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.

Little gull and Glossy ibis.

 

H&S checks today with a spot of birding in between.

From the Pickup hide.

plus long tailed tit, whitethroat, chiffchaff and willow warbler.

Next stop was New Flash on my way to St. Aidans.

Looking into the sun, which did not help. 3 glossy ibis

Swallows, sand martins and house martins.

Snipe and ruff

Star of the show was this little gull. These are the best of a bad lot of photos I managed.

"Rain stopped play"

 

No play this morning at Headingley, so I went to North Duffield Carrs, hoping that the wind woiuld not be blowing the rain into the hide windows, Wrong!

In between rain showers when I had to close the window, I managed to see a few birds.

A green sandpiper on the small bit of open water on the scrape.

A grey heron landed briefly in the nearer bit of water.

It did not stay long. Swallows and house martins hunting insects low over the reserve, woodpigeons and carrion crows were all I saw. Test match is back on so I left for home. Aire Valley tomorrow.