Spotted Flycatchers

A walk in our local woods this morning gave us three spotted flycatchers, in exactly the same tree as last year. Would say there were more to be found, but biting flies caused us to retreat !  

Spoonbill at Alkborough Flats, Lincs

A quick visit to Alkborough Flats tonight was very productive indeed. A spoonbill flew and landed infront of the tower hide, plenty of bearded tits also. Two barn owls were constantly hunting, very successfully, and the tower hide kestrel gave us plenty of fly-bys. 6 roe deer were around but none came very close.

Long-tailed Skua, Hatfield Moors

I can't begin to tell you how far we walked for this bird tonight, miles and miles. From the car park it was about an hours walk but what made it worse was that we had walked a fair chunk of it earlier this morning! Still, a quality bird to end the weekend off with which has been crammed with birds from start to finish - top notch !

Black Stork over Thorne and Crowle Moors

We headed out this morning to Hatfield Moor for the long-tailed skua, thinking we would have a steady day and then go home for a nice lunch - wrong !! We were greeted by birders as soon as we walked onto Packards saying that the skua hadn't been seen for a couple of hours. As the area was still some distance away we were reluctant to walk it for nothing, so we sat down and just admired the view. Karen looked at the pager to see what else was about and jumped up, come on, we're heading for Goole she says, there's a black stork but its in flight. We were soon back in the car with Karen speeding towards Rawcliffe Bridge, the sightings on the pager were coming thick and fast and we just seemed to be a couple of miles behind this bird. The last sighting was just off Thorne Moors so we headed back through Goole at jet speed. At least we were heading in the right direction and who knows, we could be lucky. Our first stop was down the windfarm road but we couldn't seem to clear buildings and trees. Simon thought he had it flying really low, but we couldn't pick it up again. Decided to head off and try a different road that could get us closer, so we dashed off to the Old Peatworks road, that would give us a panoramic view of the moors. We were not disappointed after clear directions were put on the pager, we soon had the stork in our sights. After flying the length of Thorne Moors it soon gained height after being mobbed by buzzards and crows. We watched it fly along Crowle Moors and beyond. A fabulous bird and another one added to Karen's growing UK list. We did then head home, but only for a quick sausage butty as there was a skua that needed seeing !

Badgers

Two badgers out tonight, and before dark which was a bonus. This male was probably the biggest badger we have ever seen, he was huge ! Will visit this sett again and, hopefully, they will have young that will be coming out. There was certainly lots of noise coming from there. 

Fox cubs

Went out tonight to watch our badgers and came across these three little rascals, watched them playing for ages, they had such fun !

Little Bittern

With nothing particular planned for today, this was a definite trip when it came on the pager in the morning. We left home with sun and were soon in torrential rain which remained with us until we got close to Bury. The driving on the M62 was horrendous with the spray and rain and we were wishing we hadn't bothered. The site took a bit of finding with a couple of dashes into local shops for directions, we were soon sorted and parked up. As soon as we got there the rain stopped and we were blessed with excellent views of this bittern. Such a pity that everyone couldn't stand on the lane as instructed, there is always a few that spoil it having to stand too close. Plenty of friendly local birders there, and soon the banter was flowing ! A fabulous day and a new UK bird for us taking Karen's tally up to 366......two new birds in one week !! 

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Spurn

A trip to Spurn hoping for a few shrikes that were there yesterday, of course being the weekend there was not one to be seen ! Plus the rain was absolutely torrential, so we sat in Canal Hide where we enjoyed a male redstart and a spotted flycatcher. As soon as the rain stopped, we headed to Beacon Lane for this red-breasted flycatcher that was in the garden with the big gates (that were closed!). It's not easy trying to see a very mobile bird with a dozen other birders peering round the gateposts but soon a message came round that 5 bee eaters were heading south towards spurn and everyone cleared off to wait for these leaving just us two and the flycatcher, brilliant! 

Sedge Warbler, Blacktoft Sands

We thought we would head somewhere with hides tonight due to the torrential showers. Not a lot to see really but this sedge warbler was on full song right infront of the hide.

 And yes, it did rain, very heavily !

Terek Sandpipier, Covenham Reservoir

A dash to Covenham after work for this terek sandpipier. 

Seen many overseas but this was a UK first for us and took Karen's list to 365.