Patrington Haven

Made the trip down to the estuary this morning for high tide (12.30). Love the open space down there...

A couple of distant cc Marsh Harriers were a fine if distant sight. I managed a barely identifiable image of one...

Further down the track I could see the familiar swirling of waders...

Very smart on closer inspection...

A special place...

Greylag Goose (Anser anser)...c300

Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)...c800

European Teal (Anas crecca)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)...8

Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)...2cc

Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)...family of 4

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)...c15

Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)...c30

Red Knot (Calidris canutus)...c1000

Dunlin (Calidris alpina)...c1000

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)...c30

Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)

Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)

Common Gull (Larus canus)

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus argentatus)

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)

Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)

Swallow (Hirundo rustica)...c100

Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)

Blackbird (Turdus merula)

Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)

Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus)

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)

British Bird Watching Fair - a change of mind!

Old school title!

Woke up early this morning and made a typically impulsive decision to have a ride down to Rutland. The decision was partly fuelled by the imminent visit of yet another tradesman.  Hope you've had better luck with your selections that I have lately! Enough said.

Having said that I had a great team sort my roof out. Justroofing thoroughly recommended! Didn't need another day of bang and crash...so I left Louise to sort this one out!!

Double sausage Mc (no egg) and coffee and I was on my way south. I arrived around 9.30 and headed straight for the optics tent for a play. I just can't resist. My optics history is a long one which I won,t bore you with. Suffice to say that I've spent/wasted a fair amount dithering over "the best" bins.

Comparing models and makes is difficult...for me at least. 8 or 10, 32 or 42, bulk, flat field etc etc. I took my beloved 8x32 trinnies (purchased off Ebay for £400) to compare with the latest stellar models. The latest offering comes from Zeiss, the SF model. Modestly advertised as "the world's best binoculars". They should be at £2,000+!!!

I spent a relaxing hour visiting the various stands which we're surprisingly and pleasingly quiet. So, what did I think I hear you cry? Still not sure...and that's the point. None of them warrant spending between £1,500 and £2000 updating my Trinovids. In fact my little gems outperformed some of them...which was very pleasing and slightly perplexing. Some are definitely brighter, which should mean better? Not for me. I don't do longwinded.

Resolution is the key - defined as "the fineness of detail that can be distinguished in an image". Isn't that what we Birders require the most?

So, I saved myself a fortune. That's paid for the Mallorca holiday...

Calm before the Storm

Birdfair weekend. I'm not going this time, although I've been every year bar one since it started. Commercialism increasingly and understandably dominates the whole thing. The causes are just however and there are some great people involved. I hope it continues to thrive.

Counting the days now until the "real" Birding begins. Enjoy all aspects but it's the migration period that gets the juices flowing for me...especially AUTUMN!

Greenish Warblers can't be too far away now...30th?

Scilly booked for the 18th Oct.

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Controversy on Yorkshire Birding regarding photos v "proper birding". Whatever that is? Inevitable for me when you have contributors from different spheres...as you always do!!! Never mind. Birdforum 2?

Just enjoy birds...

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Great news regarding the local Little Owls. THREE YOUNG!

Saw them together last night for the first time. They are very confiding/naive. I do limit my visits time wise and always observe from my car (just in case anyone was wondering!). They are simply captivating for me. Owls are my favourite family and to have these birds a couple of miles away is indeed a joy.

Below are a few images taken over the last couple of weeks. Hope you enjoy them...

Super Cool

Balancing act

Filling out nicely

Siblings in the plough

...and simply cute!

More luck

Spent the last hour driving the local roads with intermittent dog exercise sessions and frequent scans for birds!

I was hoping to see the Barn Owl again on Snakey lane but no joy. I made my way up to the Gas Terminal at Easington. As I approached the clifftop field I glanced to my left to see a hovering Marsh Harrier!!! Quite a surprise. I pulled over, grabbed the camera and fired off a few shots. The light was poor and it soon moved off but I managed a (poor) record shot...

almost surreal

I hadn't seen the Little Owls for a few days and I wondered if they had dispersed from the nest site. I was mistaken...

and his/her brother/sister...

I hope they will give me much more entertainment in the future.

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Well, it's time to spill the beans. I've received a payment regarding my medical negligence claim. It's been nearly 2 and a half years since my operation. That's a long time to walk around with one leg longer than the other. I'll leave it there...for now.

I've invested some of it wisely though. I've booked us a winter break in Mallorca next March! I've always fancied going back there after enjoying a family holiday many moons ago. We'll be staying here between Puerto Pollensa and Alcudia. The resort just happens to back on to the Albufereta marsh! Many other great birding spots are nearby. I realise it's too early for many species but it doesn't matter. I'll be warmer than our North Sea village!!

First for a while...

Nice to see this evening...

Strange day...yesterday

No. I didn't go for the TEREK SANDPIPER at Beacon Ponds in case you were wondering...which you almost certainly weren't. I was with my solicitor (sounds important!) regarding my ongoing negligence claim. I saw the Patrington Haven bird so I didn't need it for Yorks. I AM keen on my Spurn list but I'll get them when I can, as I can never compete (and don't want to) with the lads that live there. So there!

A few migrants were seen today. I'll be out on Sunday trying to find one or two...

Welwick

I've managed to get down (just!) the last two evenings. I like it down there. Lots of space and some great habitat.

Little Egrets are always in evidence...more later...

Then...Green Sandpipers (P.123) at last! I managed 4 in all plus this, as they say...record shot...

The light was starting to fade by now but a cc Marsh Harrier drifting by was a nice surprise. As were the 2 Kingfishers noted carrying food.

Then it started...

First one...

Then two...

Then three...

Then 6 landed...

I counted 18 birds! Quite a total and a complete surprise. I'm old enough to remember when this species was a rarity in Yorkshire. I twitched one at Whitby on 14/7/92.

Evocative sunset over Hull on the way home...

Owls of fun

Best session for quite a while last night.

I decided to have a drive around Sunk Island prairie! Love the open spaces down there and there's always the chance of a decent Raptor/Owl.

Stopped to give Bud a stretch and a Little Egret drifted by...

As I was trying to get closer to it I noticed a bird shooting from behind the car...Peregrine! (P.122). An overdue and unexpected year tick. Far to brief and fast for a pic which was a pity as the light was superb...yellow legs clearly visible with the naked eye. This was followed almost immediately by a distant quartering juvenile Marsh Harrier which rapidly disappeared.

An excellent couple of hours in the evening sunshine on what had been the best day of the year weather wise.

On the way home I noticed an adult on the farm roof...

It was now 8.50pm so I headed home. As I rounded the bend however I noticed a familiar shape on the freshly ploughed field...

A further scan revealed both youngsters in the same field!

A wonderful ending to a great day...

A few bits from across the water

MEGA action Stateside with a SALVIN'S ALBATROSS (a recent split) being seen in California.

Another was found in Texas...in the form of a COLLARED PLOVER.

Not rare BUT an amazing record so far North was a breeding pair of MISSISSIPPI KITES in Manitoba, Canada!!!

Where's our BIG 1?

My village Tawny Owls are very vocal at the moment. So tonight I'm going Owling. Much more of a challenge than my other local Owls but should be fun...weather permitting of course! Still, I won't have far to go if it rains. Reminds me of some fantastic memories Owling stateside with some brilliant birders.

Might have mentioned this before?

In the summer of 2008 Lance Benner took me up into the San Bernardino Mnts, above Los Angeles looking for Northern Saw-whet Owls. We'd looked for hours with no luck and it was nearly mid-night when I had to leave. We tried one last spot. He whispered to me that he'd heard something (I couldn't hear a thing). He shone his torch up into a tree...

It was a truly magical moment...

Different location

I pass the L.O. site as I take Bud for his evening constitutional. This involves me sitting in the back of the shootingbrake and fido fetching the (advertised ) indestructible ball?!

As I passed the barn I noticed a Barn Owl on a fencepost...

Unfortunately it was flushed by a passing lorry.

After exercising his lordship I returned past the farm and noticed a distant bird on the barn roof...

Showing the rear head pattern

As I was driving back home I noticed a shape in a bush. We do that a lot...don't we?

I stopped and reversed the car into a lay by. I still wasn't sure it was a bird but when I lifted my bins I saw this...

Hope you like it Steve...

Little Owls...I'm being spoilt

To say I've been fortunate with the local celebrities has to be an understatement. At the risk of appearing obsessive (I've probably already passed that point) I thought I'd post a few more images of the family. Hope you like them.

Adult this evening on the roof in the evening sun...

Curious youngster...

Like I said. VERY privileged.

The closest I've ever been simply because it came towards me!!

LBBG finale

Busy few days with relatives. Great time though.

I'd checked on the LBBG young on Bannister St a couple of times but couldn't locate them? I feared the worst as I couldn't believe a miracle had happened and they were suddenly airborne! Anyway, yesterday I had more luck as they were miraculously back in the same spot...albeit still grounded. I watched briefly as one bird made brief flights, gaining height to around 15 ft. Encouraging. It's wing didn't seem to droop as markedly as previously. The younger bird didn't look as perky however.

I'd received a Facebook message from Tim Jones who's now assistant warden at Spurn to say he'd take them down there if I wanted. It was a tough call as I was reluctant to separate them from their parents who'd worked tirelessly protecting them. The clincher was the fact that even the stronger bird didn't fly when I approached it closely in the driveway. We feared that a cat/dog etc might get hold of them. So Tim netted them and after stopping at Tesco for some fish...

they're now residing in luxury (amongst the washing) at Kew...

Bathtime

It'd be great if they made it and could be returned to With for release.

Time will tell...

LBBG...The full story

Time to put this one to bed...for now at least!

As previously mentioned I found three breeding pairs, two in With' and one on Hedon rd, Hull. I've already posted a few shots but here's one more of the three healthy birds on Hollym rd...

As far as I'm aware the two youngsters on Hedon rd made it also.

Unfortunately the two birds on Bannister St didn't fare as well. If only for the record I have to report that both birds have damaged wings. They probably fell off the chimney stack when they became to big.

I see the family every time I park my car for work and have admired the devotion of both adults in their protection of the fledglings from the aggressive neighbouring Herring Gulls. I hasten to add there is no problem here as even though they are of slightly slimmer build they are most definitely the dominant Gull. I've seen plenty of evidence of this!

This past week it's been hard watching the two young birds waddling around the street with a wing drooping on the floor with no chance of getting airborne and away from danger. Also, the adults are still on patrol being very loyal but the situation seems hopeless.

Yesterday was my last long shift and I'd had enough. I made a few phone calls to wildlife sanctuaries but none convinced me enough to consider them. I then rang the vet which I took last years casualty too...

...and again they said they'd take them. Chances of healing are slim apparently, but for me it's better to try and see if they can fly again rather than confine them to a flightless existence. They also said they could be relocated if treatment was successful.

Anyway....As I returned to my car I noticed a lady feeding them. I had a quick chat with her and she told me that they were (unsurprisingly) being hassled by teenagers.

So this morning at 6 I made my way back to Bannister St to (hopefully) catch them and take them to the Vet...

NO SIGN?

I can only surmise as to where they are? They had been very loyal to one driveway. I looked extensively but couldn't locate them. I will look again. Maybe someone else has sorted it...he says optimistically. I don't really want to dwell on other scenarios...if you get my drift.

To be honest I wish they would relocate as I can only see this situation recurring constantly. The chosen site isn't big enough to support large chicks.

As I was getting back in my car I noticed an adult flying to the Chimney with nesting material!!!

LBBG news delayed

Long shifts at the moment so blogging limited. 6 days off from Thursday though!

It's going to be mixed news regarding the young. Same problem as last year. Daft birds!

Little Owl spotted on the roof at Out Newton this evening...

Catch up

Summer doldrums.

However, there's always something to look at/for. It's been an excellent breeding season compared to last year. We've gone from record late to record early! The harvest has already started. We've even had the man from Birds Eye giving the green light for the peas in the middle of the night! Many "Autumn" flowers are already"out" e.g. Buddleia. Rowan bushes full of berries? It'll be interesting how it affects the birds.

While I have an hour I thought I'd post a few topical images...

First the local Sand Martin colony. I guess you could call it a Hive of Activity! Not a fan of death by photograph but here's half a dozen images to hopefully give you a flavour of the colony. Impossible to give a final count yet as many young still in their burrows.

Hungry youngsters

Will-o-the wisp birds. Hope you like them...

Lesser black-backed Gulls tomorrow

Double Gull boost

Spent a couple of hours down at Kilnsea Wetlands over high tide this evening. Walking Bud along Long Bank initially where I managed to bump into this Sedge Warbler gathering food for it's young...

A Barn Owl was also present...

Onto the Wetlands then. Decent numbers of birds were passing by but not as many as I anticipated at this time. Perseverance paid off when I eventually managed to pick out an adult Little Gull (P.115, S.84)...

Then a Yellow-legged Gull (P.116,S.85)...with no legs...

Wonderful News!

Acting on a tip from Bob Mann from With' I returned to Out Newton to be greeted by this uplifting sight...

2 probably 3 young!!!

I'd only ever seen a single adult. Sex differences are subtle but we obviously have a pair here! I'd been hoping that there might be a positive outcome...and here it is...

Littler Owls?