A week of different weather ranging from brilliant hot sunshine to hail showers.
On Monday I went to Filey in the hope of adding some migrating birds to my year list.
I had a walk around the top of the Brigg as it was very quiet bird wise on the sea. In the hedgerows there were willow warblers and chiffchaffs and one or two goldcrests, but nothing to add to my year list.
Back at Filey Dams it was equally quiet, mainly due to the fact that a sparrowhawk kept flying over the area and disturbing the birds.
The shovelers and teal were having a bit of a noon time snooze, while a snipe was trying to find food.
The male ducks are starting to regain their breeding plumage so they are easier to identify.
This grey heron had decided to have a wash but I dont think that it realised how deep the water was.
A little egret was perched in a tree,
This bug was on one of the fence rails.
A speckled wood butterfly was feeding.
A pleasant day but no new birds for my year list.
On a Wednesday I usually look after my sons dog, but not this week so I took the opportunity to visit Blacktoft Sands again.
The weather was not good in York as I left but it improved on the journey. Quite a few cars in the car park, but not too many for them to say that the reserve was full. Most of the bird activity was centred on Xerox so I went there first. Lots of ducks, and a couple of blackwits.
I then went to Marshland.
The water level was higher than my last visit. Not many birds to be seen, a single little egret and four teal. As I scanned around the edge of the reedbed I could see 4 bearded tits.
a water rail was also slowly walking around close to the reeds.
Pied wagtails were busily flying about chasing each other and meadow pipits.
A snipe was hiding in a small clump of vegetation.
After eating lunch, sat at one of the tables in the car park,
I decided to go home via Southfield Reservoir to try and see a glossy ibis. However it was pouring with rain so I just drove home.
It was raining in York this morning, but after lunch it improved so I decided to go to Fairburn Ings.
The sun was shining when I arrived and it was pleasant walking down the path the Lin Dyke.
Plenty of colour in the hedgerow still.
Not many birds on the water, a spoonbill was having a sleep about half way down the lake.
I was hoping to see some small birds in the bushes but it was very quiet, and then it stated to rain and then there was a hailstone shower so I drove down to the visitor centre and went to the Pickup hide. The hide was empty so I was able to watch the birds at the feeders in peace and quiet.
I went to the next feeder station
the only bird I could see was a mallard
the kingfisher screen was my last stop
I was not lucky, no sign of a kingfisher, just more rain so I came home.
