This Week

Monday afternoon found me down at Welwick. I arrived at 3 and stayed till dusk. The first hour was uneventful bar the usual suspects. Using the car as a Hide I drove slowly back and forward every so often to very my viewing angles. A traditional Site for Owls and Harriers, I didn't see any of the former BUT...

...A brief but welcome pass at distance just below the flood Bank. Very pleased with the image considering the light and distance.

Tuesday at Duff produced the fine sight of thousands of Ducks that had now (thankfully) re-located here after the thaw. It was marvellous to see the Carrs crammed with Wildfowl...

A Red Kite flew West at mid-distance. Again pleased with the image being in focus considering it was a "late grab". Living on the Coast a sighting of this Species is always noteworthy...

The water level was still significant and had attracted a Species I was hoping for...

Goldeneye

No Raptor action at during a return visit to Welwick late Wednesday but a cracking Stonechat and Yellowhammer were adequate compensation...

Yesterday involved my second trip of the week to NDC. As I left home a Red-legged Partridge was posing nicely in the sun on Snakey...

I arrived at 1 and had a pleasant couple of hours enjoying the view...

Landmark Poplars in the Distance...

15

Whooper Swans in the extreme distance on Ellerton Ings...

Three Shelduck powered North along Bubwith Ings and over Aughton Church...

It was now 3pm. A message form Richard...

Little Grebe on Broadland Pool

A potential Holmpton Tick!? I ruminated for a few minutes....

Could I make it back before dark?

Would it be there tomorrow - probably?

I decided to give it a go. I arrived back on Snakey at 4.50, Parked up and walked with Bud to the Pond. The sun had almost set but there was still enough light...

The pond was tough to view being partially obscured by Reeds and Grasses. I was going to need some luck...quickly! A pair of Mallards were present and a single Moorhen but no sign of the Grebe as it approached 5! My hopes weer fading with the light. Then a ripple...

Try not to laugh. I wouldn't even dare to call it a record shot but there it was...honest!! Just a bit of fum but I enjoyed the chase and obviously the result. This was my 197th Species for the Village if my calculations are correct and an excellent find by Richard as there are hardly any Ponds in the Village...unfortunately.

This morning I had a walk down again with Bud. After some 45 minutes I managed a better pic in the gloom...

In context...a Mega!

This Week

News of a "White Nun" at Brandesburton tempted me into action on Monday. As you know I always make an attempt to see one each Winter. Handily...because of my current situation, it didn't appear to involve a long walk!

I arrived at the Site (Dacre Lakeside Park) around Noon and parked up at the Pizzaria car park.The lake was some 200 yds across and fairly circular with only some minor reed fringes near the Cabins...

If you click the pic it's just visible!

As you can see , it was a tad dull but if a white Duck (or rather Drake) was present, it shouldn't be hard to find. It wasn't...

The Smew was distant and was lingering by the Cabins some 80 yds away. It then swam extremely fast across to the far side of the Lake...unfortunately!

I waited...and waited.Some 45 minutes later the Bird swam back across the Lake towards me and I got my pics...

It ended up in deep shade under some bushes, by some reeds, that were nearer to where I was positioned, allowing me some closer views...

It then came out of the shadows for a nice finale...

Gotta love a Drake Smew!!!

Two visits to Duff' on Tuesday and Thursday morning on my to  and back from my Mother's. Still frozen solid on Tuesday...

...which meant a virtually Bird-free Carrs...EXCEPT for a wonderful herd of 37 Whooper Swans...

...and a couple of Shelduck which were my FOY also. The Swans were as close as you get here and no doubt linked to the conditions. They eventually left in small groups, some North, some South...

Always a memorable sight

Thursday I met Haydn. A relatively uneventful session but still enjoyable. The lone Redpoll is still present. 

This morning I was tempted down the road to have a look at the Geese on Easington Straight...

A combination of Gale Force wind and poor aspect meant viewing was difficult. I did manage to pick out the Tundra Bean Goose and Russian White-fronted Geese (6) among the Pink-footed with my scope but photos were impossible.

Patch - 59

Duff - 56

Early Start

I'd arranged to meet Haydn (my ears) at NDC for an early attempt to see the wintering Willow Tit. I was chuffed to make it for 8.15 and I could see him as I pulled up. We made our way over the Bridge and headed towards the Platform. It was misty rather than foggy and was clearing slowly... 

Atmospheric

No wind which helped Haydn listen for the Bird. After around 15 minutes he picked it up and had a couple of quick glimpses, unfortunately I didn't get "on it". Maybe next time? As we returned over the Bridge we were talking about the recent Redpoll...and there it was...showing better than ever...

We headed for the Hide and the Carrs was now clear. Unfortunately it was still frozen solid despite the increase in temperature, so Birds present were still on the River and Bank. Haydn had to go around 10 and I lingered till 1. It was a steady session, I added 5 Species to the Year List, this Male Bullfinch being the pick...

A thaw soon hopefully...

Year List - 52 Species

Winter Birding

 Love it...when it's sunny!?

Haydn made the trip over on Monday when he'd made it through the Hull traffic. He jumoed in my car and we headed for the Humber to check out a few spots along the Humber. We started at Skeffling where we were greeted with this...

An unfortunate Sperm Whale which had expired some time ago! A remarkable yet sad sight. Nothing of note seen "Bird-wise". We moved onto Weeton and then Welwick, eventually connecting with a ring-tail Hen Harrier at the latter. No luck with Owls though. We had a coffee break in Patrington after checking out the Outstray. We then had a drive down to Spurn just missing the escaped Lesser White-fronted Geese in Well Field! They ended up in Holderness Field but we resisted the mild temptation. 

A sign of Spring...

Then it was back to the Village to see if the Snow Buntings were still around after the cold spell. Haydn walked the walk and I waited for positive news...

...unfortunately it didn't come. We finished off back at Welwick but still no Owls and no further sign of any HH. A good day and it was great to show him around. Always great company.

Wednesday I was over at NDC, surprise surprise! Thick fog till Howden and I must admit I was starting to consider the merits of my visit. Glad I didn't as a few miles North the sky was clear and blue and remained so throughout my visit.

A couple of White-fronted Geese had been in the area for a few days and I was hoping they might visit the Carrs. News told me they had BUT as I entered the Hide I was informed they'd just flown off South. I did see a flock of Geese in the distance as I got out of the car! Ah well.

The Carrs was still mainly frozen but looked a picture, as always, in the sunshine...

The highlight of the visit was the arrival of a skein of Pink-footed Geese that decided to land on the ice...

Always special. 

This afternoon I headed to Welwick. A marvelous last hour with Male and Ring-tail Hen Harrier, 2 Short-eared and a Barn Owl.

Duff early doors tomorrow, with Haydn...

Redpoll

Thankfully one Species now which saves one ID headache! A Rare Bird at Duff.

After a stop off at Keyingham on Friday for the lad and to enjoy the Sunrise...

...I arrived at 10 and headed for the Platform, unfortunately the ice was thick and the bridge was dodgy for the old boys, so I waited by it to see what turned up....

Quiet for a good 15 minutes then a few Blue Tits appeared. I then noticed another tiny bird low down in the grasses by the water. It was dark in there and the bird was obscured by vegetation. It then flew off into the adjacent trees? I strongly suspected something "good"? I waited.

Some 20 minutes later the bird returned to the same area, this time giving better views and enabling me to get some photos...

Lucky to grab one of the head in the sun...

This was only my 5th record, so quite a moment. The reward of Patch Birding illustrated once again.

Elated, I headed for the Hide. Stuart Rapson appeared as I grabbed my Scope. Pity he was leaving but he'd been in the deep freeze since Dawn...a brave man. We had a 15 minute chat before he moved on.

I set my stall out after scraping some ice off the windows! Unsurprisingly the Carrs and Bubwith Ings were solid but the River was high and was acting like a narrow lake for the thousands of Wildfowl present. It was a spectacular scene in the Sunshine...

The frozen conditions have some benefits, bringing some secretive Species out into the open...

Snipe. Dancing on Ice!

Others seek food in the Reeds...

A pair of Stonechats graced the Scrape also...

I made till 1 before I bailed out to thaw out!

39 Species