Tag Archives: sightings

Padley Gorge

Posted on May 17, 2024 | Leave a comment

A very early start to arrive at the Gorge for 6:30am, the first noted was a calling Cuckoo from the nearby moor, I wasn’t heading that way, I was going down into the gorge itself, this was my first time here.

I was guessing where I was going, I chose the right hand path and headed down, I was looking for the Padley specials, namely the Pied Flycatcher and Redstart. I had parked up at the Ice Cream car park.

First encountered birds were Blackbird, Song Thrush, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Robin, Blackcap, and Wren, on my way down into the gorge, no Flycatcher’s or Redstart on this leg, so I headed back up.

The return journey held little reward, with Blue Tit, Crow, Treecreeper, Chaffinch and a heard only Pied Flycatcher. I found out later at Wyming Brook that the Pied Flycatchers nest boxes are near the top of the gorge and a little way in, about a dozen of them, try again next year.

I moved on from Padley Gorge to my next destination Wyming Brook, target here was Wood Warbler, I was having a bad morning, I drew a blank on this species too 😔. The species I did encounter were, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Green veined White Butterfly, Orange tip Butterfly, and a Silver Y Moth.

I was drawing a blank and needed a pick up, I thought Dragonflies and Old Moor 😊, I headed off, it turned out to be a good move. On arrival at Old Moor the weather had changed to warm and sunny.

I got my gear together and headed o to the reserve, stopping at the small pond near the visitor centre first, here I picked up on lots of, Azure Damselflies and a couple of Large Red Damselflies, moving further into the reserve, I decide on taking the the left path and to do a loop on these pools. I encountered the same damselflies here, plenty of Azure and a few Large Red, there was also about half a dozen Four Spotted Chasers and a single Hairy Dragonfly, a nice surprise was a Dingy Skipper Butterfly, I found nothing new moving around the rest of the pools. I moved onto the Toyota platform and here I found a lot more Azure Damselflies and also Red-eyed Damselflies.

My next move was to do the Green Lane loop and here I found a few Blue-tailed Damselflies along with a few Common Blue Butterflies. I decided now on having an Ice Cream, I headed back out to the visitor centre, on my way I saw Orange tip, Brimstone Butterflies also a Mint Moth.

Lastly, after the ice cream, I decided on one last look around the pools on the left side, a good move, I finished the day on my favourite Dragonfly, the Broad Bodied Chaser. 😊

Padley Gorge List : Blackcap, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Cuckoo, Nuthatch, Robin, Song Thrush, Treecreeper, Willow Warbler, Wren

Wyming Brook List : Blackcap, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Robin, Song Thrush, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Green veined White Butterfly, Orange tip Butterfly, Silver Y Moth

Old Moor Lists :

Butterflies : Brimstone, Common Blue, Dingy Skipper, Green veined White, Orange tip

Dragonflies: Azure Damselfly, Blue tailed Damselfly, Broad Bodied Chaser, Four spotted Chaser, Hairy Dragonfly, Large Red Damselfly, Red eyed Damselfly

Sliver Y Moth

Blue tailed Damselfly

Broad Bodied Chaser

Common Blue Butterfly

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Pugneys

Posted on May 14, 2024 | Leave a comment

A late afternoon visit to Pugneys Country Park, first impressions on arriving was that it was very quiet. The first birds seen around the Jetty/Cafe area were Black headed Gull, Mallard, Canada Goose, and Great Crested Grebe being the most notable, it was quiet.

I walked around to the nature reserve hide, it was now open or I thought until I entered the hide, there was a lot of fire damage to the hide, I didn’t stop long, it was apparent that I shouldn’t be in there, I couldn’t get my head around, WHY, why do this, why ruin other peoples pleasures? and put their lives in danger in doing so

After the upset, I carried on my walk thru the small wood out towards the main lake hide, Blackbirds were about along with Blue Tit, Crow, Magpie, Wren, and in the nearby reeds were Reed Warblers, chattering away.

Back on the main path a flock of House Martins were hawking over the tops of the trees, the main lake hide had now been fixed, fire damage to the floor, but there wasn’t a lot to see from here, a few Sand Martins were present, along with Herring Gulls, Cormorants, and Tufted Duck.

Moving from the hide to the seat opposite, this overlooks the Nature Reserve Lake, from here I could see the Tern Raft, and here I saw three Common Terns, these were nicely flying around and landing back on the raft occasionally giving me good views of these birds, also seen from here were Teal.

Walking down to the beach a Male Reed Bunting was seen, giving its presence away by its calling, finally around at the kids playground was a good size flock of Swifts hawking low over the trees.

Birds Seen: Black headed Gull, Blue Tit, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Common Tern, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Herring Gull, House Martin, Kestrel, Lesser Black backed Gull, Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Sand Martin, Swallow, Swift, Teal, Tufted Duck, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren (31)

Robin in Full Song

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The Langsett Area

Posted on May 4, 2024 | Leave a comment

Arriving at Broadstone’s Reservoir at 6:30am to the sight of a Barn Owl flying over the wall had me stopping, an unscheduled stop, but worth going after, so getting the gear together off I set.

Willow Warblers were very prominent and seemed to be calling from every bush. Moving further on into the heath, a few Linnets were moving about, no sight of the Barn Owl. Moving further on, Common Whitethroats got my attention, this also brought me into an area where there were a few Blackcaps and a Garden Warbler, good to hear these two confusion species together, still no sign of the Barn Owl, so I moved off back towards the car, picking up on Skylark singing away as I did so. On my way thru I stopped at an area good, in the past, for Grasshopper Warbler, but no evidence of one today.

Getting back to the car, I set off for Langsett, my original first stop of the day, and parked up at the Barns Car park on arrival. The time was now 8:30am, there were plenty of Blackbirds around the car park area, along with Chaffinch, and a singing Blackcap.

Gear together, I set off towards my target species here, seeing Song Thrush, and Oystercatcher, near the dam wall, but no Common Sandpipers’ this morning or Pied/Grey Wagtails. Down in the woods, the target area for today, the sounds of Nuthatch, Robin, Blue Tit and Great Tit. Looking thru the foliage, I eventually caught sight of a Spotted Flycatcher, which was nice to find.

Further into the woods, things became rather quiet in the wood, then a quick movement and I’d found the target bird, a Pied Flycather, male. After watching the male bird for a while, and occasionally losing it, I caught sight of the Flycatcher giving a Great Spotted Woodpecker a hard time, diving bombing, trying to move the Woodpecker on. I eventually traced the Pied Flycatcher and got sight of the female coming and going with nest material, with the male looking on and giving song on various posts, safely keeping my distance

It was time to move on and I found myself down at Manvers lake, looking for the male Garganey which had taken favour with a female Mallard. I eventually found it tucked away out of sight along with the Mallard.

It was then down to Edderthorpe Flash, here I saw plenty of Swallows and Sand Martin moving thru, but no sign of the bird I was looking for, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff, Reed Warblers, Shelduck, Oystercatchers, a pair of Common Sandpipers, lots of Avocets, Cormorants, but still no sign of my target bird for here. it was now moving on to 4pm, after talking with someone else, who decided to move on after I said I’d been there for an hour and a half and there was no sign of it, he moved on down to Old Moor. I however decided to stop for another thirty minutes, it took about ten minutes before I saw the bird in question, flying in from the right and landing down in front of where I was sitting, Black winged Stilt in the bag and giving good views. It was good to see it, after the one from Frampton where I only saw it from a video I’d taken, and to finish the day, a single Swift went thru.

Langsett Area Birds :Barn Owl, Blackbird, Blackcap, Black headed Gull, Blue Tit, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Crossbill (H), Curlew, Garden Warbler, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Linnet, Long tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Robin, Siskin (H), Skylark, Song Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Treecreeper, Whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Wren (33)

Manvers and Edderthorpe : Avocet, Blackbird, Blackcap, Black headed Gull, Black winged Stilt, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Common Sandpiper, Coot, Cormorant, Gadwall, Garganey, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe, Herring Gull, Kestrel, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Mallard, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Robin, Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon, Sand Martin, Shelduck, Shoveler, Swallow, Swift, Teal, Tufted Duck, Willow Warbler (35)

Pied Flycatcher

Garganey

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Frampton Marsh RSPB

Posted on April 18, 2024 | Leave a comment

The day started early, 4am at home, on the road for 5:15am, arriving at Frampton at 8am and one hundred and ten miles later.

The first port of call as always is the area next to the car park, where once again the Lesser Yellowlegs was still present, now running well into its six, if not more in the UK. Other present around here were Dunlin, Lapwing, Little Egret, Ruff, Redshank, Moorhen, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal to name a few. I decided on walking down the road, which runs down to the marsh, stating of course next to the visitor centre, from here i saw Marsh Harrier, Mute Swan, Greylag Geese, Great Crested Grebe and a lovely displaying Little Ringed Plover, so lovely to see its display flight and calling. Moving on from there, I saw more Ruff in the field opposite, along with plenty of Brent Geese, despite looking thru the flock, I couldn’t find the Red Breasted Goose, a couple of Pied Wagtails were in the field, along with a couple of White Wagtails.

Further along the road, I heard a call I hadn’t heard since last year, it turned out to be a Sedge Warbler, along the road side ditch, turned out to be a few down here, with one bird showing rather well, needless to say I took quite a few photos, well a lot. further along the road there were more Brent Geese, once again no reported Red Breasted Goose, it was definitely giving me the run around, amongst the Geese were now lovely looking Black tailed Godwits, now in breeding plumage. On the other side of the road were plenty of Black headed Gulls and with careful scanning a few Mediterranean Gulls, I found six.

Hearing then that the Red Breasted Goose had moved on to the far field, I headed off that way, a bit of a walk but did see Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Little Egret, Redshank and Dunlin on the way, but never did seethe Red Breasted Goose. Back up near visitor centre, looking out towards the farm building, someone had found some distant Yellow Wagtails, they easily stood out due to the colourful plumage..

After dinner I decided on going along the top path to once again try and for the Red Breasted Goose and Black winged Stilt, over near the farm side of the reserve, but once again turned into a fruitless task, did see however, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Greenshank, and down along the track that leads to the farm, about six Yellow Wagtails, giving excellent views, also I got better views of the two Barnacle Geese from here. My last call was back at the Visitor Centre where there were some Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins going thru, a nice ending to a lovely day, also breaking my Frampton Day Visit List at 70 Species (106 Total)

Video of the Day can be seen HERE

Bird List ; Avocet, Barnacle Goose, Black Tern, Blackbird, Blackcap, Black headed Gull, Black tailed Godwit, Black winged Stilt, Brent Goose, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Cetti’s Warbler, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Collard Dove, Coot, Curlew, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe, Great White Egret, Greenfinch, Greenshank, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, House Martin, Jackdaw, Lapwing, Lesser Yellowlegs, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Little Gull, Little Ringed Plover, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Mediterranean gull, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pintail, Pochard, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Ringed Plover, Robin, Ruff, Sand martin, Sedge Warbler, Shelduck, Shoveler, Skylark, Snipe, Spotted Redshank, Starling, Swallow, Teal, Tufted Duck, White Wagtail, Whooper Swan, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellow Wagtail (70)

Black Tern

Sedge Warbler

Yellow Wagtail

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Ingbirchworth and Langsett

Posted on April 16, 2024 | Leave a comment

I started my afternoon, was now about 2pm, at Ingbirchworth Res, with a walk down along the dam wall. The first birds were Goldfinch in a nearby tree, on the water were a few Great Crested Grebes, Mallards, Canada Geese, and a few mixed up ducks. I was hoping for a few hirundie over the water, but there was nothing about. I made my way back along the dam wall, seeing a male Pied Wagtail this time, I took a few photos before moving on.

I then walked along the top path, passed the bus shelter, it was more productive down here with Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Great tit, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, the latter I managed to get a few photos of.

My next stop after Ingbirchworth, is my favourite place, Langsett Res. Once again I parked in the Barns Car Park, which was quiet today, I got the gear together and headed out, target bird here was Pied Flycatcher, but alas was a no show, did see however Great Tit, Blue Tit, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker. i then moved onto Low moor Lane viewpoint, hopping for some raptors, but came away with Curlew, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Red Grouse, and a pair of drumming Snipe. On the for tea and afterwards staying up on the moors, hopping for some Owls, only a calling Tawny Owl, but did see a few roding Woodcock over the Moor

Bird List : Blackbird, Black headed Gull, Blue Tit, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Sandpiper, Curlew, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Grey Wagtail, Greylag Goose, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lapwing, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Nuthatch, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Red Grouse, Robin, Snipe, Song Thrush, Treecreeper, Willow Warbler, Woodcock, Woodpigeon, Wren (37)

Willow Warbler
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail

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A Big Day Out

Posted on March 30, 2024 | Leave a comment

The day started at Broomhill Flash which is managed by the Garganey trust, at 7am, Broomhill was quiet, the highlight being a Marsh Harrier trying to make a meal out of a Teal, which narrowly escaped thanks to a nearby bush, other birds noted were Oystercatcher, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, and Mallard.

We moved on then to Wombwell Ings, which is the next field over from Broomhill Flash, all part of the Dearne Valley complex, target here for the day was Water Pipit, which was a no show, Redshank, and Skylarks were very notable, along with Reed Buntings, wildfowl here were Canada Goose, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Cormorant.

We then moved on to Warbler Way, where there were more Chiffchaff, but we also picked up new birds for the year, Willow Warbler and a male Blackcap, we also found Buzzard and Sparrowhawk.

On then to RSPB Old Moor, target bird here was Garganey, and again a no show bird, however there were plenty to see, Little Egret, Teal, Wigeon, Shelduck, Pintail, Tufted Duck, plenty of Cetti’s Warblers were giving out there explosive songs, a few of the birds even gave excellent views. A new bird for the year was a Common Sandpiper, which we found from the East Pool Hide. The best place for me today was at the Tree Sparrow Farm were there were plenty of birds to see and photograph, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Robin, Dunnock, Bullfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Brambling, Great Tit and Blue Tit.

Our last site for the day was RSPB St Aidan’s on the reports of another Gargeney, and once again no show, despite extensive searching. Our highlights at here were, the Black necked Grebes, Bearded Tit, an in flight Bittern, Willow Warblers, Blackcap and a single Sand Martin.

Broomhill Bird List ; Blackbird, Black headed Gull, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Coot, Gadwall, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Lesser Black backed Gull, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Oystercatcher, Pochard, Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon (18)

Wombwell Ings Bird List ; Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Chiffchaff, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Gadwall, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Long tailed Tit, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Shoveler, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Willow Warbler, Wren (31)

RSPB Old Moor Bird List : Black headed Gull, Blue Tit, Brambling, Bullfinch, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Common Sandpiper, Coot, Cormorant, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Lesser Redpoll, Little Egret, Long tailed Tit, Magpie, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pintail, Redshank, Robin, Shelduck, Teal, Tufted Duck, Wigeon (34)

RSPB Old Moor Butterflies ; Brimstone, Comma, Peacock

St Aidan’s Bird List ; Bearded Tit, Bittern, Blackcap, Black headed Gull, Black necked Grebe, Canada Goose, Cetti’s Warbler, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coot, Cormorant, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Little Grebe, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pochard, Redshank, Robin, Sand Martin, Shelduck, Teal, Tufted Duck, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon (32)

Lesser Redpoll

Brambling

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Broadstones and the Langsett Areas

Posted on March 24, 2024 | Leave a comment

So today I was visiting a couple of local sites, ones I hadn’t to for a while, in the vain hope of some summer migrants, Broadstones I was hoping for Wheatear with Langsett hopefully delivering Red Grouse. I started by travelling along the Brown Royd Edge Road and stopped at the airfield and found, Fieldfare, Lapwing, Mistle Thrush, with three Wheatear, easily picked up, due to their distinctive jizz, of the upright pose and distinctive run, great to see these birds again. Moving on passed the sheep fields, picking out Lapwings, with a couple of Pied Wagtails amongst them. I moved off from here I went down the Lower Maythorn Lane, where I knew Wheatear stop off, sure enough, there was only one, a female, but it didn’t matter.

So Langsett Res was the next stop, the Barns car park, and at the moment it was quiet. so I had a good choice of where I could park the car. Whilst getting the gear together, I heard and saw Chaffinch, Blackbird, Robin, Chiffchaff (which seemed to be everywhere now), Wren, Mistle Thrush and a hooting Tawny Owl. I started my route along the top path, where I saw and took photos of a Wren, there were also a few Chiffchaff down here also, and a Mistle Thrush, but little else of note. It wasn’t until I’d done my loop and was back near the car park again that I picked up on Siskin, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, heard Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch. Moving passed the car park and on towards the dam wall, this place is good for Common Sandpiper, today being a bit early but did see a pair of Oystercatcher, and a pair of Grey Wagtail in the overflown channel. I put a few things back in the car and went on then to the Bank View cafe for a bite to eat.

After dinner I decided on getting away from the crowds and going up on to Midhope Moors, to a place I knew would be quiet, and it was, a bit windy however, and a good place for Red Grouse , it took a while today for them to show, but they did eventually show, lovely calls to boot. There was also Meadow Pipits and Linnets around, I decided on taking in the view and sat down on one of the walls, along came a Common Buzzard flying steadily up the valley, a Kestrel hovering nearby, Curlews displaying and calling, then the experience of the day as a female Merlin came within in, maybe a foot, as it flew by hugging the wall, probably hunting the Pipits and Linnets, wow!

Homeward bound, via the Broadstones area again, stopping at the sheep field first where there were a few Pied Wagtail about, but I did manage to seek out alone White Wagtail too, there were a few Skylark in and amongst too, looking over the airfield again, the Wheatear etc had moved off, due to the model airplanes about now. Pulling into the layby/pull in area at Broadstones, I noticed a few Black headed Gulls flying over the road, but out of the corner of my eye I noticed something different, turned out to be a Barn Owl hunting the road verges, camera was in the boot, not in its usual place of the passenger seat, doh!, mad dash it was for the camera, then a run around to try and capture the Owl, well one day I’ll be in the right place at the right time. On to the heath then, which was quiet, but I managed to find a pair of Stonechat, lovely birds, one I was hoping to see.

39 bird species for the day, not a great tally, but a great day

Bird List ; Barn Owl, Blackbird, Black headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Curlew, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Grey Heron, Grey wagtail, Herring Gull, Kestrel, lapwing, Long tailed Tit, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Merlin, Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Red Grouse, Robin, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stonechat, Tawny owl, Wheatear, White Wagtail, Woodpigeon (39)

Stonechat

Barn Owl

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Fairburn Ings

Posted on March 22, 2024 | Leave a comment

Here was again back at RSPB Fairburn Ings and it looked as if it was going to be a nice day. I started around at the Visitor Centre feeders at the Pickup Hide, seems to be a favourite place of mine of late, the usual common species were here, Reed Bunting, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long tailed Tit, Chaffinch, there was a Chiffchaff and a Green Woodpecker calling nearby. I eventually caught up with the Chiffchaff, near the Kingfisher Screen, as I made my way up to the top trails, sadly not the Green Woodpecker.

I finally arrived at the viewpoint where I could see over the bottom area of the flashes, looking from here I managed to pick out plenty of Cormorants, a couple of Little Egret and finally a Spoonbill, which broke lose from the trees and flew down towards the Lin Dyke area with another following shortly afterwards.

I moved on down towards Lin Dyke as the Spoonbills looked as if they had settled near to the Lin Dyke hide, it looked along way from where I was standing. Finally arriving seeing very little on my journey down here, around the hide were a few Chiffchaffs. It looked as if the Spoonbills had moved, but not far, I managed a couple of shots before they took flight again, back to where I had just come from, I managed a couple of flight shots before they got to far away, there was also two Cattle Egret present down here amongst the Highland Cattle.

Well back at the Visitor Centre feeders, the day was warming up, now evident due to a few Bees now flying around, I settled in for another session with the camera, seeing the usual common species again. Another move and this time back down to Lin Dyke, but in the car this time. I stopped around the feeders here hoping for the a Willow Tit to show up, unfortunately it was another no show, there were Dunnocks, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Long tailed Tits, and a Pheasant.

Fairburn Bird List : Blackbird, Black headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Cattle Egret, Cetti’s Warbler, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Great White Egret, Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Jackdaw, Lapwing, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Long tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Pheasant, Pochard, Reed Bunting, Robin, Shelduck, Shoveler, Skylark, Spoonbill, Stock Dove, Teal, Tufted Duck, Wren (44)

Chiffchaff

Blue Tit

Spoonbill

Honey Bee

Long tailed Tit

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Weekend Away Day 2

Posted on March 17, 2024 | Leave a comment

My idea was to travel back North via Willow Tree Fen for the Cranes, OK it did mean a bit of travelling south first by about 40mins, but would mean a loss of 6mins to home, so decision made then.

Big change from yesterday’s weather were it was nice and bright to a very damp start today. On my travel into Willow Tree Fen I came across Twenty one Whooper Swans settled in a field, so things brightened up, it was still drizzling when I arrived at Willow Tree Fen and to locked gates to the car park, it wasn’t long thou before the voluntary warden showed up to unlock, and looked in disbelieve at someone showing up today. After parking up the rain did stop, looking over the marsh we did manage to to find a few Cranes, I finally picked out seven birds in total, a few did fly off site, which was great to see, long necks and legs, calling with that distinctive Crane sound, beautiful.

Also on site were a few Marsh Harriers along with Common Buzzard, Chaffinch, Collard Dove, Coot, Goldfinch, Mallard, Mute Swan, Shoveler, Snipe.

Back on the road, as I got further North the weather started to brighten up so I decided on calling in at RSPB St Aidan’s on the way for the Black necked Grebes. On arrival at St Aidan’s, my first stopping point of course was the dragline, but again no Little Owl was showing but there was plenty of Stock Dove about. The BN Grebes apparently were frequenting Bowers lake, so I headed off in that direction. I was looking at Great Crested Grebes, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Mute swan, Pochard, Coots and Black headed Gulls and the sound of Bittern, but no BN Grebes, I decided on walking back the way I had come, so I was looking at the opposite lake, it wasn’t long before I picked up on a Black necked Grebe, a bit distant, I watched it for a while and it was eventually joined by another two, not good views due to where they were hanging out amongst a patch of reeds. After that I made my back seeing Reed Bunting, with Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, and Common Buzzard over the hillside.

I was then joined by another group of people who informed me that a Black necked Grebe was making its way around the channel close to the footpath, and heading towards us, I waited and ended up having one of the best wildlife encounters ever, as the Black necked Grebe popped up withing six feet of me, after getting over experience, I did manage a couple of pics, what a moment.

Moving on then down towards the main lake area, seeing Grey Heron , Great White Egret, Lapwing and a Common Redshank, there were a few Gulls down on the main lake, mainly Black headed Gull and Lesser Black backed Gulls. Well the day was drawing to a close, I headed back out towards the visitor centre again, once again seeing the Kestrel hunting over the hillside, with no Little Owl on the dragline, again. Whilst having my usual coffee and cake break, outside this time where i had good views of the feeders, finishing the day off with Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Reed Bunting.

Willow Tree Fen Bird List : Buzzard, Chaffinch, Collard Dove, Coot, Crane, Goldfinch, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Mute Swan, Shoveler, Snipe, Whooper Swan (12)

St Aidan’s Bird List : Bittern, Blackbird, Black headed Gull, Black necked Grebe, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Coot, Cormorant, Gadwall, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Great White Egret, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Kestrel, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Little Grebe, Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Pheasant, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Shoveler, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Woodpigeon (35)

Black Necked Grebe

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Weekend Away Day 1

Posted on March 16, 2024 | Leave a comment

A weekend in Lincolnshire and the first port of call was back to RSPB Frampton Marsh, Why? unfinished business with a certain American bird that has been there most of the winter, the Lesser Yellowlegs. See the video HERE

As I turned into the car park, I could see the Lesser Yellowlegs in the near by field, adjacent to the car park, panic set in, so close, was it going to take flight before I had chance to view it. I parked up got the gear together in double quick time. I soon got to the view the Lesser Yellowlegs and got a few shots off before the bird wandered off to be too distant, arrived just in time. Other birds here were Ruff, Lapwing, Wigeon, Teal, Pied Wagtail.

I now went and got the rest of the gear I needed and set off onto the reserve, I decided on doing today a different way to the one I usually do and headed off down around the back of the Visitor Centre with Corn Bunting in mind. Mute Swans and Greylag Geese were close in, with a pair of Marsh Harriers in the air, doing their display flight, other birds nearby were Reed Bunting, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Collard Dove and a single Chiffchaff, nice to get a migrant on this years list. There were few other birds around as I walked the path, just picking up Great Crested Grebe and Greylag Geese, and no Corn Bunting. On then to the 360° hide and here I saw Pied Wagtails, lots of Avocets, Common Snipe, Dunlin, Redshank, Black tailed Godwit, Ruff.

After dinner, I grapped the scope, thought I’d need this to try and see the other two birds I wanted to see today, these were last seen down towards the Salt Marsh, off I went. Took me a while to find the first bird amongst the Black headed Gulls but once located it stood out like a sore thumb, a Mediterranean Gull, nice to catch up with this one, apparently there were six on site. I put a passing birder onto the Med Gull and it return they found my last target bird, the Green winged Teal, distant, glad I got the scope. The view was all but brief before the Teal flock took flight, hence losing the bird, but fortunately I soon relocated it and obtained better views.

I then ventured down to the Marsh where I saw very little, but looking back over the reserve I picked out a Great White Egret and Cattle Egret, now it was coffee and cake time.

After the coffee break, I was again looking for the Corn Bunting, it gave itself up eventually but briefly. The weather had now turned for the worse, so I headed to the East Hide and settled in to watch Ruff, Redshank, Avocet, Oystercatchers and Ringed Plover

It was now getting late so I decided on calling it a day, I arrived back at the car park to more views of the Lesser Yellowlegs before it was spooked and flying away, I managed some footage before it departed, which can be seen HERE

I finally saw 60 species for the day, my best count for a day at RSPB Frampton Marsh, beating the previous best of 57 in 2018

Bird List : Avocet, Black headed Gull, Black tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Brent Goose, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Cattle Egret, Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Collared Dove, Coot, Cormorant, Corn Bunting, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Gadwall, Golden Plover, Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Great White Egret, Greenfinch, green winged tEal, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Lapwing, Lesser Black backed Gull, Lesser Yellowlegs, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Mediterranean Gull, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pintail, Pochard, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Ringed Plover, Robin, Ruff, Shelduck, Shoveler, Skylark, Snipe, Starling, Teal, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren (60)

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Ruff

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