This Week

Edited Post

Monday started well when I as fortunate enough to see 2 White-fronted Geese in the Village at the start of Snakey Lane..

I was hoping some might stop off during the National influx.

A steady session at NDC accumulating 36 Species. Unfortunately the River had breached again...

White-fronted and Bean Geese still around. Had a nice chat with a Lady from Huddersfield, she was impressed on her first visit. A Marsh Harrier came unusually close to the Hide...

The undoubted highlight of the visit was the c150 Black-tailed Godwits that wheeled over the Reserve for a good 10 minutes...

Had a drive down to Spurn on Tuesday to get the Lists belatedly rolling...

I started at Walker Butts with the Geese. I couldn't find any Bean but I had 11 White-fronted...

I also picked out a pair of Gadwall which was unexpected...

Long Bank Marsh looked well and was teaming with Birds. Plenty of Brent Geese, Black-tailed Godwits, Curlew and more. Whilst checking the Grey Geese again 10 Barnacles appeared over the Bank...

Checking the Swans out on Easington Straight I was pleased to see 17 Whoopers with the Mutes...

The Irony!

I checked out Skeffling and Weeton before finishing up on Snakey with no more significant sightings.

Wednesday I headed back to NDC blown by the bitter Easterly. Once in the shelter of the GSH I set my stall out. It was immediately obvious (even to me) that there were fewer Birds on view...not necessarily present?

It was predictably choppy in the moderate ESE wind and water was still pouring onto the Reserve from the Derwent. It was encouraging to see 3 Little Grebes around the Scrape, even though you couldn't see it! 

Then, a young visitor called Sam from South Yorkshire. We got on fine and spent a very pleasant couple of hours chatting on different topics. These included Teaching, Cyprus, Old Cars and...Birds of course!

He taught Geography (my second Subject); he was going to Cyprus in April (I'll be there); his Car is older than mine (we have similar views)!!

I tried to find the/a Scaup for him but failed unfortunately. We did enjoy great views of c70 White-fronted Geese in flight, as they arrived off the adjacent fields. Sam eventually left to try for Waders at Bubwith Bridge. Hopefully we'll meet again, maybe you'll see this?

More Geese eventually arrived and included 2 Tundra Bean. 

This is indeed a VERY special Winter on the Carrs which I like to think I'm FULLY appreciating.

So much so that I returned again on Friday! The water level is dropping...at last. Still too high for a comprehensive selection but starting to get there. I added a surprise Goldcrest to the Year List...