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Sunday, 31 December 2023
Review of the Year 2023
Friday, 29 December 2023
Visiting Over!
Ellerton Church |
Aughton Church |
Monday, 25 December 2023
Wednesday, 20 December 2023
Christmas Cracker
A cracking Male! |
Turnstones (9) feeding on seed |
Tuesday, 19 December 2023
Early Finish
Today's session at NDC was curtailed due to a misplaced delivery back home for which I had to return home...pronto! Great to receive all the updates...until you get sent a photo of your parcel left outside someone else's front door!!! These things happen...too often?
The forecast was for a day clearing from the West, which transpired, trouble was, I was back on the A63 after a couple of hours heading East. Anyway before I left I had a few decent sightings and some excellent company. On arrival in the GSH a gentleman was already in situ. He informed me he'd seen Scaup on the river plus a few Ruff and Dunlin on the now exposed riverbank. We started to chat and it turned out he was a local Birder from Stamford Bridge called Stuart Rapson (I said I'd give you a mention)! He told me he'd got back into Birding fairly recently after retirement. I told him it was the perfect pastime to accompany it. He also mentioned he'd looked for the Drake Smew at Thorganby early doors without success. This was backed up when another Birder arrived having had a similar negative result. Hope to bump into you again soon pal.
I sorted the problem out on my return but that was the day was ruined to be honest. Never mind...
Thursday, 14 December 2023
Old Friends
Excellent liquid lunch today with my former PE Teacher pals in York. We go back a long way (1991) and had some great laughs together to help us through the day. It was brilliant to see them both again.
I had a couple of hours at Duff beforehand...
Friday, 8 December 2023
Interesting
Wednesday, 6 December 2023
Here Today
The sun shone locally today which was very much appreciated. Underfoot it was still rather...damp to put it mildly but the blue sky and still conditions more than made up for it.
After an initial stretch up at Cliff Farm (Buzzard gliding along the beach the highlight) we stopped of on Snakey "Wetlands"! The amount of surface water this Winter is unprecedented in my 12 years here and this is understandably attracting more Birds than usual on the normally bleak arable land. The PFG were present in force by the new Sewage Works near Hollym...
Also present was the largest flock of Lapwings (c200) I have ever seen here...
Little Egret (3) |
More white objects...just bigger...
Mute Swan (4) |
THREE record counts, no less!!! Pun intended.
On returning to the car I spotted a covey of Grey Partridges (10)...crossing the road...
Tuesday, 5 December 2023
Definitely There rather than Here!
I was then joined by John Heaton who lives just down the road. It was good to see him again. We chatted about various things "Birdy" and he complemented me on my Blog, which was appreciated. We picked up some Red Kites, Marsh Harriers and Buzzards distantly to the North but most of the Wildfowl was tucked up to the far NW of the reserve. The light was improving slightly but viewing was still challenging.
Monday, 4 December 2023
Timing
Today is a write off with grim, dark, cold and wet conditions, further enhancing my desire to "Winter abroad". Hopefully one day...SOON!!!
However, it won't be this Winter, or next come to that! There ARE aspects that I do like... but not many. I obviously like Birding locally and Duff is a pleasure BUT the grey days are far to frequent for my liking. So, I've just got to make the most of it...for now.
Today's wash out further enhanced my luck yesterday. To be honest it was a miracle connection considering the circumstances already aired. To return to Wheldrake Ings where I hadn't been for quite some time was a bonus to the twitch, bringing back many memories from years gone by.
My chances of connecting would have been close to zero without the presence of Duncan and Craig. A huge area and a tiny bird in fading light are not a good combination. Reward for Duncan on his Patch and well earned no doubt.
Historical ties to the York Area definitely enhance my Birding...
Sunday, 3 December 2023
Purple Sandpiper - 1st for the York Area!
A potential York Area addition!
Bearing in mind I'd driven from Bury I was er ...knackered. I had a decision to make. I reckoned I could make it for 2 but would the traffic and weather be kind? Only one way to find out. I made it through Hull no problem but as I reached Howden I was aware of the dreaded...fog. Onward. Fortunately knowing the area well obviously helped as I made my way through North Duffield and Thorganby. I turned down the very familiar Wheldrake Lane hoping I could reach the car park. I couldn't...
A record Blob! |