Monday started on Skippy with Haydn before we moved onto Duff at 11. No luck with Woodlark unfortunately. Once ensconced we enjoyed a good session.
Highlights...
40 White-fronted Geese
Spotted Redshank
c200 Black-tailed Godwits
5 Oystercatchers
Great White Egret
Male Sparrowhawk
The Carrs is looking a picture (except for the heavy cloud) now with optimum water levels for most Species...
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| Islands forming |
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| Spits forming |
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| Dabbling Ducks moving in |
Another pleasure of Patch watching on a flood plain is observing the subtle (and not so subtle) changes in conditions and habitat. A Great White Egret finally gave "great" views...
...before flying back towards Bubwith...
Coots starting to do what Coots do...
As I left I noticed a huge number of Swans across the road on the Farm fields. I pulled over and estimated at least 200 Whoopers...
Once back on the Coast I checked a few local Sites for an early Wheatear. No luck but 6 Red-throated Divers close in off the Old Sewage was a nice surprise...
Tuesday afternoon I had a ride down Pat' Haven. Still no sign of any Avocets. I checked out the large Greylag flock in the adjacent fields. I'd had some Pinkfeet there recently, you may recall? To dark-headed Birds stood out, even with the naked eye and despite the unfavourable aspect? They warranted a closer look.
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| Orange Bill and distinctive head profile |
I'd found a couple of Tundra Bean Geese!
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| Size and leg colour comparison |
Always better to "find your own"!
Wednesday started earl as I'd arranged to take a Steve Lawton up into the Wolds to try Raven and Peregrine, hopefully the latter hadn't lived up to the latin meaning!? We started at Skippy and bumped into Dave Tate. Still no Woodlark but we had a good chat before moving on to "you know where"! We did hear some yaffling but alas no views.
23 White-fronted Geese appeared after some time in front of Garganey Hide...
...and we picked out the continuing Spotted Redshank ...
...as well as a FOY Ringed Plover (81). I also added Linnet (82).Some 45 Whooper Swans were present at the far end but 4 decided to fly across to the Farm giving us superb flight views...
Around 11.30 we decided to head for the Hills. It took us around an hour to reach the area and we pulled up at the same spot I'd watched with Haydn. Immediately we could hear..."cronk, cronk" and one bird was in view across the valley...
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| Exuding power |
It was nice to see the "sheen" in the sunshine on this beautiful afternoon. It was soon joined by a second bird...
We both remarked how they looked longer-winged than the pestering Buzzards. They also seemed totally unconcerned by the hassle.
The Peregrines also gave an amazing prolonged show all over the area for quite some time. The weather was obviously helping, being the warmest day of the Year so far.
We also saw a couple of Red Kites as well as c8 Buzzards. It was an idyllic couple of Hours. After saying goodbye to Steve I made my way back through Hull and noticed the obvious presence of numerous Lesser Black-backed Gulls by the Docks, so I pulled over and got a pic of one on a Lamp post...
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| A sign of Spring |
After a great day, things went South on the Hedon Bypass when my Gearbox packed up!! I managed to get her home with the help of my Breakdown cover. She'll have to sit there now until I return from Cyprus. We leave on Saturday morning. Hopefully I can get her fixed?
I'll hopefully be Blogging from Paphos, so stay tuned...
p.s. I haven't forgotten my Oman Summary but I'll need more time to do it justice. Maybe one for the looooong Summer Days...
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