BWP (2)

I made the trip over to Finningley yesterday afternoon as news came through that the Black-winged Pratincole was still in the area. The Bird performed brilliantly but unfortunately, it stayed South of the road, around the pool for the entirety of my 4 hour visit! Tantalizingly, it made a couple of flights VERY close to the Boundary at Fiftyeights Road BUT I couldn't be certain it had crossed it?!

However, the visit gave me chance to glean some information about it's previous movements. Having weighed up the opinions, I left at 6, clear on my strategy for the following morning.

I arrived early and retraced my steps. This was a strange scenario as most were just here to see it at the pool to the South. I was here to see it in Yorkshire! I tucked myself away in a spot that gave me a clear view North of the road in line with the pool. I needed to concentrate...not talk!!! I would have a much more time here as opposed to viewing over the trees from the South.

The tactics were simple...scan all Birds coming in from the North. It took a while but eventually I picked it up before it crossed the road. I had my Yorkshire Tick (402).

Local Proximity - Always a Bonus!

After last Weekends disappointment, I had another opportunity today to add a quality Bird to a List. Something always turns up...eventually.

As previously mention, when I moved out here to the East Coast, one of the advantages was going to be that I would be adjacent to Spurn. This would be rather handy if something "good" appeared. Today was such a day.

First news broke at 3.16 on the Spurn WhatsApp...

LONG-TOED STINT possibleadult (or LEAST SANDPIPER) photographed flying west through Kilnsea Wetlands

I've seen both in Yorkshire but neither at Spurn.

3.33 Another WhatsApp message...

The Stint Sp is currently on Kilnsea Wetlands

Time for a drive down. 20 minutes later I was approaching the busy Hide. A few familiar faces were present as I luckily found a space on a bench... and waited. The Bird had walked around the other side of a spit and wasn't in view, just to add to the occasion. Fortunately it re-appeared after some 15 minutes in the company of a Ringed Plover.

The Bird started to move around the scrape...

I was hoping the Bird would continue towards the Hide but alas it turned and headed away...and I headed for the car...

It transpired that the Bird was a LEAST SANDPIPER, my 321st Species for Spurn. I've seen a couple previously in Britain. My LIFE Bird was at Pagham Harbour in 1995 and my Yorkshire Bird was at Blacktoft Sands in 1999.

The Bird flew off South at 5.38.

So things have picked up as the week has progressed. After dipping the Pratincole at "Least" I connected with this one. Couldn't resist!

Inside Info - Always a Bonus!

News of a Black-winged Pratincole just outside the County at Finningley, Notts on Saturday got the Listing juices "sort of" flowing? There was one report from Potteric Carr...which is in Yorkshire.

A touch of dodgy detective work found me trying to figure out how close to the Border it was. I couldn't confirm the Boundary, so I retired on Saturday none the wiser. Early news on Sunday informed me the Bird was still present but I wasn't going to travel as I'd seen this Species elsewhere in Britain. I was still slightly uneasy as I wasn't familiar with this Site even using Google Satellite view.

7.39 Black-winged Pratincole, Finningley SOUTH YORKSHIRE!!!

My question was answered...VERY close!

Harry Hindsight kicked in. Could I have dug deeper for info? Maybe but being a private sort of chap with limited contacts I don't think so? Turns out the road along where the pools are is actually the Border! So basically it had flown North of the road and was now in Yorkshire! Oh dear I thought.

I grabbed my gear and headed West. Would it wait for me? Answer...No! A message at 9.15 informed me the Bird had flown back South of the Road and remained there all day before flying of South mid-evening. The Bird didn't return and hasn't been seen since.

Apparently a few made it but must have had early info from Birders on Site. Fair enough.

Years ago I set a target of trying to reach 500 for Britain and 400 for Yorkshire. I've lived long enough to achieve both. So I'm happy. I'll still give it my best shot for both Lists depending on circumstances but dipping doesn't sting these days. I've mellowed with age lol!

VERY quiet locally at the moment...