Tawny Owl

An excellent find this morning xx

Red-footed Falcon, Thorne Moors

An excellent find by Steve Routledge yesterday. Thanks for the text, pity I was stood in the que to get into Asda (that seemed to take an age to move), followed by the que to get into our local garden centre as a purchase of tomato plants was number one priority.  So we were a day late in our moors visit but it was certainly worth it.

The sky was overcast as we walked through Crowle Moors and onto Thorne. Nothing was flying but as soon as we headed up the main path, out popped the sun, the dragonflies erupted and so did the hobbies enjoying their breakfast. Simon soon had the red-footed falcon found which was feeding among the distant bushes. It never stayed still for a moment, constantly feeding and chasing, never perched and certainly never still. So afraid no pics.

The sun certainly didn't stay out for long and soon all was quiet and still, the feeding frenzy over. Then Simon picked up 7 large birds approaching and over our heads we had a fly by of 7 Common Cranes. A turtle dove was the star of the supporting cast. A fabulous day, in good company. 

Red Deer, North Lincs

This male stag red deer and his 7 ladies were an unexpected bonus this morning on the start of our walk. They proved that grass is always greener on the other side as they hopped over the fence for breakfast, always skitty and alert, they soon fed and hopped back over, totally disappearing into the scrub.  What an excellent start to the day. 

Early Purple Orchids

One of our local orchid sites is covered in Early Purple Orchids, it looks spectacular.

Corn Bunting and a few bits

A few corn buntings singing away on the wold tops 

An extremely distant cuckoo 

One of our local hobbys

A new dusk walk for us gave us a roding woodcock, pig and whistling around us constantly and two vocal, displaying nightjar. Will have to make this a regular walk for us. Our usual nightjar spot is quite difficult to access at the moment with the gateway piled sky high with fly tipping !

Our local Hobbies are back !

These have to be one of the best birds in the world !

Our first hobby arrived back 2 weeks ago, by Wednesday we had 3, on Thursday 4 had returned. Lets see what next week brings. Still staying local and will continue to do so. We are not out of the woods yet, not by a long way. 

A lovely morning out and about

Three dunlin busy feeding in the edge, enjoying the sun as much as us ! 

Green Woodpecker 

Pied Wagtail 

100's and 100's of swifts busy feeding all morning over the water, it was spectacular to see especially when a couple of hobbys constantly passed through them trying their luck with lunch. One of those WOW moments and one that we so desperately needed.  

Wheatear 

Yellow Wagtail

A lovely morning out birding in the sun, just us two. We needed it, we enjoyed every second, looked at every bird and went home happy xx