Back-throated Thrush, Grimsby

Black-throated Thrush this morning in the grounds of Grimsby Institute.  I had arranged to go on a girlie day out to Meadowhall with Lucy so afraid I didn't get to see the thrush, but I had a mega retail therapy day that also involved lovely food and beer! The bird was showing as soon as Simon and John arrived but it flew off after around half an hour and wasn't seen again. Wonder if it will show again tomorrow? 

Common Cranes

An excellent find this morning on our daily walk. We were hearing cranes trumpeting and calling, such a magical sound, so we sat and listened to them talking for ages. Then the calling got loader as we looked up to see them flying overhead, still calling to each other. A fantastic sight and sound. Brilliant. 

Male Hen Harrier

Just been for a lovely long walk on the moors and thought we would finish the day off at Blacktoft. Driving along, enjoying the blue skies and thinking of spring when Simon shouts 'MALE STOP'. Oh my goodness a male hen harrier was flying alongside the car, right there, so close. An emergency stop with a quick check to make sure no-one was behind us! But the harrier was going away from us all the time so we just admired it in all it's glory and it was fantastic. 

and a couple of Apache Helicopters flew over

Happy Birthday to me !!

Well, another year has gone by and I wonder where did it go. The older I get, the quicker time goes by. I had a wonderful day filled with family love, some fabulous pressies and excellent food ! 

A lovely day, thank you xx

Beautiful flowers and a card that made me cry xx 

The perfect gift for me - a Kindle and a new snippy snappy camera to replace my Lumix that I got soaking wet at the Tour of Britain Cycle Race last year and it has not worked since ! 

........and then this !!! 

A trip to Steels in Cleethorpes for a fish and chip lunch. It was as good as it looks, flipping delicious. Then onto the garden centre for an orchid purchase or two...or three !!  

My day was simply lovely xxxxx

Waxwings, North Road, Retford

Headed to Retford in Nottinghamshire today to see the waxwings, just a 30 mile drive and plenty of parking off the main London Road. I used to work a mile up the road in my younger days and this road was one I traveled daily, although I used to pass through fields that are now massive housing estates. 

The weather was grey, grey and more grey. The lighting horrendous and the waxwings a sillouette in the gloom. We could see 4 birds in the large trees at the back of the gardens where they remained for around an hour before coming into the front garden and the fruiting Sorbus that they were literally shovelling down. Not too large a crowd but there was always one that had to stand far too close....camera, no binoculars, you know the new kind of birder that we are seeing everywhere. 

The waxwings kept coming in to feed, although by this time they were down to 3 so who knows where the 4th bird went. Eventually the sun broke through the greyness and what a difference that made. It was good to meet a few new faces and before we knew it we had been there for most of the day leaving around 3pm. An excellent day !!

and then the sun came out for a few minutes and what a difference that made!

Redwings, Messingham Nature Reserve

A huge flock of Redwings in the horse fields yesterday at Messingham Nature Reserve. They looked spectacular in the late afternoon sunshine.