This Week

News of a "White Nun" at Brandesburton tempted me into action on Monday. As you know I always make an attempt to see one each Winter. Handily...because of my current situation, it didn't appear to involve a long walk!

I arrived at the Site (Dacre Lakeside Park) around Noon and parked up at the Pizzaria car park.The lake was some 200 yds across and fairly circular with only some minor reed fringes near the Cabins...

If you click the pic it's just visible!

As you can see , it was a tad dull but if a white Duck (or rather Drake) was present, it shouldn't be hard to find. It wasn't...

The Smew was distant and was lingering by the Cabins some 80 yds away. It then swam extremely fast across to the far side of the Lake...unfortunately!

I waited...and waited.Some 45 minutes later the Bird swam back across the Lake towards me and I got my pics...

It ended up in deep shade under some bushes, by some reeds, that were nearer to where I was positioned, allowing me some closer views...

It then came out of the shadows for a nice finale...

Gotta love a Drake Smew!!!

Two visits to Duff' on Tuesday and Thursday morning on my to  and back from my Mother's. Still frozen solid on Tuesday...

...which meant a virtually Bird-free Carrs...EXCEPT for a wonderful herd of 37 Whooper Swans...

...and a couple of Shelduck which were my FOY also. The Swans were as close as you get here and no doubt linked to the conditions. They eventually left in small groups, some North, some South...

Always a memorable sight

Thursday I met Haydn. A relatively uneventful session but still enjoyable. The lone Redpoll is still present. 

This morning I was tempted down the road to have a look at the Geese on Easington Straight...

A combination of Gale Force wind and poor aspect meant viewing was difficult. I did manage to pick out the Tundra Bean Goose and Russian White-fronted Geese (6) among the Pink-footed with my scope but photos were impossible.

Patch - 59

Duff - 56

Early Start

I'd arranged to meet Haydn (my ears) at NDC for an early attempt to see the wintering Willow Tit. I was chuffed to make it for 8.15 and I could see him as I pulled up. We made our way over the Bridge and headed towards the Platform. It was misty rather than foggy and was clearing slowly... 

Atmospheric

No wind which helped Haydn listen for the Bird. After around 15 minutes he picked it up and had a couple of quick glimpses, unfortunately I didn't get "on it". Maybe next time? As we returned over the Bridge we were talking about the recent Redpoll...and there it was...showing better than ever...

We headed for the Hide and the Carrs was now clear. Unfortunately it was still frozen solid despite the increase in temperature, so Birds present were still on the River and Bank. Haydn had to go around 10 and I lingered till 1. It was a steady session, I added 5 Species to the Year List, this Male Bullfinch being the pick...

A thaw soon hopefully...

Year List - 52 Species

Winter Birding

 Love it...when it's sunny!?

Haydn made the trip over on Monday when he'd made it through the Hull traffic. He jumoed in my car and we headed for the Humber to check out a few spots along the Humber. We started at Skeffling where we were greeted with this...

An unfortunate Sperm Whale which had expired some time ago! A remarkable yet sad sight. Nothing of note seen "Bird-wise". We moved onto Weeton and then Welwick, eventually connecting with a ring-tail Hen Harrier at the latter. No luck with Owls though. We had a coffee break in Patrington after checking out the Outstray. We then had a drive down to Spurn just missing the escaped Lesser White-fronted Geese in Well Field! They ended up in Holderness Field but we resisted the mild temptation. 

A sign of Spring...

Then it was back to the Village to see if the Snow Buntings were still around after the cold spell. Haydn walked the walk and I waited for positive news...

...unfortunately it didn't come. We finished off back at Welwick but still no Owls and no further sign of any HH. A good day and it was great to show him around. Always great company.

Wednesday I was over at NDC, surprise surprise! Thick fog till Howden and I must admit I was starting to consider the merits of my visit. Glad I didn't as a few miles North the sky was clear and blue and remained so throughout my visit.

A couple of White-fronted Geese had been in the area for a few days and I was hoping they might visit the Carrs. News told me they had BUT as I entered the Hide I was informed they'd just flown off South. I did see a flock of Geese in the distance as I got out of the car! Ah well.

The Carrs was still mainly frozen but looked a picture, as always, in the sunshine...

The highlight of the visit was the arrival of a skein of Pink-footed Geese that decided to land on the ice...

Always special. 

This afternoon I headed to Welwick. A marvelous last hour with Male and Ring-tail Hen Harrier, 2 Short-eared and a Barn Owl.

Duff early doors tomorrow, with Haydn...

Redpoll

Thankfully one Species now which saves one ID headache! A Rare Bird at Duff.

After a stop off at Keyingham on Friday for the lad and to enjoy the Sunrise...

...I arrived at 10 and headed for the Platform, unfortunately the ice was thick and the bridge was dodgy for the old boys, so I waited by it to see what turned up....

Quiet for a good 15 minutes then a few Blue Tits appeared. I then noticed another tiny bird low down in the grasses by the water. It was dark in there and the bird was obscured by vegetation. It then flew off into the adjacent trees? I strongly suspected something "good"? I waited.

Some 20 minutes later the bird returned to the same area, this time giving better views and enabling me to get some photos...

Lucky to grab one of the head in the sun...

This was only my 5th record, so quite a moment. The reward of Patch Birding illustrated once again.

Elated, I headed for the Hide. Stuart Rapson appeared as I grabbed my Scope. Pity he was leaving but he'd been in the deep freeze since Dawn...a brave man. We had a 15 minute chat before he moved on.

I set my stall out after scraping some ice off the windows! Unsurprisingly the Carrs and Bubwith Ings were solid but the River was high and was acting like a narrow lake for the thousands of Wildfowl present. It was a spectacular scene in the Sunshine...

The frozen conditions have some benefits, bringing some secretive Species out into the open...

Snipe. Dancing on Ice!

Others seek food in the Reeds...

A pair of Stonechats graced the Scrape also...

I made till 1 before I bailed out to thaw out!

39 Species

Hen Harrier

After my first visit to my Physio this morning (highly recommended) I needed some air. So after grabbing lunch at Couplands in With' I headed for the Prom to enjoy my Sausage sarny...and the Turnstones (5) that were feeding on the grass. It's a regular site. I also had my FOY RTD.

Next it was Cliff Farm where we both had a stretch. I managed another RTD and 6 Mallards close in on the Sea.

Onto Skeffling...

Plenty of frozen flooded fields, one containing a healthy c200 Golden Plover feeding in the Sunshine...

Huge numbers of Waders at High Tide...

View looking South East with Spurn Observatory and the Crown and Anchor in the distance

Smaller numbers of Lapwing (c50) were also present. Beautiful Birds...

Last stop was Welwick...

I declined the walk to the screen and waited in my car, I was a tad sore after my manipulation! I have seen both SEO and Hen Harrier from here so I reckoned I still had a chance. Sure enough around 3.30 a Ring-tail drifted over, mobbed by a couple of Crows. To "quick for a pic" but no matter. No SEO but fabulous views of a hovering Barn Owl as I left...

White Ghost

This was my 5th this Year already!

Back to Duff tomorrow...

Patch - 56

Holmpton - 31

Spurn

Popped down the road for a few hours today. I started at Sammy's...

As you can see it was clear and bright but VERY cold! The tide was in so Waders seen were in flight...

Oystercatcher

Redshank

Dunlin

Grey Plover

Curlew

I also saw a few groups of Brent Geese. 

Easington Straight produced many more Brents (c300) and a family of Mute Swans. Also many more Redshank (c100) were present in the flooded fields. Blue Bell corner produced a Little Grebe on the pool and I managed a lone Bar-tailed Godwit and 8 Shelduck from the gate.

Steady away but enjoyable.

Spurn - 32 Species

Life in the Freezer

Made it, albeit a tad later than originally planned. Haydn was already present, scanning the path to the GS Hide as I pulled up. He'd already been out to the platform and connected with the wintering Willow Tit with the mixed flock which included some LTT. Of course, I saw neither on my visit.

We headed for the Hide to find Stuart Rapson in situ. It was now 10. The water level had dropped which was pleasing to see enabling some "edging" for Waders. Haydn picked up a lone Black-tailed Godwit in flight, which disappeared high North. We also located 3 Redshank on the grass. A flock of c60 Dunlin flew East towards Bubwith Ings.

Yours truly chipped in with a Peregrine on the grass at the far end, unsurprisingly being mobbed by Crows and Lapwings. 

Pintail (c120) numbers had increased noticeably. Pink-footed Geese (c200) were represented by several fly-by Skeins.

A pair of Stonechats performed well and a couple of Song Thrushes were a nice surprise. The light in the final hour was superb, giving us a spectacular finale.

37 Species 

Ball Rolling

Friday's visit to Duff didn't materialize as I figured the Hut would be more like the Freezer!

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

The Hut

First Trip to NDC tomorrow to get the List rolling. Forecast is for sunny but very cold weather. That's OK by me, as I love those conditions at my favourite view. It will be a picture.

The wintering YELLOW WARBLER remains in Kent despite the Arctic conditions. It seems it will be remaining with us for the "Winter". A couple of my mates (yes, I have a few) still haven't connected and I may have a trip down with one (or both) early next week for an English Tick. It would be my 502nd Species for England.

Hope things go well for you this Year...

All the Best

Always a time for reflection. Visiting over. Things have inevitably changed over my many years. I don't like taking my rose-coloured spectacles off as they're replaced by my cynical pair... which I don't like. Family are spread far and wide these days.

The old bones and replacement joints don't like the cold weather but I'm not complaining. It could be worse...much worse! However, walking distance is a problem at the moment...it helps me empathize with Bud! My lad is still healthy at 13.5 years.

So, my Year...all details in the diary of course. I added 2 Species to my British List, namely...

PALE-LEAF WARBLER 

SCARLET TANAGER 

Both handily in Yorkshire!

Other County additions were...

BLACK-WINGED PRATINCOLE 

STILT SANDPIPER 

SNOW GOOSE

Totals on my Bubo badge.

We "lost" a couple of Redpolls off our Lists with possibly more lumps/splits to come in the ever changing World of Taxonomy. I try to keep up!

The Village produced 3 additions...

Quail 

Little Ringed Plover

Spoonbill 

...taking me to 195. Must do more Seawatching!?

Just one overdue addition at Duff which was greatly appreciated...

Avocet

...taking me to 168

Long-tailed Duck and Great Reed Warbler were excellent York Area ticks taking me to 239.

Our visit to Cyprus produced 6 additions...

GREAT BLACK-HEADED GULL

WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER

TURKESTAN SHORT-TOED LARK

ASIAN DESERT WARBLER 

SEMI-COLLARED FLYCATCHER 

Grey Plover

...taking me to 223.

My Scilly List rose to 246 adding...

Barnacle Goose 

Black Kite

Little Tern

Woodchat Shrike

I think that tidied the numbers game up.

...and so...it all starts again...