Review of the Year

Has to be done. A few numbers for the record...

According to eBird I saw 397 Species during the Year. My wonderful Texas visit logged 224 adding Sooty Tern...

...to bring my total to 472.  Finding a pair of Cape May Warblers was memorable indeed...

...as was the Magnificent Frigatebird...

...and the ridiculously tame Prothonotary Warbler...

My travels around Britain totalled 194 and included 4 New Birds...

Eleonora's Falcon 

Worth Marshes. Kent

Kelp Gull 

Grafham Water, Leics

Blackburnian Warbler 

Bryher, IOS

Here's one I saw earlier...

Corps Woods, Galveston

Red-tailed Shrike 

Bringing my British List to 536. There's a possibility of a couple more in due course? The Falcon and the Warbler were top drawer additions. Species of legendary status. My four visits to Bryher will remain long in the memory, especially the last one, when I ended up on my own with THE Bird!!!

Around the Village I managed a modest 135 adding a dodgy Parakeet and Pochard. putting me on 188. My Duff total was 83 and gave up a Redstart and Hen Harrier taking my total to 160. 

So, there we go then, the Year is over. I managed to see some quality Species I hadn't seen for quite a while i.e. Smew (drake), Turtle Dove, Pallid Swift, Crane, Black-winged Stilt, Greater Sand-Plover, Wilson's Snipe, Black Grouse, Goshawk, Honey Buzzard, Great Shearwater, Lesser-spotted Woodpecker,  Red-rumped Swallow, Bee-eater (breeding), Woodchat Shrike, Bearded Tit, Brambling (huge numbers).

These days since the advent of Social Media, everyone can rightly have an opinion. However some are more informed than others! As you know, I prefer to share mine here....and not get "nasty". If you've taken the time to dip in regularly or from time to time, I'm flattered and I hope you've found something of interest. I aim to make certain changes (not resolutions) next Year to enhance my Birding and general leisure time.

All being well, I have a trip to Cyprus to look forward too in March/April and my usual fortnight on my beloved Scilly in October. Here's to 2023...I hope you have a good one, wherever it may be...

Nearly there!

That's Christmas and New Year!

Snakey Lane has been productive the last few days with large numbers of Lapwing present (c200). Curlews (c40) have also been present in decent numbers and are still present as I write. It's very unusual to see them here...

Great to have them providing interest whilst doing local commuting. There's still a healthy flock of Fieldfares (c200) present also. This morning I came across a small group of Yellowhammers (12), always a joy, especially on a gloomy day...

I had a drive up to Out Newton coming across another small flock of Fieldfares. One bird seemed detached from the group, glad I took another look...

Mistle Thrush

Always nice to see a Species in unusual circumstances. Sightings in the Village are always noteworthy. Last one was from the Paddock hedge and involved SIXTEEN Blackbirds feeding post-thaw...

Still time for a late addition to the Year List?

NDC

It was time for a change of scenery. So, yesterday I headed to my "other place" arriving at 10.

It was a clear pleasant morning. We had an initial walk down the boardwalk and there were plenty of Winter Thrushes present, although distant. I estimated c200 Fieldfares ...

and 50 Redwings...

After settling in the Geoff Smith Hide it soon became apparent that the thaw hasn't fully kicked in yet as 3/4 of the water present was still frozen. A cream crown Marsh Harrier was having a bathe at the far end (c 0.8 mile)...

The vast majority of the Wildfowl had obviously gone elsewhere during the big freeze. A Birder from Teeside then entered. He told me he'd been at Wheldrake and had walked down to Swantail. Same scenario apparently. He did mention he'd bumped into another Birder who told him there were 3 Bewick's Swans present at NDC at dawn! I should have...

We had a good chat before he left for Blacktoft Sands. Unfortunately just after he left I picked up the Hen Harrier (81) I was hoping to see. It had been present in the Valley for a while now but mainly at the North end. It was only in view briefly before flying West. Only my third record here. I also "had" a family of Whooper Swans (6). Great to see 4 juveniles having fun on the thin ice! 

I also had great views of a male Stonechat...in the reedbed, eventually!

On of the local Buzzards perched on the riverside fence...

Time for the obligatory Mr C's chip butty in Selby. I returned for 2 for another session. There was another Birder in the car park. I said hello as I passed him and re-entered the GSH. He joined me shortly afterwards. Turned out it was Arnie Cowan. I hadn't seen him for years, it was great to see him again. We spent the remainder of the afternoon chatting and searching. He gave you a mention Vince. Hope you are well pal. I managed to relocate the Hen Harrier for him. The initial view was again distant and not helped by the thaw...

Luckily it eventually made a flight down the reserve towards Garganey Hide (would have been nice to have been in there). Still, I managed a few pics through the gloom...

I was hoping some Swans would come in at Dusk but alas this didn't happen. However, I did here a couple of Water Rails (82). The HH was the star turn though...

Some action...at last!

I forgot to mention my 82nd Garden tick yesterday...how remiss of me! As I was watching the Test Match from the "Man Cave" aka 2nd bedroom a small flock of Lapwings (8) flew past the window. It only took 11 years!!!

Late morning today...after the Cricket of course we made our way North to the "second pill". As I approached the Cliff I noticed the tide was "in"  and nearly at the base. As I lifted my bins a Wader flew right past me from the North and dropped onto the slither of beach that remained. A tell-tale white patch on the back gave the game away...

Greenshank (P.140, H.134)

This is only my third sighting here and especially noteworthy in December. It was joined by a Redshank, which isn't a common sighting either...

Needless to say they weren't present on my return BUT 3 Barnacle Geese (H.135) heading South more than made up for it...

...again only my third sighting!!

As I was settling down in anticipation of watching the World Cup Final, Louise mentioned she'd seen just seen some birds in the field opposite from the bedroom window, that were "Pigeon-sized, dark above and white below"?

Another first after yesterday's sighting, as these birds (14) were on the ground...

Stunning birds

The WCF was a brilliant game. Pleased that Messi finally won it...

Crispy!

Finally had a "sesh" this morning after an enforced break due to...Life! The car thermometer registered -3 on departure and the road the Sewage was interesting! We set off South towards the Llama Farm; the sky was blue, the ground unsuprisingly rock hard (no muddy Buddy) and the air pure.

No sign of any Snow Buntings almost certainly due to the "cold snap". Viewing was difficult heading South due to the extremely low sun. Halfway back I noticed a bird over the water heading inland (IOS). I sorted the Lumix out just in time to grab a record shot...

Another was flushed by Bud shortly after...

I'd noticed some "Plovers" in the distance so I continued North to Intack through the harsh stubble...

Hidden from view were around 100 Golden Plovers. They gave themselves away eventually...

I also "had" around 50 mobile Lapwings, it's been a good year for them here. A couple of flushed Snipe added some interest. Plenty of Gulls on the sea but I couldn't find anything out of the ordinary. A Glaucous would be nice...it's well overdue for the Village list. The conditions are definitely favourable?

A stroll down to the Cliff at dusk...

...revealed a few Waders being pushed closer by the incoming tide. Dunlin, Ringed Plover (3) and a Turnstone.

Time for a Breather

Still here..you lucky people! Just not much to report and continuing car niggles. I called in at NDC on Tuesday on the way to my Mother's. The bridge at Bubwith was closed on my last visit if you recall, so I took the detour only to find it was open as I arrived. As I gathered my gear I could hear voices; a quick look revealed some volunteers repairing the GS Hide roof! Not my day.

After watching the Footy with my Football fanatic Mum (91) we'd planned to go for a pub lunch... until my car wouldn't start...once again. A new battery was supposed to have sorted it? After a chosen overnight wait the recovery mechanic eventually arrived and got her going. He informed me I had a faulty starter motor! Sorted now.

Birdy-wise...we've at least 4 Barn Owls around the Village...which is always special.  Not much else...then again, coverage is temporarily limited!

Quality Siteings

See what I did there?!

Firstly Holmpton on Tuesday morning. Setting off down my lane and turning towards the sea (as you can imagine, I've done this countless times before) I pass a group of mature trees that have been...er...pruned somewhat!

I always think Treecreeper. Yesterday...I was right...

A couple of record shots through the November gloom. Only my fourth for the Village.

Today I had a ride over to Duff as I needed some provisions (I've always liked Westerns) in Hull. Unfortunately Bubwith Bridge was closed which meant I arrived late and only had a couple of hours, as I wanted to get back for the Footy...of course!

As I parked the first sighting was trees full of Fieldfares (c300), feasting on the vast quantities of berries present. No doubt a few Redwings also. Unfortunately the mist was thick but the experience was sweet.

Setting up in the Geoff Smith Hide I was pleased to see the visibility was...OK. Plenty of water and therefore plenty of birds present. My favourite view, no doubt! I could sit here all day...and have done! Not today though. Huge numbers of Lapwings present, 2000 at least! Countless Wigeon and Teal with three figure numbers of the wonderful Pintail and Shoveler...

We always hope for something special though...don't we? Today it duly arrived in the form of a beautiful Great White Egret which flew in over the River from the East...

..., and thankfully alighted on the Carrs at c400yds distance. The bird was in pristine condition as it started preening on the water's edge...

A stately Species surveying its domain

It then made its way onto the grass for a short while...

...before flying back East (happy with this one considering the visibility)...

...and landing on the River...to join a Grey Heron and a Little Egret. A trio I never thought I'd see together here...

A quality bird at a quality location...