First Day of Spring?

Well it felt like it!

I'd just settled down in the Geoff Smith Hide (Lesser Whitethroat in the car park) when I received a report of a Little Tern at Bank Island. This would be a York Area Tick? I arrived some 15 minutes later and made my way up onto the Platform only to find Andy Holden and his wife Vicky in situ. Keen Twitchers and Scilly stalwarts. A nice surprise. We had a good chat for a good Hour whilst scanning for the LT. No sign unfortunately but a Hobby...

and a Garganey were adequate compensation. We returned to the car park, I wished them well and headed back to Duff. I had a couple of Hours but nothing of note was seen. The Little Grebe nest has thankfully survived yet another rise in water level...

After the Tesco pit stop I called in at the Sewage. First visit for quite a while due to grim weather and difficult access. I pulled up and had a scan out to sea. I managed to pick up 3 Shovelers (H.72) heading South. I checked the clifftop but couldn't see anything. Then...something...EIGHT in fact...Wheatears...

Here's three

The Birds were all in front of the car, so I was viewing through the windscreen. They were in a tight group, very unusual...at least to me! They disappeared as quickly as they had arrived. It was all over in a couple of minutes. Plenty around along the Coast, maybe held back by the prolonged Northerlies...which return tomorrow! It was nice while it lasted...

Spoonbill!

Three "incidental" records today. Firstly, 5 Shelduck on Snakey (a record count for this location) as I took the old girl (the V70 that is) for her MOT. . Thankfully she passed with flying colours, which was a BIG relief after recent expenditure.

On the return leg a superb male Marsh Harrier (H.70), also along Snakey on the North side.

Last and certainly not least a SPOONBILL (H.71) SW over Seaside Lane on the afternoon Dog Walk. No pics but three significant sightings...especially the last one...which was my 195th Species for the Village.

Update: I was thinking it was the Flamborough Bird BUT that's still in the area this evening. News has just broken that another flew South from Hornsea earlier which would almost certainly be "my" Bird.

You never know...

Swift addition

3 hours at Duff on Wednesday 11 till 3. Been busy last couple of days!

Superb start with my joint earliest British Swift (78). It WAS my earliest for NDC. Chuffed. No doubt brought down by a sudden squall on arrival.

A pair of Scoter were still dozing out in the middle. Great to see the Little Grebes taking turns on the nest. Still enjoying close views of the drake Pochards (7) on the scrape; a lone female joined them and was quite popular!

c40 Black -tailed Godwits were still around accompanied by 8 Ruff. Then...a Merlin (79)!!! A BIG surprise and enthusiastically accepted !

Another year addition came in the form of a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls (80) at the North end...

My first Swallows (81) definitely didn't make a summer!

Half a dozen Little Egrets were present but no sign of Tuesday's Cattle... unfortunately!

It must warm up soon, mustn't it?

NDC 81

Swallow (68) and House Martin (69) have arrived in the Village. I'm sure Sand Martins have at Old Hive...but I haven't been down there yet!

Rare Passage

Had my feet up mid-afternoon watching the Snooker when I received a tweet from one of the local York Birders. It included a distant pic of a phalacrocorax sp but it was impossible to determine which? I HAD to go, as it was a potential Duff Tick. 

75 minutes later I was opening the door to the Geoff Smith Hide. Chris Gomersal was present and had already decided the Shag was a Cormorant!

Ah well. I have seen Shag in the York Area. I saw a Bird at Wheldrake Ings on June 4th, 1989.

However, the journey was far from wasted. NDC was enjoying the Arctic Tern passage...in a BIG way. We estimated c50 Birds present but there would undoubtedly be more as Birds were leaving and dropping in as we scanned. It's impossible to be precise in these situations. Suffice to say this was a MEGA event for yours truly at his beloved Site...

I have only three previous records...

May 1st, 2004 - 3 Birds

May 4th 2012 - 12 Birds

April 13th 2024 - 1 Bird

Black-tailed Godwits

At least 50 Birds present and some summer plumage Ruff amongst them...

Amazingly another notable record came in the form of 5 Common Scoter (77) having a nap in the far NW corner! I've had worse hours. The watch was enhanced by still conditions, if a tad overcast.

The truncated evening dog walk on return, produced 7 Teal (67) offshore...

LDV

Yet another brutal day on the Coast yesterday (and today) had me heading inland to NDC to meet Haydn at 10.

The plan wasn't looking to clever as the temperature dropped from 12 to 7 in a squall between Howden and Bubwith!

Fortunately it passed, allowing me to make my way to the Geoff Smith Hide. It was pleasing to see Barry Bishop and Stuart Rapson already "in situ". They informed me a Barnacle Goose (73) was present. Always contentious but happy to take it as a Year Tick.

Haydn arrived to make a welcome foursome.

A Sedge Warbler (74) struck up. A nice group of 7 drake Pochards on the flooded scrape was very unusual, giving superb close views...

Missed One!

Conditions were still "challenging" with a strong NW wind in our faces. The sky did clear giving us a blue sky at least. A few Sand Martins (75) battled North. I was pleased to pick out a small flock of 17 Black-tailed Godwits (76) arrowing West then North over the River. 

Jono Ledley arrived with his group, after a few words they headed down to Garganey Hide. It was pleasing to see the Little Grebes had built a new nest despite the changing water levels. Tough stuff. We swapped Hides later but nothing more of significance was seen. A Coot almost entered the Hide...

After lunch at Mr C's I decided on a whim to head for Wheldrake Ings, tempted by the sp Slavonian Grebe. I rarely get "up North" these days as I'm Site paranoid lol! I always wonder what I'm missing at Duff? The sky was clear but the wind was still strong. After a few issues I made the car park and started the walk to Tower Hide. Many memories of earlier days came flooding back. I first came here in 1986 after moving to Wilberfoss from Scunthorpe. The old Tower Hide was still going then...just...complete with swaying and creaking in the wind! Good times Tim.

As I entered the Hide I saw Jono Ledley and his group again heading down towards the Refuge. Once in the Hide I started to scan the still extensive flood. A decent flock of Black-tailed Godwits (c40) was present, hiding in the emerging grass. I couldn't locate "the Grebe" so I gave Johnno a ring. He said it was showing behind the "Cormorant hedge" further South. I stayed in Tower for a while hoping it would show but there was still no sign, so I walked down to the screen.

A Birder called Keith was present and after a chat we were both looking at the little jewel, at some distance...unfortunately. Still I'd seen it and it looked VERY smart through the 'scope. A rare opportunity to see this Species, in this Plumage...in this AREA!!!

More memories as I made my way back to the car. The path was mud when I used to tread this way...

Luxury these days!

A new bridge also...

Time to head home...but I will return...

Re-Start

I always find it difficult to re-adjust after a Trip. It's like post Christmas when you've opened all your presents! The British climate doesn't help!!

A combination of weariness and poor weather has meant a slow re-introducion to British Birding. I had a ride over to Duff yesterday via Skipwith Common to see Haydn. We had a stroll around and a good "catch up"but didn't see much.

We checked out the platform and both hides at NDC in pleasant conditions. I was amazed how high the water level was...maybe I shouldn't have been! At least we could get into Garganey Hide. BIG surprise was a brief Arctic Tern which drifted across the reserve and disappeared South all in the space of  a couple of minutes! Only my 3rd record. We also had a drake Scaup, 2 Goldeneye, 4 Shelduck, 4 Pochard, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank, 2 Little Egrets, cc Marsh Harrier and a Red Kite.

We bumped into Elaine and John Heaton also. It was good to see them both again. 

Good to get "back in the saddle" again.

NDC - 72 Species

…….....................................

This morning I had a stroll down the reconstructed Runnel, on the strength of news from down the road that an influx of Wheatears had occurred. I managed a distant, brief, very fine male. A singing Willow Warbler in the hedge was unusual but welcome. A pair of Yellowhammers close by reminded me of "home"...

Holmpton - 57 Species

A few final thoughts on Cyprus 24...tomorrow...

Cyprus 24 - Reflections (3)

A couple more Posts on my Trip. We don't want too many "Reflections"...do we?

Time to cut to the "nitty gritty". My best Sightings and Moments. I've finished editing my pics, so I'll "flower" this one up with a few images (of varying quality!) were appropriate. I will post a full List in the next Post...for the Record.

WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER - no doubt the greatest thrill of the Trip was connecting with this Island MEGA. Worth a repeat I feel...

ASIAN DESERT WARBLER - Missed the first, got the second! A different image...

CITRINE WAGTAIL - with help from Peter Wragg and Google Maps!

LESSER SAND PLOVER - time will tell?

Red-crested Pochard - memorable views at Oroklini Lake...

Black Francolin...a common if elusive Species on the Island. Heard far more than seen. To photograph two males together at Mandria was both unusual and very special for me...

Greater Flamingo...Only seen in the East this Year...always special...

Great Spotted Cuckoo - always on the most "wanted list". Again heard far more than seen, I had several flight views at various locations and managed to "catch" a pair at Kivilisi while searching for Lesser Kestrels....

Greater Sand Plover - a couple of beauties on the Headland at Paphos. A wintering Species and passage Birds do occur...

Slender-billed Gull - plenty seen around Larnaca Salt Lake but difficult to photograph due to distance, approachability and heat haze...

Audouin's Gull - more Larid royalty. I got lucky when I tried a Beach at Oroklini. Very satisfying...

Pallas's Gull - a long anticipated addition. Pleased to "find my own".

Long-legged Buzzard - a couple of connections at Kidasi and Theletra...

Lesser Kestrel -  a couple of visits to Kivilisi proved successful...

Short-eared Owl - to see one drifting over the Beach Bar at Mandria (Louise present of course) late afternoon while photographing Wheatears, was truly a surreal moment...

Red-rumped Swallow - great views at Nata Ford...

Masked Shrike - Seen at the Archaeological Site and Troodos. A good Year for me, seeing at least 8 Birds...

Red-throated Pipit...Spent a fabulous hour watching this Bird feeding unconcerned, at almost point blank range along the Coastal footpath at Paphos...

Calandra Lark - At least 4 Birds seen well displaying at Perivolia...

Cyprus Warbler - I really enjoyed my morning at Mavrokolympos Dam, finding and finally photographing this Species, which isn't that common in the West of the Island...

Spectacled Warbler - a tiny, local and elusive Warbler...

Ruppell's Warbler - I always try hard to see this stunner...this one popped up out of nowhere at Meneou Pools, Larnaca while I was photographing Flamingoes...

Common Redstart - superb close views in the sunshine early in the Trip...

Rock Thrush - A amazing experience just 5 minutes from our apartment. My second visit late afternoon will linger long in the memory, as I watched the Bird alone as the sun set...

Blue Rock Thrush - my only sighting was on the AS...

Eastern Black-eared Wheatear...a stunner on the Archaeological Site...

Cretzschmar's Bunting... a scattering seen at various locations...

Thinking that just about covers my memorable moments. Hope you enjoyed the Post and maybe you found something useful if you're planning a visit yourself in the future?

I'll do a final Post soon with a few more "reflections" once I've figured out what some of my "other" photos are!

Stay tuned...