News of a Little Bustard at
Fraisthorpe in East Yorkshire had broken on New Year’s Eve and was still
present yesterday. David and Roger
needed it for their British List and so Ken and I went along to hopefully see a
very good bird to add to our year lists.
However with no news by 08:30 we were becoming concerned and we then
received negative news at about 08:55 that there was no sign. We decided to continue in the hope that it
might be re-found but headed for Barmston to see if we could find anything on
the sea.
On arrival at Barnston we were
able to scan the sea from the car, which was a blessing in the very strong
westerly wind. However and short watch
failed to produce anything other than a Cormorant, a few Teal, Herring Gulls
and a single Great Black-backed Gull.
We then went to Fraisthorpe and drove along the road to the beach car
park where there were still plenty of birders but there was still no sign of
the bustard. From the beach car park we
had more Teal and Herring Gulls and also sixteen Oystercatchers and six
Sanderling. We eventually decided to
call it a day and agreed to call at Blacktoft Sands on the way home.
First-winter Herring Gull at Barmston
When we arrived at Blacktoft
Sands the wind appeared to have strengthened as was quite blustery but after a
bite to eat we made our way to the hides.
As we walked along the entrance track we had a few Tree Sparrow near the
feeding station and we saw three distant
Marsh Harriers from First Hide and so decided to continue to Singleton Hide,
which is the most easterly. On entering
the hide it was pretty full but we all managed to get seated and were able to
scan the reedbed. Whilst we were in the
hide we had c.150 Pink-footed Geese, a Shelduck, a Goldeneye, ten plus Marsh
Harriers, a male Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, two Kestrel, c.150 Golden Plover,
thirty Dunlin, a Snipe and fifteen Black-tailed Godwits.
Female-type Marsh Harrier
Female-type Marsh Harrier
Female-type Marsh Harrier
Female-type Marsh Harrier
Female Kestrel
Female Kestrel
Female Kestrel
Female Kestrel
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