Quiet?

Tried and succeeded in dodging the rain this morning BUT boy was it (still) quiet on the way North to the Sewage. The wind didn't help but at least it was dry underfoot. Having checked the North of the Patch I turned for my return...to be greeted by a cc Marsh Harrier (H.78) hurtling North distantly. Spirits lifted! Birding can do that to you.

Half-way back Bud obliged by flushing a Snipe from the usual "rough stuff". He celebrated with a roll...

Finally a further check of the Cliff paddock (no sign on the way out) revealed the lingering Black Redstart still performing well...

A look...

...and away...

Not so quiet after all...

Yesterday found me trying for the umpteenth time for my Duff Garganey. Again no luck for me. Always a pleasure though. A lone Whooper Swan felt sorry for me...

...and kept me entertained.

Lightening

Change of scene this morning with a walk along a path on Snakey. Lucked into a Year tick in the form of a couple of Canada Geese (P.93, H.77) heading powerfully North...

A few "Heinz 57's" around but these looked "kosher". Doesn't happen every day...or Year!

I'd just set off for the afternoon stroll when yesterday's bungalow came into play again! After the passing LBBG came my third Black Redstart of the Year!

My trusty Pany decided to change it's settings but you get the drift...

Seaside Road

Still slow going here. Richard and I are doing the coverage but for little reward...yet. So, time for a less glamorous but worthy species. As I returned down SR I could hear the local Herring Gulls giving it plenty on a Bungalow roof. A Bungalow I have passed hundreds of times over the Years. A quick look revealed a scarce visitor...

LBBG

It teased the HG before heading off North...

Nice jizz comparison

A Garganey was present in front of...Garganey Hide today! That's Birding!!

White-winger

News of a Glaucous Gull flying North from Spurn this morning made me invest an hour on the Clifftop. A potential Village tick! Alas it wasn't to be but it was definitely worth a try. Surprised I haven't added this species yet although numbers have diminished considerably over recent years with Global Warming (personally I think this phenomenon is undeniable).

An over sight on my behalf from the other night meant I omitted to mention I "had" a lone Razorbill (P.92, H.76) close in late on March 31st. Always worth a quick scan of the sea. 

BTG to BBA

After yesterday's blizzard conditions the wind had dropped and the skies had mercifully cleared somewhat this morning. A walk North produced nothing...and I mean nothing!

I decided to take a trip up the Coast to (hopefully) see my old friend at Bempton. I arrived around 11 to news that he's flown out to sea. I decided to walk to the Northernmost viewpoint and slowly work my way South hoping he would return. I was very confident he would, it was just a matter of when...and where?

This is the earliest date I've ever been to Bempton and I hope I wasn't going to look a fool (see what I did there!). Auks were conspicuous by their absence although I did spot 3 Puffins and a scattering of Razorbills on the sea. Plenty of Gannets...

and Kittiwakes...

Gentle expression

...around but by no means the full compliment yet. It was still pretty fresh but apart from an isolated shower the sky remained clear...

Looking North to Filey Brigg

Also, there wasn't that many there (understandably) which made viewing easy. Hopefully that would pay off later? I enjoyed watching the Gannets playing in the wind and a couple of Peregrines kept the Kittiwakes on their toes...

Then mid-afternoon I got the news I'd been waiting for...

E.Yorks BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS ad 2.40pm Bempton Cliffs RSPB on cliff at Staple Newk Viewpoint

As I approached the New Roll Up viewpoint I could see a small group of Birders training their scopes on the Cliff. This was good...and bad news. The Superstar was in view but very distantly on the cliff below Staple Nook, with no view from the actual viewpoint...

A kind chap let me have a look through his scope. I decided to walk up to Staple Newk anyway hoping he would have a stretch around the arch as he had done on a regular basis previously. The viewpoint wasn't too crowded, so I found a spot and waited. Around 3.15 a familiar face appeared, was Tony Dixon from Bridlington. It was good to see him. Being local, he'd already re-acquainted himself with Albert. We had a good chat but by 4 I'd had enough. This turned out to be one of my better decisions as he was still sat there at dusk!!

Nothing could diminishes the gravitas of this record...no matter how many times I visit. As someone once said..."I'll be back"...

...and so will he!

BTG - Record Count

I awoke yesterday to a message from dedicated LDV Patch Birder Duncan Bye, informing me that the Black-tailed Godwit flock (most of it anyway) that had been on the refuge at Wheldrake had visited NDC the previous evening.

I HAD to travel this morning. Not forgetting the chance of...you know what?

I arrived at 10. It was a cold, grey and wet day. The perfect day for a long sit...if a little fresh. I was wrapped up and prepared for a "Big Sit" for a few hours.

Visibility wasn't great and the far side of the reserve was difficult viewing. I couldn't see any Godwits... initially. Then I noticed a large smudge of birds way off to the NW...

3/4 of a Mile

They were present!!

It was impossible to count them BUT there were...a lot! I can only recall seeing one previous three figure flock here over the years (35). From memory that flock numbered around 120. I moved down to Garganey Hide.

Eventually the birds had a stretch and I was able to get some pics...

Probably a sight never to be repeated?

I had a go at counting (not something I usually do but this was special...to me) and made it 346 (give or take one or two!). Glad I made the effort doesn't cover it! They flew high North at 12.15.

Alas no Garganey in 4 hours but it didn't seem to matter today. Especially when another smaller flock of (81) dropped in a 1 briefly, before also continuing North. So, 427 birds in total!!! The horrendous weather didn't seem to matter now. I left for home at 2 with a large grin. Definitely a day to remember.

The day was enhanced further with news that ALBERT had returned to Bempton. Odds on he would but I didn't think it would be so early? Fantastic news though. The RSPB better get the shop stocked up.

Lancashire Nostalgia

After a nice day with my Mother on Sunday, I headed for Samlesbury, Preston early Monday morning, hoping to fluke a view of the BK from the bridge over the River Roach (there was a film with a similar title, many moons ago). After a marvellous Latte and Bacon sarnie combo at Greggs, I arrived at 7.30. After a stroll with the lad I made my way down to the bridge and waited...

Good views both ways...

It was typically dull/dank but the air was fresh and clear. It reminded me of my youth when I used to stand on bridges over this very same River in Bury. Almost immediately I saw a Dipper...another one of those "haven't seen for quite a while" species...

Cracking little birds full of life and character...

They were around the whole morning, flying over the bridge, perching in trees...

and landing in various spots along the River...

Also present was its "habitat mate"...

Grey Wagtail

Nest building

There were also a pair of Coal Tits nesting in a wall...

No sign of the BK though. My pal from Papa Westray, Douglas Bowker had seen it above the Weir the previous week, so there was a faint chance...

An Oystercatcher flew over which was a surprise. A few Birders came and went as they made their way to "the field". Those I spoke to said the bird was present most of the time...but distant. I wasn't interested in that strategy I was going to stick it out till Noon. I didn't get lucky but it didn't matter, especially with the cracking, prolonged views I got of the Dipper pair.

A builder who was working near by told me a few stories of the pandemonium which ensued when the bird was first located here. Apparently it was a mudbath and cars were parked all over the shop, blocking the road and the police had to be called. Thankfully things settled down eventually. At £10 a time the Farmer has collected a tidy sum!

.......................................................................................

This morning's stroll along the cliffs to the North started VERY well when I came across my second Black Redstart of the Year at the end of Seaside Road. After the brief glance I got of the first one, it was nice that this one lingered for a while enabling me to get some photos...

Still no Wheatear...no matter...

The evening's stroll failed to produce another sighting of the BR...and still no Wheatear! However, another surprise was in store in the form of a decent flock of Golden Plover (H.75) in the plough between the Pill Boxes. They gave an impressive display zooming around in a tight flock both low and high over the field. Fairly distant in the gloom...

...but very pleased with this grab on one pass...

A blow up of another image revealed the flock to consist of 123 birds. I always underestimate!

BTG

Three hours early doors at NDC failed to produce the potential Garganey. Still pleasant though. Haydn had a pair of GCG yesterday but I couldn't find those either! I DID score with 3 Black-tailed Godwits (67) though. Not quite the hundreds present at Wheldrake but all the more special for that.

I left at 11 to be a good lad in Bury. Going to have another go at the BK in the morning. I won't be paying £10 though, as I'm hoping to get lucky from the bridge...and I'm too tight!

Carrs and Coast

Arrived at Duff for 7.30 to thick Mist! I had a walk round the car park and adjacent footpath and could hear Chiffchaffs. I gathered my gear and headed for the Geoff Smith Hide hoping the mist would lift fairly quickly in the strengthening sun...it did...slowly!

Had a quick play through with the phonescope device. No bad at 100yds through the mist...

After an hour or so the mist had gone and I headed down to Garganey Hide for the...yeah right! Haydn said he'd be with me around 10 and I was hopping to say I'd connected by then. Alas, I didn't, it was great to see him though. We chewed the fat for 3 hours but it wasn't to be. I remained till 2 but still no joy. Disappointing.

It was a fantastic day though and the Carrs looked a picture with plenty of shallow water and Wildfowl. Pintail is a one of many special species present here. A three figure total (c120) was present...

A few Ruff were about and on occasion landed on the Bund (7)...

Another special species on the reserve

Haydn counted 7 Reed Buntings around the ditch in front of the Hide...

There were also 5 Little Egrets in view which was a record count for me. How times change!

I'd seen a couple of Marsh Harriers in the distance through the mist early doors...one now appeared much closer and headed our way...

We were treated to a couple of fly-bys...

We then had a bonus when the bird landed in the reeds some 40 yds from the Hide...

Views of this species are usually distant so this was a real treat. So, no luck this time BUT I'll be back early Sunday on my way to see my Mother on her special day.

New birds for the Year were Red-legged Partridge, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Egret and Goldfinch.

Plenty of marching along the Coast but still no Wheatear or Sand Martin...

Elite Songster

Tesco car park produced my first singing Blackbird yesterday! Absolute power just over the fence fence from my cat. Deep, full and fluty. Superb...

When I hear the first it always reminds me of the ones that used to sing from my Mother's house when I was a lad. I was impressed then.

VERY quiet along the Coast at the moment although Jane from With' had a Red Kite early afternoon. I'd spent a good couple of hours there late morning. Ah well. This dapper Pied Wagtail was nice though...

Much more "Birdy" activity around the lanes now as Spring develops in this fine spell of weather were enjoying. Richard had a Brambling and some Siskins on his feeders. 

I feel another trip to Duff could be in order tomorrow to meet Haydn for a catch up...and maybe a Garganey?