Wednesday 21 January 2015

A day at Rutland Water, Rutland - January 20, 2015

I had decided to visit Normanton at Rutland Water first today in the hope of finding some Mandarin that had been seen on Sunday’s wildfowl count.  It had been very cold overnight and the car was indicating 5°C on route and so I was taking it pretty slow during the first part of the journey.  When I arrived at Normanton it was still very cold but the sun was shining and there was very little wind.  Having parked up I walked through the car park before viewing the fishing boat harbour but there was no sign of the Mandarin there or a little further on when they are also seen.  I decided to continue to the church to view the main water there were a few Wigeon, Mallard and Tufted Duck close to the shore and several Great Crested Grebes and Cormorants further out on the water and just beyond the church there were more of the same and then I noticed a pair of Mandarin, which were just beyond a group of Mallard.  I walked onto the path around the church and set the scope up to view the main water, which was like a sheet of glass.  I then noticed the Mandarin take to flight and heading west.  As I scanned the water for a diver I saw Steve and Terry on the shore at Whitwell and with no sign of a diver I gave Steve a call.  They had seen the Red-necked Grebe along the northern shore of the peninsula but they also had not been able to locate a diver.  I made several more scans of the water before heading back and flushed a Grey Wagtail from the shore close to the church.  As I approached the end of the bay I noticed a bird just off the fishing boat harbour and on raising the bins confirmed my suspicions that it was one of the Great Northern Divers.  I watched as it dived several times and on each occasion it had moved some distance into the south arm.  I called Steve to make him aware of the diver and then continued back to the car.

I drove to the dam hoping to see a Skylark, which has been quite scarce locally this year, but several had been present near the dam last week.  Steve stopped as he and Terry were heading for Normanton to tell me several Whooper Swans had flown over with two grey geese and had headed west down the north arm just after I had spoke to him.  He had tried to call me but it went straight to voicemail and obviously they weren’t in view too long.  I had no luck with any Skylark and suspect they had moved again in the recent cold snap.  Steve then called to say that the two European White-fronted Geese were visible on the end of the Hambleton Peninsula.  I drove back to the sailing club, seeing a Sparrowhawk on route and met Dave Grey as I parked.  We walked to the bay east of the sailing club to view the peninsula.  There were a party of Greylag Geese in the first field and I soon located the two White-fronts at the right hand of the flock.  Dave and I then scanned for the diver and I eventually picked it up quite close to eastern end of the dam.

Dave and I then moved off to Dickinson’s Bay where we soon found the two Black-necked Grebes.  A Redshank was on the near shore, two Red Kites were observed one to the left of Burley House but the other passing over the access road and a Buzzard was seen as it dropped onto the ground from a tree and then returning to its perch a few minutes later.  With little else I went to Egleton for lunch.

Mike followed me into the car park and Pat arrived whilst we were having lunch after which we all went to the centre.  We could see that both lagoons one and two were almost completely frozen over and so we set off to lagoon three.  A Curlew flew over the large meadow as we walked to Shoveler hide and on arriving we found that lagoon three was also frozen.  There were eleven Curlew on one of the exposed islands and we eventually also saw five Snipe and three Redshanks.  Two Shelduck flew in and a pair of Pintail flew over on a couple of occasions but with little else we moved onto Lapwing hide.

As we approached the hide two drakes and a female Goosander flew over and on entering the hide we found that South Arm Three was completely ice free.  There were plenty of birds feeding on the water and we found a male and four red-headed Smew and another male and female Goosander.

As we walked back to the centre we bumped into Steve and Terry who informed us that they had seen several Siskin towards the far end of the summer trail.  Pat and spent quite some time looking for them but all I could see were Blue Tits, although Pat thought he might have had a Siskin at one point but we were unable to locate it.

On reaching the car park I decided to go to the north arm where I found the Great White Egret feeding in the fishponds but as I called Steve to make him aware it flew off and came down in the north arm nearer to the road, where surprisingly it couldn’t be seen.


It had been a cracking day weather wise, albeit a little cold, that had produced a good array of birds and saw another couple of Buzzards on route home.

Monday 19 January 2015

A morning at Rutland Water, Rutland - January 18, 2015

I was back at Rutland Water with David to help with the monthly wildfowl count and we met Erik in the Lyndon car park at 08:00 to count south arm two and Manton Bay.

We walked to the new Shallow Water hide, seeing six Red-legged Partridge on route, before commencing the count.  The new hide is not quite finished and is also locked but we were able to stand in front of it without causing any disturbance.  There were fourteen Dunlin to the left of the hide and we found a pair of Pintail and two male and four female Goosander amongst the more common wildfowl.  A brief visit to Tufted Duck hide to complete the Manton Bay count produced little else, two Egyptian Geese being the highlight on the bund.

Deep Water hide seemed like a good place to count South Arm Two from where there far more birds and we found three Scaup , two males and a female/immature, and a drake Goosander and there was also a couple of Redshanks on the far shore.

On getting back to the centre we observed the feeding station for a few minutes where we saw both Willow and Marsh Tit and a single Tree Sparrow and also two more Scaup.

After handing in the count figures at the centre we walked to lagoon three but there was no sign of the Jack Snipe today, although I did see at least eight Snipe.  There were three Pintail, a male and five red-headed Smew, two male and three female Goosanders and a Redshank on the lagoon.  David was hoping for the Green Sandpiper but there was no sign whilst we were in the hide and with geese in the field behind the lagoon we walked back to the centre and then drove to the fisherman’s track on the Hambleton Road.  We walked down the track to view the field but there was no sign of any geese and there were only a few Greylags on the water.


We moved to the end of the cottage road to view the north arm but added very little, the two Barnacle Geese and another Redshank being the best.

A day at Rutland Water, Rutland - January 17, 2015

I was out on my own today and went straight to Rutland Water having to take it easy due to the icy conditions.  I had a Red Kite just west of Cranoe and then two more as I approached Uppingham.


On arriving at Rutland Water I went into the centre checking the feeding station before entering the centre.  There appeared to be more birds visiting the feeding station mainly Blue and Great Tits but also, Pheasant, Moorhen, Collared Dove, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock and Chaffinch and a single Great Spotted Woodpecker.



Dunnock at the feeding station

The light looking out from the centre wasn’t brilliant due to the bright sunshine but I did count twenty-seven Pintail and there was a pair of Shelduck and two male and two female Goosander on the lagoon and a single Little Egret and two Curlew flew over.  Erik had arrived and was buying a new pair of binoculars and he decided to stay on and we walked to Shoveler hide on lagoon three.

It was pretty quiet as we walked down but we did have a single Marsh Tit near the gate at the far end of the summer trail.  From the hide we found three male and six red-headed Smew and three Pintail on the lagoon and there was a Green Sandpiper and three Redshanks feeding at the edges and areas of exposed mud.  A Red Kite also flew over and I was able to get a few nice shots of it as it did so.


Red Kite


Red Kite


Red Kite


Red Kite


Lapwing

We made a brief visit to Lapwing hide in south arm three but the light was pretty awful although we did see the two European White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese.  We called at sandpiper hide on lagoon four before going back to the centre seeing a Green Woodpecker as we approached the path to the hide.  There were a couple of Shelduck, three Pintail and a couple of Little Egrets on the lagoon and we saw another Red Kite, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard and a couple of Ravens over Burley Wood.  Tim then called to ask where I was as he had agreed to take me to hopefully see Jack Snipe in a restricted area.  I agreed to meet him the car park and Erik and I left to return to the car park via the service road seeing a Peregrine being harassed by two corvids over lagoon four and a Lesser Redpoll before we reached the car park.

When Tim arrived we went to the area and he walked through the grasses flushing a Snipe and another bird which we didn’t get on to.  With no luck in the normal area we went to a different area we several Snipe were flushed before a single Jack Snipe flew but disappeared out of sight behind one of the hides.

On returning to the car park we had some lunch and whilst talking two Pat a Grey Wagtail flew over the car park and landed in the field gateway.

I was unsure of what to do in the afternoon and decided to have another look on lagoon one that produced a male Stonechat.  I eventually decided to go back to Shoveler hide on lagoon three, where we found Terry who was leading a birding walk.  The group were watching a Jack Snipe and were able to get some nice views but the only other bird of note not seen earlier was a Green Woodpecker and with no sign of the Bittern I finally called it a day and headed back to the car park.

A Buzzard near Great Glen was my only sighting of note on the drive home.

A day in Nottinghamshire & Leicestershire - January 16, 2015

David and I set of Rufford Park in Nottinghamshire hoping for Hawfinch and possibly Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.  When we arrived on site, there were a few other birders present but there was no sign of either of the target species with just a few Chaffinch and Greenfinch seen in the Hawfinches favoured trees.  At around eight-thirty three Hawfinch were found at the western edge of the lime trees and two, a male and female, provided some nice views.  With the Hawfinch in the bag we moved to an area where we had seen Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the past.  I picked up three Lesser Redpoll feeding in a birch tree and we had plenty of sightings of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits and more Chaffinch.  By nine-fifteen there was still no sign of the woodpecker and we decided to go to Eakring Flash, which was just a few miles away and where a drake Garganey had been present for a few days.

After parking we walked the short distance to the small flash but all we could find were a few Teal and Mallard.  We walked in the opposite direction but it was not possible to see the flash from the eastern edge but we did flush a Woodcock.  We made on final check form the western edge but with still no sign we presumed it wasn’t there and left for Clumber Park.

In Clumber Park we sat for a few minutes in the car observing feeding station before making our way to the bridge to search for Mandarin.  There were plenty of birds visiting the feeders including a Marsh Tit and a Nuthatch.  I soon located two male Mandarins that were partially hidden by the lake side bushes and further scanning produced a single female.  David thought he heard Siskin calling although despite searching the numerous alders we couldn’t see them but just as we were about to give up he picked up five in flight as they flew further down the lake towards the church.  We were surprised not to see either Goldeneye or Goosander on the lake as both are usually present but we did see a drake Goosander in flight just after seeing the Siskin.

As lunch time was approaching we decided we take it at the Welbeck Watchpoint, which is just a few minutes drive away.  When we arrived the wind had increased a little but it was still quite sunny and whilst we were not expecting too much we did see at least seven Buzzards over the woodland and two drake Goosanders flew over.


We had heard that the drake Garganey had also been seen at Rufford Park and so we returned and walked around the lake.  We did have nice views of a Marsh Tit and there were nine Goosanders on the lake but there was no sign of the Garganey.


Drake Goosander


Robin


Great Tit


Blue Tit


Chaffinch


Marsh Tit


Marsh Tit


Marsh Tit

Leicester Tigers were playing tonight and with David being a season ticket holder we needed to make our way back but called at Swithland Reservoir on route home.  There were quite a few Tufted Duck, Goldeneye and Great Crested Grebes on the northern end and we did locate the first-winter drake Scaup but saw very little else.

On checking Bird Guides late in the day the Garganey was reported as still being present at Eakring Flash but there was no time given for the sighting.

Wednesday 14 January 2015

A day in Leicestershire & Rutland - January 13, 2015

I went to the southern end of Eyebrook Reservoir first this morning hoping to find a Yellowhammer, which has eluded me so far this year.  I saw Buzzards as I approached Kibworth and Blaston and found a single Yellowhammer along the Stockerston Road.

There was little of note at the southern end of Eyebrook Reservoir but I did find several more Yellowhammers as I drove along the Leicestershire bank.  I parked up close to the bridge at the northern end of the reservoir in the hope of seeing the Bittern that had been appearing on and off during the past week.  Andy Mackay was also looking for the Bittern but despite spending almost an hour looking we had no joy.  A Lesser Redpoll flew over whilst we were looking but there was nothing else of note.  I finally left Andy to it and moved off to view the inlet area where I found two Snipe and eight Dunlin amongst the Lapwings.  There was a couple of Shelduck and three Pintail feeding on the water but very little else and so I moved on to Rutland Water.

I checked the feeding station first at Egleton seeing a range of common species before a Sparrowhawk flashed through, scattering everything.  On checking the book I was surprised to see that the Great White Egret was the only entry, which had been seen in the fishponds early this morning but more recently on lagoon one but had flown off over the bund towards lagoon two.  The light was not brilliant from the centre but there was no obvious sign of the egret on lagoon two.  I decided to go to Shoveler hide on lagoon three and call at both Redshank and Osprey hides on route to get different angles of lagoon two and hopefully find the Great White Egret.  I had no luck with the egret by the time I had arrived in Shoveler hide and there was no sign of it on lagoon three either.  There was a party of c.20 Snipe flying over the reedbed and I did find four Pintail and two red-headed Smew before I received a tweet from Tim Mac informing me that the Great White Egret was back on lagoon one.  I quickly retraced my steps back to the centre seeing two egrets on lagoon one as I approached the centre one was clearly a Little Egret but the other was more distant and I continued on to the centre.  Initially I was hopeful that it was the Great White but a scope views showed it as just a Little Egret.  I spent some time in the centre searching the area where it had been seen without success but did count forty-three Pintail and seven Goosanders.  It was possible that the egrets was out of sight close to harrier hide but I decided I would have my lunch before going round there to check.

I went back to the centre before heading off to harrier hide only to be told that it had reappeared shortly after I left.  Thankfully it was still present and negated the need to walk to harrier hide.  Steve had called to say there was an Oystercatcher close to the Old Hall, which is quite an unusual bird to the counties in January and worth seeing.  Steve and Terry were in the car park having lunch as I walked back to the car and whilst talking to Steve we had twenty-three Golden Plovers flying high above the lagoon and Terry and I saw an egret flying off to the north and agreed that it was most probably the Great White, which had disappeared by the time Steve and Terry reached the centre.

I went to the Old Hall with Pat and we soon located the Oystercatcher just east of the hall.  Steve had also indicated that there was a Pink-footed Goose and two White-fronted Geese in the field behind lagoon three and as we dropped down the hill from Hambleton we could see a flock of geese in the field.  We parked in the fisherman's’ car park and walked back up the hill to view the geese and soon found the single Pink-footed Goose but we couldn’t see all of the geese and were unable to find the White-fronts.  The weather had now taken a turn for the worse and the sleet became quite heavy and so we returned to the car park at Egleton.  Pat departed and almost did the same but decided to have a coffee first and by the time I had finished the weather had improved and so I walked back to Shoveler hide on lagoon three.  Just after arriving Steve and Terry arrived and we found a Green Sandpiper and three Redshanks and a male and four red-headed Smew.  The only other bird of note was a Sparrowhawk, which was observed both perched and in flight.


We eventually moved on to Dunlin hide to check on the gulls on lagoon four.  There was a couple of Shelduck and nine Pintail and a few gulls gathering at the pre-roost.  The number of gulls gradually built up but was mainly Herring and Great Black-backed, although there were also a number of Black-headed and Common and a couple of Lesser Black-backed and Steve located a first-winter Yellow-legged Gull.  I eventually gave up as I was feeling pretty cold and the light was beginning to fade.

Monday 12 January 2015

A day in Leicestershire - January 10. 2015

The early part of the day was very wet and windy but as the rain cleared Roger and I decided to spend some time in the Charnwood area of Leicestershire.  I went to Roger’s and we spent a short while observing his feeders, hoping for a Blackcap.  The Blackcaps failed to appear but there were a few commoner species visiting the feeders, namely Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch.

We eventually moved off to the Barrow upon Soar Sewage Works, which is normally a good site for wintering Chiffchaffs.  When we arrived it felt quite cool in the bighting wind and there appeared to be very few birds.  However persistence paid off and we eventually found two Chiffchaffs feeding in one of the hedgerows running away from the sewage works.  We also found a single Goldcrest and there were plenty of Pied Wagtails, a few Blackbird, two Song Thrushes, a Redwing and several Chaffinches.

Disappointed we had not a Grey Wagtail we moved off to Kinchley Lane at Swithland Reservoir.  We soon found the wintering first-winter male Scaup, amongst a small party of Tufted Duck and Goldeneye but the reported Great Northern Diver remained elusive during our visit.  There were two Nuthatches visiting the feeders at the house at the end of the metalled road and a Peregrine was seen high above the quarry before it plunged down in to the quarry.  Finally, whilst having a bite to eat a Grey Wagtail flew over calling.  Having exhausted the northern section we moved around to The Ridings to view the southern section, seeing a Buzzard on route.  This section appeared to be more exposed to the wind and whilst initially there appeared to be very little, scanning with a scope produced plenty of wildfowl including Mute Swan, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler and Tufted Duck but there was no sign of the hoped for Mandarin.


Our last hope for Mandarin was at Blackbrook Reservoir and after a fifteen minutes drive we parked in a small parking are at the side of the road.  There was a single Fieldfare feeding in the field to the east of the road and it was still present in the same area when we returned some forty minutes later.


Fieldfare


Fieldfare

After a short walk we were able to view the reservoir and the small section at the southern end produced a couple of Little Grebes but the main section was really exposed to the elements and other a few Mallard and a couple of Cormorants there was nothing else.  Ten Red-legged Partridge were observed as we walked back.

Roger suggested that we gave Swithland Wood a visit to check out a holly tree, which is a regular roost site of a Tawny Owl.  We saw a Buzzard on route and on arrival the wind appeared to have dropped a little.  It is only a short walk to the tree and Roger soon found a bird close to the top, which was only partially visible and then when it moved we could see very little.  I walked further on to get a different view and managed to locate in full view where we had some nice views.  A stop at Cropston Reservoir failed to produce anything of note and so we called it a day.

A day in Cambridgeshire - January 8, 2015

David, Roger and I set off for Dogsthorpe and specifically Start Pit and hopefully Iceland and Glaucous Gulls.  It was raining when we left home and was still doing so on arrival, although the initial weather forecast was suggesting it would be dry by 09:00.  There were plenty of gulls present, mainly Herring Gulls but there was also plenty of Black-headed, Common and Great Black-backed Gulls but it wasn’t easy viewing in the dreary conditions.  When I checked my weather app it was now indicating that it would be raining until around12:00, which turned out to be fairly accurate.  As the rain eased we had been observing the pit for almost two hours with no sign of either of the target species, either on the pit or the tip.  We were considering giving up when David announced he had a Glaucous Gull, which had somehow come in without any of us noticing it.  It was a rather smart first-winter bird and it then remained for quite some time giving good views.  There was suddenly a further influx of gulls but the Iceland failed to appear and the Glaucous had left without us noticing.  Other then the gulls we saw very little else, three Red Kites being the best.

We finally called it a day and headed off along the A47 to Guyhirn before heading back along the A605 towards Eldernell.  We stopped in a roadside lay-by where we had seen both Bewick’s and Whooper Swans recently and had unsuccessfully looked for two Bean Geese.  After a bite to eat we walked along the bank of the dyke towards two groups of swans on either side of the dyke.  The right hand group were all Whooper Swans except for two noticeably smaller Bewick’s.  As we scanned the swans feeding in fields to the south David picked up a grey goose whilst and we eventually found six only to see them fly off but we confident that they were all Pink-footed Geese.  The light looking south was pretty bad due to the low sun and we moved a little further along the bank when David and I both picked up a single grey goose.  It soon became apparent we were watching different birds but that they were quite close together and we suspected that they might be the Bean’s.  It was impossible to get any bare part colouration due to the light and so it was agreed that I should walk further along the bank to try and get a better view.  I managed to go some distance before trying to scope the birds again and luckily I got straight on to one of the now nervous geese.  I watched the bird for a few seconds before they both took off and flew south however as it took off a got a reasonable view of the tail pattern.  The tip showing a rather narrow white band and a slightly broader band at the base and it also appeared quite dark on the upperparts, suggesting that they were indeed the Bean Geese.  When I got back to David and Roger they had one of the birds standing on a ridge and although it was some considerable distance away the light was better and the orange legs were clearly visible.

Feeling good with the success of the Bean Geese, having dipped twice last year we moved on to Eldernell.  We saw a single Buzzard on route that was perched on roadside telegraph wires.

On arrival at Eldernell there were quite a few cars in the car park and the number of birders increased even further during our visit.  There were more Whooper Swans visible on the wash and I did pick up a further two Bewick’s in flight.  Roger announced that he had two Cranes flying in front of the wood and we watched two adults continue past the wood before circling and disappearing behind.  We picked them up again as they came out at the eastern end but they turned again and began dropping and appeared to land out of sight from the car park.  A farmer had been driving around the tacks and when he returned and was closing the gate a single Short-eared Owl flew being quite close to us and to are amazement four quickly followed.  They had been just a few feet away from the bridge and remarkably not a single birder had noticed them as they were obviously well hidden in what appeared to be quite short grass.  We eventually finished seeing at least eight birds with one or two giving some excellent views in the now sunny conditions.  Whilst scanning the wash we had seen a male and two female Marsh Harriers, two Sparrowhawks, three Buzzards and at least six Kestrels.  There was also c.1000 Golden Plovers observed in flight towards the River Nene and the number of Lapwing must have exceed ten thousand as several huge flocks were observed periodically.  A male Hen Harrier was observed to the west and whilst we were looking for it we saw our only Barn Owl hunting over the flood defence bund.  Surprising as were we getting ready to leave the male Hen Harrier appeared from the east and was much closer as it flew to the west.





















Short-eared Owl

It had been an excellent day’s birding, particularly after the dreary start and there being no sign of the Iceland Gull, with some excellent birds.

5A day in Leicestershire & Rutland - January 6, 2014

I had to go a different route to Eyebrook Reservoir today due to road closers but saw a couple of Red Kites near Tugby on route.  On arrival at Eyebrook Reservoir there was no sign of the Little Owls and stop at the bridge produced very little, except for a Little Egret in flight and a Red Kite.  The water level had risen quiet considerably but there was still some exposed mud where I counted fourteen Dunlin.  Two more Red Kites were observed and two Shelduck on the water were the only wildfowl of interest and I found two Red-legged Partridge in one of the fields on the Leicestershire bank.  The feeders in the Stoke Dry parking area were attracting a few birds that included a Coal Tit and a couple of Marsh Tits.

I arrived in the north arm at Rutland Water hoping that the Great White Egret present yesterday would still be there but all I could find were five Little Egrets. There were a male and two female Goosanders in the fishponds and a drake Smew was feeding close to the second bund.  I found very little scanning the north arm but two Egyptian Geese flew over and there was a Buzzard over Burley Wood.  With no sign of the Great White Egret I went to Dickinson’s Bay hoping it might be there but there was no sign but I did find one of the Black-necked Grebes and a few Little Grebes.

I had seen Tim earlier who suggested that I took a walk through the reedbed area on lagoon three and so I went back to the cottage and then walked into the fishponds area.  This is an area that is not public access and just after entering I found circa forty Goldfinches feeding in one of the alders but despite completing a circuit around the main area saw very little else, eight Reed Buntings being the best.

On reaching the Egleton Reserve I went to the Bird Watching Centre to have a look over lagoon one before I had my lunch.  I checked the feeders first but a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Coal Tit were the best.  From the centre there were two male and a female Goosander and I counted fifty-nine Pintail.  Five Curlews were feeding on the meadow towards the Wet Meadow and a Water Rail ran across the path in front of the centre.  There had been some rain whilst I was in the centre but as it eased I went back to the car park for my lunch.


The rain had cleared has I set off towards lagoon three and the cloud was breaking but it was noticeably cooler as the wind had veered into the west.  There were another two male and two female Goosanders and a couple of Shelduck on lagoon two and there was a small party of Redwings in the large meadow.  On reaching lagoon three the water level was still low and there were at least two Redshanks and a single Green Sandpiper feeding in the shallows.  There were another nine Pintail on the lagoon and I eventually saw three Smew, a male and two red-heads.  A Snipe was then observed in flight, but they appear to be pretty scarce at present.  As I was scanning an unusual duck flew to the right before flying back to the left and settling on the water before swimming out of sight behind the reed island.  It turned out to be a Fulvous Whistling Duck, which I had seen previously in the States, but was obviously an escape.  With little else and the hide becoming quite full I moved on to crake hide only to find there was no longer any visible shoreline and on reaching Lapwing hide the south arm island was gone due to the rising water levels.  It always surprises me how quickly the reservoir fills once pumping starts.  Whilst there were plenty of birds from Lapwing hide there was nothing of note.


Drake Pintail on lagoon three


Female Tufted Duck from Lapwing hide


Drake Goldeneye from Lapwing hide


Coot from Lapwing hide


Coot from Lapwing hide

On returning to Shoveler hide it was still full and so I continued on to Bittern hide where I had further views of the Green Sandpiper and a Green Woodpecker flew in front of the hide.  I eventually noticed that the flaps were all closed in Shoveler hide and so I went back to get a better look at the reedbed and hopefully a sighting of a Bittern.  Steve and Terry and the Tim Appleton and Tim Mackrill joined me in the hide and Terry picked up a Sparrowhawk has we scanned the reeds for a Bittern.  It was quiet late when I picked up some movement at the top of the reeds and saw a Bittern stretch its wings, after which it became very difficult to see.  I eventually left as the light faded leaving Steve and Terry in the hide with Terry still trying to locate it.


Adult winter Herring Gull over lagoon three


Adult winter Herring Gull over lagoon three

Saturday 3 January 2015

A day in East Yorkshire - January 2, 2015

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