Raptor viewpoint and Forge Valley

 

Raptor viewpoint

I noticed these on the forest floor. No sign of any crossbills, which was my reason for visiting the area. I then tried to find a dipper, again no luck, so I went to Forge Valley and at last managed to add marsh tit to my year list.

Here, there and South Gare.

Sunday was spent at Scarborough.

Very windy with heavy rain showers, Not much activity on the bird front.

 Monday afternoon was good weather wise so I decided to go to Bank Island.

A bit more water than on my last visit. About 100 wigeon on the water

Black headed gulls were also present, and as time passed by more gulls flew in. 4 common gulls also flew in but no large or white winged gulls. 4 shelduck were also on the water. It was fairly quiet until a marsh harrier appeared.

There were 2 birds and between them they managed to scare all the lapwings and get 20 snipe to fly about looking for cover.

I am still trying to reach 200 birds for my list this year, so today it was a trip to Redcar to try to see velvet scoter.

The tide was just starting to come in but there were still plenty of walkers on the beach. I set up my scope on the footpath and could see, ringed plover, sanderling, oystercatcher, turnstone, cormorant and herring gull. Looking further out to sea I could see more gulls, eiders and common scoters. Scanning further left towards the wind turbines I saw a pair of velvet scoters, tick number 192 for the year. Time was up at my parking spot to I drove the short distance to South Gare.

Not a lot of bird activity, starlings on the wires

a goldfinch was having a drink of fresh water

Further out there were snow buntings. I walked along the path and stopped when I reached the rocks. After a while I saw snow buntings and they were not bothered by my presence as they got so close at one point that I could not take any more pictures.

North Cave Wetlands and North Duffield Carrs.

 

A fairly quiet visit birdwise at North Cave yesterday. The sun was shining when I arrived, but the cloud soon blocked it out. Nothing much to see from the East Hide. Lots of teal from the Turret hide but I could not easily see a green winged one. A few lapwings were having a rest.

No small birds as I walked past the Maize field. It was nice to see my first siskins of the winter feeding in the alder trees. They were very mobile but I managed a shot in the poor light conditions.

Lots of teal and wigeon in front of Crossland hide. The water in front of South hide is quite shallow

I could seethe legs of the female teal.

Lots of gadwall

Not as many greylag geese as I usually see at North Cave

A carrion crow was sat in a tree near the butty van, no doubt hoping for some crumbs etc. As the light was not brilliant I decided to go home via North Duffield Carrs. The last time that I paid a visit here there was no water on the reserve but a lot on Bubwith Ings on the other side of the river. This water has since drained away, so not much water to be seen apart from the scrape and the river itself. When I entered the Geoff Smith hide I disturbed two wrens who were flying about. I opened a window but they still flew past it so I opened more windows and left so as not to cause them any more distress. As I opened one of the windows I noticed some swans at the far end of the reserve, so I walked to the Garganey hide.

A small group of swans, whooper and mute had found some water and were having a bath, despite the low water level. Starlings were also having a dip before they flew into a nearby tree.

a few years ago there was a murmuration on the Ings, will we get another one this winter?

As I walked back to the car park I saw 3 fieldfares, the first that I have seen this winter.

Sunny afternoon at Fairburn Ings

 Decided to stay local today and thought that it would be a good chance to go to Fairburn and take some pictures of the birds at the feeding stations.

Not too many cars in the car park, which is always a good sign. Disappointed to see that the feeding station is still closed off. A few birders were standing to the left of the visitor centre and looking up into the trees. Not a word was said and they soon moved on, so I don't know what if anything they were looking at/for. I decided to stand under the shelter and wait and see which birds came to the feeder.

The feeder is now on the ground  so the birds have to come into the open, which may account for the small number of birds present. A nuthatch quickly flew in picked up some food and flew out, so I waited. A few minutes later it did return, but was sat on a branch of a tree. I manged to get a reasonable picture, so I moved on to let if feed in peace.

 I walked on to the next screen and feeding station and was happy to see that there was no one there. When I sat down I could see why. There are piles of earth in front of the sand martin nest bank, so some restoration work must be under way. The bird feeders were empty, disappointing for me and Mr, Chaffinch.

I walked on to the net feeding station where thas was food in the feeders. But no birds. The feeders are hanging from ropes and are out in the open and close to the seats and a path so I think that there is possibly too much disturbance. However it seemed to suit the squirrel.

A pair of mallards were underneath one of the food holders picking up scraps that the squirrel dropped.

No sign of a kingfisher at the screen so I walked on along the path and stopped to look over "The Big Hole"

a few gulls and a grey heron

I contiued along the river walk. Nice display of autumn colours

A jay was on the ground either hiding or searching for food. I had just got a clear view when a cyclist rode by and disturbed it!

I walked on until I came to the first hide. Frome here I could see cormorants, shelducks, shovelers, great crested grebe, great black backed gulls, common and black headed gulls. A mute swan was feeding closer to the hide as was this female goldeneye.

The part of the lake that she was in was in the shade, a male goldeneye was a bit further out and looked splendid in the sunshine, but he was too far away for a photo.

From the next hide I could see more shovelers and pochards.

I walked back along the path to the centre. At once point I saw a family of long tailed tits and then a flock of linnets flying about, but no sign of a kingfisher and no birds at the feeding stations.

I went the "scenic" route to Fairburn and was lucky enough to see a kestrel, a buzzard and a total of 17 red kites. However I was unable to stop and take any picture so I decided to return home by the same route, but did not see any raptors!

A pleasant time in the sunshine, just a bit disappointing that the reserve has so many areas that you can now not enjoy.