Friday, 7 February 2025

The Last Singing Ringing Tree

On Tuesday we graced Buttercrambe near York to see if the massive Linnet flock was still in operation.  Immediately, we arrived we could see that there were still many Linnets over the set-aside, but it no longer seemed to be in the dizzying heights of over 1000.  We discovered it was a private road, and we had parked in a truck turning circle, so we moved to the shelter of the hedge.

 Linnets

Ditto
We walked along the road spotting Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, Tree Sparrows, Chaffinches & Greenfinches.  We approached an estate building with Dutch gables.  As we got nearer a stream of Fieldfare left the top of the trees before heading in a southerly direction.  We thought they had all gone, but one continued to call before Gill spotted it at the top of an Oak.
Bullfinch
Gill’s Fieldfare 
A Sparrowhawk was spotted which may have flushed the Fieldfare.  Then as we returned a bump in the middle of a grassy field resolved itself into a Peregrine.  We were just about to get into our vehicles, but we were prevented by the arrival of a pair of Redwing.  
Record Shot of a Peregrine
Ditto
Redwing

On Wednesday we went to RSPB Fairburn as planned only to find construction work going on near the Kingfisher screen.  The first bird of interest was a male Great Spotted Woodpecker.  It did some drumming at the top of a dead broken-off stump.  There were a few Green Woodpeckers, perhaps as many as 4 laughing from various parts of the area, as we climbed on the slopes to the circular route on the summit.  At the Cattle gate a female Kestrel was patiently waiting for her prey to come into view.  There were several Cormorants in breeding condition all flying towards the colony, but there were also at least 2 Red Kites performing overhead for much of our walk.  

Great Spotted Woodpecker (c) 2025 Symon Fraser

Ditto

At the far corner of the circular walk, which is the best vantage point for checking the birds we could see: all 3 species of egret, plus Pintail, Pochard, Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Teal, Wigeon, and both Canada & Greylag Geese.  Earlier c.50 Pink-footed Geese headed east.  We saw a Buzzard soaring between the pylon lines.  

Kestrel
Record Shot of Green Woodpecker
 Green Woodpecker (c) 2025 Symon Fraser
On the return journey a pair of Goldeneye were on the River Aire, and a Jay fluttered down into the vegetation on the other side of the river.  The Green Woodpeckers were much quieter on the return journey.
Robin (c) 2025 Symon Fraser

Roe Deer (c) 2025 Symon Fraser

On Thursday we made our final visit to the Yorkshire Wolds’ Singing Ringing Tree.  This time in the morning the Linnets were singing at the opposite side of the woodland, but after lunch they were back to their original spot.  The light was a lot stronger than during previous visits.  There were immediately Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings and Linnets near the crossroads, this time with a soundscape of distant Skylarks.  Meanwhile, a flock of jerking, twisting Linnets performed over the fields.  

Pink-footed Geese
Linnet
Yellowhammer

We went down to the quarry in the morning, but for the first time there were no raptors in this area.  We cIimbed back up to the summit of the hill, and then headed for the woodland.  A pair of Marsh Tits seemed to be extracting food from the field, and then returning to the safety of the trees. They didn’t stay still for long.  As we approached the southern edge of the trees the twittering song increased in volume.  It was the Linnets, which were comprising the chorus, but Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings and Chaffinches were also present.  For the first time there were plenty of Reed Buntings after lunch; on every other day they have been absent in the afternoon.

Buzzard
Ditto
On Friday we escaped the nithering easterly winds by going underground at the Humber Bridge Country Park.  This was before we realised that the complete winter stock of Ash Keys had already been consumed.  We knew there would be no Hawthorn berries, but the complete lack of winter food of all natural kinds had not been anticipated.  The morning started well with a Buzzard from the car park and a pair of Goldcrests at the bottom of the wooden stairs, but that’s where the good news ends.  There were 2 Redshanks on the foreshore and 4 Mistle Thrushes flew over the car park as we returned to our cars - 2 perched at the top of the trees.  Otherwise it was a complete washout.   We won’t be returning there in a hurry.
Goldcrest
Ditto
Ditto
Buzzard
Record Shot of Mistle Thrush



Friday, 31 January 2025

When the Grey Woods Sing

Yellowhammers

On Tuesday we reconvened on the Yorkshire Wolds for the 100+ finch flock.  It rained throughout the journey, but stayed dry at the venue itself.  The “chip” of a Yellowhammer could be heard immediately, and this time so could a Skylark.  A large flock of Linnets could be seen twisting over the field. There was a sprinkling of Reed Buntings on the hedgerows.  The quarry was a bit quieter with just 2 Buzzards along the edge, and 2 more flying in a southerly direction.  A Hare ran towards us across the chalky field. We walked to the woodland, which thrilled with Linnet song.  On the southerly edge of the wood a sneezing was a contrast with the pleasing singing.  It led us to good views of a Marsh Tit, which was the biggest surprise of the morning.  As we drove home the rain set in again, and this time was very heavy.  

Female Yellowhammer

Yellowhammer 
Male Yellowhammer
Marsh Tit
Ditto
Hare
Hare


On Wednesday we switched to South Landing at Flamborough because of a report of 30 Snow Buntings.  From the car park a Bullfinch and a Tree Sparrow were seen.  On the beach we could see Oystercatchers and a Curlew while Cormorants flew over the sea.  After lunch the sun was stronger and there were insects swarming over the seaweed, which resulted in at least 5 Rock Pipits.  We climbed up some very steep amateurish steps to the cliff top.  We hadn’t been walking long before two birds flew in and almost disappeared into the bare field - they were Meadow Pipits.  Not long afterwards we saw several larger, sandier-coloured birds which were Skylarks.  They also did some sporadic singing.  An unidentified flock of around 20 buff-coloured birds flew across the field but were tricky to see looking into the bright sunlight.  We searched the chalky field, but were unable to locate any Snow Buntings, although one chap reported he had seen them - it seems he saw a flock of 30.  We went back the way we came, scouring the field for any sign of movement.  We had also still reached the steps again, when Phil pointed out a Magpie, and it was near them where it was possible to see 2 bright specks.  On closer inspection they proved to be a score of Yellowhammers, most of them very bright indeed against the dark soil.


Oystercatchers
Rock Pipit
Rock Pipit
Record Shot of Meadow Pipit
Skylark (c) 2025 Symon Fraser
Ditto
Skylark 
Ditto
Yellowhammers (c) 2024 Symon Fraser
After lunch some Pink-footed Geese looked lost at sea before they regrouped and sailed over our heads.
Pink-footed Geese
Ditto
A Fulmar in the afternoon was also new.  Deborah spotted a Common Scoter on the sea.  There was also a pair of Wigeon, but the best bird was a Red-throated Diver on the return journey.
Fulmar
Record Shot of Common Scoter
Record Shot of Red-throated Diver
Helicopter 
Plane
On Thursday we made our final visit of the year to East Park.  We headed for the Parakeets first, and saw a couple of gull species on the way.  Both groups saw at least 2 Ring-necked Parakeets with 4 individuals seen in the morning - the most I’ve seen of that species all at once.  Under the first island Elaine spotted a Little Grebe, and another at a further island - this time in full breeding plumage.
Black-headed Gull
Black-headed Gulls
Common Gulls
Ring-necked Parakeets
The star bird was a male Kingfisher partially concealed on the largest island.
Male Kingfisher
Little Grebe
Coot
Cormorant 
Ditto
Gadwall
Drake Goosander
Ditto
Female Goosander
Ditto
Grey Squirrels
We returned to the wolds on Friday, only to discover that it was misty yet again.  The Linnet choir put in a fine performance, and all the small birds we saw last week were still in place.  We saw Tuesday’s Marsh Tit couple again, but a Treecreeper was an addition to the avifauna.  There was no wind, which meant that there was no sign of the Buzzards or Red Kites.
Reed Bunting
Treecreeper 
Ditto
Meanwhile, in Brough a Sparrowhawk visited a garden.
Sparrowhawk (c) 2025 Hugh Wood
Ditto
The photos from a fortnight in Costa Rica in January keep rolling in.
All Costa Rica photos (c) 2025 Ian Puckering
White-throated Magpie Jay
Hoffman’s Woodpecker?
Motmot
Turkey Vulture
Scarlet Macaw
Sleeping Blue-hooded Euphonia
Ditto
Red Eye Frog - Night Safari
Ditto
Ditto
Butterfly sp.

Another Butterfly sp.
Third Butterfly sp.
Iguana sp.
Dragonfly sp.
Stick Insect