Grey heron and a fish.

 

Started at North Cave Wetlands at 0845. It had rained as I drove to the reserve but luckily it was dry on my arrival and for the whole of my visit. This was my view from South hide. Not far from the hide, a mute swan was sitting on the grass.

Greylag geese, mute swans, mallard and a single greenshank were on Eastholm. I walked back along the west hedge and saw very few birds.

lots of little grebes in front of the "Farm "hide.

a cormorant drying its wings

The Turret hide was my last stop. Spotted redshanks

ruff

curlew

green sandpiper

When I left the reserve at 11am the car park was fairly full, so the introduction of parking charges had not stopped people visiting. I drove to North Duffield Carrs, where I joined Alan Whitehead  (duffbirder)in the hide. Work has been done on one side of the scrape. Elaine joined us for a short while.

Two diggers were still on the reserve, as they work on the drainage ditches. 3 grey herons were on the newly revealed part of the scrape.

One of them caught a large fish.

The heron had quite a tussle with the fish, dropping it at one point before managing to swallow it.

I left about 1pm and headed for Bank Island. I wanted to have a look at the newly opened building and the new roof top viewing platform. Good views from the top, just need some water to fill up the ponds.

15 different waders at RSPB Blacktoft Sands.

 

I was on duty in reception at RSPB Blacktoft Sands on Friday and this was my view from Marshland Hide about 8am. Lots of teal, over 100 lapwing, at least 8 ringed plovers flying about, several ruff, 2 spotted redshanks.

I joined Pete, the site manager in Reedling hide.

In frot of the hide were about 50 dunlin plus curlew sandpiper and little stint.

Ist hide had spotted redshanks and green sandpiper, while Townend hide at ruff at the back.

My friend Chris Downes (chrisdownes birds) arrived and he was able to see both the little stint and curlew sandpiper.

After reception closed I went back to Marshland to look at the waders but there were not many there so I went to Reedling. The curlew sandpiper was with some ruff

A grey heron was trying to land on top of a marker post

It failed so started looking for food, I am not sure what this is.

It started to rain and a couple of greenshanks dropped in, bringing the total of waders for the day to 15.

Stu turned up and we visited Marshland and Reedling hide to see the little stint and curlew sandpiper.

Wood sandpiper and spotted flycatcher.

 I had a meeting at both Fairburn Ings and St.Aidans today and afterwards spent some time at Fairburn.

I sat in the Pickup hide from about 1pm and watched the great, blue and long tailed tits fly back and forth from the feeders. Robin, chaffinches and reed bunting were also about.

a dragonfly kept landing on a nearby log.

A whitethroat kept landing on the sand martin wall.

Steve arrived and we sat and chatted until I noticed this bird

It perched for a while then flew off and returned a few minuites later. We watched the bird for about 30 minutes and then I drove down to Lin Dike car park and walked along the road to New Flash.

Waders at the edge of the mud, about 3 feet from the road.

A cattle egret was on one of the islands.

Another pleasant afternoons birding.

Hartlepool Birding

 

A day out with my friemd Chris (ChrisdownesBirds) . We started at Hartlepool Headland, where we sat for about 45 minutes. Lots of gannets flying south towards Bempton. Cormorants were flying back and forward and several terns flew south. Two common scoters flew north, We then left and had a walk around to the Pilot pier.

Lots of people about so not many birds.

 Newburn Bridge next. Oystercatchers, ringed plovers and Turnstones.

All resting as it was high tide. Phil Stead hide at RSPB Saltholme was our last stop.

dunlin, teal, black-tailed godwit. little egret and greenshank. On our walk back to the car from the visitor centre we came axross some chiffchaffs and long-tailed tits.

A very pleasnt day out, my thanks to Chris for doing the driving.

Summer evening at North Cave Wetlands

 

I spent Sunday evening at North Cave. I arrived just after 5pm, so I did not have to pay. However I must sort out how to pay for future visits.

Lots of little egrets on the Far Lake, either fishing or roosting.

In the west hedge were lots of long tailed tits, willow warblers and chiffchaffs.

A grrenshank on Westholme

and several great crested grebes.

Glenn was on site and he had seen a kingfisher but I did not. A hunting marsh harrier was the last bird I saw before driving home.

Staveley

 

I left York before the race traffic started and went west to YWT Staveley.

Lots of greylag geese, moulting mallards and gadwall.

Swallows and house martins busily chasing insects, but no sign of a hobby.

Black-tailed godwit, curlew, lapwing and at least 3 green sandpipers and 1 wood sandpiper.

Grey wagtail and a common tern. Chiffchaffs and willow warblers in the bushes.