A "Flock" of Garganey!

Early post this morning as the Weather is poor. So, I thought I'd share my rather spiffing visit to Duff yesterday afternoon/evening.

Just to mention I had my FOY Yellow Wagtails (P.94, H.77) on the Bud walk (in the rain of course) before we set off...

Yet another "Snakey special"

Stuart Rapson posted on Twitter that he'd had THREE Drake Garganey from the Geoff Smith Hide!!! I had to take Louise into Hull to pick her car up, so it seemed a natural thing to do to carry on to NDC! I arrived at 3 and headed straight to the Hide. I started to scan and noticed that the water level had dropped significantly BUT thankfully, there was still plenty of open water visible...far more than usual for this date.

After around 15 minutes I found a couple (94). They were mobile and elusive through the emergent vegetation...

My first for SIX years!!!

Great to see them again, back where they belong. As we know every Year is different, which adds to the mystique of our wonderful pastime.

The 2 Hobbies were still feeding on Mayflies along the River, which is another VERY special event not to be downgraded. It was great to see a few Swifts low over the water brought down by the inclement weather. Then...a Cuckoo (95) called, not seen...but still special. A flock of 7 Ringed Plover flew off high East...a big surprise! Grebes are still represented, with 4 Little and 4 Great Crested still present...at least! One of the Little pair are attempting their 4th nest build on the scrape.

Then a large slice of luck...a lone Duck approached from the West, it could only be one Species...fortunately it landed on the scrape briefly...

Landmark!

Elaine arrived with a friend just in time to get a glimpse before it departed. Just the tonic for a dull, wet day. After chatting for a while, in which time I spotted a "resident" Whooper Swan (apparently there are a few around which haven't migrated for whatever reason) I made my way down to Garganey Hide...it seemed the logical thing to do!

A Sedge Warbler was singing on arrival but was difficult to see through the bushes...

Eventually, he gave himself away...

I was now hoping for a better view of the Star Bird/s...

A couple of House Martins (96) fed over the water. A male Gadwall fed close...

Subtly stunning

Then, it happened...one appeared in the ditch...

...and promptly...disappeared!

Then one to the left...

A different Bird? I'm extremely wary of over-counting but I was sure the answer was yes on this occasion. 5 had been reported earlier but would I see five...at once? I got my answer!!!!

This sight has to be "right up there" in my experiences at Duff over the Years (37). To see FIVE Drakes together on the recently exposed "Bund" was a dream...yet reality. Timing. Had to be Birds fresh in and resting IMHO. I dare to suggest there can't be many occasions when this has happened in Yorks? The next hour was bliss as I enjoyed "crippling views" at close range from the aptly named (by Elaine) Garganey Hide...

A scale view for posterity!

I messaged Tim Dixon (Hi Tim) who informed me he was instrumental in the construction of the Hide...he was mildly envious! The Birds toured all sides of the Hide. I've never had such prolonged close views of this Species and to get them on my Patch...well!

An initial BOC...

An occasion to be savoured...

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This morning I had a couple of late Red-throated Divers at the end of Seaside...

...and my FOY Gannet (77)!

Don't tell anyone...

Watching my back

Egrets

It was time for an evening visit to NDC yesterday on the strength of 2 sightings of Cattle Egret...another Species on the "possible addition" short-list! Sightings are becoming more frequent in the Valley these days, as are Great White Egret (one was present on arrival)...always special in my book. More breeding ...more records!

A detour was taken en route due to the presence of a pair of stunning White-winged Black Terns at North Cave Wetlands. Many years since I'd visited this Site...I remember when it was first created! It was understandably busy on arrival, I found a parking space then realized I needed to be further down the track. As I reversed, a car came hurtling down the track sounding its horn and sending clouds of dust into the air, covering anyone in range. Disappointing.

Having reached the end of the track I parked up  and joined the thankfully small group scanning the pool. The Birds weren't present but eventually showed for some time at c200 yds...

A good decision

It reminded me of the superb close views I had of one at Kilnsea Wetlands; June 17.

Anyway, I eventualy arrived at NDC at 3 and left at 8. No luck with the potential addition but a wonderful relaxed experience in sublime conditions...

The aforementioned Great White Egret was present throughout although it did roam the reserve...

The Bird looked stunning in its breeding finery...

A pair of Common Terns patrolled the River...

Great to see a Greylag creche in the bottom corner...

A couple of Hobbies appeared briefly again over the River. A distant image of a feeding Bird...

The Pochard "flock" remain around the "scrape". 7 Drakes and 2 Females present...VERY unusual at this "late" date...lovin' the close views...

I sneaked another Year tick as 8 Ringed Plover (89) did a circuit.

So, no CE...but it's only a matter of time...

You may have heard about the Aurora?!!! I had a peep out around 11 and WOW...

It helped that we don't have street lights in our little Village. Standing on our doorstep watching this will live long in the memory!!!

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This morning I was driving along Snakey to Patrington when I checked out the "drying scrape". I'd had high hopes for this spot, as it's VERY unusual to have standing water here in May. AT LAST I was rewarded for my constant checking. 4 Birds present...Oystercatcher, Turnstone...and 2 Little Ringed Plovers.

Difficult through the fret (yet another) BUT you can see the leg colour and white behind the "headband"...

Landmark moment

A passing Buzzard meant their stay was brief, underlining the need to check as regularly as possible! 

My 196th Species for my Village. Marvelous! 4 to go...

Spring forward

An early Dog walk down to the Cliff yesterday paid off with a surprisingly late Eider (P.93, H.74) powering South? The only Bird I saw out to Sea in 20 minutes! Rewarding.

I'd had enough of the East Coast "fret" so guess where I headed?

I arrived around 10.30. John Heaton was already in the GS Hide and he told me he'd seen a Great White Egret over on Bubwith Ings...

John mentioned he'd read my Blog and seen the post on the Hobbies. I joked I'd try and find him one; 20 minutes later...I did! Eventually we were looking at 3, albeit distantly. John was extremely pleased to enjoy this spectacle, as was I.

My decision had paid off in spades as it was a beautiful Spring morning with sunshine and a gentle Southerly. It became apparent that an influx of Great Crested Grebes has occurred...a scarce Species here. After around 30 minutes I was happy there were 6 birds present...a Site record! Fortunately one came really close at Garganey Hide...

A Whitethroat came close and gave me a blast......

A distant Sedge Warbler appeared in the Reeds on the scrape...

John left joking that something would then turn up...again...it did...in a BIG way. I started my umpteenth scan and picked up a pale blob at the far North End. It looked "good"...

View at c1 Mile

...a zoom view confirmed my suspicions...

AVOCET (NDC LIFE 168)

As you can imagine this was a landmark moment for yours truly after 37 Years!!! Probably my most wanted of "likely" additions...and to find it...was doubly sweet. I tried to contact John but there was no reply. The essence of Patch Birding was totally encapsulated...right here. Just to confirm the moment, amazingly another bird emerged from behind a bush!

I then went down to Garganey Hide and joined Pete who was photographing the GCG. I had another excellent hour here chatting about various topics with him, it was the first opportunity I'd had. Again, great company as we shared similar views. During our chat he mentioned he hadn't seen Peregrine for a while. I suggested that they'd probably moved off to breeding areas (although they do nest on York Minster). No sooner had I said that than I picked up 2 Birds again at the North end. As usual they were being mobbed by the dreaded Crows but they did land in a tree briefly before disappearing. A nice bonus.

Gadwall were still well represented and a tight flock of some 30 Birds dropped in close by...

A few Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Pochard are also still present, no doubt due to the higher than "normal" water level. Mute Swans are approaching 50 individuals. A Lesser Black-backed Gull lingered on the Riverbank and a lone Oystercatcher was keeping the AVOCETS company.

A top session.

Year 88

What a Hobby!

Arrived at NDC at 10. I reckoned it was the best place to be considering the forecast. As usual it was inaccurate and the rain didn't arrive till 1. No matter, I had an excellent 4 hour session shared with Haydn and Tim Jones. Quality company.

The undoubted highlight was the late appearance of a Hobby (D.82) over the scrape. Always special and it gave great views taking Mayflies in the rain. A few of my soft focus specials!

A Sparrowhawk lingered for quite a while...

Other highlights were...

Arctic Tern

Common Tern (D.83)

Black-tailed Godwit 3

Little Egret 7

Snipe

Forecast better here tomorrow. I may pop down the road...if the Collared Flycatcher is still present?