Aire Valley Birding

 A day out with Chris (chrisdownesbirds).

RSPB Fairburn Ings was our first port of call. Kingfisher had been seen at the screen according to records in the sightings book, so off we walked. Not 1 but 2 kinfishers were on view but at the far end of the stream and they then flew away. Not a bad start, with sightings of jays as well.

Chris looked at his Birdguides report and an osprey was reported at Astley Lake, so off we set.

Not the best light conditions and we sheltered under the hide from a shower of rain. Cormorants, gadwall, teal, mallard, coots and black-headed gulls on the lake, with even more jays flying past. Then it appeared.

We called in at Lin Dike on our way home. The water level is very low. In the distance we had ringed plover, dunlin, green sandpiper, teal, shelduck and cattle egret. A hobby kept flying over the hide and 3 buzzards were circling near a pylon.

A pleasant day with 30 birds on our list.