Saturday, October 6, 2012

This weekend so far ........

Was lucky to see the Long Billed Dowitcher at Alkborough Flats on Friday evening, thanks to Neil Drinkall. The bird was extremely distant and was feeding with godwits.  It certainly took some locating as it had moved from the area it was seen previously. A very windy horse kept us all amused and gave me and Neil some competition !

Saturday afternoon we headed back to Firsby Reservoir for the Pallid Harrier that we missed on Thurday evening. This showed within half an hour and we enjoyed reasonable views of it sitting in distant fields, preening and stretching, totally at ease. Even a passing horse didn't bother it. It eventually flew around where we had some exceptionally good views of it, a cracking bird and a UK first for us. Wish we had taken the camera with us now.

These two take Karen's year list to 230 and her UK list to 327.

Sunday saw us heading for Frampton, an excellent reserve that is very well managed. We stopped at West Ashby on the way for the phalarope. We had distant views from the roadside, hardly worth stopping for really. Some photographers were already at the pond side having obtained permission from the landowner. Now if everyone had done this in the first place, it wouldn't have spoilt it for the rest of us. Anyway, had a good day adding rock pipit and little stint to Karen's year list bringing the total now to 232.

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