Marston 27/09/13

Marston 27/09/13 A bit more going on today with three Little Egrets on the scrape together with a Green Sandpiper, a couple of Snipe and the first pair of Shoveler for a while. The reed bed was still quiet apart from a family of Reed Warblers in the usual bush by the track and a couple of Water Rail calling. Still plenty of Butterflies and Hoverflies on the Dandelion and Sow Thistle. Even though it was around 1230 when I left the moon was up – Autumn is on it’s way!     David Continue reading Marston 27/09/13

Attenborough Nature Reserve

Attenborough Nature Reserve Dropped in here for a couple of hours on my way home after a short stay in Derbyshire. I’d never been before but it was disappointing as it appeared to be a typical Country Park with wide hard surface or Tarmac tracks and with a lot of the water surface obscured from view by massively overgrown hedges and trees. Mainly deep water so very little Wader margins, some work was being done to provide wet grassland habitat but this still had a long way to go. Huge numbers of Canada Geese, Greylags, Cormorants and Black-headed Gulls with … Continue reading Attenborough Nature Reserve

Stainby landfill

Hi folks, It’s been a long time since I posted, bit of a bugger when work and holidays get in the way eh? I called over for a couple of hours this afternoon to see what Red Kites were around, not many it has to be said, no real surprise I guess? There were good numbers of what I believe were Great Black Backed Gulls and only 2 (seen in air together) possibly 3 red Kites around with only a few Corvids kicking around also. There were good sized groups of Linnets, Chaffinches and Long Tailed Tits kicking around the … Continue reading Stainby landfill

Frampton Marsh 20/09/13

Frampton Marsh 20/09/13 With a bright start to the day and at last nothing else on my plate I headed to Frampton with high hopes. Hopes dashed initially as nearly all the Godwit had gone and hardly anything was moving. However after meeting Russ Telfer et al., who pointed me in the direction of a Whinchat, things began to look up. Whinchat was a bit flighty but at least I saw it from some distance. Also at distance (80+ metres) from the East Hide a couple of Curlew Sandpipers were to be seen and a couple of Little Stints flew … Continue reading Frampton Marsh 20/09/13

Marston A.M.

Marston A.M. A short trip whilst the good lady was training at the Olde Barn. Very, very quiet – virtually nothing in the air and little on the scrape but around eight Snipe, five Teal and a couple of Mallards. Most activity was around Graham’s feeders including a very bold GSW which posed elegantly for the camera. Saw Graham on the way out, he’d locked his keys in his car and was waiting for the RAC – hope you didn’t have too long to wait Graham. David     Continue reading Marston A.M.

17/09/2013

17th Sept 2013 Well, the Spurn great snipe I went to see on Sunday is no more. Word is that a cat had it. R.I.P. ______________________________________________________________________ Yesterday DN found another rarity, this time at Boultham mere, Lincoln. Not one, but two blue-winged teals, female or juv. types. Looking at the news reports today there are now three birds being reported, possibly four, almost inconceivable. This species is a vagrant from N America, sometimes there are only that number seen in the whole UK in a year. I havn’t been for these birds yet as I pulled a muscle in my back … Continue reading 17/09/2013

Great Snipe at Spurn 15/09/2013

Binoculars not required. Nipped up to Spurn to see the Great Snipe. ‘Showing well’ was a bit of an under- statement, as the bird fed well among discarded banana skins and cider cans in it’s chosen ditch. What a crowd pleaser, it was totally unconcerned by all the attention, with birders and photographers just feet away. I got a few pics, taken with my small pocket digital.     Continue reading Great Snipe at Spurn 15/09/2013

Seawatch,Huttoft 14/09/2013.

Seawatching. So,with the light to moderate wind coming from the NE, it was to the coast for the day. I love seawatching, I’m not that good at it, but find the challenge really enjoyable. You kind of need a 40year apprenticeship. Anyway, I was pleased today with not having to let many go,(unidentified). It was a bit disappointing really, I thought it would be better, long waits between birds and not many close in, I really enjoyed it, though, with some decent birds seen in a morning session-9 til 12 and a pm session-1.30 til 3.30.; Curlew sandpiper 3,flew up the … Continue reading Seawatch,Huttoft 14/09/2013.