So after a Greggs Bacon sarny at Hedon I started my Patch Year at Stone Creek. It was a sunny yet "Baltic" day with thankfully little wind.
The whole area is still "under plough"... unfortunately...
...which meant an absence of Owls and Harriers. A dung heap I checked last year produced a Grey Wagtail...guess what...
A quality early addition in this area. Other additions included Lapwing (c100), Curlew (c50) and Redshank (4) in the Creek.
I moved on to Sunk Island adding Little Grebe and Little Egret in the "BLACK STORK" channel. As I was heading towards Patrington Haven I noticed a large herd of Swans...
Through the glasses I was sure some were Whoopers...it was time for the 'Scope. I tallied 28 with 20 Mute. Nice...and unexpected.
I spent the last 90 minutes of daylight watching Pat' Haven which has settled down nicely after the new sculpturing. A trio of Short-eared Owls kept me entertained...from the car! I notched a late Marsh Harrier but no Hen... unfortunately.
A small flock of Golden Plover (14) passed over among the many Lapwing (c200) and a pair of Gadwall was a bonus.
No surprises on Snakey BUT a Barn Owl by the Old Sewage and a calling Tawny as I entered the Cottage was a nice finish to the day.
Yesterday I had a cruise around the Village. No rush (as if there could be!), just seeing what came my way. A drumming GSW as I loaded the car was a nice start. A quality start at Cliff Farm with a Woodcock "in off" at the lamentable ruins...
A calling lone Curlew was soon picked up in flight. I drove down to Rysome Rd and located a decent flock of Lapwing which included a bonus 13 Golden Plover. The Farm was hosting a large flock of Chaffinch (c50) which included a lone Goldfinch...no Brambling unfortunately. My first Fieldfares (2) were also seen here.
My Barn Owl total increased to 3 with a couple on Snakey combined with an unexpected Little!
Patch - 43 Species
Village - 29 Species
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