Noon when I arrived at North Duffield Carrs. The sunshine had given way to cloud, but no wind. Not a bird to be seen in the set aside field. A male bullfinch flew across the path just after the Geoff Smith hide. No birds at all in the hedge or trees on my way to the garganey hide.
From the hide I saw that the birds were in roughly 3 groups. Group 1 consisting mainly of wigeon and teal were on the left hand side, grazing on the grass near the farm. Almost straight across on another grass bank were group 2, mainly canada and greylag geese.
The 3rd group were near a piece of exposed vegetation, this group was a mixture of lapwings, teal, wigeon and a few pintails.
Nothing happened, no birds moved and no new birds flew in, so after 90 minutes I left.
This is the view from the viewing platform at Thorganby, looking over West Cottingwith Ings.
Wigeon and teal grazing, while lapwings just stood. Then something disturbed the birds and they all took to the air. I could not see what had disturbed them, but birds much further over were also in the air.
I could see lapwing, golden plover and other small birds. When they eventually settled I was able to see dunlin and ruff with the other waders. The wigeon and teal resumed grazing and then one and six redshank flew in and started to feed.
A pair of stonechats were slowly getting closer as they flew from post to post along an electric fence, but they did not come close enough for a photo.
I had to meet the youngest granddaughter from school, so had to leave.
Aire Valley tomorrow.
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