City of York Light Show

 Last night for this amazing light show, projected on to York Minster.

White fronted geese at RSPB Blacktoft

 

Just time for a short visit to RSPB Blacktoft Sands this afternoon. I arrived just after 3pm and after a brief hello with George, who was on duty in reception, I set off for Marshland hide. The above photo is the view I had.

Several wigeon, mallard, 2 teal and 1 shoveler were on the lagoon.

5 snipe were feeding close to the hide and a single dunlin was on one of the islands.

Just as I was about to leave my friend Chris Downes (chrisdownesbirds) came into the hide, so I stayed a while for a chat. Then just as we were leaving Mark and his friend came into the hide, another brief chat. Chris and I left to go and look in the arable field next to the reserve, and see if we could find any white fronted geese.

We found a small group of geese a short distance into the field. They were greylags and pink footed geese. Much further back, and just in telescope range we found several white fronts along with other greylags. A year list tick for both of us.

Chris then left and I returned to the reserve and after speaking to Dean, walked down to Singleton hide.

It was now about 4:15 and the shadows were on the grass in front of the hide but the sun was still illuminating the reedbed.

Wigeon were grazing in front of the hide, a marsh harrier was hunting over the reedbed

Lots of male tufted ducks

A kingfisher flew across the lagoon and a bittern was trying to boom from deep within the reedbed.

A quick call into Townend hide allowed me to add

pochard and goldeneye to my list, while Mr and Mrs gadwall were staying close to each other.

It was now 5pm and time to lock up. 30 birds on my day list including a year tick.