Flying a Kite

Bullfinch [male]

Record shots of today's Red Kite

Red Kite

Red Kite - either eating in flight, or cleaning its talons!

Yellowhammer

Long-tailed Tit

Robin

Wren

This was our first visit to a favourite Yorkshire Wolds site this year. Because of the awful weather over the last few weeks, I wasn't expecting much, but it was a great day. Of course, the very nice weather helped, but the birds were on display, and the birdsong was particularly strong as we left the car park. We had a flock of 9 Bullfinches (mainly males) in the morning, and saw quite a few other individuals during the course of the walk. 5 Buzzards were spotted spiralling over some distant woodland. There were also plenty of showy Yellowhammers, although very few were singing. Also present: Red-legged Partridges, Long-tailed, Blue & Great Tits, a few Skylarks, Lapwings and Common Gulls. At least 10 Dunnocks were holding territory. We'd just got back to the cars at lunch-time when a Red Kite flew very low over the car park. Luckily, it was also seen by those from the afternoon class who'd turned up early. The afternoon was pretty much a re-run of the morning, but of course the birdsong was much more subdued.

Extra Curricular Activity

Hen Harrier (c) 2010 Vince Cowell

Short-eared Owl (c) 2010 Tony Robinson
Short-eared Owl (c) 2010 Tony Robinson

Peacock (c) 2010 Aileen Urquhart

Great Spotted Woodpecker (c) 2010 Aileen Urquhart

Barn Owl - where's the Kestrel? (c) 2010 Tony Robinson

ditto

Little Egret (c) 2010 Tony Robinson

Red Deer

Fallow Deer

Fallow Herd

Coal Tit

Robin

Jackdaws

Peacock

Small Fry

The bird of the day (at the planned location) was a flushed Woodcock, which was seen by approximately half of the morning participants. We also saw Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Jays, Redwings (c.15), Bullfinches and heard Redpolls & Siskins. The Nuthatches seem to be thin on the ground again at this location, and there was no sign of the once resident Little Owl and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. The deer showed well, but again feeding time was just after we left! After the morning session Tony, Miles & Anthony went on to Alkborough Flats & Worlaby Carrs. They saw a male Hen Harrier at the first location, plus Little Egret and 2 Barn Owls, which weren't being divebombed by Kestrels! The Short-eared Owl was at the latter location. It's a bit off when the best birds are seen after the official class was finished - but at least they were advised where it may have been worth going to next! The hen Harrier was too far for Tony to photograph, so the above picture is one taken this weekend in the same area - would be a lovely bird to see this close during one of the sessions!

Thanks Tessa

Bittern

Bittern
Bittern
Bittern

Bittern

Woodcock

Woodcock

Woodcock

Woodcock

Woodcock

Brambling

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Teal [drake]

ditto

Pochard

Record shot of Mistle Thrush

ditto

We were supposed to be walking along the River Hull today, but because of the recent flooding we went to Tophill Low instead. The warden, Richard Hampshire, saw a Bittern early in the morning leaving the site, so I didn't hold out any great hopes of seeing one. We'd been in SMW hide for a few minutes with very little to see, when Steve casually remarked on the Bittern-like bird right in front of the hide among the reeds - sure enough there it was within only a few feet. Everyone managed great views as it remained in place for nearly 30 mins before moving further into the reeds. Tessa had to drop out today, and there's no doubt we wouldn't have seen the Bittern if she'd been with us, as it is her bogey-bird. We went on to see excellent views of Bullfinches, and then Bramblings and Great Spotted Woodpeckers back at the Visitor Centre. After the morning class left, and before the afternoon sesson started a Woodcock did a shuffle from the pond across the boardwalk & then right across the lawn - don't let on to Margaret (from the am group, she will be furious)! In the afternoon we eventually had a distant view of a head & neck of a Bittern in Watton Borrow Pits allegedly while someone else was watching another Bittern elsewhere on the reserve. So, it seems there may have been at least 2 birds present today. It almost felt like spring, and everyone's spirits were lifted in the glorious weather, which was reflected in the very noticeable ubiquitous birdsong. The am Bittern was the best view any of the participants had seen before, and it was certainly the best view I've had of one at this particular location. Oh, I almost forgot a Kingfisher flew right across SME heading towards SMW. The Barn Owl didn't show while we were watching, but was seen at lunch time. The horrible bloke who referred to the group as a Woman's Knitting Circle was there again today, but this time the well-behaved 'students' were only condemned as "that lot".

Birding from a Car

Barn Owl - without a care in the world

It's behind you
Just after the whack
Recovering its balance
Was it you?
What was it?

Had enough

Getting aloft

Buzzard

ditto

Settling down again

Back at rest

Kestrel

The light was so good today (for virtually the first time this year), so I decided to have a day off. I went off checking Little Owl sites. The first 3 were devoid of interest, even though I saw a becalmed Buzzard, and a confiding Kestrel. However, eventually I did find a pair of Little Owls in an open-fronted barn, with a hedge obscuring the view, so I tried clambering out of the car for a view without twigs. The Owls performed, if not exactly a runner, a sort of a flier instead. It was definitely a bad move, so I decided that all further pics today would be taken from the car. After lunch back at home, I decided to go on a Barn Owl Safari. I've never been happy with my Barn Owl pics, so I thought I'd have another try. I saw 3 different Barn Owls, but other motorists made taking pictures rather difficult. At last one was calmly perched on a hedge, so I took a few pictures, then went a bit closer, and was thinking of trying a bit nearer, when suddenly the unsuspecting Barn Owl was whacked on the back by a male Kestrel. I was so busy concentrating on taking pictures, I didn't see it coming and neither did the Barn Owl! The Kestrel made off, and the Barn Owl pulled itself together before deciding to hunt somewhere else! Not a bad ending to the afternoon!