On Tuesday we went ahead with Fairburn, as it looked as though the rain was going to be worse further east. It was dry when we watched a male Bullfinch pecking at buds in the car park, but the rain soon started. Luckily, it only rained for around 15 minutes including the time spent at Pick-up hide and with the female Kingfisher. The rain eased as we climbed the hill. Despite the windy conditions we decided to attempt the Roy Taylor walk. Immediately, we had great views of a Green Woodpecker, which at first flew up from a grassy area, and then around us for several minutes.
We reached the first pool at the top to be greeted by a lake studded with Shovelers, and where Steve spotted a pair of Great Crested Grebes. The second lake was mainly Coots, but another pair of Great Crested Grebes were dancing in the shelter of a reedbed. As we walked around the perimeter Sue looked down and spotted probably one of our closest views of a Great White Egret. A few minutes later some distant Pintail could also be seen. On the return journey we saw a very noisy Green Woodpecker, which landed on the fence, a few seconds later we realised that there was another in the grass below the fence. We enjoyed another look at the female Kingfisher at the screen on our way out. There was a male Reed Bunting at the visitor centre feeders.
On Tuesday night heavy rain was forecast with strong winds for the following day, so Wednesday was changed to N.Cave Wetlands. The wind wasn’t quite as bad as forecast. Nevertheless, there was less in the hedgerows than on Friday. However, we did come across a group of relatively confiding Siskin, which Miles thought were the sighting of the day. The Snipe also let us down in the gap in the hedge. There seemed to be hundreds of Lapwing with a few Redshank and plenty of Wigeon. We didn’t see an awful lot among the new workings, but there were another dollop of Lapwings. Aileen noticed that a lot of Shoveler had paired up on Far Lake and were beneficially stirring up the water for each other to sieve. As we walked along north hedge the sky began to clear and at least three Skylarks were seen ascending into the skies pouring forth their pleasant song.
As we returned to the viewing platform a Ruff could be seen, and then 2 widely-distanced Black-tailed Godwits. A peal of a Green Woodpecker laughter ran out, whilst the lovely loud notes of the Song Thrush serenaded those eating their sandwiches on the viewing platform.
Marsh Harrier
The walk between the hides was very quiet apart from Blue Tits, as all the usual small birds must have been hunkered down in the wind. From the Garganey Hide all the wildfowl were at some distance, but a Marsh Harrier flushed everything, so when they settled again, it was possible to see Pintail, Shoveler, Wigeon and a few others. Lapwings were the most prominent wader with also Golden Plovers, Redshank, Curlew and Elaine spotted a pair of Dunlin. Elaine also observed a Buzzard low-down perched among vegetation, which sheltered it from the wind.
A Curfew of Curlew (c) 2022 Paul Green
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