steve I made my way back through Hull and noticed the obvious presence of numerous Lesser Black-backed Gulls by the Docks, so I pulled over and got a pic of one on a Lamp post...

A sign of Spring

After a great day, things went South on the Hedon Bypass when my Gearbox packed up!! I managed to get her home with the help of my Breakdown cover. She'll have to sit there now until I return from Cyprus. We leave on Saturday morning. Hopefully I can get her fixed?

I'll hopefully be Blogging from Paphos, so stay tuned...

p.s. I haven't forgotten my Oman Summary but I'll need more time to do it justice. Maybe one for the looooong Summer Days...

The Holidays are Coming...

Only 6 days before we leave for Cyprus, so I'm trying to fit a few visits inland a swell as covering the Coast and Humber. Decisions, decisions!

Monday found me at my beloved NDC, unfortunately the Forecast didn't pan out and it turned out a grey gloomy day...White-fronted Geese through the mist...

Special Visitor

With the receding water came better views of the recently arrived Coot and Pochard on the emerging Scrape...

The huge Black-tailed Godwit flock (c450) was still present and still FULLY appreciated. The sighting of the session was this fella...

I also added Red-legged Partridge and Lesser-backed Gull to the Year List.

Tuesday I had a ride down to Patrington Haven as the Sun was shining for once! I pulled into a lay-by, set my 'scope up and scanned the pools. The usual fayre was on offer with still no sign of any Avocets in this area? Then a Falcon flew low over the pools..."just" a Kestrel? Fortunately it landed on the central fence and confirmed my suspicions...

To find a Merlin is always a special moment and to see it perched at some 50 yards was a bonus. I played with my new digiscoping device but failed miserably, so my pic is from the Camera.

I tried the bottom end and got distant views of a beautiful Male Marsh Harrier...

Wednesday it was back to NDC. An early sighting of 50 Fieldfares (returning Birds) on Snakey was a great start...

Haydn was already in position and informed me he'd had the Spotted Redshank that had been residing down the road for quite a while mixed in with 10 Redshank and 4 Ruff. I was hoping it would pay a visit! Eventually I picked it up in front of Garganey Hide, it was only my 5th record. Later I had better views on the Bund...

More Snipe (8) were around the Scrape taking advantage of the favourable conditions...

Three here...I think!

Great views of a passing Marsh Harrier...

An explosion of Black-tailed Godwits...

A remarkable sight and pleased with this image at 400 yards! Oystercatcher numbers rose to 4...

A lone session at Duff on Friday. Early excitement in the form of a lone Drake Goosander on the Riverbank...

Fortunately it was viewable through a gap in the Reeds...

Less than annual here. It soon moved on.

It was pleasing to see some Whooper Swans in residence; it's not always the case. A group of 14 Birds was present halfway down the Reserve...

Fortunately they came closer briefly before returning to their original spot...

I also had my first Peregrine of the Year as it scattered the Wildfowl on Bubwith Ings before gracing the Carrs...

Saturday's highlight was this Barn Owl at Skeffling. Image taken through the Windscreen...

I'll be making further trips inland this week, as there'll be quite a gap thereafter...

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...