Sand Martins at NDC

 

A late start after yesterdays long day. By the time that I reached NDC the morning sunshine had given way to a cloudy afternoon with a cool breeze. This is the view from Garganey hide, still plenty of water about.

In the field to the left of the footpath I saw a smart looking reed bunting and then further across 3 whooper swans with greylags and canada geese.

As well as the usual view of the water the majority of birds were on the bank to the left of the hide.

Still about 200 pintail on the reserve with large numbers of teal, wigeon, tufted ducks. A single goldeneye, 2 scaup, 4 pochard, 7 gadwall and 2 shelduck made up the test of the ducks present. Mallards and shoveler were also present, but they were not together in large groups,

Male pintail and shoveler came a bit closer to the hide after a marsh harrier flew over. Due to the amount of water on the reserve waders were on the edge of the water and always in the distance. Redshanks, dunlin, lapwing curlew and 4 oystercatchers were the only ones I could see, and I had to use my scope to see them.

I suddenly noticed these 2 Egyptian geese flying across the water.

Just after 3pm I walked to the Geoff Smith hide and I had not been in there long before another birder joined me. I have forgotten his name but knew his parents as they came on one of my trips to Mull. Sadly his dad passed away a few years ago. 

We were treated to good views of a red kite as it slowly glided down river, only for it to land on the far bank of the river and start eating some prey it had found. It was mostly hidden from our view by a willow tree. We could just catch glimpses of it as the wind blew the branches. At the far end of the reserve we noticed a group of about 50 pink-footed geese had dropped in for a drink and a bathe.

Later on I picked up a small flock of about 30 waders flying towards the reserve. As they got closer we were able to identify them as black-tailed godwits. They flew around for a while, before flying up river, possibly to Wheldrake, where large numbers have been reported in recent days.

I then picked up another large bird flying towards the church at Aughton, we identified it as a grey heron but while we were watching it we noticed 4 small birds high up in the sky and as they got closer we saw that they were sand martins. The other birder got his wish as the birds were on his trip list for the weekend. Shortly afterwards I left to the hide and had a short chat with Elaine in the car park. She had a new dog for the deaf for the weekend.

A pleasant Easter Sunday afternoon with 46 birds on my day list. 

 

Easter Saturday at Blacktoft

 

Lovely sunny morning as I arrived at the reserve. The blossom on the tree contrasted well with the blue sky and I could hear 3 bitterns booming. Ousefleet hide was my first stop.

We need to tell the ponies that the islands are for the birds!

13 avocets on the lagoon, including these sleeping ones

108 black tailed godwits

 a single pied wagtail

One of the several chiffchaffs on the reserve

Marshland hide was my second stop

sleeping shovelers

a female wigeon feeding

male wigeon having a drink

The reserve was very popular yesterday, Stu and I were kept busy with the 100 plus visitors we had. I did not get a chance to take pictures of the 2 water voles sitting on the bank opposite 1st hide, or the long tailed tits catching insects near reception windows. Just had time to talk to Gerald, Catherine, Jean and Andrew, in between all the visitors.

Once we had closed reception I had a walk to Reedling hide to see if I could see the bittern that had started to boom again, but no luck.

The evening sunshine lighting up the reedbed.

This little egret was having a battle with a stickleback.

1830, time to lock up and go home.

 

 

NDC

 

By the time that I reached North Duffield Carrs this afternoon the sunshine had stopped.

It was a bit breezy in the Garganey hide, due to the damage caused by the recent flooding.

In the field to the left of the hide were 2 whooper swans, 2  egyptian geese, 1 hare and several greylags and canada geese.

All the white birds that you can see in the picture were male pintail. Each male was with a female and this was only about a quarter of the total number on the reserve.

A single goldeneye, a single male scaup, lots of tufted ducks, teal ,wigeon, a few pochard, shoveler and mallard.

In the distance I could see 10 whooper swans who were swimming up and down and bobbing their heads. I expected them to leave on their journey to Iceland but they were till there when I left a couple of hours later.

A small flock dunlin were feeding at the waters edge.

They were joined by a few redshank, but the redshank were very restless as they chased each other about. 2 chiffchaffs singing near the Geoff Smith hide were the only signs of spring.

 

 

Booming bitterns at Blacktoft

 As usual Monday did not go as planned, so it was after 2pm when I arrived at Blacktoft.

Luckily the rain had stopped by the time I arrived at Marshland hide. Wigeon, tufted duck, mallard, gadwall and coot, most of whom were asleep. The arrival of a marsh harrier soon changed that , and as the harriers drifted over Ousefleet, a large flock of black-tailed godwits took to the air along with 2 avocets.

Lots of snipe in front of Reedling hide. The sound of booming bittern could be heard from 1st hide.

Townend lagoon had several snipe and lots of tufted ducks, 10 males and 3 females.

The marsh harriers came very close to the hide, a pity that the light was not better.

Lets hope for better weather on Saturday, when I am on duty in reception.

Low Barns Nature Reserve

 

RSPB York Local Group outing by coach to Low Barns Nature Reserve, near Bishop Auckland.

Luckily the only rain we had was while we were on the coach travelling North on the A1, otherwise a sunny, but windy day.

The first hide we visited had feeders outside so we were able to watch dunnocks, reed buntings, goldfinches, chaffinches

either on the ground picking up bits of fallen seed or on the feeders like this siskin

not a brilliant picture as the feeders were swaying back and forth due to the winds. We added mute  swans, canada geese and mallard to our day list. As we walked along the boardwalk, through a reedbed, we heard but did not see a water rail.

As we approached the Northumbrian Water hide we were able to watch a grey wagtail feeding.

From the hide itself we added grey heron, chiffchaff, tufted duck, little grebe and teal to our list. We then returned to the centre for lunch.

Our first stop after lunch was at another set of bird feeders. 

Mr and Mrs great tit waited on a branch for an opportunity to get on the bird table. A nuthatch took seed from cracks in a mature tree.

From the rangers hide we looked over a lake and added goldeneye, lesser black backed and yellow legged gulls to our list.

As we walked along the path towards the "Everglades", we heard then saw 2 marsh tits. There were also several chiifchaffs singing. From the next hide we added cormorant and goosander to our list. Walking along the path which runs besides the River Wear we met another member of our group who had spotted 2 goldcrests in a tree.

I was both surprised and pleased to get this picture as the birds were moving about a lot. We retraced our steps to the Northumbrian Water hide, and was pleased to see that the grey wagtail was still feeding in the same place. 

From the hide this time we added pheasant, little egret and 2 sand martins, my first of the year.

It was then time to go back to the coach via the visitor centre.

A very pleasant trip, with 44 birds on the day list, including 3 year ticks.

Hartlepool & RSPB Saltholme

On Saturday and today (Sunday) spent time at various places in and around Hartlepool. While our friends went to watch their football team (Southend) play Hartlepool we spent time in Ward Jackson Park.

Lots of people feeding bread to the ducks, geese and swans. A couple of very noisy ring necked parakeets. 

Newburn Bridge was our next stop, where we sat and watched gulls and waders.

Sunday morning we spent at RSPB Saltholme.

My first avocets of the year

Barnacle goose was another year tick. Pintails and goldeneye were still present, but no sign of any sand martins.

The afternoon was spent doing a sea watch off the Headland.

There were several rafts of common scoters, they were close enough for me to be able to see the yellow patch on the bill of the males. No sign of any velvet scoters.

Redshanks

purple sandpiper

eiders

A pleasant end to our weekend in Hartlepool.

55 birds on my list and 3 year ticks.

 Many thanks to Bill and Ali for their hospitality.