I had my first outing after the Holiday yesterday. Guess where I went?!
I met Haydn in the Geoff Smith Hide just after 10 and we enjoyed a good selection of Species. Thankfully there's still a decent amount of visible water. The first surprise was a distant Peregrine perched on a fence post. It remained throughout. Other Raptors present were Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard and Kestrel. Haydn picked out 8 Pink-footed Geese and a nearby Egyptian Goose. A Blackcap was singing nearby as were Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. Great to hear Curlews singing also.
I'm guilty these days of not always checking my messages as soon as the alert sounds...unless it's a MEGA of course! Anyway, around Noon I took a look at the morning highlights...
North Yorkshire, Wryneck, Skipwith Common along Sandy Lane
You may remember that Skipwith Common is Haydn's Patch! I turned to him and gave him the News. He looked stunned and didn't react immediately, as if he couldn't believe it. Time to move. I told him to go ahead and I'd meet him there. I saw my FOY Swallow as we left. I knew the area the Bird had been seen in and was confident I could make my way there. When I arrived, I found Haydn and he informed me the Bird had been seen but not by him. Chris Gomersall and Oliver Metcalfe had seen it before he arrived. We all continued to search for the Bird. There were quite a few people about due to the Easter Holidays but it wasn't too busy. I remained on the track hoping it might pop out. I then saw Chris further along and he gave a light whistle and waved his hand. I made the 30 yards to where he was stood and there in the bushes was the Bird!!! Haydn appeared and also saw it, as did Oliver.
The Wryneck was in view for some 45 seconds before dropping down and wasn't seen again at that spot. Haydn and I had a prolonged flight view (which was nice) later but we didn't see it again before we left around 2. So, a MEGA Patch Tick for Haydn and a YA Tick for yours truly. So lucky that I chose this day to travel over and for Haydn to have the day off work!
This event has definitely re-foccused me regarding British Birding after my Trip. With the lumping of the Redpolls my Total for the York Area stands at 240.