Friday 10 September 2021

High Summer Term Ends in Heat

After a pretty nondescript summer the final week of the Summer term was rather warm.
Jay
On Wednesday it was rather quiet wildlife-wise at Danes' Dyke, but because of the nice weather it was rather too busy humanly-speaking.
Dead Men’s Fingers
Roe Deer
On Thursday morning we found c.6000 Black-tailed Godwits, and then we followed the advice of 3 Wednesday afternooners, and examined a new area, only to find it was far superior and the Whinchat and Sedge Warblers (and a possible Redstart) were a bonus.
Black-tailed Godwit
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
Knot 
Immature Lapwing
Little Egret
Ditto
Ditto
Immature Pied Wagtail
Cormorant 
Ditto
Curlew
Whinchat & Sedge Warbler
Ditto
Whinchat
Ditto
Still present in the afternoon
Ditto
Ditto
Sedge Warbler
Ditto
Red Admiral
Painted Lady
Old Man’s Beard (Sorry, John)
Thorn Apple
Caper Spurge [Thanks, Sonia] 
At Fairburn on Friday a Nuthatch was calling in the car park at first, and then we headed off to the screen.  Here, the best bird was a Jay, which came fairly close.  I tried to take a few photos, but it was partially concealed by vegetation.  Only on examining the photos when I got home did it become clear what it was devouring - a pleasant surprise.  The morning group failed to locate the Cattle Egrets, but we did spot one of them after lunch.  However, in the morning Elizabeth spotted an incoming Great White Egret, which stayed in place for a maximum of 10 minutes.  
Jay
ditto
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Pecking at a Bramble
Jay
Magpie
Sparrowhawk
Elizabeth's Great White Egret
During the lunch hour I visited Lin Dyke area.  I went to the metal hide, only to discover it seemed to be permanently closed.  I managed to look through one of the wooden screens instead.  There was a roosting Great White Egret and a couple of Green Sandpipers, and then receding into the distance most of the usual suspects.
Great White Egret
Green Sandpiper
ditto
I wish I could say this was the afternoon's Cattle Egret, but it was the first one we ever encountered nine years ago now...
Chickory

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