These must be one of the smartest looking birds, one of our all time favourites. This male was just too distant in failing light. Lets hope he hangs around for the winter.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Hen Harrier
These must be one of the smartest looking birds, one of our all time favourites. This male was just too distant in failing light. Lets hope he hangs around for the winter.
Alkborough Flats
Well, it's Monday and of course the sun is shining because we are both back at work ! A visit to Alkborough Flats late afternoon with plenty of birds on there including the long billed dowitcher which was very distant. A couple of noctule bats were out feeding early.
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.
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.
Red Crested Pochard, Boston Park, Hatfield Moor
4 red crested pochard today on Boston Park. Blowing a gale with heavy showers, we headed somewhere with a hide. Grey skies and grey water, the usual outlook for every weekend!
Friday, September 28, 2012
Weekend Whinchat
Went out last night and found a stonechat (just one) which had gone tonight. In it's place was this single whinchat. What a pathetic migration we are having when all we can find are single birds, a sorry state of affairs.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Sunday bits
What a difference a day makes! Well Sunday dawned with not a lot coming on the pager (despite stong easterly winds and rain), so we headed off to seawatch at Hutoft on the Lincs coast. 10 bar-tailed godwits were feeding on the golf course along with this kestrel as we drove into the car park. Highlights of the afternoon were arctic, pom and bonxie, 3 red throated divers, common scoters, guillemots, sandwich and common terns and 8 sanderling along with 100's of passing ganets. A pleasant afternoon, keeping out of the wind which was bitterly cold. Karen added a new 2012 bird making this year's tally so far a pathetic 223 !
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