Friday 24 September 2021

True Grit

On Tuesday in a northerly wind the Autumn term was inaugurated by a trip to Kilnsea.  The highlight was a very confiding Wheatear, which posed marvellously while all 6 attendees got their best ever views of the species. It looked up as a low-flying helicopter passed overhead, and it appeared it would be frightened off. Instead, the gleam in its eye was better depicted for that photo. Just a few minutes later we located a Spotted Flycatcher. A species we don't encounter very often any more.
Wheatear
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Spotted Flycatcher
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Record shot of Stonechat
Speckled Wood
Highland Cattle
On Wednesday I had a day off from Kilnsea when we traversed the Humber Bridge for the ever-popular Alkborough Flats.  It was a warm morning, so I hadn’t expected the Bearded Tits to be eating grit, but we found three individuals in the middle of the path.
Blue Tit (c) 2021 Symon Fraser
Bearded Tit
Collecting Grit
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Bearded Tit (c) 2021 Symon Fraser
Avocets and Back-tailed Godwit
Ruff
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Ruff (c) 2021 Symon Fraser
Spoonbill
Spoonbills
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Mute Swan Cygnet
Great White Egret
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Caterpillar
Snail (c) 2021 Symon Fraser
Hercules?
Some of the morning group decamped from Alkborough to RSPB Blacktoft Sands.  
White-tailed Lapwing (c) 2021 Tony Robinson
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White-tailed Lapwing and Ruff (c) 2021 Tony Robinson
Black-tailed Godwit (c) 2021 Tony Robinson
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Dunlin (c) 2021 Tony Robinson
Meadow Pipit (c) 2021 Tony Robinson
Ruff (c) 2021 Tony Robinson
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Back to Kilnsea on Thursday and Friday.  The first few photos are taken on an extremely windy day.
Immature Water Rail
Little Grebe
Too Many Egrets?
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Wisps of Waders
Grey Plover, Knot & Dunlin
Mediterranean Gull
Eider
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Ruddy Darter
Peeky-bo!
Coming Together
Weather Vane
On Friday the wind was much less violent at first, and we enjoyed some "sharming" of a Water Rail.  We saw at least 2 adults and 2 immature birds.  
Water Rail
Letting Rip

Two for the Price of One
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Just One
Coming Closer
Curlew
Golden Plover
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Golden and Silver Plovers
Grey Plovers
"Silver" Plovers
Guillemot
Pink-footed Geese
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Wigeon

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