tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48641624082047735852024-02-20T21:19:57.647+00:00Baggins on the LooseNot a Hobbit, but the old nickname I like. Just a man with a camera, lucky enough to be let loose in the countryside! A birder in the main but all nature attracts me. North Yorkshire based but I get around.BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.comBlogger255125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-15295147807120457392024-02-19T18:21:00.006+00:002024-02-19T18:21:44.436+00:00Wet, windy, a big freeze, mass flooding - just a normal January?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsM377Ofw7zgBhHwnnQixPYq5Ap3puJ_wCVYAa8PPSScbibiJlhztgHqH54jYK7CFmpP8Amv0tMwEtGnnRtWbHgEd5qObU5h8fZuYk5cRXTs-vCXJ_bHz5Wj5CIwZ7JhpS6nUwyHKMGTgokKWhnqOLHzLUAUUsWRJyueIvOIl6Wt2XBi0knVmfLAL_fbt/s4000/20240101_000348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsM377Ofw7zgBhHwnnQixPYq5Ap3puJ_wCVYAa8PPSScbibiJlhztgHqH54jYK7CFmpP8Amv0tMwEtGnnRtWbHgEd5qObU5h8fZuYk5cRXTs-vCXJ_bHz5Wj5CIwZ7JhpS6nUwyHKMGTgokKWhnqOLHzLUAUUsWRJyueIvOIl6Wt2XBi0knVmfLAL_fbt/w400-h300/20240101_000348.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Not that I'm a weather nerd or anything but I do keep a rough journal of what's happening out there via my garden birds records and by my reckoning there were just 10 days between the last week of December up until the end of January when it wasn't either pouring down with rain or blowing a hoolie. No wonder I've felt as if I've been hibernating! <p></p><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Part of that 'retreat' was because I wasn't always feeling at my best but, as always, getting out and walking in the fresh air trumped staying in and sitting on my arse every single time - even when it was freezing cold. And cold it was during that mini freeze in the middle of January but strangely enough when everything else seemed to be locked into cold storage I spotted my first wild flowers of the year, a spread of beautiful <b>Winter Aconites </b>on a roadside verge in Thornton nr the <b>Pocklington Canal</b>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSJ9cXb5A7-cYF2I_X18rX0OnOvsBu92M-HeOjepDk6YmRlBOcNgp_ySHyquLg5GJll35RWd9pLN7rwb8ou8l3sRtnJbmYmuHCb2fa86NvKXSN2_e4sluf3877xmvjE_zanw-jv8TVCfBIsS5G-S8o_9fTHu1v3M2t20U7K71g68lzFFcgA0Fy8cyAzGU/s4000/Aconites.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSJ9cXb5A7-cYF2I_X18rX0OnOvsBu92M-HeOjepDk6YmRlBOcNgp_ySHyquLg5GJll35RWd9pLN7rwb8ou8l3sRtnJbmYmuHCb2fa86NvKXSN2_e4sluf3877xmvjE_zanw-jv8TVCfBIsS5G-S8o_9fTHu1v3M2t20U7K71g68lzFFcgA0Fy8cyAzGU/w640-h480/Aconites.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Winter Aconites, Thornton, 16/01/2024</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>That cold snap didn't last long but as ever produced some magical winter wonderland spectacles out there - </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsee3a2bbpWJUWkS0fHmKPN_w4R1zXgMJN2vHSHwPVcW_YhPPdYF_m0szAbgdqLU73Rr6bBzrzR3cI2RDWzDutSws8X-_HhoE_XdDClBc4dvbNhOyw-F-zcXNpDp0fhIqe5mYAsTWZgTUWk9K3-PK9seyyVDRIUJEvaIiDHxnv3XKZaNQjNhPo5PVU3tvf/s3924/20240119_140238-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2943" data-original-width="3924" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsee3a2bbpWJUWkS0fHmKPN_w4R1zXgMJN2vHSHwPVcW_YhPPdYF_m0szAbgdqLU73Rr6bBzrzR3cI2RDWzDutSws8X-_HhoE_XdDClBc4dvbNhOyw-F-zcXNpDp0fhIqe5mYAsTWZgTUWk9K3-PK9seyyVDRIUJEvaIiDHxnv3XKZaNQjNhPo5PVU3tvf/w640-h480/20240119_140238-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bubwith Ings from Aughton church, 19/01/2024</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAbVSlBnLzMa9T5wI1ywnBNt5Su5VaN1ZS3ZX12IOkGzY7SSnvofTWYk-SOg0kkx2v8obLz4VE0e8jLgP_wwGFfLfUxUcxThiRDdnNusnbTOrpmSVqYJDjNb9LX7R7TDhTOYdGLiDWT9VXlxl1gm6YNhY7xGQUKPjY3X70fwjXjaBCkUHoizmIjfxkrWi/s3800/20240119_140140-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2850" data-original-width="3800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAbVSlBnLzMa9T5wI1ywnBNt5Su5VaN1ZS3ZX12IOkGzY7SSnvofTWYk-SOg0kkx2v8obLz4VE0e8jLgP_wwGFfLfUxUcxThiRDdnNusnbTOrpmSVqYJDjNb9LX7R7TDhTOYdGLiDWT9VXlxl1gm6YNhY7xGQUKPjY3X70fwjXjaBCkUHoizmIjfxkrWi/w640-h480/20240119_140140-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bubwith Ings from Aughton church, 19/01/2024</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5DaV9rAEgihxhB7SHAJEmJBkL6kMZtTnk1qfwl5c9qs3-tb4YDYuSHK7mGydenmEoC_6G97YclGWvTp-5xAq27VMzVWTqzPArh0unBDkIgzlFUauui04tQPkJZRf9h2tkTXVdvq64hsP0JKNC8owMb7nm_J83fIblK3K59QUwlStWyYPYqQLABDFq7bN/s2163/MX2A6081.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1442" data-original-width="2163" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5DaV9rAEgihxhB7SHAJEmJBkL6kMZtTnk1qfwl5c9qs3-tb4YDYuSHK7mGydenmEoC_6G97YclGWvTp-5xAq27VMzVWTqzPArh0unBDkIgzlFUauui04tQPkJZRf9h2tkTXVdvq64hsP0JKNC8owMb7nm_J83fIblK3K59QUwlStWyYPYqQLABDFq7bN/w400-h266/MX2A6081.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Snipe, Blacktoft Sands, 18/01/2024</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Somewhat foolishly I trecked out to <b>Blacktoft Sands</b> expecting it to be less frozen over on the Humber and hence more birds but it was just the same and all I managed was a close up <b>Snipe</b> in front of one of the hides looking for something soft to probe its beak into! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhX1yU5xcfW33Xb8nAVhTCH7zhnNXaZnjUfTbIOSsXkoBwmqZBzE0Clt0tlLAqGxiS-u6wX-33InEk1FQIKy2LWTcPzPFO8rIPppoHIiR-QpwSzFcK_ors6fxa28dqqIP2B7EmoL8eAfT18sGmyAi-t-PRlLoKAnCvthAbY5PxME61ZK5nHCkL6vZbHke/s4000/20240101_130806.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhX1yU5xcfW33Xb8nAVhTCH7zhnNXaZnjUfTbIOSsXkoBwmqZBzE0Clt0tlLAqGxiS-u6wX-33InEk1FQIKy2LWTcPzPFO8rIPppoHIiR-QpwSzFcK_ors6fxa28dqqIP2B7EmoL8eAfT18sGmyAi-t-PRlLoKAnCvthAbY5PxME61ZK5nHCkL6vZbHke/w400-h300/20240101_130806.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Flooded path at Howsham, 01/01/2024</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Such a topsy turvy month weatherwise - a couple of weeks earlier, just after New Year it was unseasonally mild with blue skies and sunshine, but just like eveyone else in the country we had floods to contend with after a very wet December, wettest on record up here. A planned walk along the<b> River Derwent </b>at <b>Howsham</b> was abruptly halted by flooded paths and I had to head up to the hills and Howsham Woods to escape the mud - such is life in this climate change world!</div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSAFFfII8rQ_FVePPQeobPhUiHZ8FYayCmGBUtex5JRRvp1wu5GK1rHhRmFxoGy4NwwHa1k3A1EutNE285hV8D-S-dKn7GRQySrm6NbDmHJe7klqQL0mSPVo9giPaM2RTsC6gUdX46eeYbWMvRTWgxUG-TP0dLKwa1fXHUSqmN2sj4ZpA5jORXiOXqXiA/s4000/20240101_134315.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSAFFfII8rQ_FVePPQeobPhUiHZ8FYayCmGBUtex5JRRvp1wu5GK1rHhRmFxoGy4NwwHa1k3A1EutNE285hV8D-S-dKn7GRQySrm6NbDmHJe7klqQL0mSPVo9giPaM2RTsC6gUdX46eeYbWMvRTWgxUG-TP0dLKwa1fXHUSqmN2sj4ZpA5jORXiOXqXiA/w640-h480/20240101_134315.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Howsham Woods, 01/01/2024</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHD0XrkmB_IGfW6BFmC6uOk98FN_L8s3Bm9k39CfqWpG2oEgPz6JQTMMi2G-Serb5tknuAsjPX8W9bealfV2qrCDaZAUDv_29tXYb3EkPmOti8F_tAPDZneAf80dCZDCnjVKjQw8p8KQAgGpJgA-EWEK6YchvDfe3LcASII154M14nkTBPJFyiqzx7oXH/s4000/20240107_111656.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHD0XrkmB_IGfW6BFmC6uOk98FN_L8s3Bm9k39CfqWpG2oEgPz6JQTMMi2G-Serb5tknuAsjPX8W9bealfV2qrCDaZAUDv_29tXYb3EkPmOti8F_tAPDZneAf80dCZDCnjVKjQw8p8KQAgGpJgA-EWEK6YchvDfe3LcASII154M14nkTBPJFyiqzx7oXH/w400-h300/20240107_111656.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bilsdale, 07/01/2024</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>Another trek up into the hills saw me trudging up <b>Bilsdale</b> in the <b>North Yorks Moors</b>. It was a trudge too, good exercise and some fine scenery but hardly another living thing to be seen save a few <b>Red Grouse</b>! Always an outside chance of <b>Hen Harrier </b>up there and that was certainly in my mind when I set off but after 3 hrs worth of walking (most of which seemed to be uphill) I called it quits and popped into <b>Birch Wood</b> on the way back and ticked off <b>Nuthatch</b> and <b>Treecreeper </b>off the year list.<br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksPWUpVylWJwM67TXdItdjquCeK6dAUGqi98xftDTrxVm9Fxvh3Fo9fstxfQGMoBPY_A87IDBqcwjtD2bvl4POyYxocs8gUWavUEXcY0EuF_qPsmhRo7wZqYW86BKZCut8ngTDTkSza0st9yX67bNP5EFzzgERxSaqSKWrr3ET9S9GjQFx_Zmupz3yJrY/s4000/20240107_113039.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksPWUpVylWJwM67TXdItdjquCeK6dAUGqi98xftDTrxVm9Fxvh3Fo9fstxfQGMoBPY_A87IDBqcwjtD2bvl4POyYxocs8gUWavUEXcY0EuF_qPsmhRo7wZqYW86BKZCut8ngTDTkSza0st9yX67bNP5EFzzgERxSaqSKWrr3ET9S9GjQFx_Zmupz3yJrY/w640-h480/20240107_113039.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bilsdale, 07/01/2024</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXQOblbEpyqDbS5I2luoa0KQJ4-68ibqPOine1nAtZ_Ehyphenhyphenqvgz1j2PwPowobAAlXgOeZDM8l78t7XInuCVs7vsFM4vOKMjC_XIMzOfGKFntLPtPcE7narrcmV83uMlGbWPZrbTqmiKZ9VJrlUm6EPAQgUey_ELglgX-h_rCGHMcf-SNUUvGhPF0-zi9ME/s4000/20240109_130459.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXQOblbEpyqDbS5I2luoa0KQJ4-68ibqPOine1nAtZ_Ehyphenhyphenqvgz1j2PwPowobAAlXgOeZDM8l78t7XInuCVs7vsFM4vOKMjC_XIMzOfGKFntLPtPcE7narrcmV83uMlGbWPZrbTqmiKZ9VJrlUm6EPAQgUey_ELglgX-h_rCGHMcf-SNUUvGhPF0-zi9ME/w400-h300/20240109_130459.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Flamborough Head, 09/01/2024<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>One trip to the coast to twitch long staying <b>Red Headed Bunting </b>at<b> <a href="https://www.yorkshire.com/flamborough/" target="_blank">Flamborough</a> </b>was ruined by near gale forces winds (bad planning!) and let's say the bird had its head down somewhere warm and cosy😜... but in more sheltered <b><a href="https://www.eastridingcoastandcountryside.co.uk/find-a-place/?entry=bridlington_south_beach" target="_blank">Bridlington Bay</a></b> I at least got some nice waders on the shoreline including a small flock of <b>Grey Plovers</b>.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWb8O-t2sbqgdlFIT3RCqCVr9PbeHpABTfJz0N26r4em8_JcQf5QmQGGpN94NsgoXtPQFby08b0xUdy5VznhXAxqhtEvOhXyWQY1IS3f4uGZJmhTiTIrwLGZzG8yrwkQeqgv00-X903fW9tF-ITcdsUVPbje-ixwC4b6P_XIEBtCYUH-4vOhoIsShddX4h/s2405/MX2A6025.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1603" data-original-width="2405" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWb8O-t2sbqgdlFIT3RCqCVr9PbeHpABTfJz0N26r4em8_JcQf5QmQGGpN94NsgoXtPQFby08b0xUdy5VznhXAxqhtEvOhXyWQY1IS3f4uGZJmhTiTIrwLGZzG8yrwkQeqgv00-X903fW9tF-ITcdsUVPbje-ixwC4b6P_XIEBtCYUH-4vOhoIsShddX4h/w640-h426/MX2A6025.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Grey Plovers, Bridlington Bay, 09/01/2024</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />After much more January precipitation most of the <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LDVNNR/" target="_blank">Lower Derwent Valley</a></b> was submersed again after briefly becoming almost passable earlier in the month, and viewing was tricky. The bridge at <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubwith" target="_blank">Bubwith</a></b> is always worth a mooch around at such times and this pleasing flock of <b>Dunlin</b> cheered me up on a dull day.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7d2vaJVubPakJUc8g5OgqO3BEnF5IDTeOs0hKpqmcJoxVzDL88E8xw3jk3EJmr_Ym8-_MxBybtPhs89ojnO1LS0ue7O1hNUAH2EftwKWxDQqmV4R8eOIqe-xiu3uFKEGwcQJAjCZ8xsjefg9dh6vqXpHByjvj1XTWpGzpsK0NUzhyphenhyphenB0mY_4mx-7zqXl0B/s4372/MX2A6093.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2459" data-original-width="4372" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7d2vaJVubPakJUc8g5OgqO3BEnF5IDTeOs0hKpqmcJoxVzDL88E8xw3jk3EJmr_Ym8-_MxBybtPhs89ojnO1LS0ue7O1hNUAH2EftwKWxDQqmV4R8eOIqe-xiu3uFKEGwcQJAjCZ8xsjefg9dh6vqXpHByjvj1XTWpGzpsK0NUzhyphenhyphenB0mY_4mx-7zqXl0B/w640-h360/MX2A6093.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dunlin, Bubwith Bridge, 19/01/2024</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZASnDTbbCgHFrzY4UPjdR2DRumo39aunZk98fj6mLAUSn4ussh-d5ZgWr26tLpGKB2XpgGnOK4yblNcuT_le02dIKuA19Tui1oQHUhDus_LD_szb9SHZ303pibXdoWdjAsZY1QsiHYF8lsqzRv7WyPHjUGdz0-5gFXxg20BDfFkIEdRVbs7DQZJ7on5j/s4000/20240126_143126.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZASnDTbbCgHFrzY4UPjdR2DRumo39aunZk98fj6mLAUSn4ussh-d5ZgWr26tLpGKB2XpgGnOK4yblNcuT_le02dIKuA19Tui1oQHUhDus_LD_szb9SHZ303pibXdoWdjAsZY1QsiHYF8lsqzRv7WyPHjUGdz0-5gFXxg20BDfFkIEdRVbs7DQZJ7on5j/w400-h300/20240126_143126.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The rains abatted towards the end of the month and it was almost a local event when access to the last bird hide at <b><a href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/wheldrake-ings-nature-reserve" target="_blank">Wheldrake Ings</a></b> was finally possible, albeit with big wellies, and it was a bittersweet moment to be able walk past that noisy windmill again, as photogenic as it is!</div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hWdZcxCHXMSkrkapkwivv7iUUz0y5dZEYpbpfmGSRuHyJaUdGgBU6yAU16kon3Q-jLgwoo3PmZ9aD6zbzILQD38Yj-wK5pnueM0JmR3XXjkDKHEUfZmwW0j_mdJoKAds1rIn_uU8YzgCwEZnVvOl1XxWvO6cwboP437wUzCKcGFzEszI2GVTLp5bxOfb/s4000/20240126_131519.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hWdZcxCHXMSkrkapkwivv7iUUz0y5dZEYpbpfmGSRuHyJaUdGgBU6yAU16kon3Q-jLgwoo3PmZ9aD6zbzILQD38Yj-wK5pnueM0JmR3XXjkDKHEUfZmwW0j_mdJoKAds1rIn_uU8YzgCwEZnVvOl1XxWvO6cwboP437wUzCKcGFzEszI2GVTLp5bxOfb/w640-h480/20240126_131519.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wheldrake Ings, 26/01/2024<br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><div><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4aBDIXYnDxQgsJuFPfW0GNabiSq7XG9h60nMotlfL9PXg8xVNftNxgrIehMLy2imC2ZytI711UZ1sg-iR00IeKWGI9qHQ7BKl5dVlmQGhr9wDSGLcj_AyyssH6iJ6X1xhKd3WGNU_AKluJ7ensOyM1vMI4ZzrCNUx_jqHZX2TkdsbfIzKJT73ooIgG31/s1674/MX2A6024.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="1674" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4aBDIXYnDxQgsJuFPfW0GNabiSq7XG9h60nMotlfL9PXg8xVNftNxgrIehMLy2imC2ZytI711UZ1sg-iR00IeKWGI9qHQ7BKl5dVlmQGhr9wDSGLcj_AyyssH6iJ6X1xhKd3WGNU_AKluJ7ensOyM1vMI4ZzrCNUx_jqHZX2TkdsbfIzKJT73ooIgG31/w400-h266/MX2A6024.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lesser Redpoll, Southcliffe Common, 05/01/2024</b></td></tr></tbody></table>In between the rain deluges I somehow managed 2 trips to <b>Southcliffe Common</b>, I like it around there mainly because nobody else seems to bother with it, but it is quite an impressive patch of ancient field systems, ditches and drains with scattered woodland that eventually connect with the <b><a href="https://www.mwct.org.uk/" target="_blank">Market Weighton Canal</a></b>. I get <b>Marsh Harriers </b>there nearly every time I go, had <b>Jack Snipe</b> in the canal, <b>Green Sandpiper</b> in the drains and <b>Green Woodpecker </b>in the woodlands. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This time around produced 4 <b>Marsh Harriers</b>, no doubt from the nearby <b><a href="https://www.humbernature.co.uk/estuary/" target="_blank">Humber</a> </b>populations, <b>Lesser Redpoll</b> and one of the biggest flocks of <b>Brambling</b> I've had for many a year - about 170 in 2 distinct flocks across the patch. It has been a good <b>Brambling</b> year, I wonder if it's coincidental that it's also been a good <b>Waxwing</b> year; both Northern European winter visitors.</div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKHgCTJfJC_EOLH6ltcmf4LkLqpCmIUF0enAFpSIKJQNqN3_wUIjBEk8jQOSTTlSJh410Ey0PKxsmvN1DLmtT2Q9f-uEi2NIOr-t3gQ35kOD3A587JtYzHbEfCWSXGoraqkCKWdONNLnn0s8pJrVMWD9w8wm0zirR7HMXOw3xKjwDsK_xUdnmCkJ-G1FB/s1996/MX2A6035.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1996" data-original-width="1597" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKHgCTJfJC_EOLH6ltcmf4LkLqpCmIUF0enAFpSIKJQNqN3_wUIjBEk8jQOSTTlSJh410Ey0PKxsmvN1DLmtT2Q9f-uEi2NIOr-t3gQ35kOD3A587JtYzHbEfCWSXGoraqkCKWdONNLnn0s8pJrVMWD9w8wm0zirR7HMXOw3xKjwDsK_xUdnmCkJ-G1FB/w512-h640/MX2A6035.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Southcliffe Common, 11/01/2024</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lEkNyiJEEgGwJ_Xn6-ntfQ7ZkGpvzQRW0-snSLO41KJ2msrIq9nGokULkQwKQFFNqOY1DOWP3nW1XFmKvszvs_dZU6zqJcs8IjZFOPHneu8SIgTFtlWNFlWcyvIj2vRgkQd3FNC1EwlBHE_VZXv6qZDXWx6cdFQahMBJNah4ZLlrUS4pdOGMhlchxTqd/s4000/20240105_142837.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lEkNyiJEEgGwJ_Xn6-ntfQ7ZkGpvzQRW0-snSLO41KJ2msrIq9nGokULkQwKQFFNqOY1DOWP3nW1XFmKvszvs_dZU6zqJcs8IjZFOPHneu8SIgTFtlWNFlWcyvIj2vRgkQd3FNC1EwlBHE_VZXv6qZDXWx6cdFQahMBJNah4ZLlrUS4pdOGMhlchxTqd/w640-h480/20240105_142837.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Southcliffe Common, 05/01/2024</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, not a bad haul for a January that was full of unsettling weather, few opportunities to get out to be frank better for consuming box sets than bird watching! And the month ended on a high in more ways than one with a cracking gig in Leeds - went to see <b><a href="http://margaretglaspy.com/" target="_blank">Margaret Glaspy </a></b>on her UK tour, and a few days before another first for the year list, a couple of <b>Scaup</b> at <b>Wheldrake </b>along with a female <b>Smew</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbTQGQ5a_myz9wl87inGqWMuuKv96AaDMnB9yqvLvGz12PpnTrqQSxmHo27kDoEK2L4B30osYxT_KULashJn0zzEMH79f90jEIG7oqql12GYbeyapkpXitfN4hF_pPjAj35faeUOcsKQRPFCV6n1tTmWeXWLjhkXsIuuHLMafPGZ4uecslQ5g6Yqt_r7l/s1203/MX2A6107ii.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1203" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbTQGQ5a_myz9wl87inGqWMuuKv96AaDMnB9yqvLvGz12PpnTrqQSxmHo27kDoEK2L4B30osYxT_KULashJn0zzEMH79f90jEIG7oqql12GYbeyapkpXitfN4hF_pPjAj35faeUOcsKQRPFCV6n1tTmWeXWLjhkXsIuuHLMafPGZ4uecslQ5g6Yqt_r7l/w640-h426/MX2A6107ii.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Scaup, Wheldrake Ings, 26/01/2024</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwb9fPCNOqJaxU0ffkjcaXtMZxro383TL-DovIVqljIGF7yqG3hNux_qJDqk30sX4QvRHQePrMIvfPzPwvO6bOco-Xn4VmgcOYWkoWAxFhF34vF5fiIS7zgE6dsJ5nYnpdqYmzfUT-YUxS9IOt5dREIk2ytfN8ERnIWWPyf9xXriTLyMOKaLu7PNvUbmzy/s4000/20240131_213914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwb9fPCNOqJaxU0ffkjcaXtMZxro383TL-DovIVqljIGF7yqG3hNux_qJDqk30sX4QvRHQePrMIvfPzPwvO6bOco-Xn4VmgcOYWkoWAxFhF34vF5fiIS7zgE6dsJ5nYnpdqYmzfUT-YUxS9IOt5dREIk2ytfN8ERnIWWPyf9xXriTLyMOKaLu7PNvUbmzy/w640-h480/20240131_213914.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Margaret Glaspy, Leeds Brudenell club, 31/01/2024</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwb9fPCNOqJaxU0ffkjcaXtMZxro383TL-DovIVqljIGF7yqG3hNux_qJDqk30sX4QvRHQePrMIvfPzPwvO6bOco-Xn4VmgcOYWkoWAxFhF34vF5fiIS7zgE6dsJ5nYnpdqYmzfUT-YUxS9IOt5dREIk2ytfN8ERnIWWPyf9xXriTLyMOKaLu7PNvUbmzy/s4000/20240131_213914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div></div><br /><div>As per usual, a few more pics from round and about this month .......</div><div><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1wfNMf0z0MOd7eb50xcf_9HgmWNnuZgcfV_gSJLZIchGygOEcTlHo12tIQOL-FTAn9hwNRM5jdH0Cs-nlLF3dt9CUWk8Q7EfE5FIwSLOZWfy6W9wr7SWGFxXzme2h21ID5ed1BWnNUDKMvXiJrp2CTcc36FCZHYIPx6jePIKAJvkQyJklf3_cBGWNomj/s4000/20240114_150933.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1wfNMf0z0MOd7eb50xcf_9HgmWNnuZgcfV_gSJLZIchGygOEcTlHo12tIQOL-FTAn9hwNRM5jdH0Cs-nlLF3dt9CUWk8Q7EfE5FIwSLOZWfy6W9wr7SWGFxXzme2h21ID5ed1BWnNUDKMvXiJrp2CTcc36FCZHYIPx6jePIKAJvkQyJklf3_cBGWNomj/w640-h480/20240114_150933.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>World's End, Strensall Common, 12/01/2024</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EUjowlqpGV38shyRgMShuBZRdVA_ANIxTKrYkyeIOq2GJV2kK5ZpsNHLvuGI4ITXm7d8xzhmJfs5QJuEtNqQRPmS1CW2748sFnnf9-58hzFzxBbinRe-XMpsHFosIjli-nmdsSO39u45KeGk2o4cL8qQzf7tLXdDkUVaKF1X0Qq5psowE76_U7XjdFMU/s4000/20240107_114257.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EUjowlqpGV38shyRgMShuBZRdVA_ANIxTKrYkyeIOq2GJV2kK5ZpsNHLvuGI4ITXm7d8xzhmJfs5QJuEtNqQRPmS1CW2748sFnnf9-58hzFzxBbinRe-XMpsHFosIjli-nmdsSO39u45KeGk2o4cL8qQzf7tLXdDkUVaKF1X0Qq5psowE76_U7XjdFMU/w640-h480/20240107_114257.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Top of Bilsdale, 07/01/2024</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_wVoy5Pwvefdd5G5OSZYa4Wr-ME4w8bp1ybNFSAIe7YNE5BSMOlEkcbiQN8I3n0i1Fbe-Wli8rG1qS5XjG1Gs-XUCuk9hguTxzE6X_S6JINzT3Cqrl3TxdRfCzrf5BLHOcDshOvyzgKVBNLumr7BMAfzW2JZnAKO3K6ZJ6UefnDKNY9U8t6jn7n2f60b/s4000/20240101_141054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_wVoy5Pwvefdd5G5OSZYa4Wr-ME4w8bp1ybNFSAIe7YNE5BSMOlEkcbiQN8I3n0i1Fbe-Wli8rG1qS5XjG1Gs-XUCuk9hguTxzE6X_S6JINzT3Cqrl3TxdRfCzrf5BLHOcDshOvyzgKVBNLumr7BMAfzW2JZnAKO3K6ZJ6UefnDKNY9U8t6jn7n2f60b/w640-h480/20240101_141054.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>River Derwent at Howsham, 01/01/2024</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gml-pFzIsZalP_NrhQbCy_g-JzFxK9wQCFOr46LvI0ND43p8CDHXxgY7m35LZw1BcHw_YI_7fakXljWHVQpnfcjwI2yaAg7eQ2apQtX9zX0TVwTO-hS3IX61p0tMnxbPQ5Z64a3e4NasICeVsLFbw20a3NiOsBsQudSsNH6VVhsi6uroeOe0dAvBV-Zu/s4000/20240112_144221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gml-pFzIsZalP_NrhQbCy_g-JzFxK9wQCFOr46LvI0ND43p8CDHXxgY7m35LZw1BcHw_YI_7fakXljWHVQpnfcjwI2yaAg7eQ2apQtX9zX0TVwTO-hS3IX61p0tMnxbPQ5Z64a3e4NasICeVsLFbw20a3NiOsBsQudSsNH6VVhsi6uroeOe0dAvBV-Zu/s320/20240112_144221.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-69201925110829381692023-11-09T18:20:00.004+00:002023-11-09T18:27:04.661+00:00Mini break to the Solway Firth<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhYTXzqRXoKZL1Mab8wDpT8OwNyEJdBEgH4u79Z5JIBMKfEIJr6qh4ozROq6yoBVmlpotjJT76hnvXOOjlw52B6ym7Y_qs-HXazuxASXP9JDkbqG0qlcxErW5g6PQhTPlT1D9jKM7Fct4JaEmdOAA414C_g9iTbvU44jPfxLjnmbcJt_1unr0_ybJXO35/s771/Capture.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="771" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhYTXzqRXoKZL1Mab8wDpT8OwNyEJdBEgH4u79Z5JIBMKfEIJr6qh4ozROq6yoBVmlpotjJT76hnvXOOjlw52B6ym7Y_qs-HXazuxASXP9JDkbqG0qlcxErW5g6PQhTPlT1D9jKM7Fct4JaEmdOAA414C_g9iTbvU44jPfxLjnmbcJt_1unr0_ybJXO35/w400-h260/Capture.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Solway Firth, places visited</b></td></tr></tbody></table> Took myself off for a short break (couple of days) to Cumbria back end of October. Found myself a decent enough B & B on the English side of the <b>Solway Firth</b> at Easton, a few miles east of Bowness on Solway. <p></p><p></p><p>For a change I'd set off good and early and arrived in good time to check out one of several nearby nature reserves - <a href="https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/drumburgh-moss" target="_blank">Drumburgh Moss</a>, a raised peat bog managed by<a href="https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/" target="_blank"> Cumbria Wildlife Trust</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Mid afternoon, overcast and spitting with rain, I wasn't expecting much but was hoping for<b> Short Eared</b> <b>Owl</b> which are known to frequent the place in autumn. No joy on that front but I did have a <b>Raven, Curlew, Fieldfare</b> overhead and a couple of <b>Stonechats</b> and I enjoyed having the place to myself for a couple of hours - covered maybe a quarter of the reserve, it's a big one (121 Hectares) and like most raised mires a bit desolate looking but I kinda like the bleak, wild feel of such places. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKqI24Fu3rWRiXu3zPo_ZgcUDuA4zb2J57fX5aqUFdK4VBcX-KWdzTGYg61930PyPjOg7N495QKa-eXv7Ht5SoHzFT_eV2I5OZuVBzwRic7rTCOrPRhMU1e6lJYpFI8sJIalu1UQNzm0Ow-jGVhqW9HXxNeQ6JsIMu8Qs1RrfEXrSpQtVwPMJDCNUNEww/s3778/20231025_162649.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1788" data-original-width="3778" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKqI24Fu3rWRiXu3zPo_ZgcUDuA4zb2J57fX5aqUFdK4VBcX-KWdzTGYg61930PyPjOg7N495QKa-eXv7Ht5SoHzFT_eV2I5OZuVBzwRic7rTCOrPRhMU1e6lJYpFI8sJIalu1UQNzm0Ow-jGVhqW9HXxNeQ6JsIMu8Qs1RrfEXrSpQtVwPMJDCNUNEww/w640-h302/20231025_162649.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Drumburgh Moss, 25/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>A brief look over the estuary at <b>Port Carlisle</b> at dusk was rewarded by a single <b>Greenshank </b>in amongst many <b>Redshank, Dunlin, Lapwing</b> and <b>Golden Plover</b> but way too dark for any pics.</p><p>Next day was a bit of a washout until mid afternoon (the forecast was always a bit dodgy), so I just drove around some of the good viewing points around this bit of the Solway. Lots of wading birds - <b>Knot, Golden Plover, Redshank, Dunlin, Oystercatcher</b> and <b>Lapwing</b> all in good (100+) numbers plus a few Black Tailed Godwits, Grey Plover and plenty of Snipe including a flock of 17 overhead as I trudged around the wet fields and bogs of RSPB Campfield Marshes but constant light rain marred my walk and didn't even bother lifting my lens to anything.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09L9lIbfUXBesS0JA_qc0VfILfLj3pFPEp-LAabqncXukQFRLNyMgNdBibPNLW6NheT0gHZCQJTgk8YuzGQfkJHeA11qagYdIorqMVzKo9Zzh0__U36OYYInDdIC2LmbrYy67-kXEYXQ3LJosiykvYybCMrxHFLCwlMixZZYG-tCpsn1qG-82x9uMk-J-/s3821/20231026_133855.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1808" data-original-width="3821" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09L9lIbfUXBesS0JA_qc0VfILfLj3pFPEp-LAabqncXukQFRLNyMgNdBibPNLW6NheT0gHZCQJTgk8YuzGQfkJHeA11qagYdIorqMVzKo9Zzh0__U36OYYInDdIC2LmbrYy67-kXEYXQ3LJosiykvYybCMrxHFLCwlMixZZYG-tCpsn1qG-82x9uMk-J-/w640-h302/20231026_133855.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>RSPB Campfield Marshes, 26/10/23<br /><br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>Around Cardurnock, during a brief break in the rain, I saw masses of Barnacle Geese fly in from the Scottish side of the estuary. Not a common bird my side of the Pennines, the whole population of wild Barnacle Geese of Svalbard (or Spitzbergen if you prefer) winter here on the Solway, generally feeding on the Scottish side and roosting on the English side. <div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PNAthN2d2LPjfCASqid-_ggqMHxznRooa7jQGeJTs2a833O2ERjF9w9YZZHNjLyTMY8Lmf_wwZxq_tnQWQJrC0y0urDnazFy0xpqHu2mzSLZIxO0T5P4O0UxPFN_6d8mJYhgeZn6pcp3eX8V-zhyphenhyphenAxJqWDoR9n5zyfXeqCbgGeE5XQ7sOnTVyKVyR8aq/s3663/IMG_3893.jpg2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2442" data-original-width="3663" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PNAthN2d2LPjfCASqid-_ggqMHxznRooa7jQGeJTs2a833O2ERjF9w9YZZHNjLyTMY8Lmf_wwZxq_tnQWQJrC0y0urDnazFy0xpqHu2mzSLZIxO0T5P4O0UxPFN_6d8mJYhgeZn6pcp3eX8V-zhyphenhyphenAxJqWDoR9n5zyfXeqCbgGeE5XQ7sOnTVyKVyR8aq/w640-h426/IMG_3893.jpg2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Barnacle Geese flying into roost, Cardurnock, 26/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVWIFDU8u9QHSuOD-DHNicr0l_Q7VZ4Zh3fwjHPGISVz2gfDaQsP9w65C1M-wf_qT65ISZ1N4YD3laJJyQOILlUBWaVWVBiu1LRiDvdZyFoULdCG3my80-mbFJJ584ZxHMB9yr3HpGLuhHmYOdy2MlDlJzOS6Yk-D3cfK1C72OkoIkL-qNvXs9xG7mmRB/s4860/IMG_3896.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3003" data-original-width="4860" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVWIFDU8u9QHSuOD-DHNicr0l_Q7VZ4Zh3fwjHPGISVz2gfDaQsP9w65C1M-wf_qT65ISZ1N4YD3laJJyQOILlUBWaVWVBiu1LRiDvdZyFoULdCG3my80-mbFJJ584ZxHMB9yr3HpGLuhHmYOdy2MlDlJzOS6Yk-D3cfK1C72OkoIkL-qNvXs9xG7mmRB/w640-h396/IMG_3896.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Barnacle Geese flying into roost, Cardurnock, 26/10/23</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>They're such a monochrome bird this one of a small flock against grey skies looks like a black & white photograph!<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuqQ518lIoq3u-8sHPADTXs1Pq0CHEEbB_daSd5xcQH_PkoEqkI0mjp6mMWY-tQy9NfGGezW_3xwQ558v6Z0wpGpDuNL1gpPPXf_iCU5f4OfzpzzSeAJhoGrWiCresQNW_UUrfMfxjb_bayptt3fGkTAN9JVfFId-kQnbFFCI0yyKwVQewNIG0xJWg4Z5/s2706/IMG_3904.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1522" data-original-width="2706" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuqQ518lIoq3u-8sHPADTXs1Pq0CHEEbB_daSd5xcQH_PkoEqkI0mjp6mMWY-tQy9NfGGezW_3xwQ558v6Z0wpGpDuNL1gpPPXf_iCU5f4OfzpzzSeAJhoGrWiCresQNW_UUrfMfxjb_bayptt3fGkTAN9JVfFId-kQnbFFCI0yyKwVQewNIG0xJWg4Z5/w640-h360/IMG_3904.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">Barnacle Geese flying into roost, Cardurnock, 26/10/23</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjkNHaeWneEju4mqYklL9iAizldPFkDQe1lgaok6ugFoH3PLnmjeYXwhOSi0KRknirPJcEXZWiZzl80Ddc1_0vGESqQoie2p_P15nz9-T_VIRGtAykgLVi8aDI0_1KepxIl1dRWlkp_FoAC7GrPJJEBWV1Tx9oKrU90jL94q63xCbNisPQKHet0QaZkC2/s4032/20231026_140412.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjkNHaeWneEju4mqYklL9iAizldPFkDQe1lgaok6ugFoH3PLnmjeYXwhOSi0KRknirPJcEXZWiZzl80Ddc1_0vGESqQoie2p_P15nz9-T_VIRGtAykgLVi8aDI0_1KepxIl1dRWlkp_FoAC7GrPJJEBWV1Tx9oKrU90jL94q63xCbNisPQKHet0QaZkC2/w400-h189/20231026_140412.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div>I walked a bit of the estuary foreshore at Bowness on Solway, still raining, got thoroughly wet and then it stopped, so I went to the end of the short causeway there that juts out into the Solway. I was hoping for some Mergansers but no joy - plenty of Teal, Wigeon, a few Shoveler, more common wading birds and of course lots of Solway mud!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hpYOHLYGdge-IrvnM3ma9a-Y45TP4fS_9tzPBdISatOy-mDE2Aa56eiRcmR-Tc3iOB9JVMOh38jgC5JZHsWU5CsrqxKVjinxpYthnN6TAlm4cVqbLbm7GcoQObjc3OCDh7uTY51tVyzNGuwlATqGw8oYtYBcIs09uA4jhE-Uwph5zodMSFNj9VbAj11i/s3959/20231026_141443.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1874" data-original-width="3959" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hpYOHLYGdge-IrvnM3ma9a-Y45TP4fS_9tzPBdISatOy-mDE2Aa56eiRcmR-Tc3iOB9JVMOh38jgC5JZHsWU5CsrqxKVjinxpYthnN6TAlm4cVqbLbm7GcoQObjc3OCDh7uTY51tVyzNGuwlATqGw8oYtYBcIs09uA4jhE-Uwph5zodMSFNj9VbAj11i/w640-h302/20231026_141443.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Solway Firth from Bowness, 26/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The rain stopped mid afternoon and I was able to walk around nearby <b><a href="https://solwaywetlands.org.uk/wildlife-spotting-finglandrigg-wood" target="_blank">Finglandrigg Wood</a></b>, a national nature reserve managed by Natural England. There's supposed to be a small community of <b>Red Squirrels</b> here but not only did I see none of these I spotted at least 2 <b>Grey Squirrels</b>. The two species can't usually co-exist mainly because of the deadly pox that Greys carry, so maybe they've succumbed? Nice spot though and the Solway Coast's largest patch of semi natural woodland.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNhLauWgoUk2b8931iIrD2wCrho40exsly-WESHn619m4QFiIjAYm58431nJ_kU2lwtnTm9rk9IlcTvrMhwlTmNSuXs0nToeasWaF0CzvIP_FKOw7seMNtByUcl4pOxBUU0UUHNJmJllFqDL3oOuCxX2dR_gh-yqmel3Gctg84tFMJZtu15ACPh8NSduP/s4032/20231026_162457.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNhLauWgoUk2b8931iIrD2wCrho40exsly-WESHn619m4QFiIjAYm58431nJ_kU2lwtnTm9rk9IlcTvrMhwlTmNSuXs0nToeasWaF0CzvIP_FKOw7seMNtByUcl4pOxBUU0UUHNJmJllFqDL3oOuCxX2dR_gh-yqmel3Gctg84tFMJZtu15ACPh8NSduP/w640-h302/20231026_162457.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Finglandrigg Wood, 26/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />For the last knockins of the day I was back on the estuary, looking out over the firth from the road that tracks the remains of <b>Hadrians Wall</b>. After a frustrating day with the weather this was a serene ending to the day with the evocative call of <b>Curlews </b>and <b>Redshank</b>, piping <b>Oystercatchers </b>crossing the estuary and distant honks of 1000s <b>Pink Footed Geese</b> on the mudflats. </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxNn2xvJU-ADd3uBtNNr_zSW8ilLiQYxazfjoyIQBo3TlyXBtVxH-IY_EWQP0IfXUT87KuDg0Zr3DC_OCp73CxqVhmr7iGO05hLAeBTTY1wIVRFGkK5KuGFyrEaNydVuHftWHwdCFTkhNepKuVHX2Dv1jvXOCBWF0BW0WxHcpFM5G3O-LN-YhhiFqyHpC/s4032/20231026_170359.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxNn2xvJU-ADd3uBtNNr_zSW8ilLiQYxazfjoyIQBo3TlyXBtVxH-IY_EWQP0IfXUT87KuDg0Zr3DC_OCp73CxqVhmr7iGO05hLAeBTTY1wIVRFGkK5KuGFyrEaNydVuHftWHwdCFTkhNepKuVHX2Dv1jvXOCBWF0BW0WxHcpFM5G3O-LN-YhhiFqyHpC/w640-h302/20231026_170359.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Solway Firth, 2/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><div>What a difference a day makes, my last day and glory be the sun was shining! 🌞🌞🌞</div><div><br /></div><div>High tide was 10.30 and I was on the estuary at Port Carlisle well before that and the morning light was so bright it was almost dazzling!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMInCNb7rUl1wzpkZibLW0tIFaR6LVVYEgOvGX1YPONSgrrHkp-_J2SOZ-PWNziEB6tkkUGAEFIGf8XR0Vq0nowoo6MhPJI2r3C9PWvQpGs6FhZ1fwf2ZOGZ-L1eAnuRGqdW2oMb9H1LfblajpIxc8FV7W0374YN2IZhlw85mTrJC-U7qy1EV0tGHetFL/s4032/20231027_094653.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMInCNb7rUl1wzpkZibLW0tIFaR6LVVYEgOvGX1YPONSgrrHkp-_J2SOZ-PWNziEB6tkkUGAEFIGf8XR0Vq0nowoo6MhPJI2r3C9PWvQpGs6FhZ1fwf2ZOGZ-L1eAnuRGqdW2oMb9H1LfblajpIxc8FV7W0374YN2IZhlw85mTrJC-U7qy1EV0tGHetFL/w640-h302/20231027_094653.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Solway Firth, looking north from nr Port Carlisle, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTR2nnLQt0WsdhdmaJdUbK6vOUk-YnFm6jy6jIlxDRY9iDMA_BWpxnnRzoizAmlPpVyuozJ0xC_GYhU06BohAxEjH0KoFXhKMMR-s6A9EIH4YIKEgfWsvU-M0VC6fn3E8Ubs7bbY97Y73jmnGCHVPtxoJyTcNndg5cPqJCmhb8hUdvHz5aoQQhR-eFSVH1/s1119/MX2A5285.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1119" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTR2nnLQt0WsdhdmaJdUbK6vOUk-YnFm6jy6jIlxDRY9iDMA_BWpxnnRzoizAmlPpVyuozJ0xC_GYhU06BohAxEjH0KoFXhKMMR-s6A9EIH4YIKEgfWsvU-M0VC6fn3E8Ubs7bbY97Y73jmnGCHVPtxoJyTcNndg5cPqJCmhb8hUdvHz5aoQQhR-eFSVH1/w400-h266/MX2A5285.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Peregrine Falcon standing on a Teal, Solway Firth, 27/10/23<br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table>A nice flock of 20 or so <b>Skylarks</b> overhead and then flying low over the tideline was a promising start and then, aware of something of a commotion involving corvids out on the estuary, I spotted a <b>Peregrine Falcon</b> standing on a hapless duck (turned out to be a Teal). It was a way out but edging closer I managed a few record shots. Either me or attendant Carrion Crows disturbed the bird, looked like a juv male to me, and he took off, circled a few times and after taking a few more shots I was relieved to see it return to its kill. Great theatre!</div><div><br /></div><div>These first few shots aren't that good because of the distance I was shooting at but got some pretty decent captures when it was circling over low and being mobbed by crows.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGJ-zY1Mfrv4u3hLmWDAUvqt6H-tLF-SDjEz9h844E39ER4VvlgTVtqnAix71aNCDWfFkGRpOM5mekN_sWKk6ejusXJNM9EgfnvP4f-rGn3oKWAiqzZdLuWxRZnOg1VyZRVcQEKmgxCV-phyphenhyphenobcp2q1oVtsHNVjYPUdfQbrJy_HGV80_JjbG0qU9UUYvF/s1241/MX2A5295.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="1241" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGJ-zY1Mfrv4u3hLmWDAUvqt6H-tLF-SDjEz9h844E39ER4VvlgTVtqnAix71aNCDWfFkGRpOM5mekN_sWKk6ejusXJNM9EgfnvP4f-rGn3oKWAiqzZdLuWxRZnOg1VyZRVcQEKmgxCV-phyphenhyphenobcp2q1oVtsHNVjYPUdfQbrJy_HGV80_JjbG0qU9UUYvF/w640-h426/MX2A5295.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Peregrine Falcon with Teal, Solway Firth, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uBEupB4u1Cpt9O71nnHf2IBQw41Lm7v0uNvq4qRTcQryxF7OWu6xJCQION9PQGDPJlr0cwZRvKj1gw0hhPMRB7an1CljLddIOVRUSUmwGwvmzaXGeYEXZQJrdr4-YYALuXj3L1lEvH77BqR5TX5SbSwn1Cyn6dYUz8vdFXw3kzZLbr2sS7M-4QEYiNCY/s1697/MX2A5309.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1697" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uBEupB4u1Cpt9O71nnHf2IBQw41Lm7v0uNvq4qRTcQryxF7OWu6xJCQION9PQGDPJlr0cwZRvKj1gw0hhPMRB7an1CljLddIOVRUSUmwGwvmzaXGeYEXZQJrdr4-YYALuXj3L1lEvH77BqR5TX5SbSwn1Cyn6dYUz8vdFXw3kzZLbr2sS7M-4QEYiNCY/w640-h426/MX2A5309.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Peregrine Falcon, </b><b>Solway Firth, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhmyjt0GNRDkv1YCRKy7zFcksfqFdhVnLAGhzqrFgFXSKn87lSBeJLCgzcqdVIuNISwO0R6hnUw7SVJ2qMlO9i-XG6gowGqR8c0Yi5w3ueABHk_1RqsbaikKsTPe0Wmuh1xJBrt9zvIRFfB8pTpiUHGClSDYr9cnZ-IR_jueS_PfqwZHugPVl2OImtRm8/s2255/MX2A5341.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1503" data-original-width="2255" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhmyjt0GNRDkv1YCRKy7zFcksfqFdhVnLAGhzqrFgFXSKn87lSBeJLCgzcqdVIuNISwO0R6hnUw7SVJ2qMlO9i-XG6gowGqR8c0Yi5w3ueABHk_1RqsbaikKsTPe0Wmuh1xJBrt9zvIRFfB8pTpiUHGClSDYr9cnZ-IR_jueS_PfqwZHugPVl2OImtRm8/w640-h426/MX2A5341.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Peregrine Falcon, </b><b>Solway Firth, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTAmy8pYo__NyDedi5_fQR-K4mrdoEtZNbZIHHW8fj2pNlS9naG6x-vXxzLNPVqpjQkNANQbhmAfsds4XQJLjTuOFU1ZmCArh_XwNyfKKyowQmZxsjNFwQ6o3uHiVOFQXpIbTiq1iSWmLoWnTTL_rS-PLo2Tpcea8-yWhzKqN_79Zr5PbeU9y6ixCnk6q/s1881/MX2A5335.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="1881" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTAmy8pYo__NyDedi5_fQR-K4mrdoEtZNbZIHHW8fj2pNlS9naG6x-vXxzLNPVqpjQkNANQbhmAfsds4XQJLjTuOFU1ZmCArh_XwNyfKKyowQmZxsjNFwQ6o3uHiVOFQXpIbTiq1iSWmLoWnTTL_rS-PLo2Tpcea8-yWhzKqN_79Zr5PbeU9y6ixCnk6q/w640-h426/MX2A5335.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Peregrine Falcon, </b><b>Solway Firth, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbLppJ6LEvmpleoRFa-KrcPVw6zxcU2Pt-zxzboBjbo8BcdJAx4q2e8s9er9I3Kk8fPsl_-pDHNJkM8O4csiayXZPNivQ8zByCgXEMBSqYoCUhxWO77p_qLF71pweNRjgr7N3jF9HcztfmlEkyfSM7dOd9_ZjBo6HEDkfnXVXTzAszPgHNvKs4kU-Updo/s1598/MX2A5313.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1598" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbLppJ6LEvmpleoRFa-KrcPVw6zxcU2Pt-zxzboBjbo8BcdJAx4q2e8s9er9I3Kk8fPsl_-pDHNJkM8O4csiayXZPNivQ8zByCgXEMBSqYoCUhxWO77p_qLF71pweNRjgr7N3jF9HcztfmlEkyfSM7dOd9_ZjBo6HEDkfnXVXTzAszPgHNvKs4kU-Updo/w640-h426/MX2A5313.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Peregrine Falcon, </b><b>Solway Firth, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlh5QulcJjmQD563k4Vkn7ZEkVBpHaJouE60-YqBG9ydN0r6auw7DQMjJql-8tWdq1a_mw4U-y8iH2FCQLna1uAfKxerQ9ihkFb2FgnfB3k-O49ngR2EKeGprISEkUoY9R8_F3yvXi1bkHUAnbU1bKFxN7RX20RoC6psUOCX0nSt7eOhow_t1llp3id0KU/s1857/MX2A5343.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="1857" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlh5QulcJjmQD563k4Vkn7ZEkVBpHaJouE60-YqBG9ydN0r6auw7DQMjJql-8tWdq1a_mw4U-y8iH2FCQLna1uAfKxerQ9ihkFb2FgnfB3k-O49ngR2EKeGprISEkUoY9R8_F3yvXi1bkHUAnbU1bKFxN7RX20RoC6psUOCX0nSt7eOhow_t1llp3id0KU/w640-h426/MX2A5343.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Peregrine Falcon, </b><b>Solway Firth, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Looking at me in this one!<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD477dWFBjmXYWFr8-s9wGy64AY9vdTKRO8SxqzZR8hehMffzFCNY-prcfln6x3hxeNlk61yMJaoHYFdCVGogpd4ZqvDS-hoj3bGZcwJStSM1ab0G4AJY3xPdP2F86Mx8rhFkTGl9OGdyeKfdJH3s_YQUaQLNpydD80DsWgkmNQGnI0bgGoqgRJRFwsxUN/s1974/MX2A5344.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1316" data-original-width="1974" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD477dWFBjmXYWFr8-s9wGy64AY9vdTKRO8SxqzZR8hehMffzFCNY-prcfln6x3hxeNlk61yMJaoHYFdCVGogpd4ZqvDS-hoj3bGZcwJStSM1ab0G4AJY3xPdP2F86Mx8rhFkTGl9OGdyeKfdJH3s_YQUaQLNpydD80DsWgkmNQGnI0bgGoqgRJRFwsxUN/w640-h426/MX2A5344.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Peregrine Falcon, </b><b>Solway Firth, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98n_Sr30HrgT_4bQSqolRsv90thDpZut-IlhF_ujEOHFa9SHPVgqMQhNQt-Lnqe3ke737lLUtm-cVWxS3cVK1MxhAEnD_ElLp1cR_fjx8-YHfoanUr503rlTXOmfDs4kqr9YJGBNgtrWgZYuUwPZuuMEhwRtPqzDTRCpj3XMUahlQX_NtTdXDJHP4NowN/s1968/MX2A5358.jpg2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1312" data-original-width="1968" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98n_Sr30HrgT_4bQSqolRsv90thDpZut-IlhF_ujEOHFa9SHPVgqMQhNQt-Lnqe3ke737lLUtm-cVWxS3cVK1MxhAEnD_ElLp1cR_fjx8-YHfoanUr503rlTXOmfDs4kqr9YJGBNgtrWgZYuUwPZuuMEhwRtPqzDTRCpj3XMUahlQX_NtTdXDJHP4NowN/w640-h426/MX2A5358.jpg2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Peregrine Falcon, </b><b>Solway Firth, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>'Wow' is what I was saying to myself as I strolled away to leave this top class predator to its 'tealunch'!</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1DE1K7lUxcl9RGfBA5Yo6A24TlqCh1i0DzLfd78i-O1HQlriT_79yrwINhvb82yDVMLA7mjOzqCVnza77_nEIPmeVQvV_lUk3eYQkMpbkfeCOBD9BgWqPneJhs7oNW9EcrCr61eF8upVNG533zqp0tWUNeuUICcYYsRaCex7LG5tkNsfZaTcHHqYWdCn/s1857/MX2A5389.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1857" data-original-width="1857" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1DE1K7lUxcl9RGfBA5Yo6A24TlqCh1i0DzLfd78i-O1HQlriT_79yrwINhvb82yDVMLA7mjOzqCVnza77_nEIPmeVQvV_lUk3eYQkMpbkfeCOBD9BgWqPneJhs7oNW9EcrCr61eF8upVNG533zqp0tWUNeuUICcYYsRaCex7LG5tkNsfZaTcHHqYWdCn/w400-h400/MX2A5389.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Barnacle Geese, </b><b>Solway Firth, 27/10/23<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table>That was the undoubted highlight of the morning on the estuary but as the tide began to rise there was the inevitable rise in bird acivity with more <b>Barnacle Geese</b> over, lots of flocks of passing wading birds - <b>Redshank, Golden Plover, Knot, Dunlin </b>and a distant flock of 15 <b>Bar Tailed Godwits.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Teal </b>were the most common of ducks moving at high tide but plenty of <b>Wigeon</b> too and a few <b>Shoveler. </b></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9aBeW06q4iZy4rXrFasKoJf4PUTOUzpfzgFb1NAw7KG6SD2XeiDqb3eLSJe1_Tz-sfXQjmXQX7VC7FzZzhJckUaHpSRibBTzZr1wIEI6vLF0jRynqeJGGdUzTLP9W6hvCgMobSiDg8BihgWGpwRGVBjP2AXJnMs5IDfqfccbLP6H6uMFLz-WcvLhZjHyI/s1602/MX2A5420.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1602" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9aBeW06q4iZy4rXrFasKoJf4PUTOUzpfzgFb1NAw7KG6SD2XeiDqb3eLSJe1_Tz-sfXQjmXQX7VC7FzZzhJckUaHpSRibBTzZr1wIEI6vLF0jRynqeJGGdUzTLP9W6hvCgMobSiDg8BihgWGpwRGVBjP2AXJnMs5IDfqfccbLP6H6uMFLz-WcvLhZjHyI/w640-h426/MX2A5420.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bar Tailed Godwits, Solway Firth, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLWLaIYP8r4WWCYDJ5XMpjdufy126ZbcwCm75H_V1-aIv1AkR7F3FfJ5uNJGt3c_EJBre3MXWke-q-B2J3i08ZcNmV9wmL6YUU67UEK0OzStCmKp_VVFJyTakCDFbLcCCfJ9rMMrmYHn_uNmTCCnn1-8BIvxQs3WhfdVeuUxhKsfFNJJeBv__6_nwA_Cm/s1608/MX2A5456.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1608" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLWLaIYP8r4WWCYDJ5XMpjdufy126ZbcwCm75H_V1-aIv1AkR7F3FfJ5uNJGt3c_EJBre3MXWke-q-B2J3i08ZcNmV9wmL6YUU67UEK0OzStCmKp_VVFJyTakCDFbLcCCfJ9rMMrmYHn_uNmTCCnn1-8BIvxQs3WhfdVeuUxhKsfFNJJeBv__6_nwA_Cm/w640-h426/MX2A5456.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Teal, </b><b>Solway Firth, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Lots of <b>Curlews</b> flying about too, I guessed at upwards of 400, but this lone individual with the slopes of Dumfrieshire in the background took my eye ...</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZKzGgdiP97YWIP_Fh9-B6PbPVUM-yMk9w6jl_4-KG8saPYYywEyfMSG26Wa2ooWzOhiaQnilMgZ5c5PoM3BEhSL2nh2S24MYqFtyFT7ndBpqvW6yMrgYAccC5ien2p07W5zV-kwpP7KdqTnohyjW3dM6Q-HTFvm4z8aQ8augl4OJ3-XQbjd1YHtr4uhO/s3876/MX2A5434.jpg2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2584" data-original-width="3876" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZKzGgdiP97YWIP_Fh9-B6PbPVUM-yMk9w6jl_4-KG8saPYYywEyfMSG26Wa2ooWzOhiaQnilMgZ5c5PoM3BEhSL2nh2S24MYqFtyFT7ndBpqvW6yMrgYAccC5ien2p07W5zV-kwpP7KdqTnohyjW3dM6Q-HTFvm4z8aQ8augl4OJ3-XQbjd1YHtr4uhO/w640-h426/MX2A5434.jpg2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Curlew, </b><b>Solway Firth, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Just before the tide rushed in I heard the roar of a tidal bore moving up the Solway and managed to get a bit of video footage ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dze0QAq_Ho79YbxMOCFO-lMMfjS-fIv3aaUPbEZrl7gcN-N2QtbrsmP-a76K369aMTsAnV2LGxVxpswMpmxkQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DQjN7iSwALlKAOGdulgXRt2_fbocWtKSlr23gRIQmnX3B1yzdsDCJ5NQRJudiR9a9j7hPpE1SJgU0wxyDLRhnU8j0tyamatlgZ4mlrioYsf47WhaTadbrq26FBcXl5pdyhWwzJ4JqHwSzAe4OHjqFuZ4xxQ1VREmtcZpm9esKMi1MEDpjNiQBd_nk_e4/s4032/20231027_115641.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DQjN7iSwALlKAOGdulgXRt2_fbocWtKSlr23gRIQmnX3B1yzdsDCJ5NQRJudiR9a9j7hPpE1SJgU0wxyDLRhnU8j0tyamatlgZ4mlrioYsf47WhaTadbrq26FBcXl5pdyhWwzJ4JqHwSzAe4OHjqFuZ4xxQ1VREmtcZpm9esKMi1MEDpjNiQBd_nk_e4/w400-h189/20231027_115641.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Glasson Moss Info board</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Last stop before returning home to Yorkshire was going to be <b><a href="https://www.solwaycoastaonb.org.uk/2019/places-to-explore/nature-reserves/wedholme-flow/" target="_blank">Wedholme Flow </a></b>but en route I passed another of the large peat bogs in the area - <b><a href="https://www.solwaycoastaonb.org.uk/2019/places-to-explore/nature-reserves/glasson-moss/" target="_blank">Glasson Moss</a></b>, and decided to pop in there instead. Along with <b>Wedholme</b> and <b>Bowness Common</b>, it's one of the three sites that form the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cumbrias-national-nature-reserves/cumbrias-national-nature-reserves#south-solway-mosses" target="_blank"><b>South Solway Mosses National Nature Reserve</b></a>. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>All of these wild places have been restored after decades of peat extraction and although rather bleak looking on the surface (Glasson is no exception), lowland raised bogs are incredibly rich and diverse environments, especially plant and insect life, and they trap water thus alleviate local flooding. Rare habitats now in the UK - diminished by 94% over the past 100 years with just 500 Hectares left in England, most of which is here around the <b>Solway</b> and the <b><a href="https://humberheadpeatlands.org.uk/" target="_blank">Humberhead Peatlands</a></b> in South Yorkshire. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FOBnPTBoOZfOEYnLj8dj0WG9085B8XkixXMWbYnDByAqtrZrGG7nySJ85YAPUQ3buCx7C7-HIcZ_CrOPU6Da9lCdWzLVqx414pqptOi1ZoF6BBdS2q5if0mwB8j0gaxihWF59i1l-A_5RNhOOEjmJHWIl74tjfQnCN1ZAnWqITXP38MNTDYeDPLGRhO9/s4032/20231027_115733.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FOBnPTBoOZfOEYnLj8dj0WG9085B8XkixXMWbYnDByAqtrZrGG7nySJ85YAPUQ3buCx7C7-HIcZ_CrOPU6Da9lCdWzLVqx414pqptOi1ZoF6BBdS2q5if0mwB8j0gaxihWF59i1l-A_5RNhOOEjmJHWIl74tjfQnCN1ZAnWqITXP38MNTDYeDPLGRhO9/w640-h302/20231027_115733.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Glasson Moss from the raised viewing platform, 27/10/23<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9z4S5y3CrpufxiLvW4rN3j-g88zHwHIZC3nexuxrZtCqRt3c2GfNQVAmp-CavYjGtMLhFaLL9qNq8sPSDlZdhjPlMbplZrvIKUkrPNpgEURD9BcGyFI7euKEVWTtr2Dqk3FU-FYGOWeztV5Zl4wMVxj9tnHBw4pnJF-A_0DHUg53Nw7Bqcw6ZbyXOBLa/s4032/20231027_115519.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9z4S5y3CrpufxiLvW4rN3j-g88zHwHIZC3nexuxrZtCqRt3c2GfNQVAmp-CavYjGtMLhFaLL9qNq8sPSDlZdhjPlMbplZrvIKUkrPNpgEURD9BcGyFI7euKEVWTtr2Dqk3FU-FYGOWeztV5Zl4wMVxj9tnHBw4pnJF-A_0DHUg53Nw7Bqcw6ZbyXOBLa/w640-h302/20231027_115519.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Glasson Moss, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>Yes it may look a bit desolate but it is the back end of October so nothing to see plantwise and certainly very few insects but I had the place to myself for a couple of hours and had some good birds - several big flocks of winter thrushes, mainly<b> Fieldfares, Linnets, Snipe</b>,<b>Stonechats</b> and best of all several migrating <b>Whooper Swans</b> overhead from the north, one of which came right over my head, and as I was leaving a dashing <b>Merlin</b> flew over - too quick to get a decent pic but hey I tried!<div><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDofs3o9tQvIimb9of2rHBfwp7ay7rXXAM4SmrSjKZgZrn7x5lMgFbFPqTSX_gN-404j82npeqFBmm9K3bB82o5-NSBCjEtgGMLDcUwub3xCOKxOx0ou4Uewd6Ze_uJB_5zDACik2PAN9d76ipQcgMpws3G_SJd7K9Vn8C23p1FF9Uo-ui9pCr-Zyz4rwt/s1364/MX2A5478.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="1364" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDofs3o9tQvIimb9of2rHBfwp7ay7rXXAM4SmrSjKZgZrn7x5lMgFbFPqTSX_gN-404j82npeqFBmm9K3bB82o5-NSBCjEtgGMLDcUwub3xCOKxOx0ou4Uewd6Ze_uJB_5zDACik2PAN9d76ipQcgMpws3G_SJd7K9Vn8C23p1FF9Uo-ui9pCr-Zyz4rwt/w640-h426/MX2A5478.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Whooper Swans, </b><b>Glasson Moss, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgyNar6M8W5RdpRd5NmlQf9bl8Y5NLjRRj8unFFY1PGJEotUj8XAehWitnwqac1KC49pWYS58Kgg-AvY9rTusf5AWhzXMb_uw6vV67pARQEKz4N1rjCI_WAM99ap7p4R3e6dHTv24vs1S8EglgB3ojZC826aVaCjlusQ52Tsbmds8tRNrgAieLOYAf3u7/s1611/MX2A5481.JPG"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1611" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgyNar6M8W5RdpRd5NmlQf9bl8Y5NLjRRj8unFFY1PGJEotUj8XAehWitnwqac1KC49pWYS58Kgg-AvY9rTusf5AWhzXMb_uw6vV67pARQEKz4N1rjCI_WAM99ap7p4R3e6dHTv24vs1S8EglgB3ojZC826aVaCjlusQ52Tsbmds8tRNrgAieLOYAf3u7/w640-h426/MX2A5481.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Whooper Swan, </b><b>Glasson Moss, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjRTDGo_E4LkH7w4HeuixmwvFAinaGLZiwNQt9Ao4yOE_aesd1Pq2WTMIjxeo8vUxqrzH3eyHHtS_IKUy7Thl3yX7RC_kSh0j9mev3-iKqE9TfD6US4cRBjdwTMeSoxNDxYptOltUq0dzfTZI4UMKYvJfqh7DNMK8Thoi5c2BfA3oc_wF0AkIUfMusjQ7/s1157/MX2A5504.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1157" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjRTDGo_E4LkH7w4HeuixmwvFAinaGLZiwNQt9Ao4yOE_aesd1Pq2WTMIjxeo8vUxqrzH3eyHHtS_IKUy7Thl3yX7RC_kSh0j9mev3-iKqE9TfD6US4cRBjdwTMeSoxNDxYptOltUq0dzfTZI4UMKYvJfqh7DNMK8Thoi5c2BfA3oc_wF0AkIUfMusjQ7/w640-h426/MX2A5504.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Merlin, </b><b>Glasson Moss, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div><div>And that was it, pretty soon afterwards I was heading back, snarled up in traffic on the M6 and wishing I'd stayed for another day, but there's always another day isn't there? Here's a few more pics from the trip .....</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVlFtAg-SrYY3yT6UV4aKfkvUOL4haTEgqvhpcsuvmZTCgRBkCZioLYPekscJR0wStplt0ynq6_PvMnfju8acZ_4mdCYtNOnATI-jCX5VQKCUgnnDYnvE6yj_MyjouhUoxkXT6uGNW5dRcB-DQaDSJQChqrQqwsUZ890ivqu7TmO6faVLQ6EuTuNcOvWu/s4032/20231025_162855.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVlFtAg-SrYY3yT6UV4aKfkvUOL4haTEgqvhpcsuvmZTCgRBkCZioLYPekscJR0wStplt0ynq6_PvMnfju8acZ_4mdCYtNOnATI-jCX5VQKCUgnnDYnvE6yj_MyjouhUoxkXT6uGNW5dRcB-DQaDSJQChqrQqwsUZ890ivqu7TmO6faVLQ6EuTuNcOvWu/w640-h302/20231025_162855.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Water Lillies, still in flower in October! Glasson Moss, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuHl7BGnAX1phZvzE0oQTI8xn4inoSIzQ5nk6ZwJzRUSlFEKTK-wHTwoC2igtzJYLcI46hDA4mMf_bYb8XiKVVX5bZx2iB_AQ0IqIUk65ZatmGKZEEFKQZ5_iBLeGKM6L6lZLXjqC7LcyrO3iie1ALFwDLRyzw9qYHVyXquxdWdEd_P4zsBG1uKaNvm5Sf/s4032/20231026_140412.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuHl7BGnAX1phZvzE0oQTI8xn4inoSIzQ5nk6ZwJzRUSlFEKTK-wHTwoC2igtzJYLcI46hDA4mMf_bYb8XiKVVX5bZx2iB_AQ0IqIUk65ZatmGKZEEFKQZ5_iBLeGKM6L6lZLXjqC7LcyrO3iie1ALFwDLRyzw9qYHVyXquxdWdEd_P4zsBG1uKaNvm5Sf/w640-h302/20231026_140412.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Causeway at Bowness on Solway, 26/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPMtZ9PgstKch7f27UVQZ13h700ZDQp9Dav2HJ9TzjRbDObdnenC8hp2oQGv7idGXKCYQLQVBO7Ac8XVrqVW0Ok0XpM2eeOkPoQRNmRiDc-C_GUuddI_ZXfIsqaigGJFauhmN6_gbUhq_zojJK88xhrTHq94t9UZ9L20thZEqoMt7kp4ZuBDGCZMrQomk/s1599/MX2A5403.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1599" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPMtZ9PgstKch7f27UVQZ13h700ZDQp9Dav2HJ9TzjRbDObdnenC8hp2oQGv7idGXKCYQLQVBO7Ac8XVrqVW0Ok0XpM2eeOkPoQRNmRiDc-C_GUuddI_ZXfIsqaigGJFauhmN6_gbUhq_zojJK88xhrTHq94t9UZ9L20thZEqoMt7kp4ZuBDGCZMrQomk/w640-h426/MX2A5403.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Teal, Solway Firth, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzFWgxbW2s5MOgKMe_2mMnN-3v0Wp1yR2KbmLzp5V21XIIZqiFtxztIAf27j6cHQb9-1WQ6lpWALPw0HiafrjV81dUY3s3aZ3vVy-U5-o9JPxo2DNGsXAl2PI5RXP0qHVZN_Xu0T53ug1AzuxdKecCLMTw44wk9nsvXBwzmHbAf00FLyn674Xiofbs0Xw/s1631/MX2A5409.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1631" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzFWgxbW2s5MOgKMe_2mMnN-3v0Wp1yR2KbmLzp5V21XIIZqiFtxztIAf27j6cHQb9-1WQ6lpWALPw0HiafrjV81dUY3s3aZ3vVy-U5-o9JPxo2DNGsXAl2PI5RXP0qHVZN_Xu0T53ug1AzuxdKecCLMTw44wk9nsvXBwzmHbAf00FLyn674Xiofbs0Xw/w640-h426/MX2A5409.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lapwing, </b><b>Solway Firth, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZ2lrZRL1t_B21U7yXxzZRCuIv91ZytLLuTzK_yq4RBph4BuefE8QQsZO_0P9PpJFQxaBtH_GH9dqcstmGZ5uF6I2SeGU6IFoI5F3_AMDBxXIkpFNadhHIf7734Yg-bmpvIEVotQuYfuWEmbqLRKflnqM63uoSfZiH9Xo4xNe6q8iO1Tl-y2DA5feitcE/s977/MX2A5468.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="977" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZ2lrZRL1t_B21U7yXxzZRCuIv91ZytLLuTzK_yq4RBph4BuefE8QQsZO_0P9PpJFQxaBtH_GH9dqcstmGZ5uF6I2SeGU6IFoI5F3_AMDBxXIkpFNadhHIf7734Yg-bmpvIEVotQuYfuWEmbqLRKflnqM63uoSfZiH9Xo4xNe6q8iO1Tl-y2DA5feitcE/w640-h426/MX2A5468.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red Throated Diver, </b><b>Solway Firth, 27/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0Cumbria, UK54.5772323 -2.797483526.266998463821153 -37.9537335 82.887466136178844 32.3587665tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-54558383434819690962023-10-03T20:04:00.003+01:002023-10-03T20:06:38.880+01:002 'lifers' in 2 days, a Shorty fix plus a bonus Grey Phalarope close to home.<p>Hunting for migrant birds on the East Coast as is my want come Autumn I'm a frequent visitor to <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/bempton-cliffs" target="_blank"><b>RSPB</b> <b>Bempton Cliffs</b></a> if there's anything about - It's such an easy pop in from <b><a href="https://flamboroughbirdobs.org.uk/" target="_blank">Flamborough</a></b> where my radar seems to automatically default to at this time of the year. A <b>Red Eyed Vireo</b>, only the 3rd record for Yorkshire, has been the star of the show so far at Bempton and although I got a reasonable 30 seconds eye balling of the bird, along with hordes of other twitchers, I failed to find it in the lens and execute a shot. Shame, too excited I guess but here's a cracking shot of the bird from a long standing birding mate of mine.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Dwyd_hZ4J1fJMbhNAgQwZdc7RwR-3sJQTo7jwFGz3OSCggt5UDocijZmlqrHc1lrHr0IhvBmGB3xdioobMb7Ib9kXTyEoLtBxmzBdLNUxo8TJ-j3JyBeZ1ji9k1T9Q7e9Khsp25nV0JshJRGycXQEtiykJVgbG9jo0NorZOi1p8OkjXdn2eqA4EuxKlS/s2400/Red-eyed%20Vireo%20Bempton%20003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="2400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Dwyd_hZ4J1fJMbhNAgQwZdc7RwR-3sJQTo7jwFGz3OSCggt5UDocijZmlqrHc1lrHr0IhvBmGB3xdioobMb7Ib9kXTyEoLtBxmzBdLNUxo8TJ-j3JyBeZ1ji9k1T9Q7e9Khsp25nV0JshJRGycXQEtiykJVgbG9jo0NorZOi1p8OkjXdn2eqA4EuxKlS/w640-h426/Red-eyed%20Vireo%20Bempton%20003.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red Eyed Vireo, Bempton, 02/10/23. Tony Dixon<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZtZnmYjYTkzS_yAmJDSHqmKdz1e6ff8NJewoInOu9pkXSp7Pexx_lFahZaWviqV5sbfr7fyNyTSahvwD8O3xUfXR-rmfp9vYX4-2EJ-y2LGXsuXqCsNyPVMi64AmbUgBlh-lv6Df7x8Hx3dbbjyUbigE2XSSj0qeVHinzB5jJixvoi5EN2T0m8aZv4tD/s1074/MX2A4895.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="859" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZtZnmYjYTkzS_yAmJDSHqmKdz1e6ff8NJewoInOu9pkXSp7Pexx_lFahZaWviqV5sbfr7fyNyTSahvwD8O3xUfXR-rmfp9vYX4-2EJ-y2LGXsuXqCsNyPVMi64AmbUgBlh-lv6Df7x8Hx3dbbjyUbigE2XSSj0qeVHinzB5jJixvoi5EN2T0m8aZv4tD/w320-h400/MX2A4895.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> Caspian Gull (topmost), Flamborough, 28/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table>A couple of days before the Vireo turned up I was on the Headland with some birding buddies experiencing a splendid morning's sea watch, best I've had in ages, with many birds passing South. Nothing rare but you can't complain at watching a steady progression of <b>Arctic Skuas, Red Throated Divers, Common Scoters, Teal, Wigeon, Sandwich & Common Terns</b> and a thrilling female <b>Merlin</b> passing by?😁 A single immature <b>Caspian Gull </b>on the foreshore was handily picked out and I'm one thankfull birder for getting a positive ID on this long running bogey bird for me! Cheers Alan.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>10 <b>Bar Tailed Godwits </b>amongst various other waders aside, nothing else unexpected at <b>South Landing</b>. So on to <b>Bempton </b>hoping maybe for some 'wee' passage migrants, maybe a <b>Yellow Browed Warbler</b>, but the remnants of the south westerly blast of storm Agnes always favoured sea birds over passerines and so it proved - 1 <b>Blackcap</b>!. A brief seawatch producing more <b>Common Scoter</b>, a <b>Goosander</b> plus the usual <b>Gannets</b>, the odd<b> Kittiwake</b> and auks. </div><div><br /></div><div>This time of year though <b>Bempton</b> has become somewhat of a magnet for migrant <b>Short Eared Owls</b>. They migrate across the North Sea and spend a good time of the winter here. 3 present on the day, we got good views of one before noisy farm vehicles put them to ground.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOiv9iEN9qcM1ORxsDk8ccQsMPEnVTYl_sMg_DJd_Usx5Por1Ci6h6knkl5qgqC4ogpBkjPvZooJbVsUAkgrHJ75Mc2_Xq_VYrNF4rGlG5uf1tK8rverO-7QlezFmQEFOUDbIK5enxHs_JEab0N8pC9-QUEwaPnR26aWgGUKp3qOrMBE_KKig010jeQ0r/s1280/MX2A4902.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOiv9iEN9qcM1ORxsDk8ccQsMPEnVTYl_sMg_DJd_Usx5Por1Ci6h6knkl5qgqC4ogpBkjPvZooJbVsUAkgrHJ75Mc2_Xq_VYrNF4rGlG5uf1tK8rverO-7QlezFmQEFOUDbIK5enxHs_JEab0N8pC9-QUEwaPnR26aWgGUKp3qOrMBE_KKig010jeQ0r/w640-h426/MX2A4902.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Short Eared Owl, Bempton, 28/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLiH4PeJBuwIijlxyz3jKMlixUrPb1kAz5JipKvS2xB5EvCx-AH7nSf2knFZ_peghyphenhyphen_t-FDVDAU-ANFoaF0Sg3ik1pQNQUNWg2wTZU3HGdhl2lTnspdlRNZPC8WkM6pj6KnQl1chwwehuh_PDIYBmwwwp2NMQKRfgtaZVZEyMXY1RsfX4P-ov3Nviz0z8/s1616/MX2A4908.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1616" data-original-width="1293" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLiH4PeJBuwIijlxyz3jKMlixUrPb1kAz5JipKvS2xB5EvCx-AH7nSf2knFZ_peghyphenhyphen_t-FDVDAU-ANFoaF0Sg3ik1pQNQUNWg2wTZU3HGdhl2lTnspdlRNZPC8WkM6pj6KnQl1chwwehuh_PDIYBmwwwp2NMQKRfgtaZVZEyMXY1RsfX4P-ov3Nviz0z8/w512-h640/MX2A4908.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Short Eared Owl, Bempton, 28/09/23<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The <b>RSPB</b> have done great work in terms of creating and maintaining the grassland habitat to keep these majestic daytime hunting owls happy, and I was more than happy to fill my boots with some even better pics 2 days later on the Vireo twitch. Gone a bit overboard with pics here but hey, and I'm not dissing a 'lifer', they grab the lens much more than some yank warbler in a bush!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrnPiV09YU3u8pBwxzdpABWYSQvyJUchw8Qdhhyer4cX8DheErzcXzTvvETLKFQKeGlp-TyC-89gTRND6HF88ZL111qRn4W8x9xlAJfspi4wlSm8_j5knISWsPsKvr9_2-DcpC64ThGgNbZPCk4rrZmAubno4u_x9D-jYAt5cQxSEna3WcrOZrQ39C5ur/s1554/MX2A4934.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1554" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrnPiV09YU3u8pBwxzdpABWYSQvyJUchw8Qdhhyer4cX8DheErzcXzTvvETLKFQKeGlp-TyC-89gTRND6HF88ZL111qRn4W8x9xlAJfspi4wlSm8_j5knISWsPsKvr9_2-DcpC64ThGgNbZPCk4rrZmAubno4u_x9D-jYAt5cQxSEna3WcrOZrQ39C5ur/w640-h426/MX2A4934.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Short Eared Owl, Bempton, 01/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFWS0V8BU656Ha7I_MoTYRHuA4MI7p-f_fIJ-jxGHA-jTbzQdq3vyEkyfElLIU7ML6PzuJY5Ws4qMSKv3jUiAbhbJ4kWFeDI0NOOYibIVJtuU5s23_PwqP0tKE9QCd_KXVkMI9aBIri0QfYbLxPxck8L2sYBVq1Na6szaa0SPC_YkIgMkgDQJeNJZbsy_/s1412/MX2A4941.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="1412" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFWS0V8BU656Ha7I_MoTYRHuA4MI7p-f_fIJ-jxGHA-jTbzQdq3vyEkyfElLIU7ML6PzuJY5Ws4qMSKv3jUiAbhbJ4kWFeDI0NOOYibIVJtuU5s23_PwqP0tKE9QCd_KXVkMI9aBIri0QfYbLxPxck8L2sYBVq1Na6szaa0SPC_YkIgMkgDQJeNJZbsy_/w640-h426/MX2A4941.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Short Eared Owl, Bempton, 01/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3MD9TUPRGTL1J72TBpDJpwMa5QIcVDH3fHHtGtsZDzw7cuzTIgvHdreQwmrS2qMeDe_k6_TyCpuA7uRhLZ4965M2Oet-mckYhg9TSYBrJprONWsU7WX9erKzhUaBAKOh2nibNOpxAOyLaIlwybH4Pf4Ime7k3-ZZUoyK1cKUF9Jv8Xfx_eDyDZKaTg3d/s2246/MX2A4948.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1497" data-original-width="2246" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3MD9TUPRGTL1J72TBpDJpwMa5QIcVDH3fHHtGtsZDzw7cuzTIgvHdreQwmrS2qMeDe_k6_TyCpuA7uRhLZ4965M2Oet-mckYhg9TSYBrJprONWsU7WX9erKzhUaBAKOh2nibNOpxAOyLaIlwybH4Pf4Ime7k3-ZZUoyK1cKUF9Jv8Xfx_eDyDZKaTg3d/w640-h426/MX2A4948.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Short Eared Owl, Bempton, 01/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cR8OHpg5KUVntFANNbrU-rVnzw8A9MGpvL2uN1Y-5bauKjvjAYDwF8-5bhOus4Q8yP2XF6D3KF-OAm1SItc3aIXs5_6JWXR0FOOkyS_3GK0eBXq8D7ZOMw9cLiI0NiJhzCvWVKoJcs9HunlZtYBI3MYfG5vWQXano_XhMCw5ypmbf0YWSrSlmfFNvLrr/s2246/MX2A4952.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1497" data-original-width="2246" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cR8OHpg5KUVntFANNbrU-rVnzw8A9MGpvL2uN1Y-5bauKjvjAYDwF8-5bhOus4Q8yP2XF6D3KF-OAm1SItc3aIXs5_6JWXR0FOOkyS_3GK0eBXq8D7ZOMw9cLiI0NiJhzCvWVKoJcs9HunlZtYBI3MYfG5vWQXano_XhMCw5ypmbf0YWSrSlmfFNvLrr/w640-h426/MX2A4952.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Short Eared Owl, Bempton, 01/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiC-WvrBmQE7Zzp0gQXcIiLbPCBubxYLsHpRxbATYa-oqDbiSJvEp2fa_hKHzDvCkZXl_3mq7uV6ZvKERYH4pLKuoqkylKugRWCZl3REDavnlvtpwrD2BduP7xma7kmDWP5k4FvK4hsXBExsEq8Bl3PtcX56r2akdxqfcrSQ_tf7zR94fcqwUnTfEbqcG5/s1680/MX2A4966.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="1680" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiC-WvrBmQE7Zzp0gQXcIiLbPCBubxYLsHpRxbATYa-oqDbiSJvEp2fa_hKHzDvCkZXl_3mq7uV6ZvKERYH4pLKuoqkylKugRWCZl3REDavnlvtpwrD2BduP7xma7kmDWP5k4FvK4hsXBExsEq8Bl3PtcX56r2akdxqfcrSQ_tf7zR94fcqwUnTfEbqcG5/w640-h426/MX2A4966.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Short Eared Owl, Bempton, 01/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-UAfJLArUzfWMmmK9LCLScon4rqyw63rrzjqZ7Cj7XMtW7jBYccd6M1kLe0dKJGO9rSgqqkGAc5NUALiXDVF72tXApPcXjxNSnz8fO7FviTUw8PI9F4SedcPFehZ-foDPksoz6rl8pxosAtvEazqYwWJ149FhqUKTWfV6CE7A2JLXSF0wOFqGyVr7Us2c/s1763/MX2A4967.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="1763" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-UAfJLArUzfWMmmK9LCLScon4rqyw63rrzjqZ7Cj7XMtW7jBYccd6M1kLe0dKJGO9rSgqqkGAc5NUALiXDVF72tXApPcXjxNSnz8fO7FviTUw8PI9F4SedcPFehZ-foDPksoz6rl8pxosAtvEazqYwWJ149FhqUKTWfV6CE7A2JLXSF0wOFqGyVr7Us2c/w640-h426/MX2A4967.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Short Eared Owl, Bempton, 01/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPEZURPM9Eu_rbNw_Y17-CVFPqj2iaHef3u6zi7hPstQAXTByMMSE4a4Y7wUPizroUu5vVf5bLqO3PdK4dLYM9_m1cCmVfLHvF9ZouZtoc1Xih_DeG7Ti_yFpaxTlrrPWr4QPUdiakj2EpJ8CVmQKmChEjYzZrSTMl6lzbixacejt7GDlwWJq_GgGI64_U/s2237/MX2A4985.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1491" data-original-width="2237" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPEZURPM9Eu_rbNw_Y17-CVFPqj2iaHef3u6zi7hPstQAXTByMMSE4a4Y7wUPizroUu5vVf5bLqO3PdK4dLYM9_m1cCmVfLHvF9ZouZtoc1Xih_DeG7Ti_yFpaxTlrrPWr4QPUdiakj2EpJ8CVmQKmChEjYzZrSTMl6lzbixacejt7GDlwWJq_GgGI64_U/w640-h426/MX2A4985.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Short Eared Owl, Bempton, 01/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtPA2mFNSZBAk9e5WWH6Fn0hbl6SanNmbizQ7tUagfW49zrzqzKUL4WJw8qzNyk4ABisC4Ee0y_ykK3PFtQzLiAyZdlMYBnqsm6Lu66EBRbbIg9Wc1MrR2i7jmGS7o9AJOWvmcSPPBDJTdjGcvhMarJLkLj0-GfS9Jk4yPQxM6T1aHXbBv8-l0lJyDVtt/s2046/MX2A4989.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="1637" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtPA2mFNSZBAk9e5WWH6Fn0hbl6SanNmbizQ7tUagfW49zrzqzKUL4WJw8qzNyk4ABisC4Ee0y_ykK3PFtQzLiAyZdlMYBnqsm6Lu66EBRbbIg9Wc1MrR2i7jmGS7o9AJOWvmcSPPBDJTdjGcvhMarJLkLj0-GfS9Jk4yPQxM6T1aHXbBv8-l0lJyDVtt/w512-h640/MX2A4989.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Short Eared Owl, Bempton, 01/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUEf8atU-ZgDVFPGpePugmCrq2FKNuOUwSH-sGk9N7EYLsOsqUW4kA5FS5T-Ylh9TMqxou3i7oksTSRj09a_7Fbgyl1OYX-JAMv7pIHxFmjHqnYKZQCh5vL0zQINvNd56rEh572DuVewaXZliP_cLPFJTZrWr4zP5i8ekWZZa88YmcpCEKnrnIyANYWu5/s2208/MX2A4991.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUEf8atU-ZgDVFPGpePugmCrq2FKNuOUwSH-sGk9N7EYLsOsqUW4kA5FS5T-Ylh9TMqxou3i7oksTSRj09a_7Fbgyl1OYX-JAMv7pIHxFmjHqnYKZQCh5vL0zQINvNd56rEh572DuVewaXZliP_cLPFJTZrWr4zP5i8ekWZZa88YmcpCEKnrnIyANYWu5/w640-h640/MX2A4991.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Short Eared Owl, Bempton, 01/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OwOZSg3LYkmgvYc3PR7GIeaLNU0-Y-3yvG6QRvGLjnGvVZWSBD0NJANrfalbdNIgxZNHjpVgyTRTP9P6s9ecVW3EeJOVXs3muxeyyFFmOkFO8PJPGUBYD-K3bk4LgYl4iGeGr9Fqj__8jjGseSVPUvrAkdw1RLDh7GCoxjB8ZuVogGs4jDdTy2tDjA1K/s2090/MX2A4997.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1393" data-original-width="2090" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OwOZSg3LYkmgvYc3PR7GIeaLNU0-Y-3yvG6QRvGLjnGvVZWSBD0NJANrfalbdNIgxZNHjpVgyTRTP9P6s9ecVW3EeJOVXs3muxeyyFFmOkFO8PJPGUBYD-K3bk4LgYl4iGeGr9Fqj__8jjGseSVPUvrAkdw1RLDh7GCoxjB8ZuVogGs4jDdTy2tDjA1K/w640-h426/MX2A4997.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Short Eared Owl, Bempton, 01/10/23</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Difficult not to be captivated by their haunting, slightly menacing (very if you're a Bank Vole), graceful flight as they quarter the fields here. </div><div><br /></div><div>The day after, and to round off a great few birding days, a <b>Grey Phalarope</b> turned up in the York bird recording area at some gravel pits nr <b>Hemingbrough</b>, a new location for me. <b>Phala</b>r<b>opes</b> are dainty, 'blackbird' sized wading birds that breed in the Arctic Circle and swim just as well as they wade!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OKmg19HRcCPn2DiFB4aYdskzVk1TktINVl5de00HAf69xARAmRPEP_qQNw2wniWyRpRtZTE_W9TRqwb7__I3UCCjOw6DE7dK3aEcVWBAfyOM9TrwKfeTuL0AA1h-KEB6ZX7FQUj3HPyfa45zTPP4ZVRubmBakUijmr2J6h7bMJRgkicdgT6lfh7uh1xP/s1162/MX2A5037.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="1162" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OKmg19HRcCPn2DiFB4aYdskzVk1TktINVl5de00HAf69xARAmRPEP_qQNw2wniWyRpRtZTE_W9TRqwb7__I3UCCjOw6DE7dK3aEcVWBAfyOM9TrwKfeTuL0AA1h-KEB6ZX7FQUj3HPyfa45zTPP4ZVRubmBakUijmr2J6h7bMJRgkicdgT6lfh7uh1xP/w640-h426/MX2A5037.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Grey Phalarope, Hemingbrough, 02/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaX4HfpbeY3F5lgpm3eLmw1MgfoePTd4sIE9pZc4JRytdLih9IRKDbh2tSpm2jwjvKV4aJgTRPx-gMlp5st2risF8OJEK2TGQbFRLUQzCGZ4HaY9Sx1R4UE9XgDP7zVPMDibOPzJBpNeG7rCRE1C9TWgIE6rwY1VJFFVIHFUFPII0yc8ovQAYZWHr92jt4/s1383/MX2A5048.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="1383" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaX4HfpbeY3F5lgpm3eLmw1MgfoePTd4sIE9pZc4JRytdLih9IRKDbh2tSpm2jwjvKV4aJgTRPx-gMlp5st2risF8OJEK2TGQbFRLUQzCGZ4HaY9Sx1R4UE9XgDP7zVPMDibOPzJBpNeG7rCRE1C9TWgIE6rwY1VJFFVIHFUFPII0yc8ovQAYZWHr92jt4/w640-h426/MX2A5048.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Grey Phalarope, Hemingbrough, 02/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKm3TtkFfYF8kL7c5mEYuJ4LBdUxdqnzbMBfJQEo8WFP14MXB8KUhbd1BqpKtb83iQ7Ut5UdpMLl1urSoDdUQjvlLBShpLQhEn_Is6Qj7Mk3Y7DQw0qRWtnTIsb1Tpf__KYr_gRL5b-l7Oj5CGcGg2gqZJ6l6wAeZzRo1LV8yVO7T4H2V2Zm515RtsC0lp/s1251/MX2A5074.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1251" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKm3TtkFfYF8kL7c5mEYuJ4LBdUxdqnzbMBfJQEo8WFP14MXB8KUhbd1BqpKtb83iQ7Ut5UdpMLl1urSoDdUQjvlLBShpLQhEn_Is6Qj7Mk3Y7DQw0qRWtnTIsb1Tpf__KYr_gRL5b-l7Oj5CGcGg2gqZJ6l6wAeZzRo1LV8yVO7T4H2V2Zm515RtsC0lp/w640-h426/MX2A5074.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Grey Phalarope, Hemingbrough, 02/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8NJx7Dd5CE1TNtsEocW_Gu96M9x5-YLLmL3VZC73K9weogsBgectQWwbdNlZT6EY054YEBRe7Me0CDzLgS7sqLdnwH94D0v3glum60aqjI5I4k7u__PrzlIf8ZIqAkS5GZS4fLRF0d353NE9cEg8mDtIRFI1-QD2ZpMkxDzRKqJbB2Q3TDM3FJncjIiY/s1105/MX2A5104.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="1105" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8NJx7Dd5CE1TNtsEocW_Gu96M9x5-YLLmL3VZC73K9weogsBgectQWwbdNlZT6EY054YEBRe7Me0CDzLgS7sqLdnwH94D0v3glum60aqjI5I4k7u__PrzlIf8ZIqAkS5GZS4fLRF0d353NE9cEg8mDtIRFI1-QD2ZpMkxDzRKqJbB2Q3TDM3FJncjIiY/w640-h426/MX2A5104.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Grey Phalarope, Hemingbrough, 02/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNeNFZTtOdxRnpBYZcUIJgQ_k8rr3ITx9kiKiTKvZ3MdGkCpbRl1EFHIpS437_O45GdP4u1_6m9evs4YtRxuVtEA8SbTlN45qS3gwsfIK26dwWd3ch65Dp094UrBza5pUyaZdXOj1UwitQRg6lrA1CSa_2-cGmAhINCXEZu589GqroOm3crchgPwr8L9l/s1118/MX2A5112.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="1118" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNeNFZTtOdxRnpBYZcUIJgQ_k8rr3ITx9kiKiTKvZ3MdGkCpbRl1EFHIpS437_O45GdP4u1_6m9evs4YtRxuVtEA8SbTlN45qS3gwsfIK26dwWd3ch65Dp094UrBza5pUyaZdXOj1UwitQRg6lrA1CSa_2-cGmAhINCXEZu589GqroOm3crchgPwr8L9l/w640-h426/MX2A5112.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Grey Phalarope, Hemingbrough, 02/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpUrSpxKyxQ1tflYvkJPjKVoWFomda28n3Wttv3YycsCtbjCVuaMd6qGjz8FOKHDWIM3rFWq6PAOYYU_I5EiohKetl2YNMb7FNy1-8ZUX2RGCFI1gG-vxHnRYcR-PbHQl8Q-UYsjVyCnI4BBLIcvn8OYRLjfcpRywo_Lw69ruD4t7JzHmgi-xSgj37oDO/s1194/MX2A5127.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1194" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpUrSpxKyxQ1tflYvkJPjKVoWFomda28n3Wttv3YycsCtbjCVuaMd6qGjz8FOKHDWIM3rFWq6PAOYYU_I5EiohKetl2YNMb7FNy1-8ZUX2RGCFI1gG-vxHnRYcR-PbHQl8Q-UYsjVyCnI4BBLIcvn8OYRLjfcpRywo_Lw69ruD4t7JzHmgi-xSgj37oDO/w640-h426/MX2A5127.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Grey Phalarope, Hemingbrough, 02/10/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I was back up to Bempton looking to get my own picture of the<b> Red Eyed Vireo</b> but it had gone. Never mind, plenty more passage migrants both common and scarce to come and I'll be back on the coast soon.😎<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div></div></div></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-35497980800307783642023-09-13T21:22:00.002+01:002023-09-13T21:22:36.188+01:00Frampton Marshes the pick of a short hop down to the Lincs coast.<p>A spontaneous 'shortest' of short breaks jaunt down to the <b>Lincolnshire coast</b> the first week of September was a very welcome bit of 'me' time, and richly rewarded too, with a fine full day at <b>Frampton Marshes, </b>2 half days at <b>Gibralter Point</b> plus pop ins to <b>Freiston Shore</b> and <b>Alkborough Flat</b>s. First time down here <i>sans</i> campervan or tent was a bit weird but I struck lucky with an ideally situated cottage I'd booked for 2 nights - I'll give her a mention because it was just perfect as a base, <a href="https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/43482080?check_in=2023-09-12&check_out=2023-09-17&guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=39ceb6b8-549f-4b2d-9672-29f1499b435f" target="_blank">The Beehive, Friskney</a> </p><p>A full morning till dusk day at RSPB <b>Frampton Marshes </b>was the stand out - walked just shy of 9 miles around its lagoons, scrapes and perimeters with many magic moments. Bang on for mass congregations of wading birds and here alone I bagged an amazing 22 species. Most numerous by far were <b>Black Tailed Godwits </b>- my guesstimate was northwards of 1500 but when I quizzed an RSPB chappie he said 4,000 on the whole of the reserve - couldn't fail to get some stonking pics!</p><p>Here's a few of them when a flock was spooked by a passing <b>Marsh Harrier </b>- fancy a bit of wader identification practice? Zoom in and look closely you'll see a few other wader species there. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-A-i-TzdnlXX-o6EemadZ8R02Eh4vPraKBb6puRxZiZGHAOSGIOZzHaUlMmXD78-Vl6Hyiypx-n25Ny2-j6vlfNL13JFRw8sBZ_yc3ofubTlNVnSzNWftbnsVcZHicOwLmH_7qkHoxwf_pyCGxHbki1N4BdmOlxD4s4kKQ36Xxl0gNx3U4857Gw0frWUY/s5444/MX2A41462.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3062" data-original-width="5444" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-A-i-TzdnlXX-o6EemadZ8R02Eh4vPraKBb6puRxZiZGHAOSGIOZzHaUlMmXD78-Vl6Hyiypx-n25Ny2-j6vlfNL13JFRw8sBZ_yc3ofubTlNVnSzNWftbnsVcZHicOwLmH_7qkHoxwf_pyCGxHbki1N4BdmOlxD4s4kKQ36Xxl0gNx3U4857Gw0frWUY/w640-h360/MX2A41462.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Tailed Godwits + other waders, Frampton Marshes, 5/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Late afternoon and most departed the reserve for the probable safer refuge of the Wash to roost, giving plenty of photo opps for passing '<b><i>Blackwits</i></b>'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3OY2EKnwoOTDns3Rvg7bbkKOqgYI4XDj1NNabFUN_ij0vU5sIMUEM1s7SWH6M3K7-yCmnDlC6vyK5vK18CKiqQqI6twmBlrPl5T6N_ermKhBkJCQ-VlOkAiaZNCsaXIZ0IbdcFj1SliEAx95C9WUe6CmoLwg4-_CRZM4jkG3wwPyHJxumDF_ahP-DyEo/s1688/MX2A4126.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1688" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3OY2EKnwoOTDns3Rvg7bbkKOqgYI4XDj1NNabFUN_ij0vU5sIMUEM1s7SWH6M3K7-yCmnDlC6vyK5vK18CKiqQqI6twmBlrPl5T6N_ermKhBkJCQ-VlOkAiaZNCsaXIZ0IbdcFj1SliEAx95C9WUe6CmoLwg4-_CRZM4jkG3wwPyHJxumDF_ahP-DyEo/w640-h426/MX2A4126.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Tailed Godwit, Frampton Marshes, 5/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnMW0-iCcSGAZiScd3nxC_gT47fiqadPla8eU2IS7rQtTkBEX_J-hCEcx1ICDvDe-BaP4yCNQzypT02oqGqkNALdV-VSwDVor-Rc9R6Owat72qBq5lkjpItaUFQSY-IS6108_lRSNJ7XrwUSt2tMKHkf1QudtLRwWDqNs37p3dCz3jVe6FJyVAOmz1P2H/s3525/MX2A42862.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1983" data-original-width="3525" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnMW0-iCcSGAZiScd3nxC_gT47fiqadPla8eU2IS7rQtTkBEX_J-hCEcx1ICDvDe-BaP4yCNQzypT02oqGqkNALdV-VSwDVor-Rc9R6Owat72qBq5lkjpItaUFQSY-IS6108_lRSNJ7XrwUSt2tMKHkf1QudtLRwWDqNs37p3dCz3jVe6FJyVAOmz1P2H/w640-h360/MX2A42862.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Tailed Godwits, Frampton Marshes, 5/09/23<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bV3lhQwoM2gyTBm3A67hyHNwEepTYE5LMe_SFSHbvECL5YQqw5oyc6eDv16XmROfOBdBekI1tkfccohSKZyGWQKGwBq-mQVdHAPoIq1ZkGktkXiZnyas_8KqDwklthXnrLgSkGUmLgBcCyPSQBc49nv2RSH1JV8bj2kNeAfxHaYjhaZ-Jj_dfijkGPUU/s4257/MX2A42982.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2838" data-original-width="4257" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bV3lhQwoM2gyTBm3A67hyHNwEepTYE5LMe_SFSHbvECL5YQqw5oyc6eDv16XmROfOBdBekI1tkfccohSKZyGWQKGwBq-mQVdHAPoIq1ZkGktkXiZnyas_8KqDwklthXnrLgSkGUmLgBcCyPSQBc49nv2RSH1JV8bj2kNeAfxHaYjhaZ-Jj_dfijkGPUU/w640-h426/MX2A42982.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Tailed Godwits, Frampton Marshes, 5/09/23<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpONZejoG-aJkg2RIiOU_Czh97wloYPy99YbpDXPygR3GpD_FifktDqsFnNYVWVJ7z6o6BAIf_F7DTfO3Np_XzXwWjpWLxXgW43QPDsG9RuxJep-Gq8toF0b3qRWAVeYeYkXn6di2kiy1Ag_1itDIfxZM3bQKBV0kvhuKF6e77p213rMTfWGQ6EwykSncC/s3285/MX2A43302.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2190" data-original-width="3285" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpONZejoG-aJkg2RIiOU_Czh97wloYPy99YbpDXPygR3GpD_FifktDqsFnNYVWVJ7z6o6BAIf_F7DTfO3Np_XzXwWjpWLxXgW43QPDsG9RuxJep-Gq8toF0b3qRWAVeYeYkXn6di2kiy1Ag_1itDIfxZM3bQKBV0kvhuKF6e77p213rMTfWGQ6EwykSncC/w640-h426/MX2A43302.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Tailed Godwit, Frampton Marshes, 5/09/23<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>There were a reported 35 <b>Curlew Sandpipe</b>r on the reserve, a semi rare wading species but have to say I struggled a bit at first to pick any out amongst the many <b>Dunlin </b>but got lucky with a couple away from the main scrapes and ended getting 10ish by the end of the day.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Y8MpoLIyphD8Hj7oYUm11tOkviFAe45PmQbwmo-P-4nK9veMl-kJK7krhS-ys89_0DBCiq2UUDhEX38PCJEiltGzSX8mVHZXKJRDWp__Th9X-jvMVs_rZOGhtViGmu7KzO9q2rnEbaZhhgn3kaNfu7evXbUrSOjXhHG-gqwZqDbW2IBKbFLO48LKbHor/s1208/MX2A41912.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="966" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Y8MpoLIyphD8Hj7oYUm11tOkviFAe45PmQbwmo-P-4nK9veMl-kJK7krhS-ys89_0DBCiq2UUDhEX38PCJEiltGzSX8mVHZXKJRDWp__Th9X-jvMVs_rZOGhtViGmu7KzO9q2rnEbaZhhgn3kaNfu7evXbUrSOjXhHG-gqwZqDbW2IBKbFLO48LKbHor/w512-h640/MX2A41912.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marshes, 05/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_sCqKTryhU8BhNiKANjRglNt45Ezp_mUQFgazdemhWic7leNMZw62qbPNwn7ApCm7-mKlcMcWeEooDSu0FtH4inCSoBJQgsUR8DxX7TSIWqYC7-tabbbmldxfgQWJZ7gnX0sSmXa_tQU-SN8HE0Mh9ideQpg7l-6WCrJXtkpfuyeEh8JnXf2abXszsZD/s1535/MX2A42002.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="1535" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_sCqKTryhU8BhNiKANjRglNt45Ezp_mUQFgazdemhWic7leNMZw62qbPNwn7ApCm7-mKlcMcWeEooDSu0FtH4inCSoBJQgsUR8DxX7TSIWqYC7-tabbbmldxfgQWJZ7gnX0sSmXa_tQU-SN8HE0Mh9ideQpg7l-6WCrJXtkpfuyeEh8JnXf2abXszsZD/w640-h426/MX2A42002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marshes, 05/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The sea banks next to the <b>Wash</b> if walked make this a big reserve to cover, you can walk for miles in any direction if you want, if your fit enough. I did a fair chunk in the hope of spotting a <b>Short Eared</b> <b>Owl</b> with no success but being the highest points you get some good vantage points of both Wash and Frampton itself.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE3j2NzfB9mdcdWvTw0ufFFdvO6Fc5IMWa87honKPqgq6lmF9q5det453--O3XzcRsHk51jzM9mYrasO1oPvzVDfRK4wZA7YBt2yTc6SKwd6v0uTDAOhmQgqanTlcKo9GE00yfSkGK4ZfE_RYP-kBWM_idF6ql-XYWMxvQ3t-QR0Yi-D5TY5g9U4a9nFM/s4032/20230905_105149.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE3j2NzfB9mdcdWvTw0ufFFdvO6Fc5IMWa87honKPqgq6lmF9q5det453--O3XzcRsHk51jzM9mYrasO1oPvzVDfRK4wZA7YBt2yTc6SKwd6v0uTDAOhmQgqanTlcKo9GE00yfSkGK4ZfE_RYP-kBWM_idF6ql-XYWMxvQ3t-QR0Yi-D5TY5g9U4a9nFM/w640-h302/20230905_105149.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Wash, from Frampton, 05/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtB5aINMC4h0tr-0iDJAzqR-S1JP4t_ClVXmylkTbe3phZv6YkPIX-fpcHyPny5bHjWWCFiQHTB8bAiRoNP4D9xnv940tR-ZPdfJdDCypSeIyTOKlkm0CHRWmX_6ZEZGXFmL6XSW2HyRp1me_PT0rJ0lxRTtW2191QCj-RnvheZsQ6SkSU89Y9lkeWXd6x/s3821/20230905_113226.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1808" data-original-width="3821" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtB5aINMC4h0tr-0iDJAzqR-S1JP4t_ClVXmylkTbe3phZv6YkPIX-fpcHyPny5bHjWWCFiQHTB8bAiRoNP4D9xnv940tR-ZPdfJdDCypSeIyTOKlkm0CHRWmX_6ZEZGXFmL6XSW2HyRp1me_PT0rJ0lxRTtW2191QCj-RnvheZsQ6SkSU89Y9lkeWXd6x/w640-h302/20230905_113226.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Frampton, from the sea wall, 05/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Gh76M26RuTgycBbB2QkIFIqf98yGldD08RSdGqRgsck_8TUBaayErJX-okOph2ZoVTlnBca0QB5GSVkQ03jo-wpBxrBehPTzbIC77PIgYusddg5f8P5Fu4VOskqJUepvcSNsXb3cwd8d5oQJUwFJhSCMtvEtf2LhBrAO8G95Wvy-J5W6cgh7ohfY5_WN/s4032/20230905_112342.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Gh76M26RuTgycBbB2QkIFIqf98yGldD08RSdGqRgsck_8TUBaayErJX-okOph2ZoVTlnBca0QB5GSVkQ03jo-wpBxrBehPTzbIC77PIgYusddg5f8P5Fu4VOskqJUepvcSNsXb3cwd8d5oQJUwFJhSCMtvEtf2LhBrAO8G95Wvy-J5W6cgh7ohfY5_WN/w640-h302/20230905_112342.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Southern side of The Haven with Boston beyond, 05/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"></div></div><div><br /></div><div>A small group of <b>Grey Plovers</b> out on the Wash were looking good still in breeding plumage and as well as several <b>Yellow Wagtails</b>, mainly juvs, I saw my first <b>Wheatears</b> of the autumn.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCroLg_Hs7VL8LVQNCL3jhU5fUk24TEGIM5pM7E6nmuyK7gG05XkIDOVLTek1sFcQAZ-wxrYAMB39YtTz4h6seP4Oe600zWxB6ozfU0DAbh_l7WkUq9AJ0MzX7dH7MRvoVEcD-ipbWgn1CxpzhWmXf1qkuRTRqiCixtxJjOIOboW-XYDa9zgGbXpS-BmAJ/s1961/MX2A4182.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1307" data-original-width="1961" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCroLg_Hs7VL8LVQNCL3jhU5fUk24TEGIM5pM7E6nmuyK7gG05XkIDOVLTek1sFcQAZ-wxrYAMB39YtTz4h6seP4Oe600zWxB6ozfU0DAbh_l7WkUq9AJ0MzX7dH7MRvoVEcD-ipbWgn1CxpzhWmXf1qkuRTRqiCixtxJjOIOboW-XYDa9zgGbXpS-BmAJ/w640-h426/MX2A4182.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Northern Wheatear, Frampton, 05/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEZUroKCtQ7J5rSSwSw93vwZapWbvjgBEVV-aVBHZN32KVu4vahqq5PEV68F8Y4XOZXsFQbHtEqN1WHaK_5DHH_LrrsYd7h-ikIXq0Z6JkgrE5T73UWyJ8o-kO1Rkvc4KO0XrnRSplcA-oUeKD7QIbRjrNEgNrwPoydkelyl1V3w8svQ4UGXGETs0YpYK/s2031/MX2A41612.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="2031" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEZUroKCtQ7J5rSSwSw93vwZapWbvjgBEVV-aVBHZN32KVu4vahqq5PEV68F8Y4XOZXsFQbHtEqN1WHaK_5DHH_LrrsYd7h-ikIXq0Z6JkgrE5T73UWyJ8o-kO1Rkvc4KO0XrnRSplcA-oUeKD7QIbRjrNEgNrwPoydkelyl1V3w8svQ4UGXGETs0YpYK/w640-h426/MX2A41612.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Grey Plovers, </b><b>Frampton, 05/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WSNTVB7Yl5ZAO-ylfwsJut1KIRK_3vliCjkI26z1VcadoFZZw5AX3xPVMQeu-ntKo2-UaNQZmIBh0Lierh3YbuxAPGVHJ5uMPu_oCpv4xPATX3wZe6O3UmGX8BL-Ez_MWRzl_ka_TsFD8iwBkBvra4XlLOtQjQ22-9yq9sFYq2DxEJQ6GGeri4-6nb2H/s1602/MX2A41692.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1602" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WSNTVB7Yl5ZAO-ylfwsJut1KIRK_3vliCjkI26z1VcadoFZZw5AX3xPVMQeu-ntKo2-UaNQZmIBh0Lierh3YbuxAPGVHJ5uMPu_oCpv4xPATX3wZe6O3UmGX8BL-Ez_MWRzl_ka_TsFD8iwBkBvra4XlLOtQjQ22-9yq9sFYq2DxEJQ6GGeri4-6nb2H/w640-h426/MX2A41692.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Yellow Wagtail, </b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frampton, 05/09/23</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Back inside the perimeter, back on the flat, I sat on a bench and ate a late lunch. A bench I suspect is well used by the local birders - slightly raised and ideal for watching the comings and goings of birds from and to the Wash.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTY-D0K-hnwraiWB9EZNDU0XNU2IuoHLT428ZUI5zBZcKF9OYtnv7gw6wcgEwR-zsuTzzmnMib2TaHkRHjoPkICL2Rdepo2ntBBeUa2T85oei_HuT2QxdXIFAqSKE_zab5I5CAgVLneetENJ5tef0CJlN0hogZUQWGK-aSiOQMcj92X0AW_FZw3Mh3987r/s4032/20230905_145913.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTY-D0K-hnwraiWB9EZNDU0XNU2IuoHLT428ZUI5zBZcKF9OYtnv7gw6wcgEwR-zsuTzzmnMib2TaHkRHjoPkICL2Rdepo2ntBBeUa2T85oei_HuT2QxdXIFAqSKE_zab5I5CAgVLneetENJ5tef0CJlN0hogZUQWGK-aSiOQMcj92X0AW_FZw3Mh3987r/w640-h302/20230905_145913.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Frampton Marshes, 05/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Late afternoon and with most other visitors having departed, I went round the main hides again to catch the low level 'golden' light. Just perfect to capture the delicate plumage of a couple of <b>Little Stints </b>that came quite close. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDP1dVkE0EOANkLtUfv-tKKkKJSbR_TXpGWmabBaP7e3hVAgNk4ggoYFWPhB-K5bGindNpCiGXnm-s7ww42S7-47F-ZNEEvVJYO4SJg5weAjzcz3NLPqaGAz9FI6MprZ5yiMRrLWHzoB8W6SGOqdAj8fVr66Z4axaeTnyUtKygsao6JGqCucUNLFyVShCU/s2021/MX2A43972.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="2021" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDP1dVkE0EOANkLtUfv-tKKkKJSbR_TXpGWmabBaP7e3hVAgNk4ggoYFWPhB-K5bGindNpCiGXnm-s7ww42S7-47F-ZNEEvVJYO4SJg5weAjzcz3NLPqaGAz9FI6MprZ5yiMRrLWHzoB8W6SGOqdAj8fVr66Z4axaeTnyUtKygsao6JGqCucUNLFyVShCU/w640-h360/MX2A43972.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Little Stints, </b><b>Frampton, 05/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1r7bThKZq34Y9qQXl17Z41zAak6M8HQn50SBa1jUs59rwRCCuBUT57d6CbrKcevAW1N2ZazYuZDPaFFU9oCmd1Fx8o31duB-CYyi_K8BZILQvcC-CCB4-5B_vMU9HvFkXGj8GwNwub5yRE86l-QEOM8mq4DxrWEWipHoBLTUZjJZ4p5m_-oKQWTRrOH4/s1506/MX2A44052.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1506" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1r7bThKZq34Y9qQXl17Z41zAak6M8HQn50SBa1jUs59rwRCCuBUT57d6CbrKcevAW1N2ZazYuZDPaFFU9oCmd1Fx8o31duB-CYyi_K8BZILQvcC-CCB4-5B_vMU9HvFkXGj8GwNwub5yRE86l-QEOM8mq4DxrWEWipHoBLTUZjJZ4p5m_-oKQWTRrOH4/w640-h426/MX2A44052.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Little Stint, </b><b>Frampton, 05/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Good flight shots of birds don't always come off, especially with my now fairly antiquated camera set up but it's always the goal for me and I would guess most bird 'toggers' (birds fly, right?) and wandering in between hides at <b>Frampton</b> where wading birds of all types gets you lots of practice!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5YvQIx1TDndn0NlwCVxo1eH-ZraAYl5U5XdrScS_AmUrJa-NVH6GCdyAgXXQ1WGRRiBz8lbdlVvYfKUymXXZf2vFFWWNmZTRYPsXUAit0t5Wb09d_yuI5fpifhejMIvE2T10Mz3peSRZGCQahfQEH1Lad0SUP6XwhYzsAfzuP1YyJ1f7XRE9zDL9bA7I/s2537/MX2A4143.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2537" data-original-width="2030" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5YvQIx1TDndn0NlwCVxo1eH-ZraAYl5U5XdrScS_AmUrJa-NVH6GCdyAgXXQ1WGRRiBz8lbdlVvYfKUymXXZf2vFFWWNmZTRYPsXUAit0t5Wb09d_yuI5fpifhejMIvE2T10Mz3peSRZGCQahfQEH1Lad0SUP6XwhYzsAfzuP1YyJ1f7XRE9zDL9bA7I/w512-h640/MX2A4143.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Avocet, </b><b>Frampton, 05/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_SROaGZU4Tby4urSRR_tJzycdS47ruKbIy4Dsfz8aNZRR1tQH24tHE_X88dWEMBScN2od2-1M-ozAYYQ_BLZXA1G3x52xvmRxAhvcLJFklqD6uocd8mIb9kLqtT6rFLG9PRXAo-Ds1VtSqnBH7VoYqlb1WMyiL8ZyzjQxDjd-mX6XocFdsGqtZh8UxsS/s1175/MX2A42342.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="1175" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_SROaGZU4Tby4urSRR_tJzycdS47ruKbIy4Dsfz8aNZRR1tQH24tHE_X88dWEMBScN2od2-1M-ozAYYQ_BLZXA1G3x52xvmRxAhvcLJFklqD6uocd8mIb9kLqtT6rFLG9PRXAo-Ds1VtSqnBH7VoYqlb1WMyiL8ZyzjQxDjd-mX6XocFdsGqtZh8UxsS/w640-h426/MX2A42342.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Green Sandpiper, </b><b>Frampton, 05/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1590" data-original-width="2385" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAFPYuuBZE05qozQW18YqdyGSRURyK7fSG40Btlsw1cQb6hTqS2ZVlQeAbWPVAPexLQx3yjH7a_BruQS2Np8zvJUaOMj8KScvGGqsPz_oTMdvv_VG2pcNvDsaYcn_8yiZOeUaashrzrkAevMZFur6BCwg1iDRNa2x1aal4c1D75KJ8pWL26i1zD2VPdaG/w640-h426/MX2A43212.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Greenshank, </b><b>Frampton, 05/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAFPYuuBZE05qozQW18YqdyGSRURyK7fSG40Btlsw1cQb6hTqS2ZVlQeAbWPVAPexLQx3yjH7a_BruQS2Np8zvJUaOMj8KScvGGqsPz_oTMdvv_VG2pcNvDsaYcn_8yiZOeUaashrzrkAevMZFur6BCwg1iDRNa2x1aal4c1D75KJ8pWL26i1zD2VPdaG/s2385/MX2A43212.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b></b></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Not bad, good light enabling a fast shutter speed is the key. For wading birds especially this place, at this time of the year is difficult to beat. How's this for a tally - <b>Black Tailed Godwit (c2,500), Bar Tailed Godwit (2), Dunlin (c450), Ringed Plover (c150), Little Ringed Plover (1), Ruff (c200), Knot (c20), Greenshank (2), Green Sandpiper (6), Wood Sandpiper (1), Snipe (10), Spotted Redshank (2), Common Redshank (c70), Avocet (16), Little Stint (2), Curlew Sandpiper (10), Grey Plover (8), Oystercatcher (1),</b> <b>Lapwing (c500), Curlew (2), Spoonbill (25), Little Egret (c30). </b></div><div><br /></div><div> A few more from Frampton starting with a gloriously yellow <b>Yellow Wagtail</b> that popped in right in front of the hide late on for a drink.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHCabxRrf--_efcfNRx4X502tDYHKU_g1MP1U4sJZwvCj2ijqh0cZbn64pZaDgrii-JEMlDl24b1Qicqxd0RnNN0dMLeWymGPQgfH5uARwCUiPD1Lu9Wv4vm68kGocAWkeBZrYMv-HG3DrRasfhFTeG3q7wsC9dxt_g201F1I79bmjyQp7A1mfBu0L3rW/s1677/MX2A44232.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="1677" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHCabxRrf--_efcfNRx4X502tDYHKU_g1MP1U4sJZwvCj2ijqh0cZbn64pZaDgrii-JEMlDl24b1Qicqxd0RnNN0dMLeWymGPQgfH5uARwCUiPD1Lu9Wv4vm68kGocAWkeBZrYMv-HG3DrRasfhFTeG3q7wsC9dxt_g201F1I79bmjyQp7A1mfBu0L3rW/w640-h426/MX2A44232.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Yellow Wagtail, </b><b>Frampton, 05/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8re6m5wCAtIR-ho1IzuM6xq3s0atO5WbxzNiqBb-wXWOzipll_hsXyLOqAdVKa141lqbNAlv5Nczgwch_E3iW5lQ_HCQ6IMGNSOSPduxg51h00PG-pEOedcbqx9n5ldKZh7mNGAqAFYgJW6r9bCrgCcV3VEgjGP1rPG8lGV7oPPyeTdXf2V5BzoflDgt4/s4032/20230905_102343.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8re6m5wCAtIR-ho1IzuM6xq3s0atO5WbxzNiqBb-wXWOzipll_hsXyLOqAdVKa141lqbNAlv5Nczgwch_E3iW5lQ_HCQ6IMGNSOSPduxg51h00PG-pEOedcbqx9n5ldKZh7mNGAqAFYgJW6r9bCrgCcV3VEgjGP1rPG8lGV7oPPyeTdXf2V5BzoflDgt4/w640-h302/20230905_102343.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sweet Pea species, </b><b>Frampton, 05/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LXj5Xy8ths-gUUHIYHJQtO52OO5pD9kl4OSC46t47NnR53xWyNrWd9iYgUjyGBYOIhWxWeThU2MgxcaLDCNawS5ffEGGl902GXqmCloA3gIM_0Sbc_yKc9QLn6G8-NQ6fzqheluOE55IOsFzwebxpXJ6ZjZBrzp0OctQ6R6CAq68ldNvZEPC_vJ_fS1_/s4032/20230905_155732.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LXj5Xy8ths-gUUHIYHJQtO52OO5pD9kl4OSC46t47NnR53xWyNrWd9iYgUjyGBYOIhWxWeThU2MgxcaLDCNawS5ffEGGl902GXqmCloA3gIM_0Sbc_yKc9QLn6G8-NQ6fzqheluOE55IOsFzwebxpXJ6ZjZBrzp0OctQ6R6CAq68ldNvZEPC_vJ_fS1_/w640-h302/20230905_155732.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Michaelmas Daisies, </b><b>Frampton, 05/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjNiUpxd8qRMhA9CLYIXvID3tEIv0Xut52VsHTDn_QNDoHRWPF8cQl1P1K-PYsgUTMTEtnM807f4rwtmHbiOtQ1VF4IXIC_0zqOyR2k9k_kQ2Lwdxui-IpLmhneNlBcL0rcZqBTVDpf1owuxOTUxeSH12yJTuPon5VZLoqUdnldKZh_0nKqHUz_h8ORyD/s4032/20230905_173226.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjNiUpxd8qRMhA9CLYIXvID3tEIv0Xut52VsHTDn_QNDoHRWPF8cQl1P1K-PYsgUTMTEtnM807f4rwtmHbiOtQ1VF4IXIC_0zqOyR2k9k_kQ2Lwdxui-IpLmhneNlBcL0rcZqBTVDpf1owuxOTUxeSH12yJTuPon5VZLoqUdnldKZh_0nKqHUz_h8ORyD/w640-h302/20230905_173226.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Decorative Buoy and Sunflowers, </b><b>Frampton, 05/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCp8LdyMUplw8BCcabVFRW2C1KVgXYVQ84FgXbceJHE3Cx_be9iyX3yhiMbBLBb17b0Jd5wvSZOF6Y1BTzJeq2IOxAb2uIzwE3LJ7_SB4Op414otFoVxd8aBqSHJfS05jYm-W5TK-JLIdqvVviU1JVn01Cy85rzpGxK8BjGDS3dKKumFH1w4k81veV5Bd/s2938/MX2A42132.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1959" data-original-width="2938" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCp8LdyMUplw8BCcabVFRW2C1KVgXYVQ84FgXbceJHE3Cx_be9iyX3yhiMbBLBb17b0Jd5wvSZOF6Y1BTzJeq2IOxAb2uIzwE3LJ7_SB4Op414otFoVxd8aBqSHJfS05jYm-W5TK-JLIdqvVviU1JVn01Cy85rzpGxK8BjGDS3dKKumFH1w4k81veV5Bd/w640-h426/MX2A42132.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Redshank, </b><b>Frampton, 05/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6D__eEiYj-MS4dvBpdoeKdgiBoJLR5aacHeuIr45LmOHAmSe9K7m4VPaD35V3MBk6dxw-d4lVAcEP1CUogFqWEPj4X6ltcnoK1FSPdXMXBigjcg6LwIRJdMcBTJKIYQjyBY1ujUUp3i74tWsXK9wtaeD8PASljJK6AfWLEBvmJV8eEQ6YXJDXZds-c2Ia/s2993/MX2A44462.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1995" data-original-width="2993" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6D__eEiYj-MS4dvBpdoeKdgiBoJLR5aacHeuIr45LmOHAmSe9K7m4VPaD35V3MBk6dxw-d4lVAcEP1CUogFqWEPj4X6ltcnoK1FSPdXMXBigjcg6LwIRJdMcBTJKIYQjyBY1ujUUp3i74tWsXK9wtaeD8PASljJK6AfWLEBvmJV8eEQ6YXJDXZds-c2Ia/w640-h426/MX2A44462.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Tailed Godwit, </b><b>Frampton, 05/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">A pop into
nearby <b>Frieston Shore</b> at dusk was a bit of a
disappointment to be honest, no waders at all bar a lone <b>Green
Sandpiper.</b> Added <b>Tree Sparrow </b>to the species list and 20
<b>Wigeon,</b> probably newly arrived from the north was a sure sign
of the changing season. Far cry from my last visit here when I found a
<b>Black Stork</b>!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIdZDQ92zB49pKnMuS__jbz95y8M4LBQ62_SpinxyHfYCKfGd8tw98u-UDrwIou118DeUKSEWLbIo1B8tj1y9mEF-z_tBj3wxr97ZZPrVWRW6cGf69zwy_6oI4Em8ObdjRdoEduy9TIXkzlPeL1DY1AgB5odxfLyWJEutJmkcUjExskkdJl4JG8mOqlTm/s1697/IMG_2674.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1697" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIdZDQ92zB49pKnMuS__jbz95y8M4LBQ62_SpinxyHfYCKfGd8tw98u-UDrwIou118DeUKSEWLbIo1B8tj1y9mEF-z_tBj3wxr97ZZPrVWRW6cGf69zwy_6oI4Em8ObdjRdoEduy9TIXkzlPeL1DY1AgB5odxfLyWJEutJmkcUjExskkdJl4JG8mOqlTm/w640-h426/IMG_2674.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Stork, Freiston, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0X6NpIHI08H_midt3d8dujDZsk01Tq3erAW-6fkreMKiTZ-VgMMnqeYfqpLFDziANe06qkdTw9XuqbLNUcOVo37b23cNNPnF6tsCA5dXa9qKOlgXJYPsmQIVtPgpgAZqL_I8PSKrAxRVSUCu0vYe4uwAD6bQcxTPFig1kF4f_jfJbry94M44RMMejyrvo/s4032/20230904_155525.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0X6NpIHI08H_midt3d8dujDZsk01Tq3erAW-6fkreMKiTZ-VgMMnqeYfqpLFDziANe06qkdTw9XuqbLNUcOVo37b23cNNPnF6tsCA5dXa9qKOlgXJYPsmQIVtPgpgAZqL_I8PSKrAxRVSUCu0vYe4uwAD6bQcxTPFig1kF4f_jfJbry94M44RMMejyrvo/w400-h189/20230904_155525.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Gibralter Point, 04/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Either side of my day at Frampton I did a couple of half days at <b><a href="https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/gibraltar-point" target="_blank">Gibralter Point</a></b>, on my way down and then on my way back. A big old place, perched on the extreme NW of the Wash just beyond Skegness - sand dunes, saltmarsh, lots of scrub and a couple of lagoons / scrapes. I know it quite well but mainly been here later in the year when with favourable winds it can be crawling with migrant birds. Not so when I was there. 8 <b>Crossbills</b> in the car park was a good record but apart from that 2 <b>Chiffchaffs</b>, a <b>Reed Warbler</b> and a few <b>Linnets</b> was a disappointing sum total of small birds. <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxT1SnoehmN_mlghvyienLyx0L-1VF1dv2vMvt3KmFWGLL9sQ0jUqWdK1yUbbOQV1Bw8ueIpT7DvgHKxO5DghnQ_jCuFmtxmFZxycUqqdTdj98zN-31xICr-21UeA8vYbI3xvNrn45RTe8g6nVwHAQWG1VoSXQzFwClkEeB_c1bSKV-7HlPh9yI-QICeE/s1344/MX2A4554.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1344" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxT1SnoehmN_mlghvyienLyx0L-1VF1dv2vMvt3KmFWGLL9sQ0jUqWdK1yUbbOQV1Bw8ueIpT7DvgHKxO5DghnQ_jCuFmtxmFZxycUqqdTdj98zN-31xICr-21UeA8vYbI3xvNrn45RTe8g6nVwHAQWG1VoSXQzFwClkEeB_c1bSKV-7HlPh9yI-QICeE/w640-h426/MX2A4554.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Crossbill, Gibralter Point, 06/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirl61zPNvzRQ4vauaO0oB0ZjtDXJsc00eQue2gTUNuXnshboYP-AFfZIStCJa5mmlKL_y1nH63Kjr5QR5TW4meWs0VdsH4GJ4_js1nzyzElwSZsO5W8MHZLjnpPKr-GwNXmnKx81A2fBC207Dbrm-qS8bIVf6XjFXrLeG-uio-px2UIgss3xLWk-HKgUm/s1283/MX2A4560.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1283" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirl61zPNvzRQ4vauaO0oB0ZjtDXJsc00eQue2gTUNuXnshboYP-AFfZIStCJa5mmlKL_y1nH63Kjr5QR5TW4meWs0VdsH4GJ4_js1nzyzElwSZsO5W8MHZLjnpPKr-GwNXmnKx81A2fBC207Dbrm-qS8bIVf6XjFXrLeG-uio-px2UIgss3xLWk-HKgUm/w640-h426/MX2A4560.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Chiffchaff, Gibralter Point, 06/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Thankfully there was more activity towards the tideline with a single<b> Hobby</b> zooming around and causing panic and havoc, putting up waders left right and centre! </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnKQG-piAY5RbPHLmLMxkOdTNFziBJcmpOHtwDu2kwz8kZBAMGdEFsa9j53cq840tYKhuOAGI_g_MtEJAFCctDUv3V7yXwOYDkY9PTIIQ_9g8JpcOyGJkLx1-736Mei3XQO9NneUfowm8lNf_GBBp4qGYfHKp0-hcCx5RYShyS-P3asZ8xL92YlA7SH47/s1667/MX2A4514.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="1667" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnKQG-piAY5RbPHLmLMxkOdTNFziBJcmpOHtwDu2kwz8kZBAMGdEFsa9j53cq840tYKhuOAGI_g_MtEJAFCctDUv3V7yXwOYDkY9PTIIQ_9g8JpcOyGJkLx1-736Mei3XQO9NneUfowm8lNf_GBBp4qGYfHKp0-hcCx5RYShyS-P3asZ8xL92YlA7SH47/w640-h426/MX2A4514.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hobby, Gibralter Point, 06/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhInd9koLCXEI8oSi4NhiVgixa9CA5BF4aBTbAH5lulc6f6mUY5CUwX1esOowrw-fSKyno6qaFkxB08q6BtaV1y09fS_m2W7b56NbLneiAIDP9r5yQySebtOYLtjy_gfp7wmsY8R-WLR6sYg7s0vGl1XX6QNkK0ybVPK3A23my77oaV3tqvK8_t2wQT7RY/s3613/MX2A4491.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2032" data-original-width="3613" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhInd9koLCXEI8oSi4NhiVgixa9CA5BF4aBTbAH5lulc6f6mUY5CUwX1esOowrw-fSKyno6qaFkxB08q6BtaV1y09fS_m2W7b56NbLneiAIDP9r5yQySebtOYLtjy_gfp7wmsY8R-WLR6sYg7s0vGl1XX6QNkK0ybVPK3A23my77oaV3tqvK8_t2wQT7RY/w640-h360/MX2A4491.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Oystercatchers, Gibralter Point, 06/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Rubbish pic and a misty sea fret didn't help, but 10 <b>Bar Tailed Godwits</b> heading south down the tideline were only identified after I studied my photographs, same with a mixed bunch of waders that I thought at the time were mainly<b> Knot </b>but turned out to be <b>Ruff </b> - the number of times I've done that! </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8X-Y_Xjx2P0y-b5f45Aj65Pk_xUC78wtNYaAc2-1QB3VQMIw61Aaw1p6tQrG9Xe3FyWHbtfpEyn4ddH3mCGwA2ZvrnADhh24xJ8INLxbXZK-etpw4-K7utAFKhmSNAMBOPNno42ZYRCXgpgfZz3K6m3ucEYnUXchnT8pQ8doJYU4PObp9mTJ8TsN7P1v/s1884/MX2A4474.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1256" data-original-width="1884" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8X-Y_Xjx2P0y-b5f45Aj65Pk_xUC78wtNYaAc2-1QB3VQMIw61Aaw1p6tQrG9Xe3FyWHbtfpEyn4ddH3mCGwA2ZvrnADhh24xJ8INLxbXZK-etpw4-K7utAFKhmSNAMBOPNno42ZYRCXgpgfZz3K6m3ucEYnUXchnT8pQ8doJYU4PObp9mTJ8TsN7P1v/w640-h426/MX2A4474.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bar Tailed Godwits, Gibralter Point, 06/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEG-wS522eFO1AEmo1KO1GDEiDfsqkohw6G_uCXOxIe-GIk4b3rWDeOA4kyZPhdbx0GmI3c_rztVy4cY-J2mk8999Yi1nxNZDrQxnK6UGb_qCo68o_H3QSJO6nZC6IFx_gv1CnrYWvlyE3ZaAPHYT4saAfWF_tbFPHhu0Qvihjdg8oTRb3_LSlomN7hFs/s3860/MX2A4533.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2171" data-original-width="3860" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEG-wS522eFO1AEmo1KO1GDEiDfsqkohw6G_uCXOxIe-GIk4b3rWDeOA4kyZPhdbx0GmI3c_rztVy4cY-J2mk8999Yi1nxNZDrQxnK6UGb_qCo68o_H3QSJO6nZC6IFx_gv1CnrYWvlyE3ZaAPHYT4saAfWF_tbFPHhu0Qvihjdg8oTRb3_LSlomN7hFs/w640-h360/MX2A4533.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ruff and Dunlin, Gibralter Point, 06/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><b>Sanderling </b>and <b>Turnstone </b>were also present on the shoreline bringing my wader species count to an impressive 24. On the lagoons more waders, lots more <b>Black Tailed Godwits, Avocets, Ruff </b>and a single <b>Spotted Redshank</b>. Still plenty of <b>Swallow</b>s and <b>House Martins</b> about though I failed to pick out a <b>Sand Martin,</b> all gone I guess. Best photo opp was a flock of <b>Spoonbill</b> that came right over the hide.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5-qL6PMeODpgnAChDVkvqcQBP9nOr-BLubgNJydfa2I5tjmnGawPw87ssMDlDyDVJfUWJLCjVl_InERYcN7TvXFYwXgGp7rj-yJiyKtjMaXrGCyiOqd65rkDyZQczLUM0wIABPEhcu0YVf8IbfovTyfwxOtXC8aDzZqc0lWWtC0jO_chmzCSDdbnPuLw/s2914/MX2A4566.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1639" data-original-width="2914" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5-qL6PMeODpgnAChDVkvqcQBP9nOr-BLubgNJydfa2I5tjmnGawPw87ssMDlDyDVJfUWJLCjVl_InERYcN7TvXFYwXgGp7rj-yJiyKtjMaXrGCyiOqd65rkDyZQczLUM0wIABPEhcu0YVf8IbfovTyfwxOtXC8aDzZqc0lWWtC0jO_chmzCSDdbnPuLw/w640-h360/MX2A4566.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spoonbill, Gibralter Point, 06/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3gy4a9bkk0-OFQywE7eLW1lLHmFmsBVuwStAHpj9iHdRbJAq7aJxiM1l8nGmVa-UXGIyjczauaX8-Spl1NHODP5GQimNbgn2pSCWOsc8ro7BMP6fztQlKoyGFZIGcurODe7mTC-uP08EsGT0w5IbS02KZwdiel6VR9sZvzLMXukcDvTKwK9EenHMoLDm/s2880/MX2A4582.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2880" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3gy4a9bkk0-OFQywE7eLW1lLHmFmsBVuwStAHpj9iHdRbJAq7aJxiM1l8nGmVa-UXGIyjczauaX8-Spl1NHODP5GQimNbgn2pSCWOsc8ro7BMP6fztQlKoyGFZIGcurODe7mTC-uP08EsGT0w5IbS02KZwdiel6VR9sZvzLMXukcDvTKwK9EenHMoLDm/w640-h426/MX2A4582.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Tailed Godwits, Gibralter Point, 06/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Last stop of the day before heading back home was <b><a href="https://www.visitlincolnshire.com/things-to-do/alkborough-flats/birdwatching-trail/" target="_blank">Alkborough Flatts</a></b>, on the Lincs side of the Humber Estuary. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-nlc99z7AEvIvjDgAkOR-laa07Zbt1t_Yv7DgD6XCd5WSgvtqGVioHFgeXo0wEt5IvIB_NDe2xK8PeplEIaF9YruEt0R8VjnrrWBkuUlgvABNMue6YUQdj9oxvmII1fwXncaqR4QrK2HYe28emaA9o7WJyY3vnqe2p67JpKPw06AwtnkxPYmiUb0yMD1/s4032/20230906_173742.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-nlc99z7AEvIvjDgAkOR-laa07Zbt1t_Yv7DgD6XCd5WSgvtqGVioHFgeXo0wEt5IvIB_NDe2xK8PeplEIaF9YruEt0R8VjnrrWBkuUlgvABNMue6YUQdj9oxvmII1fwXncaqR4QrK2HYe28emaA9o7WJyY3vnqe2p67JpKPw06AwtnkxPYmiUb0yMD1/w640-h302/20230906_173742.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Alkborough Flatts, 06/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Fully expected to either see or hear <b>Bearded Tits</b> here, I nearly always do, but not this time. No <b>Golden</b> <b>Plover </b>either, maybe a tad early for them, but I did have both <b>Whinchat </b>and<b> Stonechat,</b> both new species for the trip, and a nice <b>Greenshank</b> on one of the scrapes. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePRL0sym8kqmQR-qwwHDeE74n3dpNf2uVv7ILJhO5aBV4NfjeqaPN5j9-q2lQlr6miFsoti6s6YqpLE3fCpPvZx-9GL73ZsaNgWVL-1RcAq0_GanxkYZOn2QPiAswpFWbkoaIfFDvVv4RLq89R7q3wEfltIz0I8vBAdnGb7AklvE3ivuUOXMamJrTwZLe/s1812/MX2A4601.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="1812" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePRL0sym8kqmQR-qwwHDeE74n3dpNf2uVv7ILJhO5aBV4NfjeqaPN5j9-q2lQlr6miFsoti6s6YqpLE3fCpPvZx-9GL73ZsaNgWVL-1RcAq0_GanxkYZOn2QPiAswpFWbkoaIfFDvVv4RLq89R7q3wEfltIz0I8vBAdnGb7AklvE3ivuUOXMamJrTwZLe/w640-h426/MX2A4601.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Greenshank, Alkborough, 06/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>and a half decent attempt at photographing a <b>Southern Hawker</b> dragonfly in flight .... so difficult!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrv7ChkXd6ocr2YUP0qi6enmiJtHqftDN-Sar9gZfRS8ORxvYZ8_FhGO-a7F1X1I1OLTg6NBU-HisVcFGEERiwaCXoArXiKPzN-ihi-Hyzcoshua6_7ybGy_Ev6C_8JRzCAs7pIoRTGWZYzgFORzGOxLIulFg9dMpYTNcwN0beqgrWF8w9nWo4mtxPXxy/s2112/MX2A4592.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1408" data-original-width="2112" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrv7ChkXd6ocr2YUP0qi6enmiJtHqftDN-Sar9gZfRS8ORxvYZ8_FhGO-a7F1X1I1OLTg6NBU-HisVcFGEERiwaCXoArXiKPzN-ihi-Hyzcoshua6_7ybGy_Ev6C_8JRzCAs7pIoRTGWZYzgFORzGOxLIulFg9dMpYTNcwN0beqgrWF8w9nWo4mtxPXxy/w640-h426/MX2A4592.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Southern Hawker, Alkborough, 06/09/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Knackered I was by the time I crossed the Humber Bridge, and no wonder - 2 and half days, 2 and half hrs driving there and back, 20 miles of walking and 94 bird species recorded!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><br /><p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-48986462757181667322023-08-26T11:11:00.003+01:002023-08-26T19:09:09.420+01:00Early returning wading birds and late flowering flowers, Spotted Redshanks steal the show<p> Mid August, Summer is on the wain, fruit is starting to appear and yet it still feels like 'slumber' weather (for me anyway!) and I've had a right Summer lull this year with a very lazy July in particular, mind you the weather was so appalling I don't think I missed much! Enough was enough about mid August, there's a limit to how much cricket you can listen to whilst precious time ebbs away, and finally I decided to put on my walking boots, pack a rucksack, grab the camera and get back out there!</p><p><a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/blacktoft-sands/" target="_blank"><b>Blacktoft Sands</b> </a>on the Humber estuary is one of my 'go to' places in late Summer, mainly for wading birds that begin to turn up on UK wetlands after their relatively short breeding seasons in more northerly climes.</p><p><b>Spotted Redshank </b>breed mainly in Siberia and like many waders winter mainly in Africa and Southern Europe and increasingly in the UK - it's not uncommon these days to see big flocks of these elegant birds on the <b>Humber Estuary</b> right through the winter months. I love 'em, most birders do - they're just a bit different, a bit exotic, different in many ways from our own native <b>Common Redshank</b> - no wing bar, longer legs, longer more slender bill, and the 'clutcher' is to see one in breeding plumage - almost entirely black with barely discernible white spots. Of the dozen or so at <b>Blacktoft</b> recently at least one was a 'clutcher'!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhe8LaAS2qjSuqOdzVCUhcRXaT0SiaS8rQUDSqWDdMT1xb0a88CLBcCnAagHMOxSBbgQOYfqVDE-JX9bu8m0yNE_8h6o-5cysHBv0Mrbti8OHMOQ3QVKYt9xhjn72Pwxjagth0NHD8u8-7i-QbCZIVxynyD1Et8IFy6dOgEbfFhyjS2dCpaD26y4CFCqb/s1685/MX2A3705.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="1685" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhe8LaAS2qjSuqOdzVCUhcRXaT0SiaS8rQUDSqWDdMT1xb0a88CLBcCnAagHMOxSBbgQOYfqVDE-JX9bu8m0yNE_8h6o-5cysHBv0Mrbti8OHMOQ3QVKYt9xhjn72Pwxjagth0NHD8u8-7i-QbCZIVxynyD1Et8IFy6dOgEbfFhyjS2dCpaD26y4CFCqb/w640-h426/MX2A3705.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spotted Redshank, </b><b>Blacktoft, 14/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNqHso2WTD2BgibQ7J7_VqSvtSKnge68DmoYU0WyLWZEptL-haKmNNeOBR95GCoyq2u3sBxuYYQZ7MZmG_tLBDWsBFVvNX-EZGVm2WK1BFtUw1Ax8X8xXeA2mn1Hz8btDsJdIcGsfPbRytOWeoWKAn7NutxCWRdmzNqzKQKTUv6I5YWGQe8DVgQ20PLY6/s1460/MX2A3856.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="973" data-original-width="1460" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNqHso2WTD2BgibQ7J7_VqSvtSKnge68DmoYU0WyLWZEptL-haKmNNeOBR95GCoyq2u3sBxuYYQZ7MZmG_tLBDWsBFVvNX-EZGVm2WK1BFtUw1Ax8X8xXeA2mn1Hz8btDsJdIcGsfPbRytOWeoWKAn7NutxCWRdmzNqzKQKTUv6I5YWGQe8DVgQ20PLY6/w640-h426/MX2A3856.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spotted Redshank (summer plumaged), </b><b>Blacktoft, 14/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DG4woBs6GkX2xdGnv_CYe4pbcjaAjHoPV7a-AGoXn9eEZr9EdM9X0LnWEO0Mm2tc8fpuA8Z04yk0hDukrjr-Qe47UhhAgEVfUNtgZT41RDtg0MaX7-EagB0XzO5BFTOJRzoHR8NltL6bClat6I8n3S5LHjU_eGDdX5nqyjyUJin7l5WPMuFmWMEIvu59/s1709/MX2A3858.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1709" data-original-width="1282" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DG4woBs6GkX2xdGnv_CYe4pbcjaAjHoPV7a-AGoXn9eEZr9EdM9X0LnWEO0Mm2tc8fpuA8Z04yk0hDukrjr-Qe47UhhAgEVfUNtgZT41RDtg0MaX7-EagB0XzO5BFTOJRzoHR8NltL6bClat6I8n3S5LHjU_eGDdX5nqyjyUJin7l5WPMuFmWMEIvu59/w480-h640/MX2A3858.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spotted Redshank (winter plumaged), </b><b>Blacktoft, 14/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXRTAYOLnAl10Q3TLVAeY-9kKF7rdkpYb9yDZESDtEH0Nv1EwiU37_NNxA4QfWM9iAO-gnm8ZA2MO5M5Ww36xccK_VCZQJ6oR9kq6cpbZX21AWJOc8oIbrbIO6cJqFaJoKK_1CyidCglJNz70sVwKPcBiv8_KPsQgYze6Ymf0L5v6sATnfcntv6bAMaxJ/s550/MX2A3860.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="550" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXRTAYOLnAl10Q3TLVAeY-9kKF7rdkpYb9yDZESDtEH0Nv1EwiU37_NNxA4QfWM9iAO-gnm8ZA2MO5M5Ww36xccK_VCZQJ6oR9kq6cpbZX21AWJOc8oIbrbIO6cJqFaJoKK_1CyidCglJNz70sVwKPcBiv8_KPsQgYze6Ymf0L5v6sATnfcntv6bAMaxJ/w640-h426/MX2A3860.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spotted Redshank, </b><b>Blacktoft, 14/08/2023<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Splendid looking aren't they, and I was pleased to get some good flight shots. Other waders present on 2 visits within a week there included <b>Green Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Black Tailed Godwit, Avocet, Ruff, </b><b>Snipe </b>and 2 <b>Great White Egrets</b>. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66vZu7gT6UjnnymSHAgO9IVS1FMV1XgkFSdEvbXAp7wg0vaNjJXurp1a055rqlFEj5cBl9GnI2E556S7sT2c_hU8kZZp3bdCf3KL0K-L_KnSB4g_S5hgaxwzbYcF7UuHUpvex61uCov9XNm8iEzYUXQlY8UC_Wp6uUKi30CvkzwAOHPo_kXDlrOXWbFVU/s2386/MX2A3723.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1591" data-original-width="2386" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66vZu7gT6UjnnymSHAgO9IVS1FMV1XgkFSdEvbXAp7wg0vaNjJXurp1a055rqlFEj5cBl9GnI2E556S7sT2c_hU8kZZp3bdCf3KL0K-L_KnSB4g_S5hgaxwzbYcF7UuHUpvex61uCov9XNm8iEzYUXQlY8UC_Wp6uUKi30CvkzwAOHPo_kXDlrOXWbFVU/w640-h426/MX2A3723.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ruff, Blacktoft Sands, 11/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9BjrvQEQnG5YU7iSe9WgeMyB-7yb33VYTGEFZobgoEBCBc48bWDYy7y1-QXNm9NrYxe1-aduA8nYZ80TdPMP50oZUdvYpEF5w_ZjmBgDAFltMXkFD-xck8flJP6D49Kv2p_1XTBpzAiWC40f_2eoRhbqXn_R4c96usqjudeCdPoaRPXbc_jrFZmeC-GF/s3095/MX2A3734.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2063" data-original-width="3095" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9BjrvQEQnG5YU7iSe9WgeMyB-7yb33VYTGEFZobgoEBCBc48bWDYy7y1-QXNm9NrYxe1-aduA8nYZ80TdPMP50oZUdvYpEF5w_ZjmBgDAFltMXkFD-xck8flJP6D49Kv2p_1XTBpzAiWC40f_2eoRhbqXn_R4c96usqjudeCdPoaRPXbc_jrFZmeC-GF/w640-h426/MX2A3734.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Great White Egret, Blacktoft Sands, 11/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVUNGcatgR4qwx2lj8_-CbzoadbXGS2LFSbGNSaHCkHM-y4fAdprULp2OEg2RBs3n08oK_7FyuVFrQNC8wPGoK3ODblYshpNOFgLFkY7EJ4pMSzndwnq1Xg90TbPsULeQ3d48EfHzsBMKUPvI56PHrk9xhCKSDTHN4gCkcLvGOnZmZwXyFrxWc9Lm8IWQ/s1503/MX2A3779.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="1503" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVUNGcatgR4qwx2lj8_-CbzoadbXGS2LFSbGNSaHCkHM-y4fAdprULp2OEg2RBs3n08oK_7FyuVFrQNC8wPGoK3ODblYshpNOFgLFkY7EJ4pMSzndwnq1Xg90TbPsULeQ3d48EfHzsBMKUPvI56PHrk9xhCKSDTHN4gCkcLvGOnZmZwXyFrxWc9Lm8IWQ/w640-h426/MX2A3779.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Green Sandpiper, Blacktoft Sands, 11/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZzqPCO_jPATTMIGgBL3hQle5d_DGJSB_E19zjeUwj5zoqoMAyJ-KYiwly3WkoM16nYv9Em8xLP01iis3qQ2Jzk5fjD4g8puSq1WtqSpNGCxmq-O6oMAsc752ySeQSXMBwQNJxHu7ohkYDt9QZ7LSU8ocaH5YsT4Ivk0zIV0XUD_qQNn_HF6emZp6uQ3F/s1635/MX2A3784.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1635" data-original-width="1308" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZzqPCO_jPATTMIGgBL3hQle5d_DGJSB_E19zjeUwj5zoqoMAyJ-KYiwly3WkoM16nYv9Em8xLP01iis3qQ2Jzk5fjD4g8puSq1WtqSpNGCxmq-O6oMAsc752ySeQSXMBwQNJxHu7ohkYDt9QZ7LSU8ocaH5YsT4Ivk0zIV0XUD_qQNn_HF6emZp6uQ3F/w512-h640/MX2A3784.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ruff, Blacktoft Sands, 11/08/2023<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTUIE2pujs01i1unFRlaTYwRE_7YP6oh_46VTW8Iv1jNYhqFYv8qEeDvNCdEvH9a2uWoXkzufel2qbUJeChG5l18NpCnshpO-ga9ymvLACJJR4ECh11TQ7l4cb3TpwAxUblWRS7kWpixaeUDuvbr7WnYIzLSHniupKVYgZpPR9KIzDjY6NRtEFHUG-pO_/s1204/MX2A3796.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1204" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTUIE2pujs01i1unFRlaTYwRE_7YP6oh_46VTW8Iv1jNYhqFYv8qEeDvNCdEvH9a2uWoXkzufel2qbUJeChG5l18NpCnshpO-ga9ymvLACJJR4ECh11TQ7l4cb3TpwAxUblWRS7kWpixaeUDuvbr7WnYIzLSHniupKVYgZpPR9KIzDjY6NRtEFHUG-pO_/w640-h426/MX2A3796.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Green Sandpiper, Blacktoft Sands, 11/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>A trip to <b><a href="https://friendsofskipwithcommon.org.uk/news/" target="_blank">Skipwith Common</a></b>, at about the same time, around some of the lesser 'dog walked' areas, produced more signs of the summer season beginning to shift as fruiting bodies from below push up to sniff the air!</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbzSyvWhlhlikWcKfBESOEjICUZkvyJ1a6kxrY2tj1tVSkkMTRKDXvK-ZCm_SqEi0TdOHCstcnwuq73OKtSziIAqszvU48bVGYwQuP4zGrTxokfxGpTl_HENCK_pow9XqCD8UY5RumZkUWkspnsAQ0grK7RSZUOxseXNDl-Z-XpJ0R4HX9DPWRJK8OFp6/s2905/20230810_152620(1).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2905" data-original-width="1908" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbzSyvWhlhlikWcKfBESOEjICUZkvyJ1a6kxrY2tj1tVSkkMTRKDXvK-ZCm_SqEi0TdOHCstcnwuq73OKtSziIAqszvU48bVGYwQuP4zGrTxokfxGpTl_HENCK_pow9XqCD8UY5RumZkUWkspnsAQ0grK7RSZUOxseXNDl-Z-XpJ0R4HX9DPWRJK8OFp6/w421-h640/20230810_152620(1).jpg" width="421" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Parasol Mushroom, Skipwith Common, 10/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDxn-RVxi7oybfdhbRnUtH1qwGIoUzB26UyCIggcgWpZAzzTDOCi2SborBQq-9pvKTYfYx3P8z2SPs_H9OxMkCxhhCshb-exKSgjjZLgtEiX5_AOXiJiXcurhs8-9f9qCkYCefdUhna5cEC55uG0ZDtEP56ScniRXRX2w_gIK50gNJ2VouSPeYGbefeCt/s3040/20230810_161535(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="3040" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDxn-RVxi7oybfdhbRnUtH1qwGIoUzB26UyCIggcgWpZAzzTDOCi2SborBQq-9pvKTYfYx3P8z2SPs_H9OxMkCxhhCshb-exKSgjjZLgtEiX5_AOXiJiXcurhs8-9f9qCkYCefdUhna5cEC55uG0ZDtEP56ScniRXRX2w_gIK50gNJ2VouSPeYGbefeCt/w640-h402/20230810_161535(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Parasol Mushroom, Skipwith Common, 10/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14jDN8pOgbX4KWyZfNdBZbYgyIEJyburQBR_3f9it9z49plPGyA5M4B6Kyb-rGazyuAaWcn7-7jyhxfcchdWb50HJpBz40_jBtwOvhbzw0hhucaFOcOBJ8oG7FN10YfiWiv-p39ETq0OQciWqeD0g7_4OJq1FadpWNeIXlOSpI_FAaQB93lUlUOZXjcE6/s2772/20230810_162233(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2772" data-original-width="1908" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14jDN8pOgbX4KWyZfNdBZbYgyIEJyburQBR_3f9it9z49plPGyA5M4B6Kyb-rGazyuAaWcn7-7jyhxfcchdWb50HJpBz40_jBtwOvhbzw0hhucaFOcOBJ8oG7FN10YfiWiv-p39ETq0OQciWqeD0g7_4OJq1FadpWNeIXlOSpI_FAaQB93lUlUOZXjcE6/w440-h640/20230810_162233(2).jpg" width="440" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Fly Agaric, Skipwith Common, 10/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85mjxdyGZypLYlY9IrTaov106ZQaZfFf0qHTFJ0XffIsH8xlQ9ULeLvGVxOKyMjmmQCsT8p8oQc8y6GBFGTSYBQCg_-HCfIF6fQBi7yfxf6QXb1SV2IKgLnCni1KuGfcDdzh7esgzBY8WCDYisLpg1vFJO5RzmYfCbJ8TdjMB96USg1O7reIsRDlnNwLZ/s3364/20230810_162356(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="3364" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85mjxdyGZypLYlY9IrTaov106ZQaZfFf0qHTFJ0XffIsH8xlQ9ULeLvGVxOKyMjmmQCsT8p8oQc8y6GBFGTSYBQCg_-HCfIF6fQBi7yfxf6QXb1SV2IKgLnCni1KuGfcDdzh7esgzBY8WCDYisLpg1vFJO5RzmYfCbJ8TdjMB96USg1O7reIsRDlnNwLZ/w640-h362/20230810_162356(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sulphur Tufts, Skipwith Common, 10/08/202</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Above ground not much stirred there, a humid and steamy day, a single <b>Swift </b>overhead was just about the only noteworthy bird until a mixed tit and warbler flock grabbed my interest. Looked in vain for an attendant Spotted Flycatcher, something different, but had to be satisfied with 2 <b>Blackcaps</b> in amongst the <b>Chiffchaffs, Blue, Great & Long Tailed Tits.</b></p><p>A couple of trips to the coast, <b><a href="https://flamboroughbirdobs.org.uk/" target="_blank">Flamborough</a></b> both times, got me a single female <b>Pied Flycatcher</b> along <b>Old Fall</b> hedge along with 2 <b>Whitethroats.</b> Stalked the flycatcher for 15 mins trying to get even a record shot but no joy. There'd been a brief window of favourable migration weather, hence the flycatcher (hell there was more than 20 at <b><a href="https://spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/sightings/" target="_blank">Spurn</a></b> but just couldn't be arsed to drive all the way down there!), no need, if it's happening, if birds are on the move, I'm interested, but I can hang out of my attic window in York and record over 100 Swifts flying south, as I did on the 27th of July, and be a happy boy!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgFdudg8P6gzSMgMcpU6-6K-6MxZ-QVQmKKBZFl_Fjsx-TE4Ee5FPXq_ukIUC8xiXjLeHLhEsYHOx7rtyqV8skOeX1oVaB04EkzvBhOvrxr5I2VlDoJm49IN3IMRECJGaW1GQs5Oc4M51DF7vC-oWOfY1qkpyueao2-m-gQc3AaFcRibzSPOyog4z105H/s4032/20230825_164817.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgFdudg8P6gzSMgMcpU6-6K-6MxZ-QVQmKKBZFl_Fjsx-TE4Ee5FPXq_ukIUC8xiXjLeHLhEsYHOx7rtyqV8skOeX1oVaB04EkzvBhOvrxr5I2VlDoJm49IN3IMRECJGaW1GQs5Oc4M51DF7vC-oWOfY1qkpyueao2-m-gQc3AaFcRibzSPOyog4z105H/w640-h302/20230825_164817.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My Skyline, Northeast outskirts of York</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>But <b><a href="https://flamboroughbirdobs.org.uk/" target="_blank">Flamborough</a></b> seems to be my automatic destination if the winds go easterly. It might not have quite the profile of <b><a href="https://spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/sightings/" target="_blank">Spurn</a> </b>but I'll be there several more times than I will be at <b><a href="https://spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/sightings/" target="_blank">Spurn</a></b> this Autumn, it's so handy, and to my mind has a bit more variety in terms of vistas and habitats, more hedgerows, clifftop fields, wooded areas. One of the days I was there there were 100s of hirundines,<b> House Martins</b> mainly, congregating over the fields - a sod to photograph but I did my best.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82m9Q7gIgpkvsSXJrAa1SsKemjRuUbC5POmgU3giBoF4trgfE64RZaCErpHVqvfYG8zdBjehv3y9vjoUX-CoXBKlvKALOkL2-s5Sy_5sjOxr_keNG-7LLd1nVrL0iFI574eIx1R6Bcs1iv3xCwQtjBlIeyDQyhL_JWuI-e6xbeve4lCK97OJFyfVBx4mR/s1241/MX2A3888.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="1241" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82m9Q7gIgpkvsSXJrAa1SsKemjRuUbC5POmgU3giBoF4trgfE64RZaCErpHVqvfYG8zdBjehv3y9vjoUX-CoXBKlvKALOkL2-s5Sy_5sjOxr_keNG-7LLd1nVrL0iFI574eIx1R6Bcs1iv3xCwQtjBlIeyDQyhL_JWuI-e6xbeve4lCK97OJFyfVBx4mR/w400-h266/MX2A3888.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>House Martin, Flamborough Headland, 18/08/2023<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOui01cKOlP8cs_r3FO8qaSFVBQ6XwEmo5YG-aHyGMwSOAGr6PbeYefDwqYEx5qZ_4BS-vWazXPsgNjhV2Gkelo0nmJHCD35fKbLVwn-wGGDYfmE1ndDwNT_WEGJYuwTKe3JSiqorIMTyCLQBtGv-UVpQqgZ-EMQooA3xVGp6f_Q5_VVfoUjH3sHkEPMY/s1194/MX2A3889.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1194" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOui01cKOlP8cs_r3FO8qaSFVBQ6XwEmo5YG-aHyGMwSOAGr6PbeYefDwqYEx5qZ_4BS-vWazXPsgNjhV2Gkelo0nmJHCD35fKbLVwn-wGGDYfmE1ndDwNT_WEGJYuwTKe3JSiqorIMTyCLQBtGv-UVpQqgZ-EMQooA3xVGp6f_Q5_VVfoUjH3sHkEPMY/w400-h266/MX2A3889.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>House Martin, Flamborough Headland, 18/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Another day, with less favourable winds and not much moving, myself and good mate Rob, were treated to a family party of <b>Sparrowhawks</b> over the plantation at Old Fall.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbui4xPDVl3vyIcJ_CgQHEbCGrDI8QXIAghQ9kbuutzQAlMUWOIe03mw99aqOO3PG7ATPoWVBnSqu2JO6zntyX85x5f-TpCnz28WYQDESt0irM_G869acLRe0l2fzQGFuiv71VFAn-1waLRCEj4UNgiWX3ze4cpYz-xL69m4IFsrlY1zWphcEK84m8fUC/s1743/MX2A3909.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="1743" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbui4xPDVl3vyIcJ_CgQHEbCGrDI8QXIAghQ9kbuutzQAlMUWOIe03mw99aqOO3PG7ATPoWVBnSqu2JO6zntyX85x5f-TpCnz28WYQDESt0irM_G869acLRe0l2fzQGFuiv71VFAn-1waLRCEj4UNgiWX3ze4cpYz-xL69m4IFsrlY1zWphcEK84m8fUC/w640-h426/MX2A3909.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sparrowhawk, Flamborough, 22/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UoEziN2wj_6dfYJa6bW1MAtUAv3oFOn5wwDftVqrGU0J0o_LLnp9bGtwlJFBLpCMKqvam1gEtMRAvQEqzkA96XV8y46ok1iNJKMVSxxn2qn18KywUQbuTJmnDY8dT-BBshzbUMvjxvDntRrCrM59WuRrmfIKREtJ9C8r1Vmgh380D-rA4ASkxjTUDxKO/s1837/MX2A3914.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1837" data-original-width="1470" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UoEziN2wj_6dfYJa6bW1MAtUAv3oFOn5wwDftVqrGU0J0o_LLnp9bGtwlJFBLpCMKqvam1gEtMRAvQEqzkA96XV8y46ok1iNJKMVSxxn2qn18KywUQbuTJmnDY8dT-BBshzbUMvjxvDntRrCrM59WuRrmfIKREtJ9C8r1Vmgh380D-rA4ASkxjTUDxKO/w512-h640/MX2A3914.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sparrowhawk, Flamborough, 22/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Yes our latest Summer is way past its zenith, its embers morphing into early Autumn, wild flowers everywhere are enjoying their last flourishes and putting on a late show. <b>Evening Primrose</b>, one of my favourite flowers to photograph, are classic late bloomers and they find the scrubby ground at <b><a href="http://northcavewetlands.com/" target="_blank">North Cave </a></b>much to their liking .....<div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVsQy5AwdzrprltsBJo2SP9fyLBUU9f2f48WNbK5NLqWr9UTvIeQOskEJG5lEp_cd7zhvTr5JplBeHyG3J0UNtgjtjopqWJv1NWB0JIJEVk-2e6PKqQO8dx-2fmvTieO6fMFBkCV7XuZYbwuuTfsdzPnrI6wys4y26qS4Q2U-6bvxvYlhNzwU1BP3KoRj/s3255/20230808_174316(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3255" data-original-width="1908" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVsQy5AwdzrprltsBJo2SP9fyLBUU9f2f48WNbK5NLqWr9UTvIeQOskEJG5lEp_cd7zhvTr5JplBeHyG3J0UNtgjtjopqWJv1NWB0JIJEVk-2e6PKqQO8dx-2fmvTieO6fMFBkCV7XuZYbwuuTfsdzPnrI6wys4y26qS4Q2U-6bvxvYlhNzwU1BP3KoRj/w376-h640/20230808_174316(1).jpg" width="376" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Evening Primrose, North Cave Wetlands, 08/08/2023<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWL7boKXSmJJS_tc2igyBnoXSScDJHcqHso3ipkbgPL0ebFKj0GnLu59QtESEMKcb_EQMJ41olNERKZgQKv5tDxVGjgkd-c0ff2hR5GLMMndk5zS2UMCl2OAoVHE1ae06pP3GTlFJuAWd9AQO7H6sLwGSsEDxFQ-xNr6EYZpwt8PhpPTOO47gwpG2X7v0/s4032/20230808_174405.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1908" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWL7boKXSmJJS_tc2igyBnoXSScDJHcqHso3ipkbgPL0ebFKj0GnLu59QtESEMKcb_EQMJ41olNERKZgQKv5tDxVGjgkd-c0ff2hR5GLMMndk5zS2UMCl2OAoVHE1ae06pP3GTlFJuAWd9AQO7H6sLwGSsEDxFQ-xNr6EYZpwt8PhpPTOO47gwpG2X7v0/w302-h640/20230808_174405.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Evening Primrose, North Cave Wetlands, 08/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>The <b>Pocklington Canal </b>is locally famed for for its botanical riches - here's a few along with a selection of other late bloomers.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFBkMSu2ZHGlfSlUfAOYI8oRqLDOeufSw-4M-KrD1IAWWyi4rP9OMsnP-j9Ju3d34fOaIKIzmagH-x2FR8kRa-dsHwCd13SDa8DUZXByjhuP2TbqEHAc2nik-_SHSJ8vg2obS0Tl1ay2l2P3pBWABLtxJzlQydB_YGLTrawHTn7quEoUioOv1rPcrB2dS/s3648/MX2A3675.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFBkMSu2ZHGlfSlUfAOYI8oRqLDOeufSw-4M-KrD1IAWWyi4rP9OMsnP-j9Ju3d34fOaIKIzmagH-x2FR8kRa-dsHwCd13SDa8DUZXByjhuP2TbqEHAc2nik-_SHSJ8vg2obS0Tl1ay2l2P3pBWABLtxJzlQydB_YGLTrawHTn7quEoUioOv1rPcrB2dS/w640-h640/MX2A3675.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Flowering Rush, Pocklington Canal, 09/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizcwCD0tP7c57p46U4aw988CV7aMlaydfb1PoTcd3ifZKRoESpyEw1Tj8hLNSbxhGEToqT11nKct9fRtH6ajOVbx6NpmpCA-iNMEqkuq5koPJXYY1UkuMu_CnfUbNOyvF6ehDj0YyWQZRt7aAH0IiTCeQkxgIqui_fG8jhhPPYDjkQv5IRdqGxRbnGvZ6/s2788/20230809_150154.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2788" data-original-width="1908" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizcwCD0tP7c57p46U4aw988CV7aMlaydfb1PoTcd3ifZKRoESpyEw1Tj8hLNSbxhGEToqT11nKct9fRtH6ajOVbx6NpmpCA-iNMEqkuq5koPJXYY1UkuMu_CnfUbNOyvF6ehDj0YyWQZRt7aAH0IiTCeQkxgIqui_fG8jhhPPYDjkQv5IRdqGxRbnGvZ6/w438-h640/20230809_150154.jpg" width="438" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Marsh Woundwort, Pocklington Canal, 09/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtAjHztEz8Bt121A2-DcG9fpIMnmMDsn8UOuuW7U_z6_mqkPIlc5k2-JzeNhXnRdBba9wi_upq2zgTKvbOuFFeW6MipPagqAFP7vdM4B3bnk12U7qQwaqs2SWWr1ZNtHzpJ6vKbxxXs3N-wrhwJke85UPNObDEDdb5MKFKFvl_LgzhiSk_MC0mnHPjkT0/s3083/20230809_160245.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3083" data-original-width="1908" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtAjHztEz8Bt121A2-DcG9fpIMnmMDsn8UOuuW7U_z6_mqkPIlc5k2-JzeNhXnRdBba9wi_upq2zgTKvbOuFFeW6MipPagqAFP7vdM4B3bnk12U7qQwaqs2SWWr1ZNtHzpJ6vKbxxXs3N-wrhwJke85UPNObDEDdb5MKFKFvl_LgzhiSk_MC0mnHPjkT0/w396-h640/20230809_160245.jpg" width="396" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sneezewort, Pocklington Canal, 09/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHtEe3I9VdxXRzD8Dv3eewqjrz8fFZqZVlhJKbISZA8GWWHtK7OH3eecs1aNwc5c_fFNBqB7SvISLMRuRBqnL2uhl2fuKu7IY9-ZO4cX5Vk2DsbFFimWrzzNNLSbw8j6EFfmObHukLwzre8886sP5YHFTXBvhpQMCXGlRvZxfiMVH6ATWWiRboH0zVTQH/s4032/20230821_161842.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1908" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHtEe3I9VdxXRzD8Dv3eewqjrz8fFZqZVlhJKbISZA8GWWHtK7OH3eecs1aNwc5c_fFNBqB7SvISLMRuRBqnL2uhl2fuKu7IY9-ZO4cX5Vk2DsbFFimWrzzNNLSbw8j6EFfmObHukLwzre8886sP5YHFTXBvhpQMCXGlRvZxfiMVH6ATWWiRboH0zVTQH/w302-h640/20230821_161842.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Yarrow, North Cave Wetlands, 21/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPtv5YdMJ92L36C8gv3uQeF5R8Np70Akka2Q04_Q7cZ8lFP2VsRq_l3DsKu17uUG5qAoiItbl6PLZmnsNmu76jKV-3y5j1_yg8USxWZyfqsZvJRqDXz8t-kfw4QrKb0c3wxmUOSgF3zeIcQ2WtCo2ckUubDk7ljK8U-RnoA-uY8_Oh6izmNAWZ2BsMo3C/s4032/20230824_151535.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1908" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPtv5YdMJ92L36C8gv3uQeF5R8Np70Akka2Q04_Q7cZ8lFP2VsRq_l3DsKu17uUG5qAoiItbl6PLZmnsNmu76jKV-3y5j1_yg8USxWZyfqsZvJRqDXz8t-kfw4QrKb0c3wxmUOSgF3zeIcQ2WtCo2ckUubDk7ljK8U-RnoA-uY8_Oh6izmNAWZ2BsMo3C/w302-h640/20230824_151535.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tansy, Tophill Low, 24/08/2023<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsfRvqaLrBI9JsSoom18SsrBkZxaF8Ccw44Nu8QfpGHMvsGlyNwIPKDl2FBlR0mVKWF76Bvv_GDXiUKNteptstBGFAexXvVCY6mDZ7XNkzLahe3FbKMCjJD-ezO2sd_y-p_67eWQKZKGc07rK14IYEahywMbcbTNVulWPDDLFMQZ3hgCFtgi-yl78Z2wA/s4032/20230824_152344.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="4032" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsfRvqaLrBI9JsSoom18SsrBkZxaF8Ccw44Nu8QfpGHMvsGlyNwIPKDl2FBlR0mVKWF76Bvv_GDXiUKNteptstBGFAexXvVCY6mDZ7XNkzLahe3FbKMCjJD-ezO2sd_y-p_67eWQKZKGc07rK14IYEahywMbcbTNVulWPDDLFMQZ3hgCFtgi-yl78Z2wA/w640-h302/20230824_152344.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>St John's Wort, Tophill Low, 24/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV92eM5WSTZ7EwXEr1xFlWNt-I6kryI41ipMBWbJwFkb-p80X-krwa7hPIixJU3vhol8v2ehFQAoDacF9M996rKwkPoRAPB1FtQcTQ0JEWJEZ1_Xcs1VoMffu_6kY7Kkt9Ld2teqCSXt7F_bTHnHG8lqQkack4eYu1_uLaIG4LGHwhQm-NhOOWajWV40ZA/s4032/20230823_172705.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1908" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV92eM5WSTZ7EwXEr1xFlWNt-I6kryI41ipMBWbJwFkb-p80X-krwa7hPIixJU3vhol8v2ehFQAoDacF9M996rKwkPoRAPB1FtQcTQ0JEWJEZ1_Xcs1VoMffu_6kY7Kkt9Ld2teqCSXt7F_bTHnHG8lqQkack4eYu1_uLaIG4LGHwhQm-NhOOWajWV40ZA/w302-h640/20230823_172705.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Marsh Gentians, Strensall Common, 23/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>..... and a few, like these <b>Marsh Gentians</b> on <b><a href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/strensall-common-nature-reserve" target="_blank">Strensall Common</a></b>, leave it super late, in fact these are still to open fully, and when they do I'll get a better camera on them - I've got a bit lazy with my smartphone, its more convenient of course, occasionally performs admirably, but is no match for the SLR.</div><div><br /></div><div>We're super lucky to have these delightful little specimens up here. Increasingly rare in the North of England they are more usually associated with the New Forest, where they grow in relative abundance, and the heaths of Sussex and Dorset. Tricky to find on <a href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/strensall-common-nature-reserve" target="_blank"><b>Strensall</b> </a>unless you know where to look, they're only tiny and nestle in amongst the heather on some of the more inaccessible parts of the Common. </div><div><br /></div><div>My exhaustive tramping on <a href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/strensall-common-nature-reserve" target="_blank">Strensall</a> also produced a couple of good birds - a juv <b>Whinchat</b> and a <b>Spotted Flycatcher</b> alongside a single <b>Yellow Wagtail, Green Woodpecker, Whitethroat,</b> plenty of southward drifting <b>Barn Swallow</b>s and nice looking male <b>Linnet </b>still in its breeding plumage.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGG6apnTm8LclgX2IFZIQYhcZDUIJaTRqDfe7I2kk95iZK1cL8fsLp_Xux7g6WJWvqENvXmcdqOKjZzG-GIOzeeebwgm9VTAtqiq4SCn0o0AijFvjQH2OrlXu-APYYhngoh4K9WnMenODxefQJ3IhqzVeyJLDPfo-5E2F7WLa8gOesR-qmpvoLoV4AALEo/s2291/MX2A3963.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1527" data-original-width="2291" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGG6apnTm8LclgX2IFZIQYhcZDUIJaTRqDfe7I2kk95iZK1cL8fsLp_Xux7g6WJWvqENvXmcdqOKjZzG-GIOzeeebwgm9VTAtqiq4SCn0o0AijFvjQH2OrlXu-APYYhngoh4K9WnMenODxefQJ3IhqzVeyJLDPfo-5E2F7WLa8gOesR-qmpvoLoV4AALEo/w640-h426/MX2A3963.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Linnet, Strensall Common, 23/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMdxgMlPVXstQt1Im7Z9fwnSRS5kv5PnVeYnZdTSlP_h_dT81lWJqxiK_gmGFf8trDjUGdr8FO0xzcsF0tuvJIKul0p-sTxR3tjBX8VZOEqJ_4fg5WKarRa55FLA2NjMF1SVtzduVlcz-0oX7osT6SX9bivZKxHFZEWrguFkaqdl8kx2kwpOsktti-e4N/s2237/MX2A4006.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1491" data-original-width="2237" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMdxgMlPVXstQt1Im7Z9fwnSRS5kv5PnVeYnZdTSlP_h_dT81lWJqxiK_gmGFf8trDjUGdr8FO0xzcsF0tuvJIKul0p-sTxR3tjBX8VZOEqJ_4fg5WKarRa55FLA2NjMF1SVtzduVlcz-0oX7osT6SX9bivZKxHFZEWrguFkaqdl8kx2kwpOsktti-e4N/w640-h426/MX2A4006.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Whinchat (juv), Strensall Common, 23/08/2023<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I waded in with wading birds at the beginning of the month and I'll wade out to them too. A visit to <b><a href="https://www.yorkshirewater.com/things-to-do/reservoirs/tophill-low-nature-reserve/" target="_blank">Tophill Low</a>,</b> a Yorkshire Water nature reserve nr Beverley, was primarily to see 2 <b>Blue Winged Teal</b> that had found their way there - rare ducks, new to me and duly ticked off but nothing to look at since they were both fast asleep! Got a record pic but honestly it's not worth gracing this page - no doubt there'll be decent pics from others on Twitter or the Tophill blog. However I did manage a half decent <b>Wood Sandpiper</b>, one of 3 that were present along with several <b>Green Sandpipers.</b></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqW2NHxiB92hALy54Gb-dmaaTaU5jFrZVwNhn_MtJThaaEi4XfRNNxbLoR1VaWGTf2LY9HJY8KPTv0OKzlVq95CiM8JHGV3qQqlFQR6FU3mafsjpyCLdGp0F85QS2facXfc73Q0CZqcV0Gouz--xRkB7SkWR2rPN5k32SMFnIEQs94vffd80WWVXyV4UO/s1440/MX2A4015.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqW2NHxiB92hALy54Gb-dmaaTaU5jFrZVwNhn_MtJThaaEi4XfRNNxbLoR1VaWGTf2LY9HJY8KPTv0OKzlVq95CiM8JHGV3qQqlFQR6FU3mafsjpyCLdGp0F85QS2facXfc73Q0CZqcV0Gouz--xRkB7SkWR2rPN5k32SMFnIEQs94vffd80WWVXyV4UO/w640-h426/MX2A4015.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wood Sandpiper, Tophill Low, 24/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Wood Sandpipers</b> certainly don't winter in the UK, that one will be Africa bound, <b>Turnstones</b> do though - a common sight around our coasts in the winter months, but rarely do they look like this one, still in its resplendent chestnut breeding plumage - probably bred in Siberia, will soon shed its colour like the one next to it and maybe hang out on the Humber until next year. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOveB6fKV7j3u6ytC9goma90o_5JZ0qDey9ZQOmMVEYgPORqgX1MOZesNrTU6JPh_Pp7-2D5irSNenp-KrziLUupLmJF7cMVkq89pzsnM5kOPh6EynM4jG1OzuIXSlwt7rz46HnG4gqLSjfMEgQBG6QLzGR5v09UR2SjHI_QsCDD3zZVM_0HjaqlzjC27/s1818/MX2A3931.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="1818" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOveB6fKV7j3u6ytC9goma90o_5JZ0qDey9ZQOmMVEYgPORqgX1MOZesNrTU6JPh_Pp7-2D5irSNenp-KrziLUupLmJF7cMVkq89pzsnM5kOPh6EynM4jG1OzuIXSlwt7rz46HnG4gqLSjfMEgQBG6QLzGR5v09UR2SjHI_QsCDD3zZVM_0HjaqlzjC27/w640-h426/MX2A3931.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Turnstone, South Landing, Flamborough, 22/08/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /> <br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-54837792134400959862023-05-22T19:32:00.003+01:002023-05-22T19:32:41.670+01:00Short break to Hungary - Budapest and Hortobagyi<p> The opportunity to spend some extended quality time with my son, a budding birdwatcher himself, presented itself around the turn of the year only to be thwarted by an unwelcome hospital investigation. Much ado about nothing in the end (my end that is😂), so we rearranged and booked a short break in <b>Hungary</b>. </p><p>Why Hungary? Well we both wanted eastern Europe, I've always wanted to see <b>Budapest,</b> and it was just a good destination with birding opportunities that fitted our limited time frame of 5 days. Cheap flights, accommodation and car hire helped too of course!</p><p>We had 1 night and most of the next day in <b>Budapest</b>, and I was mightily impressed by the city. It's actually a city of 2 distinct halves - <b>Buda</b>, the older, hillier side and across the mighty Danube, <b>Pest -</b> the bustling modern half. </p><p>Our hotel was just on the Pest side of the <b>Margit Bridge </b>and we walked across into Buda for a couple of beers and the next day a good tramp around the old city - we ended up walking just shy of 10 miles! Great vibe about the place, magnificent architecture, little traffic and really peaceful up in the castle district which is packed full of historic buildings.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqY9CQfitCVLzDQu0xCIOHrOnZdmwTNy0B_RJGVf4OJzeEYNSZRw5YyCfKGKfFo1lUqMK9eQ9SzVv1wZx4RMsHmLFkHgd2ZxbRi3qTjMWX5LjZvKD0PGV62ZgYd1fC3XDJkuLlNy_7L5vR-gRQsK1XepBd33bCB8swhrwZg-k7nT6d88ksOcAANWSrgg/s3848/20230326_1116452.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2565" data-original-width="3848" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqY9CQfitCVLzDQu0xCIOHrOnZdmwTNy0B_RJGVf4OJzeEYNSZRw5YyCfKGKfFo1lUqMK9eQ9SzVv1wZx4RMsHmLFkHgd2ZxbRi3qTjMWX5LjZvKD0PGV62ZgYd1fC3XDJkuLlNy_7L5vR-gRQsK1XepBd33bCB8swhrwZg-k7nT6d88ksOcAANWSrgg/w640-h426/20230326_1116452.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Szechenyi Chain Bridge, Budapest, 26/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBVQ8g1TiWoHNXBGk1MolLJXN3YojxsEHxk5BznODNpXcEEI5oxyPW-GUA5YGcFQpiPmDq4KsK988j3Mh5shm4qvJN5fC9ax738YDNlKiL6foauMKWJ2wKuzv3ywDnC_I9IbB38z4nvPa8kNowUnPpx0x20THAkdeqFW5F4VjW51jRurUT2uRQZrbhQ/s3530/20230326_1122352.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3530" data-original-width="2824" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBVQ8g1TiWoHNXBGk1MolLJXN3YojxsEHxk5BznODNpXcEEI5oxyPW-GUA5YGcFQpiPmDq4KsK988j3Mh5shm4qvJN5fC9ax738YDNlKiL6foauMKWJ2wKuzv3ywDnC_I9IbB38z4nvPa8kNowUnPpx0x20THAkdeqFW5F4VjW51jRurUT2uRQZrbhQ/w512-h640/20230326_1122352.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Budapest & the Danube, looking North from the Castle district</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The <b>Hungarian parliament</b> building that dominates many of the skyline cityscapes in Hungary is a sight to behold close up but actually not that old (1902), everyone takes a picture of it and why not, but I was more taken with the older buildings and churches in the Castle district, and we were both taken by some of the less obvious old communist style blocks still in evidence.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCqhXkUx8NvzUxg793WQnZdQBuyHip9FQi6fseOmBwZvgfMveo5Nh4zBN8Hr5bkcDpdSV93qSKUjltPRbs0zpQsycH46FH9vf35xnIdmpA1qHKBoQlUGeWKe9XCE7mILOoDK6xRWpTEOjkFUcG-4nltFm4tY7IN0S8QCkuyGQxK8GnzUJeoZppDOwCA/s3945/20230326_104103.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2220" data-original-width="3945" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCqhXkUx8NvzUxg793WQnZdQBuyHip9FQi6fseOmBwZvgfMveo5Nh4zBN8Hr5bkcDpdSV93qSKUjltPRbs0zpQsycH46FH9vf35xnIdmpA1qHKBoQlUGeWKe9XCE7mILOoDK6xRWpTEOjkFUcG-4nltFm4tY7IN0S8QCkuyGQxK8GnzUJeoZppDOwCA/w640-h360/20230326_104103.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hungarian parliament building, Budapest, 26/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEPk6SArMZL_cqcF7rqGfvqB4YJI2Fr7GqS-56_JTO2AJtfc31jpVGchEmtAYyOAaZ-AUM5jqGpldCnEQlBLM2hcrAyDuJMT8FCKPR7uH5rx4b0yD3B-ZWoMBJ18JD3nB3LIb3Q8HMMYnf3BYOVR8inIkj-xUiJ6DLxWETwGpwWKCKokxLxo2CfPtvQ/s4032/20230326_102459.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEPk6SArMZL_cqcF7rqGfvqB4YJI2Fr7GqS-56_JTO2AJtfc31jpVGchEmtAYyOAaZ-AUM5jqGpldCnEQlBLM2hcrAyDuJMT8FCKPR7uH5rx4b0yD3B-ZWoMBJ18JD3nB3LIb3Q8HMMYnf3BYOVR8inIkj-xUiJ6DLxWETwGpwWKCKokxLxo2CfPtvQ/w480-h640/20230326_102459.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Old communist building, Budapest, 26/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEPk6SArMZL_cqcF7rqGfvqB4YJI2Fr7GqS-56_JTO2AJtfc31jpVGchEmtAYyOAaZ-AUM5jqGpldCnEQlBLM2hcrAyDuJMT8FCKPR7uH5rx4b0yD3B-ZWoMBJ18JD3nB3LIb3Q8HMMYnf3BYOVR8inIkj-xUiJ6DLxWETwGpwWKCKokxLxo2CfPtvQ/s4032/20230326_102459.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bvbavArEfSmfNe-TRPOeVh-tD2Lh0gWrYdr_Q03Q5fmxhEYFe0KpfTYVkRrawuZAlIMTBhqNkbLqIZvJLe9owEQgLR_ATlYr7MFUvJ3-ahkQVqP4bKNllGkMOq0aTat6K5tsbxmCr-gBb7yHRrDNEN6dX58CIE97NCB9iIDFlklpBqoQdbfdPppLvg/s4032/20230326_122456.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bvbavArEfSmfNe-TRPOeVh-tD2Lh0gWrYdr_Q03Q5fmxhEYFe0KpfTYVkRrawuZAlIMTBhqNkbLqIZvJLe9owEQgLR_ATlYr7MFUvJ3-ahkQVqP4bKNllGkMOq0aTat6K5tsbxmCr-gBb7yHRrDNEN6dX58CIE97NCB9iIDFlklpBqoQdbfdPppLvg/w640-h480/20230326_122456.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> Matyas Templom, </b><b>Budapest, 26/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmJNwdPwrv-ZLD4w31pFbHUVTfZq_iv7QMh63ocA79UhWnn1KbCthcKVbdje582KDit_btrd88V2PZhMhje65s5ZtrrUc5Du-Y3yAtu90EEqIxZbGA7a-QxQMMiQwU0F591iGS1CPObu-rP9scq_MLSfhnUuKm4AFCvXhGBk4yh9lpY4OEvm9Qm-f7g/s4032/20230326_123338.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmJNwdPwrv-ZLD4w31pFbHUVTfZq_iv7QMh63ocA79UhWnn1KbCthcKVbdje582KDit_btrd88V2PZhMhje65s5ZtrrUc5Du-Y3yAtu90EEqIxZbGA7a-QxQMMiQwU0F591iGS1CPObu-rP9scq_MLSfhnUuKm4AFCvXhGBk4yh9lpY4OEvm9Qm-f7g/w480-h640/20230326_123338.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Magdelene or Buda Tower (13th century), 26/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Yep, great city and with hindsight another day or so to explore would have been good but our plan entailed a taxi back to the airport to pick up a hire car and onward across country to one of Hungary's top birding sites <b>Hortabagyi</b>. We cut it fine after loosing our bearings a bit and the taxi was already waiting back at the hotel but by late afternoon and after the usual car hire scare tactic shenanigans, we were on our way east on the E71 autobahn.</div><div><br /></div><div>Got to our apartment in <b>Hortobagyi </b>village at dusk and were very happy that the host had left us 4 cans of lager in the fridge. Nice one Nandor! </div><div><br /></div><div>The weather gods were against us for most of the next day with constant showers and blustery cold winds, but the morning was ok and we were lucky to have the significant wetland area of <b>Borsosi-to Lake</b> to tramp around within half a kilometer of our apartment. Dreadfully overcast though and spitting with rain on and off. Plenty of birds about though. <b>White Storks</b> were apparent from the off, with several already nesting in the village, 2 <b>House Martins</b>, and 4 <b>Barn Swallows </b>were good omens but the best bird of the morning was a <b>Sea Eagle</b> that drifted over one of the lakes mid morning. Other highlights included close on 30 <b>Marsh Harriers</b>, 20ish <b>Great White Egrets</b>, a flock of about 30 <b>Common Cranes</b> over, 2 <b>Penduline Tits,</b> and plenty of ducks on the lake, the majority of which were <b>Pochard</b>. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCxDbgmXh4zLQwRNQkX7eUCtxCEvhCLenqjJytSttFumyq7AjNKG1Lk199Vh7tYdm4x939RUpAH9_WOhKUXw11gSWc6FT7o2WRL-bq2_g8WEHaNxLUHCDxqMszMGPGIGz58-M1lgNE7t3jOoerb5jD6j4DLJ9Kso3-U7J0VyPYfK7G8ssA_sSqN3VUw/s2804/MX2A2502.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1869" data-original-width="2804" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCxDbgmXh4zLQwRNQkX7eUCtxCEvhCLenqjJytSttFumyq7AjNKG1Lk199Vh7tYdm4x939RUpAH9_WOhKUXw11gSWc6FT7o2WRL-bq2_g8WEHaNxLUHCDxqMszMGPGIGz58-M1lgNE7t3jOoerb5jD6j4DLJ9Kso3-U7J0VyPYfK7G8ssA_sSqN3VUw/w400-h266/MX2A2502.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Snail species, Hortobagyi, 27/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I took a picture of a large snail that was crossing one of the muddy tracks and joked that with the skies so dark it might be the only picture I took all day - I was nearly right!</div><div><br /></div><div>The heavens opened after lunch and a drive around in the rain and a brisk northerly was the only option. We drove east out of the village with flooded fields on both sides - spotted some possible <b>Bean Geese</b> from the car along with 50 plus <b>Ruff</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7mP1o7nBxVOwAoZ0yoA4JG1poMFmTPCCDB--tGmw9KCOffD5Y2tOqm7FDtJCHGiXjMDak_FsIO-lag3HYtDIpUJW98ckbFq6YRYmtehP4jIMzM8Xf0_CXllvgLT7HqqIU7cMrxLDSRW5Yh4pMVC4ACtt3-DmqjU_QLV8lZLoqYyy-0PLKrK2pJ_PIw/s2094/MX2A2511.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1396" data-original-width="2094" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7mP1o7nBxVOwAoZ0yoA4JG1poMFmTPCCDB--tGmw9KCOffD5Y2tOqm7FDtJCHGiXjMDak_FsIO-lag3HYtDIpUJW98ckbFq6YRYmtehP4jIMzM8Xf0_CXllvgLT7HqqIU7cMrxLDSRW5Yh4pMVC4ACtt3-DmqjU_QLV8lZLoqYyy-0PLKrK2pJ_PIw/w640-h426/MX2A2511.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ruff, Hortobagyi, 27/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>2nd best bird of the day was a rubbish view of a red letter bird.We turned off down a likely looking track that in the end ended in a dead end and whilst maneuvering the car around we managed to flush a ringtail <b>Hen Harrier </b>out of the middle of a stubble field. It was gone before I could get the camera out but it was certainly a moment!</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuX7alPr0KJZNI_QBjMmpaTHXdpbefttT0GYeIt2yQy6ZgTbs47x3RAQ38Qd0v37F0PR-ff-n37VtHhoyG60_7o7I-P4T97fsGu7zMFV6HTvPQ8LRFV_2b8Vs2DPr38bdenXGdCnHJLjUhc1lxdp5kQx80h-od7VPZ_nFZ7r2MIL2fcoqb_su0IbnLOA/s3543/halastavi_terkep.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2464" data-original-width="3543" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuX7alPr0KJZNI_QBjMmpaTHXdpbefttT0GYeIt2yQy6ZgTbs47x3RAQ38Qd0v37F0PR-ff-n37VtHhoyG60_7o7I-P4T97fsGu7zMFV6HTvPQ8LRFV_2b8Vs2DPr38bdenXGdCnHJLjUhc1lxdp5kQx80h-od7VPZ_nFZ7r2MIL2fcoqb_su0IbnLOA/w400-h279/halastavi_terkep.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Halasto map</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Next day under much brighter skies we headed a few kilometers down the road to <b>Halasto</b>, birding central for Hortobagyi and had a good 3 hours before the skies darkened yet again. Halasto is a big nature reserve (over 2,000 hecatres) so we only scratched the surface but we got some good birds and the reserve itself is a mightily impressive wetland area with some massive lakes.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz76GSvD-SwZyzZXQGFG1uRfH3EQmBg0stvrMWq21MMjQX6JQI0I918M9_CXW7I8MzJvcjC02arNAcv_LU9glsTjcI2W0QJL-J1oC_Mf5ntS4pM6zPyZ1yb7RUc-s9SRseTreqykVGsFyWXGw66xDaTbNurAx5Tezlx2YFm0CwA6SzGJ-R0lQ6f3zQHw/s3891/20230328_101018_edited.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2837" data-original-width="3891" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz76GSvD-SwZyzZXQGFG1uRfH3EQmBg0stvrMWq21MMjQX6JQI0I918M9_CXW7I8MzJvcjC02arNAcv_LU9glsTjcI2W0QJL-J1oC_Mf5ntS4pM6zPyZ1yb7RUc-s9SRseTreqykVGsFyWXGw66xDaTbNurAx5Tezlx2YFm0CwA6SzGJ-R0lQ6f3zQHw/w640-h466/20230328_101018_edited.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Halasto, Hortabagyi, 28/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsb7RZgR-LXFcdQ9Pvdg2TWCpZ_I_qBQQlsfM9Gt29s31_EYKmurBLCAHepi6t6vmrrhlwQXc7WoZ5dJiWFK72AQzWe1vc8uTwuP1V2T4Me2WltM7L1HtvHyIuo3_-IvUw_aAdm1-lKwfsnaY640dQcuF_rR07SbjrE3qQAS-T-i5Fo8d3275uvUtbw/s4649/IMG_3841.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3099" data-original-width="4649" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsb7RZgR-LXFcdQ9Pvdg2TWCpZ_I_qBQQlsfM9Gt29s31_EYKmurBLCAHepi6t6vmrrhlwQXc7WoZ5dJiWFK72AQzWe1vc8uTwuP1V2T4Me2WltM7L1HtvHyIuo3_-IvUw_aAdm1-lKwfsnaY640dQcuF_rR07SbjrE3qQAS-T-i5Fo8d3275uvUtbw/w640-h426/IMG_3841.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Halasto, Hortabagyi, 28/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEoZF3z7xH5wInhjKzCD-EjXxcBfo5KdDi0xnGgKOqJ7w38O1m8euNPfzbqdQmzqAJXN5uPfDlxtiwz7gBXs-vh5stFTj-qmb5IqUbKJ_wSk0kSeyySWaHOo4H9R3SQf2683fE4pmpwNLU14H0I2fR7j00RFho7H98zvS-OXD5S5V_ez4bofv1zNIhg/s4029/IMG_3843.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2686" data-original-width="4029" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEoZF3z7xH5wInhjKzCD-EjXxcBfo5KdDi0xnGgKOqJ7w38O1m8euNPfzbqdQmzqAJXN5uPfDlxtiwz7gBXs-vh5stFTj-qmb5IqUbKJ_wSk0kSeyySWaHOo4H9R3SQf2683fE4pmpwNLU14H0I2fR7j00RFho7H98zvS-OXD5S5V_ez4bofv1zNIhg/w640-h426/IMG_3843.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Halasto, Hortabagyi, 28/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The place was thronging with wildlife with some fantastic wetland birds on show, many more duck / geese species - <b>Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal</b>, a splendid group of 6 migrating <b>Garganey</b> and two big flocks of <b>White-fronted Geese</b>.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfIn3f_nV8l_pfBfMklT7_onLZcLWJ04eQFGGjab03vOMo0KMerYI203OTW39W4YP-2s0dHeTseTKSMGcNc9_1IaPtdx1XhSE3SxMQL1I7-GBgNB8r6iA9lzVc22uBmVC__-IDoVENFhfviBeffLWNzk-Kg0qA1kbPQsUFDFes61lmMs0RkXejblHIg/s4706/MX2A2582.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2647" data-original-width="4706" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfIn3f_nV8l_pfBfMklT7_onLZcLWJ04eQFGGjab03vOMo0KMerYI203OTW39W4YP-2s0dHeTseTKSMGcNc9_1IaPtdx1XhSE3SxMQL1I7-GBgNB8r6iA9lzVc22uBmVC__-IDoVENFhfviBeffLWNzk-Kg0qA1kbPQsUFDFes61lmMs0RkXejblHIg/w640-h360/MX2A2582.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>White-fronted Geese, Halasto, 28/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The numerous <b>Great White Egrets </b>and <b>Grey Herons</b> were joined by smaller wading birds, mainly <b>Ruff </b>but also <b>Black Tailed Godwit</b>, <b>Curlew</b> and <b>Lapwing</b>. All too distant for pics but did grab a passing <b>Pygmy Cormorant </b>- not the sexiest of birds for sure but before I saw one fly down the Danube a couple of days ago, a bird that was embarrassingly absent from my Europe list!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wGneIvsY0oe3bFO87MclFp-OXRx6VoS6FzBaNuy5RkNKUJoGs24Wt06U5scXI1jGBlSUC9WCPxlKkVJplOk3oMYKyjtvaeEGn0uhHVJs01BOWXICb1jnGZF5QoK08XAFSxQFnryZGMAiGMgjcynpYxBcU5DIhjs25_x2NlJ-R_TeiOHma54UwVRxOQ/s1659/MX2A2543.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="1659" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wGneIvsY0oe3bFO87MclFp-OXRx6VoS6FzBaNuy5RkNKUJoGs24Wt06U5scXI1jGBlSUC9WCPxlKkVJplOk3oMYKyjtvaeEGn0uhHVJs01BOWXICb1jnGZF5QoK08XAFSxQFnryZGMAiGMgjcynpYxBcU5DIhjs25_x2NlJ-R_TeiOHma54UwVRxOQ/w640-h426/MX2A2543.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pygmy Cormorant, </b><b>Halasto, 28/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVK0o_JWAUikOgeMRIc_EB8isoHKFVbFEpRwpzyOJzrcRR6veXrAnby3E0oEODuPoTlod6_xRPXQXO32rbWsPIX_mrCV19E91jdnurYVfE_3-jiPzUs7F4kM3ODDfco_KeGR-D3mEVx7gItnEbN-BV1u2fASkXTN9db1RUlrSrVmZ4EbLxMyhyFzgzAw/s1070/MX2A2640.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="1070" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVK0o_JWAUikOgeMRIc_EB8isoHKFVbFEpRwpzyOJzrcRR6veXrAnby3E0oEODuPoTlod6_xRPXQXO32rbWsPIX_mrCV19E91jdnurYVfE_3-jiPzUs7F4kM3ODDfco_KeGR-D3mEVx7gItnEbN-BV1u2fASkXTN9db1RUlrSrVmZ4EbLxMyhyFzgzAw/w400-h266/MX2A2640.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lesser Spotted Eagle, </b><b>Halasto, 28/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Standing on one of the raised platforms with a splendid view of the reserve we had a bit of birding purple patch. Whilst trying to grab a picture of a newly arrived <b>Sedge Warbler</b> a pair of <b>Penduline Tits</b> came into the frame to be joined a moment later by a nice looking male <b>Bearded Tit</b>. And then we spotted 2 big raptors in the distance, definitely an eagles, and they were heading our way. One of them only flew right over our heads! Too early for <b>Greater Spotted Eagle </b>according to one of the rangers we spoke to later, so <b>Lesser Spotted</b>, another Europe tick for me. Get in! 😎</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvVlk9e_aQNROFRVGN-Vm-ifpdAchMITNIq9ZnWSbVtes-PR0iu56-jQAOqzoahhUuttA_zAvLqx0llh5SeHtKnS7Ov1WBnYFIkLdjV08ZNrDnneTXbxEs-DfWAlC2L5Pz_Lqkl84RaoKe7VtIGTBBs7-XqeqcojCXkCylnXtlHHjMrKvUOqZTxtk_g/s2065/MX2A2668.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1377" data-original-width="2065" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvVlk9e_aQNROFRVGN-Vm-ifpdAchMITNIq9ZnWSbVtes-PR0iu56-jQAOqzoahhUuttA_zAvLqx0llh5SeHtKnS7Ov1WBnYFIkLdjV08ZNrDnneTXbxEs-DfWAlC2L5Pz_Lqkl84RaoKe7VtIGTBBs7-XqeqcojCXkCylnXtlHHjMrKvUOqZTxtk_g/w640-h426/MX2A2668.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lesser Spotted Eagle, </b><b>Halasto, 28/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhVmnDuRupX8yE-ycdF8hCWMWRoiC4o9P_BreZqO4LtPYMxk0p_mCHDypoLGAreKLmnw4IxruxFkOohva2OWQFuCvNZbv2M2C08STWM4zZYBwKYTus8cHsW5EK6LsFzFrmy3FgXLNIbTHjF95uBpEdSDUYbDKM3WKhD3lsM0-Xdm5yhJkevmTeUnH2A/s1629/MX2A2595.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="1629" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhVmnDuRupX8yE-ycdF8hCWMWRoiC4o9P_BreZqO4LtPYMxk0p_mCHDypoLGAreKLmnw4IxruxFkOohva2OWQFuCvNZbv2M2C08STWM4zZYBwKYTus8cHsW5EK6LsFzFrmy3FgXLNIbTHjF95uBpEdSDUYbDKM3WKhD3lsM0-Xdm5yhJkevmTeUnH2A/w640-h426/MX2A2595.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bearded Tit, </b><b>Halasto, 28/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ftJiNx7Io1E-gBK8ClpPNCBkaDDGFStpyAiJRQ90LYZ0GAkgzAldnGvUbFHRCCdxOF4okOOEc-gz2B3Ql7qvhp3KjUXyA_i6y_TTCWOEP3lq5w9_MitDG38197ifjfkjNeKhvkCvfAlUK1SScelWHIzIbR_RrvMpOYP1_c_5Cqbij9ydDovZSXV4nw/s2217/MX2A2606.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1478" data-original-width="2217" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ftJiNx7Io1E-gBK8ClpPNCBkaDDGFStpyAiJRQ90LYZ0GAkgzAldnGvUbFHRCCdxOF4okOOEc-gz2B3Ql7qvhp3KjUXyA_i6y_TTCWOEP3lq5w9_MitDG38197ifjfkjNeKhvkCvfAlUK1SScelWHIzIbR_RrvMpOYP1_c_5Cqbij9ydDovZSXV4nw/w640-h426/MX2A2606.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Penduline Tit, </b><b>Halasto, 28/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwa0CncSRQ6fmVCEeNpYPQEv5y6ayZO60kB5XEjhDAdlrONtairMuxq8awh2bw1K0rbTrVnpEuBdhG3xlNXiEErG37xFz0kTmyUUvKRAfZ_tz4ua2k2URA0YE_ElIVU8v08qqpE4F_kkAdEe9qIGNXa3Z-Snn33tVMkQqWs3gu5OuZOP3YjYNP_Es6A/s2847/MX2A2619.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2847" data-original-width="2277" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwa0CncSRQ6fmVCEeNpYPQEv5y6ayZO60kB5XEjhDAdlrONtairMuxq8awh2bw1K0rbTrVnpEuBdhG3xlNXiEErG37xFz0kTmyUUvKRAfZ_tz4ua2k2URA0YE_ElIVU8v08qqpE4F_kkAdEe9qIGNXa3Z-Snn33tVMkQqWs3gu5OuZOP3YjYNP_Es6A/w320-h400/MX2A2619.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Roe Deer, Halasto, 28/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>Amazingly we saw not another soul all the time we were there, had the place to ourselves and the lack of disturbance of any kind maybe accounted for several close encounters with deer, some of which we could hear crashing and splashing through the reeds. Looked different to me but think they were just <b>Roe Deer</b>. We properly spooked this one!</div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjSbJzZb69ReH0bQ4CAnh0hZfYoKYRTAtzaRy11avKF2dOiN03paGpL4Rm0Wgqk2D4lUL81iJBn_NCnK8IlsIWDI5GP2T4Z5jzisyfqXXFhQgWLQfeA65jpmRKsGqfjsGSQM8Adk1dRYUHt03wqRcnwzqxyEfwrD7AyNEd-RkRv2M4mJt1__ob5YD-A/s5472/MX2A2627.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjSbJzZb69ReH0bQ4CAnh0hZfYoKYRTAtzaRy11avKF2dOiN03paGpL4Rm0Wgqk2D4lUL81iJBn_NCnK8IlsIWDI5GP2T4Z5jzisyfqXXFhQgWLQfeA65jpmRKsGqfjsGSQM8Adk1dRYUHt03wqRcnwzqxyEfwrD7AyNEd-RkRv2M4mJt1__ob5YD-A/w640-h426/MX2A2627.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Roe Deer, Halasto, 28/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Shortly after the <b>Spotted Eagles </b>went over the skies darkened again and with no shelter we had to beat it back to the visitor centre before a heavy snow shower called time on our visit. Another eagle overhead in the gloom turned out to be a lone <b>Sea Eagle</b> and a <b>Bluethroat</b> on the single gauge railway line that runs through the reserve was a fitting end to a fantastic few hours birding.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM112wQRy6UKiwcoB3E6OPe9aY8Dd4YS9fY4qougjq-IrzBcRDRqjO9MEbnJ8LgO1B03czNZYiJ_b6wTPwMzWdnxuXWz9roYdbxybsl4_0eGmXwgrj7-wu7cFEOYqr-zVUQ0vWdf3uE4gyhTKVuVOOVlabY90STDNDfmBCSmiobylXEN_e3Y83HVpzcw/s2151/MX2A2715.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1434" data-original-width="2151" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM112wQRy6UKiwcoB3E6OPe9aY8Dd4YS9fY4qougjq-IrzBcRDRqjO9MEbnJ8LgO1B03czNZYiJ_b6wTPwMzWdnxuXWz9roYdbxybsl4_0eGmXwgrj7-wu7cFEOYqr-zVUQ0vWdf3uE4gyhTKVuVOOVlabY90STDNDfmBCSmiobylXEN_e3Y83HVpzcw/w640-h426/MX2A2715.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sea Eagle, Halasto, 28/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSd4u5aQKj7E6LHVxploOm261zgFb9FK__wRl3SXjq6XMCJnP2TYQC7lQgUX8o16UQxO7WuzaSS61t2dAo8sqeDmBFwbLidCEpaSFNOC6xgAzcnUBvBKee0Qyw7FXrBv3_bbSGO42BsWoZC-Jd38BUv10td546bBotkq6lxZDKIsxCR2JliWB4lcHmKA/s1951/MX2A2699.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1951" data-original-width="1561" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSd4u5aQKj7E6LHVxploOm261zgFb9FK__wRl3SXjq6XMCJnP2TYQC7lQgUX8o16UQxO7WuzaSS61t2dAo8sqeDmBFwbLidCEpaSFNOC6xgAzcnUBvBKee0Qyw7FXrBv3_bbSGO42BsWoZC-Jd38BUv10td546bBotkq6lxZDKIsxCR2JliWB4lcHmKA/w512-h640/MX2A2699.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bluethroat, </b><b>Halasto, 28/03/23</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div>We went to find something to eat, Jack fancied some traditional Hungarian fare but we ended up with chicken and chips at an isolated bar in the middle of nowhere. On the way back I stopped to take a weather pic - its so flat here (all part of the Carpathian Basin) you can see for miles!<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUcGPSPALWNdm_3hMWTEQbUblAzlHk0djl6qUSvZrBD7OTyr2fdQqJaMLA_qiW66qCC3BeLWmhNbQ4D6um3-UECxqALF9OB7VlOW7H6ECl77YsV65UOPUR0leIInIq9Jk4DVvFbvW8iRJM4w_2azmzdsxW2a1amauuM1OekS0C2pRXA1tSO7gmXbG9A/s4424/IMG_3844.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2949" data-original-width="4424" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUcGPSPALWNdm_3hMWTEQbUblAzlHk0djl6qUSvZrBD7OTyr2fdQqJaMLA_qiW66qCC3BeLWmhNbQ4D6um3-UECxqALF9OB7VlOW7H6ECl77YsV65UOPUR0leIInIq9Jk4DVvFbvW8iRJM4w_2azmzdsxW2a1amauuM1OekS0C2pRXA1tSO7gmXbG9A/w640-h426/IMG_3844.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Plains nr Hortabagyi, 28/03/2023</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>The gathering clouds in the above pic were laden with more snow which duly fell a bit later, thick and heavy for an hour or so, and then abating to leave a pleasant evening for a stroll around the edges of the village. <div><br /></div><div>A couple of woodpeckers looked good for <b>Syrian </b>to me but didn't have the camera to hand and they were gone by the time I went back. Several <b>Black Redstarts</b>, a yaffling<b> Green Woodpecker</b> and several flocks of Spoonbill at dusk were the highlights.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_o8d7l5oQ1t2g_S0LraS93XciIIIB8o6hOR-yOLYTL2WOXlRm0tX2-ghAcMcs3TQwYIPJC8NUGQfHqP0kZZJT6ukE0VBHYPImIXeCCYv7BC99v4r-L3Q_yzEQoumvxn9Non5Y1nlor874SuLZoUb40H8o9szFQ2stmxQV4enNlhSKFUwTr4f_Er9qA/s3062/MX2A2734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1514" data-original-width="3062" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_o8d7l5oQ1t2g_S0LraS93XciIIIB8o6hOR-yOLYTL2WOXlRm0tX2-ghAcMcs3TQwYIPJC8NUGQfHqP0kZZJT6ukE0VBHYPImIXeCCYv7BC99v4r-L3Q_yzEQoumvxn9Non5Y1nlor874SuLZoUb40H8o9szFQ2stmxQV4enNlhSKFUwTr4f_Er9qA/w640-h316/MX2A2734.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spoonbills, Hortabagyi village, 28/03/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Next day was set off back to the airport, shame, could have done with at least another couple of days here to explore the rest of this part of the world. On the way back we stopped on the bridge at Lake Tisza. Added <b>Sand Martin</b> and <b>Linnet </b>to the birdlist but not much else there apart from more<b> Marsh Harriers</b> including this smart looking male.</div><div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFovS9djrzoyx_Cdpxyb-bZn9nn029pOTI8jIWzHrLxaF5rPHgl1FQglJVQG5uOs_QNAI5CnuWkJi48zmoUGcGml6SK2Tvmn8-ecNHSyHnLRx74Q75Q21epdXjrqiL2MzdyR9nBnu68b9saVU38Qo2oVmKUibDx_ZcVBYIqOVa5j5sMBgf62M7fxEm5g/s1967/MX2A2740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1311" data-original-width="1967" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFovS9djrzoyx_Cdpxyb-bZn9nn029pOTI8jIWzHrLxaF5rPHgl1FQglJVQG5uOs_QNAI5CnuWkJi48zmoUGcGml6SK2Tvmn8-ecNHSyHnLRx74Q75Q21epdXjrqiL2MzdyR9nBnu68b9saVU38Qo2oVmKUibDx_ZcVBYIqOVa5j5sMBgf62M7fxEm5g/w640-h426/MX2A2740.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Marsh Harrier, Lake Tisza, 29/03/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div>It was a great trip, not even marred by missing the baggage retrieval on the 2nd leg of our return flight from Stanstead to Edinburgh (less said about that the better!), and I'd certainly go back for more -having now seen Budapest I'd probably fly into <b>Debrecan </b>next time though, its much closer to Hortabagyi. Here's a few other pics from the trip - </div></div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffcv9yxlWwqKNuF3fJP0Qv3LzJ59LjUFBTBtx_P--bZM14gXJWhR60laBzstRAS_x0GB3fcm31dGCj_yBdlTO4pxlbY5dWA_WgjawNKVoEgH44pxZ79qzzdcm96iwSmCqoREJYgERYv5U6DUzzljEKBkjONw60jzE3TJDLmj-ka37mBJ-7_QUZ8ysMA/s4608/20230326_100010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffcv9yxlWwqKNuF3fJP0Qv3LzJ59LjUFBTBtx_P--bZM14gXJWhR60laBzstRAS_x0GB3fcm31dGCj_yBdlTO4pxlbY5dWA_WgjawNKVoEgH44pxZ79qzzdcm96iwSmCqoREJYgERYv5U6DUzzljEKBkjONw60jzE3TJDLmj-ka37mBJ-7_QUZ8ysMA/w300-h400/20230326_100010.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Opera House, Budapest, 26/03/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3uGdgnrGMIfEfYLYEvBCj7oZKVl0dI98yLnTDelKEt7X1ypUTfe3Z96wou6nqjM5KTuNYvDAzYEwhR6go9tPVjLY_kBl9dVYfoG8RWbsPEyORl4Qzzyf7A2ZZZpX0vmrAWDTCyLii67hKwzaLYn1yXnWhxJAGgjmU10nv4rUtk_S5bCFR4iJgEv_JQ/s4032/20230326_120029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3uGdgnrGMIfEfYLYEvBCj7oZKVl0dI98yLnTDelKEt7X1ypUTfe3Z96wou6nqjM5KTuNYvDAzYEwhR6go9tPVjLY_kBl9dVYfoG8RWbsPEyORl4Qzzyf7A2ZZZpX0vmrAWDTCyLii67hKwzaLYn1yXnWhxJAGgjmU10nv4rUtk_S5bCFR4iJgEv_JQ/w400-h300/20230326_120029.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Restored historic building (riding school), Budapest, 26/03/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvcXvdGILC1rj9musaWLY-mXxgjp9VqUkazYXY-q_ewBXmWkcsvzVjS6EweGttkE01p0ApNP20-oScf8iVyBBuDp2hW9nP89_oEL3B_VMYvnuJQ5l9_p4KL5_Hk0q0baunA3EZtjvJBn9Ybwfij8Srb2pKTVZ0kyILX2Rvk8Oy7z7RpvB7haaiZrp1A/s3226/20230328_102153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="3226" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvcXvdGILC1rj9musaWLY-mXxgjp9VqUkazYXY-q_ewBXmWkcsvzVjS6EweGttkE01p0ApNP20-oScf8iVyBBuDp2hW9nP89_oEL3B_VMYvnuJQ5l9_p4KL5_Hk0q0baunA3EZtjvJBn9Ybwfij8Srb2pKTVZ0kyILX2Rvk8Oy7z7RpvB7haaiZrp1A/w400-h300/20230328_102153.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hortabagyi, 28/03/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_iOOjaoxRpYlH9pruKddqabwWNJ36kuZbQD6PRqS05snkrwknnx1e8p8Sv1jr49G__z8vNLvjcpzQ9x3R1EFuGYIPAL0P8we8kEat4AOaCwA21_HX2JamzR18iwnvGyj1k14xN2cD5Wj5j6Vz_CqjBpHqp_fEoYaQgXWMjnE5tbcwnf4qcRiRYkwow/s4032/20230328_180003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_iOOjaoxRpYlH9pruKddqabwWNJ36kuZbQD6PRqS05snkrwknnx1e8p8Sv1jr49G__z8vNLvjcpzQ9x3R1EFuGYIPAL0P8we8kEat4AOaCwA21_HX2JamzR18iwnvGyj1k14xN2cD5Wj5j6Vz_CqjBpHqp_fEoYaQgXWMjnE5tbcwnf4qcRiRYkwow/w400-h300/20230328_180003.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hortobagyi village, 28/03/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2kIrwTphTgiCF96tRqfD9IJvgjqD9YVroSB9mIxSQsbBjcjC54kJdSx7N2R0yi5qI1Oc9P0a4q05IV0r8davABZ2fVTzyuJZx4YetDys1_B3N4stt9WFSVqSI8EkMJ0oreugs41goC8b7rpM-5tCCiNcXpthBR-CEYynt2eTtice50RXQrX-iFApNw/s2510/MX2A2584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1673" data-original-width="2510" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2kIrwTphTgiCF96tRqfD9IJvgjqD9YVroSB9mIxSQsbBjcjC54kJdSx7N2R0yi5qI1Oc9P0a4q05IV0r8davABZ2fVTzyuJZx4YetDys1_B3N4stt9WFSVqSI8EkMJ0oreugs41goC8b7rpM-5tCCiNcXpthBR-CEYynt2eTtice50RXQrX-iFApNw/w400-h266/MX2A2584.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Stonechat, Halasto, 28/03/2023</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0Hungary47.162494 19.50330418.852260163821157 -15.652946 75.472727836178848 54.659554tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-55783856175467052342022-07-06T16:43:00.030+01:002022-07-11T13:52:47.899+01:003 days walking in Wensleydale<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5NzZEoJNLITaw88bHIQstLnpcjWdLx0ljDoyzEdoptXiKcAQc7OiwSZJYf_Ja6PoArrwN2FJM2UUqHmqWKgrwtM4gVrSb-RC_pYOgXQvJVJGgd22YsRly7IAtfoBblUCoB95yYCXeu-PgsA6BZFuiC-GJ5Usfv0QNvwXFTo07DXDuN6RXr0BMZ20sQ/s3349/20220628_154333.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2497" data-original-width="3349" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5NzZEoJNLITaw88bHIQstLnpcjWdLx0ljDoyzEdoptXiKcAQc7OiwSZJYf_Ja6PoArrwN2FJM2UUqHmqWKgrwtM4gVrSb-RC_pYOgXQvJVJGgd22YsRly7IAtfoBblUCoB95yYCXeu-PgsA6BZFuiC-GJ5Usfv0QNvwXFTo07DXDuN6RXr0BMZ20sQ/w400-h299/20220628_154333.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ribblehead Viaduct, 28/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table>I dug the tent out last week of June and took myself off to Wensleydale in the <b>Yorkshire Dales</b>, ostensibly to visit a YWT reserve that has been on my 'to visit' list for some time - <a href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/ashes-pasture-nature-reserve" target="_blank"><b>Ashes Pasture</b></a>. Orchid central by all accounts and one of the few places in Yorkshire to spot some of the scarcer species such as <b>Greater Butterfly</b> & <b>Frog Orchid</b>. More in hope than expectation and despite much searching I wasn't too disappointed to see neither, it was just good to spend 3 days exploring some of the wilder, more rugged areas of Wensleydale and I packed in about as much as I could in between the rain showers.<p></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><u><br /></u></p><p><u><br /></u></p><p><u><br /></u></p><p><u><br /></u></p><p><u>Day 1</u></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3aPlnmnutDChjJFrERH2dVjsNE8M0pL_hxQgjXsonrW7E3vozITXgmwwGYWZiTu6rW4KzU_eA98Oi0OirhISmwfwB6hiOzp3fk2zEAIPxO6Sq-rN8Gedl9slBg4wAkhuHV_XPi_-k9-yTP0QxOJLZwDibr8FL3JM1pp5nsIvJU9wfIfspCuqQ3jIJHg/s4032/20220628_162816.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3aPlnmnutDChjJFrERH2dVjsNE8M0pL_hxQgjXsonrW7E3vozITXgmwwGYWZiTu6rW4KzU_eA98Oi0OirhISmwfwB6hiOzp3fk2zEAIPxO6Sq-rN8Gedl9slBg4wAkhuHV_XPi_-k9-yTP0QxOJLZwDibr8FL3JM1pp5nsIvJU9wfIfspCuqQ3jIJHg/w400-h300/20220628_162816.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Spotted Orchid, Ashes Pature, 28/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Arrived at my campsite, <b>Philpin Farm</b>, mid afternoon, pitched the tent and headed straight off to <b>Ashes Patsture</b>. The weather was awful - blustery wind and frequent rain showers, but I made the best I could of it. Searched high and low for scarce orchids but all I saw were masses of <b>Common Spotted. </b>most of which were of the pure white<b> variety </b>and the odd <b>Marsh Orchid</b>. <p></p><p>Plenty of other wild flowers in the lush hay meadows there including <b>Yellow Rattle, Clover</b>, lots of <b>Hawkweed</b> species which I always struggle with but thought were probably S<b>mooth Hawkbit </b>and some impressive stands of <b>Brook Thistle</b>. </p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27MtwK7Aj_DmS5C8U40mhsJCCOLXBbePLbwHS5DOnFKXZ9s13egrgeqSdKledUGrPyPJV7iJ_BCB7-IRmGqSUjzu5eQCserqVglvAP4N7XYG8At8UFr0MaQRw0j70UYJJ0HOdUGQutoZesHMF3unIPVJvsBFY32LQHei_L4ceXWlNXnS3nAK8R8RKWQ/s2968/20220628_163650.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2968" data-original-width="2531" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27MtwK7Aj_DmS5C8U40mhsJCCOLXBbePLbwHS5DOnFKXZ9s13egrgeqSdKledUGrPyPJV7iJ_BCB7-IRmGqSUjzu5eQCserqVglvAP4N7XYG8At8UFr0MaQRw0j70UYJJ0HOdUGQutoZesHMF3unIPVJvsBFY32LQHei_L4ceXWlNXnS3nAK8R8RKWQ/w546-h640/20220628_163650.jpg" width="546" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Brook Thistle, Ashes Pasture, 28/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVBw8JEzfkgW_x1T_KjZQPlPyhH9FKZz7V8VlLOLnBUmS-BJ-8VrWct8uCt6jWnsa-KoJ8mYSEW1Tqm2y4yetmMnELordBD6_OhZNYzmdtJmskoqOAc5v6dhVylT6nHYNDXuPbW5WOJVOd5lTKkrOHq9Y7BS8auxUoKg44I9Rdi1Ua1Igys-m6ihyZg/s3613/20220628_170853.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2856" data-original-width="3613" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVBw8JEzfkgW_x1T_KjZQPlPyhH9FKZz7V8VlLOLnBUmS-BJ-8VrWct8uCt6jWnsa-KoJ8mYSEW1Tqm2y4yetmMnELordBD6_OhZNYzmdtJmskoqOAc5v6dhVylT6nHYNDXuPbW5WOJVOd5lTKkrOHq9Y7BS8auxUoKg44I9Rdi1Ua1Igys-m6ihyZg/w640-h506/20220628_170853.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Smooth Hawkbit</b>, <b>Ashes Pasture, 28/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgZ3_ivPFG-VAd7VyrTZjmFvQaQDmmGj6ZxX9sc_UhA-6pQvJTUXBfXSGVyyt0d8BjcFrohAgiTV_lllUS-IYq0KF33qCQYcwaVJjQpuGEsPiNYeO2GQvdpQeYPyYls4dfXpSQBUi1TjDJpiaea6LlosIuZprJqhWH87Zv4I9JMR1LOns0D5RDjYByg/s2790/20220628_171531.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2790" data-original-width="1868" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgZ3_ivPFG-VAd7VyrTZjmFvQaQDmmGj6ZxX9sc_UhA-6pQvJTUXBfXSGVyyt0d8BjcFrohAgiTV_lllUS-IYq0KF33qCQYcwaVJjQpuGEsPiNYeO2GQvdpQeYPyYls4dfXpSQBUi1TjDJpiaea6LlosIuZprJqhWH87Zv4I9JMR1LOns0D5RDjYByg/w428-h640/20220628_171531.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Spotted Orchid, </b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ashes Pasture, 28/06/2022<br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotMZFERUouzVKdcbURXZiDGpvjAUcNeFzO-M4edLmW4V6vj8dteClPnlNnA5IHyX4G2wpew8jlRwcX4bfWsXucijzu1PF669l8l79jWqMOhiz1ogfA-tyHF9ma-lmXii4CKP3yiHpZtD3AGIRDv2NqypvmBeJnvTEO3LeqxlQIujYLxVN2mxApLBhuw/s1677/MX2A0396.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="1677" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotMZFERUouzVKdcbURXZiDGpvjAUcNeFzO-M4edLmW4V6vj8dteClPnlNnA5IHyX4G2wpew8jlRwcX4bfWsXucijzu1PF669l8l79jWqMOhiz1ogfA-tyHF9ma-lmXii4CKP3yiHpZtD3AGIRDv2NqypvmBeJnvTEO3LeqxlQIujYLxVN2mxApLBhuw/w400-h266/MX2A0396.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Curlew, Ashes Pasture, 28/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Birdwise, very quiet - a few <b>Linnets, Goldfinches</b> and <b>Meadow Pipits</b> in the meadows braving the inclement weather, and reassuring to still see <b>Curlew</b>s and <b>Oystercatchers</b>, traditional Dales breeders, calling and flying overhead. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Later in the day I drove up to <b>Semer Water </b>but although the weather was ok when I set off increasingly cloudy skies and then driving rain cut short any meaningful exploration of the place. Amazingly I had a female Redstart at the car park, best bird of the day!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZzI7pHTRIPpuKTSYT67O-V8J4gSp31aR3eymie8JXq1utSzohrvh0Kgn_auXOY32G8-Eck0xoPFB9ruEvZqCVJuA-RF3u8sulHBPEV74RCImciApajGEYl1cM90-zQXEsNOCdlDYnrbszMU6BURQBnsQP8wE2yrZ94cqtANXGUn9b3_-PPrFeXUW0Q/s4032/20220628_181108.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZzI7pHTRIPpuKTSYT67O-V8J4gSp31aR3eymie8JXq1utSzohrvh0Kgn_auXOY32G8-Eck0xoPFB9ruEvZqCVJuA-RF3u8sulHBPEV74RCImciApajGEYl1cM90-zQXEsNOCdlDYnrbszMU6BURQBnsQP8wE2yrZ94cqtANXGUn9b3_-PPrFeXUW0Q/w640-h480/20220628_181108.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Semer Water, 28/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Day 2</p><p>The only way to properly access the twin Woodland Trust sites of <b>Thornton</b> and <b>Twistleton Glen</b> is to pay up and do the <b><a href="https://www.ingletonwaterfallstrail.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ingleton Waterfalls Trail</a></b>. It's well worth the £8.00 admission fee but be aware if you have dodgy knees the warnings about it being a strenuous walk are totally accurate! 4.5 miles with some challenging up and down paths the trail takes in several waterfalls including breath-taking <b>Thornton Force </b>and <b>Pecca Falls</b>, and plenty of picturesque gorge scenery from start to finish.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkdy85wr7fPAe2NlaB_CbFSUh8qcoFBg9fBXpkeAihmCNnu_gvF9wgGkUJzWWRcQabFgx1K_rGnZGTvofmjfVU6rbVY2STQQjWK89pSYYDNWtAgdbsMY2dfZACHlRTLZDBn9OUj_IGH-2vyhEm8zrmjnbT1A8Lxia1XYatigMzos3rB-vdfvApmWgHQ/s4032/20220629_101731.jpg2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkdy85wr7fPAe2NlaB_CbFSUh8qcoFBg9fBXpkeAihmCNnu_gvF9wgGkUJzWWRcQabFgx1K_rGnZGTvofmjfVU6rbVY2STQQjWK89pSYYDNWtAgdbsMY2dfZACHlRTLZDBn9OUj_IGH-2vyhEm8zrmjnbT1A8Lxia1XYatigMzos3rB-vdfvApmWgHQ/w640-h480/20220629_101731.jpg2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, 29/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VAmrWGeZjHqWk1W52EVqHCOrN0WXHKYVtcLgUAd3ZHoctfXnTzLDRTr5yyNZuObI6yocTDkLdWPidpgxrt_rTBR64tIF5NmVYbPqzope6pQwS8ahkQZx4mhegvT1i41oKOX56MxfUMwWryDY4N_kmLj9ZkM-sVLuhGrfi2xRX0wk9KZe59PgsBzKFg/s4032/20220629_104119.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VAmrWGeZjHqWk1W52EVqHCOrN0WXHKYVtcLgUAd3ZHoctfXnTzLDRTr5yyNZuObI6yocTDkLdWPidpgxrt_rTBR64tIF5NmVYbPqzope6pQwS8ahkQZx4mhegvT1i41oKOX56MxfUMwWryDY4N_kmLj9ZkM-sVLuhGrfi2xRX0wk9KZe59PgsBzKFg/w640-h480/20220629_104119.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pecca Falls, </b><b>Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, 29/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Me_z2PKDwkEthQ8zhhXDITzoK8Ep1uwNGfca8Wcw0yyLrhSBMk-mkxTHgZnX26VjOw8qYrydArX8R-szk6UymE8_TO_LH3T2s7kuwJX_g9ov_vP3bqvfxrrYz_mD6N-8zCZSMflAme0GNgPy0V13dU7G7dToehmj79JOdgJATCzxb1YU1kx_AGHhdg/s3398/20220629_105200.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2296" data-original-width="3398" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Me_z2PKDwkEthQ8zhhXDITzoK8Ep1uwNGfca8Wcw0yyLrhSBMk-mkxTHgZnX26VjOw8qYrydArX8R-szk6UymE8_TO_LH3T2s7kuwJX_g9ov_vP3bqvfxrrYz_mD6N-8zCZSMflAme0GNgPy0V13dU7G7dToehmj79JOdgJATCzxb1YU1kx_AGHhdg/w640-h432/20220629_105200.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Thornton Force, </b><b>Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, 29/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>At the Northern end the trail opens out crossing over the <b>River Twiss, Kingsdale</b> and <b>Twistleton Scars</b> before returning down through <b>Twistleton Glen</b>. A small colony of <b>Sand Martins</b> feeding over the river and a couple of<b> Grey Wagtails</b> were a welcome addition to a rather poor bird species tally, although I did have a single <b>Dipper</b> flying upstream on the way up.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTYIzOILFf5PbSyGMp7KKdP_nzHOviedX-yT2eipGaGTctJMHxJEevfxKm6shHztnGF0NElhctJ9wRBoEEnNcHmf_21IgroOMmhAWUFjaIMZvGRB6de_satfIwBC7Hu4hzZaMbNECCkJj91LiNne0iqC2IPozlq3HcIzoxfsXx4SDw7qA_BQeBC-HVw/s4032/20220629_105727.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTYIzOILFf5PbSyGMp7KKdP_nzHOviedX-yT2eipGaGTctJMHxJEevfxKm6shHztnGF0NElhctJ9wRBoEEnNcHmf_21IgroOMmhAWUFjaIMZvGRB6de_satfIwBC7Hu4hzZaMbNECCkJj91LiNne0iqC2IPozlq3HcIzoxfsXx4SDw7qA_BQeBC-HVw/w640-h480/20220629_105727.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>River Twiss, </b><b>Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, 29/06/2022<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>A bit further on, still on the open ground at the top of the trail I had a family party of <b>Wheatears</b>, a couple of <b>Stonechats</b> and a pair of <b>Peregrine Falcons</b> that were probably nesting in the nearby quarry workings. Some fine views of <b>Ingleborough</b> from up here too, looking brooding and not a little menacing against darkening skies.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOrvFodQ2Tf5n1xlYNtG666zlhNkLsOcHAJFVL3qZHo1xzqRU7xiZeHGDS_uPHxmIMGJLuSWukm7kkNHic6ujvQKiVGH3JYn-kDN6CDPjJPXs5ujmf1sNh2hiqtlPZ2q0_Nj7GW_HjSx5XqOi26C7UNOEHIDV3OG_U7Pr0NYZGR4HNIjMrwtfuBshRw/s3471/20220629_115001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2537" data-original-width="3471" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOrvFodQ2Tf5n1xlYNtG666zlhNkLsOcHAJFVL3qZHo1xzqRU7xiZeHGDS_uPHxmIMGJLuSWukm7kkNHic6ujvQKiVGH3JYn-kDN6CDPjJPXs5ujmf1sNh2hiqtlPZ2q0_Nj7GW_HjSx5XqOi26C7UNOEHIDV3OG_U7Pr0NYZGR4HNIjMrwtfuBshRw/w640-h468/20220629_115001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ingleborough, 29/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBZWlZ_vFky4TW0f94_j8R9xhlBf4rIydSlwZDo0E2a_IzWFLS2YkJd9OPxauZT5fih0-1v6wrBTjXbmHWBUQpgyfRcHt0kS_is-Vd4_9HK7471-XvEGIaxxXclrw--np89cuGkFM1p2gc1B3YTr0Tb8phfktpDmYD7Exz5tbWY9TqVbJf-4UgmIo-A/s1866/MX2A0415.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="1866" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBZWlZ_vFky4TW0f94_j8R9xhlBf4rIydSlwZDo0E2a_IzWFLS2YkJd9OPxauZT5fih0-1v6wrBTjXbmHWBUQpgyfRcHt0kS_is-Vd4_9HK7471-XvEGIaxxXclrw--np89cuGkFM1p2gc1B3YTr0Tb8phfktpDmYD7Exz5tbWY9TqVbJf-4UgmIo-A/w640-h426/MX2A0415.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Stonechat, Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, 29/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fPy0QV91CUTC4ghDB_19rsGZwCFyBc9Za3lk7iaZa1GiyoPIYJSBN88KFMn8arK4G5RvJASGhnNpJcHpiiXRuM3VGE4Gv-k1D20HjVrowtibnVZyDyPx2IjhYnWaxIZ31ekv7NunqTCX7TlSrpVJiroMsfzK7lBCugD6bWGMFFlbxKXx5VkPFvcVqA/s1082/MX2A0431.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="1082" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fPy0QV91CUTC4ghDB_19rsGZwCFyBc9Za3lk7iaZa1GiyoPIYJSBN88KFMn8arK4G5RvJASGhnNpJcHpiiXRuM3VGE4Gv-k1D20HjVrowtibnVZyDyPx2IjhYnWaxIZ31ekv7NunqTCX7TlSrpVJiroMsfzK7lBCugD6bWGMFFlbxKXx5VkPFvcVqA/w640-h426/MX2A0431.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Peregrine, Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, 29/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The route back down was less dramatic, I took an alternative path somehow bypassing <b>Beezley Falls</b> and could only glimpse <b>Snow Falls</b> through the trees, before descending back down the <b>Baxenghyll Gorge</b> alongside the <b>River Doe</b> and finally exiting the trail on the northern edge of Ingleton village. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HLJlUATcPLP-5rouWwVFbhwJQt7aD0AQyb47y4lB3E-RkMqy_LIgeKJ1B7iCfpfnbR85Tm2Cbz6y1LoKKAMt_QeM_H5H9Pe_FAFTRRFpPTw-Rq_hTA0rrVHF2D3GAsfPFDshjUK7TUoAxtNZeVjq4DeDigula5g_WEnEngwcQHZ7Jhl9peLbM_l16Q/s4032/20220629_121321.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HLJlUATcPLP-5rouWwVFbhwJQt7aD0AQyb47y4lB3E-RkMqy_LIgeKJ1B7iCfpfnbR85Tm2Cbz6y1LoKKAMt_QeM_H5H9Pe_FAFTRRFpPTw-Rq_hTA0rrVHF2D3GAsfPFDshjUK7TUoAxtNZeVjq4DeDigula5g_WEnEngwcQHZ7Jhl9peLbM_l16Q/w640-h480/20220629_121321.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>River Doe, Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, 29/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I was pretty tired afterwards but feeling revived after a late lunch I decided to head to the <b>Snaizeholme Red Squirrel Trail </b>at Widdale, just outside Hawes. Just about the only place to see Red Squirrels in Yorkshire I did a post all about the history of their discovery here 40 years ago - <b><a href="https://yorkshireswildlife.co.uk/red-squirrels-in-yorkshire.html" target="_blank">see the post here</a></b>, so I'll not repeat myself, but having written about it I was naturally keen to visit. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The omens didn't look good after spending a full hour at the first viewing area. Plenty of woodland birds about - <b>Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Long Tailed Tits, Great Tits</b> and a nicely perched <b>Spotted Flycatcher </b>in the rain<b> </b>but sadly not a sniff of the sought after 'nutkins'.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdCfo3SLrDiN_4EEfHywXn6GtABXMb2-ZL8pf8DRt80l7h7i0TUKgPnFhMdwDc7HdoSPDSpCaSZH86hjOLWGzsYBULiodGVvJSCC52EC3LZxX6vKaXQlDx6l4ac6vn5-GCWeMqwQP6OqWzHT2ip8GKOBpzCLTwC4RdeqxnjLM2pPEFRd6g4lpMIbgrg/s4032/20220629_150515.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdCfo3SLrDiN_4EEfHywXn6GtABXMb2-ZL8pf8DRt80l7h7i0TUKgPnFhMdwDc7HdoSPDSpCaSZH86hjOLWGzsYBULiodGVvJSCC52EC3LZxX6vKaXQlDx6l4ac6vn5-GCWeMqwQP6OqWzHT2ip8GKOBpzCLTwC4RdeqxnjLM2pPEFRd6g4lpMIbgrg/w640-h480/20220629_150515.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red Squirrel viewing area, Snaizeholme, 29/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44IiBoIgAa4EMet8z36Z_-youBqrWx_f2XcYlDHCGfWqQH8L6Err6FHAOEJt47D59Doow5vTJFAV0l8jg6-uMlDM33vhDk6mAUcQ6Il3gmIFc3SXLHxpaI1SmF8L6ue85--H7usbDNBf9oX1Ddazf5Zg_Jj3HieSnw5HevZomNSsMgdB3qNfLGyJgfA/s2153/MX2A0440.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2153" data-original-width="2153" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44IiBoIgAa4EMet8z36Z_-youBqrWx_f2XcYlDHCGfWqQH8L6Err6FHAOEJt47D59Doow5vTJFAV0l8jg6-uMlDM33vhDk6mAUcQ6Il3gmIFc3SXLHxpaI1SmF8L6ue85--H7usbDNBf9oX1Ddazf5Zg_Jj3HieSnw5HevZomNSsMgdB3qNfLGyJgfA/w640-h640/MX2A0440.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spotted Flycatcher, Snaizeholme, 29/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNvNxz3dAyLfDyVaVkXFwe-aUYYlsJWUeFddalmA5HTxy6_G_eGsKogHCtCNQAG7VK3K2mI8pODy1ja077obsuVVMwKsLnbsre351Mgl2eep3GDZ3ovgC0arDODgDiQgg7JzzDOqE7WVg4pqnKpgNaDtTk44PMOd_kpwaaZPUzolS8QpJEpSgjI8MyA/s3553/MX2A0463.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3553" data-original-width="3553" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNvNxz3dAyLfDyVaVkXFwe-aUYYlsJWUeFddalmA5HTxy6_G_eGsKogHCtCNQAG7VK3K2mI8pODy1ja077obsuVVMwKsLnbsre351Mgl2eep3GDZ3ovgC0arDODgDiQgg7JzzDOqE7WVg4pqnKpgNaDtTk44PMOd_kpwaaZPUzolS8QpJEpSgjI8MyA/w400-h400/MX2A0463.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red Squirrel, Snaizeholme, 29/06/2022<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Almost at the end of the trail, with rain showers threatening to put a complete dampener on proceedings, I stopped in a clearing for a break at what turned out to be another viewing area (but not signed as such) and who should come trotting along a horizontal felled tree trunk not 10 yards from where I was sitting? Could hardly believe my luck!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlA2hHCNYi5iU4Ov0ta4vvvP0DQgaU0uEPEBmmzXiSqV1gCK5ZyULQMhVgRF8v-lwpWlo6fOTG8THsY7kCcMUtH3GG9pvwgcbT1CrqsiqqfzlKQ0rj0c6rPxIv-UD9ANgrH9JU1hPUB-2NwOmFxUv-355usWhjgTuI4cHye0f0pCTsIx0z2Wa1Ppgsg/s3157/MX2A0475.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3157" data-original-width="3157" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlA2hHCNYi5iU4Ov0ta4vvvP0DQgaU0uEPEBmmzXiSqV1gCK5ZyULQMhVgRF8v-lwpWlo6fOTG8THsY7kCcMUtH3GG9pvwgcbT1CrqsiqqfzlKQ0rj0c6rPxIv-UD9ANgrH9JU1hPUB-2NwOmFxUv-355usWhjgTuI4cHye0f0pCTsIx0z2Wa1Ppgsg/w640-h640/MX2A0475.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red Squirrel, Snaizeholme, 29/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjOC8t8yHO28xLDO0YjTx3mr5QtQAVn20VEKf9dNkTTZ1MnhRG7nIiqE-i28-4V1BZuigYtG9bflvmq5RSTAecAU2jDkrlwab1pXYPnRNJVArQYRWqpUWBDsjpq2Ngv9xyqbGByPVWPKrLKihGpChIGwG71b9AmEVaRPo70U2smw4a_DDUBx2n1l6Hg/s3954/MX2A0481.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2636" data-original-width="3954" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjOC8t8yHO28xLDO0YjTx3mr5QtQAVn20VEKf9dNkTTZ1MnhRG7nIiqE-i28-4V1BZuigYtG9bflvmq5RSTAecAU2jDkrlwab1pXYPnRNJVArQYRWqpUWBDsjpq2Ngv9xyqbGByPVWPKrLKihGpChIGwG71b9AmEVaRPo70U2smw4a_DDUBx2n1l6Hg/w640-h426/MX2A0481.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red Squirrel, Snaizeholme, 29/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I've seen them in parks in mainland Europe and a few fleeting glimpses in Northumberland and Scotland but this was my first Yorkshire experience and I'd forgotten just how tame they are. This one was almost at my feet! I tried to get some video footage on my phone but in my excitement I must have pressed the wring buttons and nothing came out - shame, but this little fellah will live long in the memory!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">All the bad weather cleared away late afternoon to leave a beautiful sunny evening so I took a short drive from the camp site to <b>Twistleton Pastures</b> and had a wander around. <b>Curlews</b> and <b>Oystercatchers</b> in the air, a single <b>Whinchat</b> and loads of <b>Wheatears</b>, nearly all of which were juveniles - a bird that's obviously done well up here I had at least 25, maybe more.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCb54EwMsqO5rrnpvbaom2UU9yS6tUgXa7DdTawOsb4yRWtP40pLlVobt49qfp7Asmfl70Rz7dXENeLXWFfpwBbuLmhMGpiH3eHtMSSTGpfNN1pNuox6cE_tdI5GVhheuedoNgScyeXfVjVMHtlOcG5m5bwZgTQD1ercIEDAG4piUXV9hCYtDVDxSwBw/s3297/MX2A0491.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2198" data-original-width="3297" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCb54EwMsqO5rrnpvbaom2UU9yS6tUgXa7DdTawOsb4yRWtP40pLlVobt49qfp7Asmfl70Rz7dXENeLXWFfpwBbuLmhMGpiH3eHtMSSTGpfNN1pNuox6cE_tdI5GVhheuedoNgScyeXfVjVMHtlOcG5m5bwZgTQD1ercIEDAG4piUXV9hCYtDVDxSwBw/w640-h426/MX2A0491.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Northern Wheatear (juv), Twistleton Pastures, 29/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNJ2KaNoqNitILl1JsOYm5ZCArK2hUzLU9pLedEdViLmBd-__GokH1RdSaWxupsCP7u5GzQYsb2EMmsoS8EaGrWBnek86m4vx9qMCC_GrRgo3eLXhEU2JFXZu6khAaridzVTjVvbqYV3YwLMsAajrbvmUPjL3WdP65RtogrkFzaUYkoRTS4G3GDKgfg/s2246/MX2A0505.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1497" data-original-width="2246" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNJ2KaNoqNitILl1JsOYm5ZCArK2hUzLU9pLedEdViLmBd-__GokH1RdSaWxupsCP7u5GzQYsb2EMmsoS8EaGrWBnek86m4vx9qMCC_GrRgo3eLXhEU2JFXZu6khAaridzVTjVvbqYV3YwLMsAajrbvmUPjL3WdP65RtogrkFzaUYkoRTS4G3GDKgfg/w640-h426/MX2A0505.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Northern Wheatear (juv), Twistleton Pastures, 29/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWF2OxwR1K90OV1Y_DslJSwX9-FNpezae6VzGdq1u0fMrwsBugAbigOwXcB4RbmMRGUbUzwZf7O8CqlshlVRh8l__nJjXZnfxBBKdIJDRlbZgMhE8c0K81FziMSud7FLXTkQh6v6dq812R4OndrTtimU-XI_wBCJNWsDDjHEueLz5akY6UWXvr5Gm3Q/s4032/20220629_192021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWF2OxwR1K90OV1Y_DslJSwX9-FNpezae6VzGdq1u0fMrwsBugAbigOwXcB4RbmMRGUbUzwZf7O8CqlshlVRh8l__nJjXZnfxBBKdIJDRlbZgMhE8c0K81FziMSud7FLXTkQh6v6dq812R4OndrTtimU-XI_wBCJNWsDDjHEueLz5akY6UWXvr5Gm3Q/w640-h480/20220629_192021.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>River Doe, Twistelton Patures, 29/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><u>Day 3</u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64Hkzoo2jHGlsDfAjS85mdYFgAoySBJg_WjsfpW6b2ENzcIk_Vlbv1Hw9BmepZvz5T3uXRar5DXfLObZLDJRb1ZKuzgE2FnDndNuKprj_GgdZI3HZKOMw_5rYSUrZfIFvNe9I1jmsPT-z7jFblMm4ZU9bSFv8Z9XMXWpL8H47-z9xRmiErqZwJlYKmg/s3473/20220630_093658.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2451" data-original-width="3473" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64Hkzoo2jHGlsDfAjS85mdYFgAoySBJg_WjsfpW6b2ENzcIk_Vlbv1Hw9BmepZvz5T3uXRar5DXfLObZLDJRb1ZKuzgE2FnDndNuKprj_GgdZI3HZKOMw_5rYSUrZfIFvNe9I1jmsPT-z7jFblMm4ZU9bSFv8Z9XMXWpL8H47-z9xRmiErqZwJlYKmg/w400-h283/20220630_093658.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The lake, Ingleborough Nature Trail, 30/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Last day and nothing too strenuous after yesterday. I did the<b> Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail</b> at Clapham in the morning. Largely man made by the Victorian philanthropist Reginal Farrer and still owned by the Farrer family (<a href="https://www.countryfile.com/go-outdoors/walks/walk-clapham-to-ingleborough-cave-north-yorkshire/" target="_blank">history here if you're interested</a>), it's one of the few areas of decent woodland in this part of the Dales and also the site of popular tourist attractions <b>Ingleborough Cave</b> and <b>Gaping Gill</b>. It was pleasant enough, a gentle ascent through the heavily wooded valley of Clapham Beck up to the cave and back down <b>Thwaite Scars </b>to the village. A couple more <b>Spotted Flycatchers, Blackcap, Willow Warbler </b>and several more <b>Wheatears</b> on the scars. I didn't do the cave, not my thing, besides I had to get back to the campsite to pack up. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZzQ2EG_ImpQYdYQyLNck_J-OA8YsVH2Fv5uU3IjBS8VeDmOvpvR3Z0OyuA9tiBt_3-GaQlqfQa8gbhqW8q4CG1oUiQZ1y7S-QZ6PRQCReinZ6ELG-N1tho-G9QIiZpVUexdXV2ntdsUea4Jg4oDiOvl41qLfgSM3WmLsVoFKDlANrrciBzG5XrsY4Q/s3328/20220630_105954.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2231" data-original-width="3328" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZzQ2EG_ImpQYdYQyLNck_J-OA8YsVH2Fv5uU3IjBS8VeDmOvpvR3Z0OyuA9tiBt_3-GaQlqfQa8gbhqW8q4CG1oUiQZ1y7S-QZ6PRQCReinZ6ELG-N1tho-G9QIiZpVUexdXV2ntdsUea4Jg4oDiOvl41qLfgSM3WmLsVoFKDlANrrciBzG5XrsY4Q/w640-h430/20220630_105954.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The entrance to Ingleborough Cave, nr Clapham, 30/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LhDYSd1bRnWk9UxeoH3IKcrzA9RsT-wpv2qbR7X42wLXx86im0Lkrzl0M864EzYF7NLyn1-lOc8GFxlOpe404eQr3Ns9nQA9Mgjz3PfOqz63Y-ly0kLITVJd8lv2w9WCwEoY1Qj7K7kjg1Ocw2eHQOjYyoka1MywlEQBvltlaos-REFxogZxI2_9uw/s4032/20220630_133033.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LhDYSd1bRnWk9UxeoH3IKcrzA9RsT-wpv2qbR7X42wLXx86im0Lkrzl0M864EzYF7NLyn1-lOc8GFxlOpe404eQr3Ns9nQA9Mgjz3PfOqz63Y-ly0kLITVJd8lv2w9WCwEoY1Qj7K7kjg1Ocw2eHQOjYyoka1MywlEQBvltlaos-REFxogZxI2_9uw/w400-h300/20220630_133033.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Malham Tarn</b> was my intended destination on the way back home but on the way I passed <b><a href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/brae-pasture-nature-reserve" target="_blank">Brae Pasture</a></b>, another YWT reserve I hadn't visited before so it seemed rude not to pop in! Lying in the shadow of <b>Ingleborough</b> its a gently sloping, small reserve but packs a lot into its 8 Hectares with hay meadows, limestone pavement and a small wooded gill. There was a <b>Curlew</b> frantically calling the whole time I was there that no doubt had young chicks somewhere nearby so I didn't dwell, but stayed long enough to see <b>Dark Green Fritillary</b> & <b>Common Blue </b>butterflies in the meadows that were jam packed with wild flowers.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQP-Jzxf5vMSC0EMFAAaEqATpXcZ4_ligLVlojOyxjOKixx3GITWGSPhT2pu_yvbU46a_vr9TUzuitTJSIV9ThHZrnyilbYHClQAuCelxSismnFyEyhoyWeU-2fElRV_kf6IWDeubWDjkWoAlnR2pMojIqqtflUv95zsnm9l7ea3KZoy4ZjsRovT3J0w/s2596/20220630_132132.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2596" data-original-width="2554" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQP-Jzxf5vMSC0EMFAAaEqATpXcZ4_ligLVlojOyxjOKixx3GITWGSPhT2pu_yvbU46a_vr9TUzuitTJSIV9ThHZrnyilbYHClQAuCelxSismnFyEyhoyWeU-2fElRV_kf6IWDeubWDjkWoAlnR2pMojIqqtflUv95zsnm9l7ea3KZoy4ZjsRovT3J0w/w394-h400/20220630_132132.jpg" width="394" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dark Green Fritillary, Brae Pature, 30/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7dLQlNjas4lJVm5QV-lb9HGRIKkGLtw6XgQMuhvrix8f3bqYByfS26ZF3NlHWxuQhxLT13ywvFAeDJJY5et7z3sWhD58RjMIQO3p4xeoOWrhejJshJdauHbJdhWCDF_WD-Avxn50es9-LR3oW2Gt4ZZ_falhtpZs0XlU3iRGIeUXo9yop1FLYQMfhg/s2775/20220630_132953.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2775" data-original-width="2406" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7dLQlNjas4lJVm5QV-lb9HGRIKkGLtw6XgQMuhvrix8f3bqYByfS26ZF3NlHWxuQhxLT13ywvFAeDJJY5et7z3sWhD58RjMIQO3p4xeoOWrhejJshJdauHbJdhWCDF_WD-Avxn50es9-LR3oW2Gt4ZZ_falhtpZs0XlU3iRGIeUXo9yop1FLYQMfhg/w346-h400/20220630_132953.jpg" width="346" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Blue, Brae Pasture, 30/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NNTNyfI8Bs-YZxyaalGlgn1aJjerbC42E8zgvioEJSdvgK1jc82J81B6XZeZsh8rMw9UamiGu0FKNlhj-mSp91ExudZFlM7cKXp7QCkfqBtzbeI0-RKsuLYWWiRVjU8ji1-83eorSjEyMG_9Eb-njMwavQZ2Q5T7TRFI8dp2YQ8hamarUCroueld7Q/s2978/20220630_131813.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2978" data-original-width="1933" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NNTNyfI8Bs-YZxyaalGlgn1aJjerbC42E8zgvioEJSdvgK1jc82J81B6XZeZsh8rMw9UamiGu0FKNlhj-mSp91ExudZFlM7cKXp7QCkfqBtzbeI0-RKsuLYWWiRVjU8ji1-83eorSjEyMG_9Eb-njMwavQZ2Q5T7TRFI8dp2YQ8hamarUCroueld7Q/w260-h400/20220630_131813.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Yellow Rattle, Brae Pasture, 30/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_7FLV1SuaiRJA_Nh1tF-hO6pHHpiIXBz3kku6E2Jce8XlakEAkUOBXK3r30kExvteMydTPZplZqE-KdgVA7XMa0fQ0QFisQEn-xs442NvVRFm6Jp4u8FiM-nBsfvugFUzWmr59o2XL2Lkhhg2PqaH0hFhwzz628DeAYUFpqQ66wX4LIod_MIJLhk2w/s2312/MX2A0532.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1916" data-original-width="2312" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_7FLV1SuaiRJA_Nh1tF-hO6pHHpiIXBz3kku6E2Jce8XlakEAkUOBXK3r30kExvteMydTPZplZqE-KdgVA7XMa0fQ0QFisQEn-xs442NvVRFm6Jp4u8FiM-nBsfvugFUzWmr59o2XL2Lkhhg2PqaH0hFhwzz628DeAYUFpqQ66wX4LIod_MIJLhk2w/w640-h530/MX2A0532.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Curlew, Brae Pasture, 30/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPBKhic8UZA2pNq8DmD3b5ny5QX1HKDVN7UZG78S9M9HJhP84nTW9-9XCau7YouWPDK269c3508glN8TdNsc3v1EKOCUiyH_mKS7zEXdmSVbAgIPGkgDfYczTL6qYsXPAFe3EMWuYvawj5fdSKIjPdwuEdJ7EtL8XXgG71uwKBoFLanttSa-i5GZZxA/s4032/20220630_130258.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPBKhic8UZA2pNq8DmD3b5ny5QX1HKDVN7UZG78S9M9HJhP84nTW9-9XCau7YouWPDK269c3508glN8TdNsc3v1EKOCUiyH_mKS7zEXdmSVbAgIPGkgDfYczTL6qYsXPAFe3EMWuYvawj5fdSKIjPdwuEdJ7EtL8XXgG71uwKBoFLanttSa-i5GZZxA/w640-h480/20220630_130258.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ingleborough from Brae Pasture, 30/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>And so onto <b>Malham Tarn</b>, one of only 8 alkaline lakes in Europe and at an altitude of 377 metres the highest in the UK.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaS0IRo8zhMNdlxfq454sjiPym69PgdPuz2FZm7sW38934gbxUmGWoFizSOzdk3QOaVYl6aU9KT0Ae4odIKu4ED0-XBWbaHV9iLUl3TdtdOuK0zLty9I7vbkUZ41jTZSvZxjsULEAk885uO8na0TpXQuGbLztav_bc1ztxZcimSAga7CVfiLdiVRwuhg/s4608/20220630_155437.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaS0IRo8zhMNdlxfq454sjiPym69PgdPuz2FZm7sW38934gbxUmGWoFizSOzdk3QOaVYl6aU9KT0Ae4odIKu4ED0-XBWbaHV9iLUl3TdtdOuK0zLty9I7vbkUZ41jTZSvZxjsULEAk885uO8na0TpXQuGbLztav_bc1ztxZcimSAga7CVfiLdiVRwuhg/w640-h480/20220630_155437.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Malaham Tarn, 30/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcIUqmVguY5783gbzuYSUmo2xgtOcCmriqzhflnIaLVgBkdRlTEKTZRFxQ42ufnY6inIE8t0AMIaF4h5rPCpQeUgX3y21HiVZUBSlcARQVR0fNaM_frlx8BJ-gImjFdIr2-kzAH7XNqKZ8ZHsnXous7X4qAdEvm7osm0d9hXC9I_5gP57tPBFUzed9A/s4032/20220630_141735.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcIUqmVguY5783gbzuYSUmo2xgtOcCmriqzhflnIaLVgBkdRlTEKTZRFxQ42ufnY6inIE8t0AMIaF4h5rPCpQeUgX3y21HiVZUBSlcARQVR0fNaM_frlx8BJ-gImjFdIr2-kzAH7XNqKZ8ZHsnXous7X4qAdEvm7osm0d9hXC9I_5gP57tPBFUzed9A/w400-h300/20220630_141735.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Malham Moss, 30/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table>I didn't have the time to walk all the way around but having sat in the bird hide for 30 minutes seeing nowt but <b>Canada Geese</b> and some distant <b>Sand Martins</b>, I concentrated my efforts on <b>Tarn Moss </b>near the field centre, a fabulous raised bog and willow carr habitat on the western edge of the tarn. A great boardwalk, lovely late afternoon sunshine and brimming with wildlife, especially plant species - a very pleasant couple of hours to round off my break in the Dales. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The first thing I noticed were lots of these little fellahs, <b>Common Lizards</b>. Tricky to photograph as they skittered away on approach but great to see so many and this one stayed still just about long enough for a quick snap.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5HQcWJJta1hpak_nydTriFrYN33Efyn57zHl_DlRsa55diGAP99NRz68-qtXOIRwbCaBGLS4MlHr3XwGDJXFL84B2sngPk_TpFh27OFqj5D_9NzE6rTZ3hneSOxxMokvR5og993Zvvz4Pn3As-8Ag2pPwsVmnOEkqj1TT5iL-2NIHec5i8IWSk-IPw/s3468/20220630_142359.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2440" data-original-width="3468" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5HQcWJJta1hpak_nydTriFrYN33Efyn57zHl_DlRsa55diGAP99NRz68-qtXOIRwbCaBGLS4MlHr3XwGDJXFL84B2sngPk_TpFh27OFqj5D_9NzE6rTZ3hneSOxxMokvR5og993Zvvz4Pn3As-8Ag2pPwsVmnOEkqj1TT5iL-2NIHec5i8IWSk-IPw/w640-h450/20220630_142359.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Lizard, </b><b>Malham Moss, 30/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Most interesting in amongst the many flowers on show were these beautiful <b>Marsh Cinquefoils. </b>They're supposed to be at <b>Askham Bog</b> in York but I've never seen them there or anywhere else for that matter but at least I know what to look for now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2y4HD6y1ml7j96CGSuMCWZdxXngu0Msq1hYdLK8iAmtMAa_8ZCKKdF5ZcBa665Hv7L3VbGBY74sSwa9jo6vAY6-J6MY5rqI8yw4Eyjmp0npDRnoKefDZDe-uT66fejg7XzghvCr0DRzNYrzFt6iulmkbL7Ji0VlxbT0QrvKYGNHV8enqwgvi0Krw7cg/s3056/20220630_143712.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="2225" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2y4HD6y1ml7j96CGSuMCWZdxXngu0Msq1hYdLK8iAmtMAa_8ZCKKdF5ZcBa665Hv7L3VbGBY74sSwa9jo6vAY6-J6MY5rqI8yw4Eyjmp0npDRnoKefDZDe-uT66fejg7XzghvCr0DRzNYrzFt6iulmkbL7Ji0VlxbT0QrvKYGNHV8enqwgvi0Krw7cg/w466-h640/20220630_143712.jpg" width="466" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Marsh Cinquefoil, Malham Moss, 30/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was another one new to me at lets be honest not the most attractive, <b>Marsh Lousewort </b>or '<b><i>Red Rattle</i></b>'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6Fb1GFPliRQRqmLAEEvNiHmAEPl0tcYL5QY227V-6lJQwkk6JB1uvJ0Hz6-5g96buyGqCnL2fP0pedtQniVnRRa_NtX4xl9ZxhiC0jMIbrf_uTea0DbhblDZ5qxjOULEDLD4Knmn4RSK-jZt4AKMDkrSjvQJD4QOy7AS080qYsf5ymTWxzI2zXIILQ/s2758/20220630_141414.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2758" data-original-width="1838" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6Fb1GFPliRQRqmLAEEvNiHmAEPl0tcYL5QY227V-6lJQwkk6JB1uvJ0Hz6-5g96buyGqCnL2fP0pedtQniVnRRa_NtX4xl9ZxhiC0jMIbrf_uTea0DbhblDZ5qxjOULEDLD4Knmn4RSK-jZt4AKMDkrSjvQJD4QOy7AS080qYsf5ymTWxzI2zXIILQ/w266-h400/20220630_141414.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Marsh Lousewort, </b><b>Malham Moss, 30/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few more to finish from this most wonderful of places plus a few more miscellaneous pics from my short trip to Wensleydale.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcDi-JPbgFlZl1uxcfXmulcqiDUJXpDy5h3ApMdwL1d-HJFfc1VE9X-1KfWRpdeIjiSStMOlIZrTIiO7ORPcBPOVLJHHG5PMSoESq2J0nsT3fnDVUYWQNo9kBuhuW-kUHAZoa4IoyQC3TXANFwZjuVys90L-5MOiIFnyM3j3vspSh9Y79G-Jdf9z6pw/s3187/20220630_141036.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3187" data-original-width="2260" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcDi-JPbgFlZl1uxcfXmulcqiDUJXpDy5h3ApMdwL1d-HJFfc1VE9X-1KfWRpdeIjiSStMOlIZrTIiO7ORPcBPOVLJHHG5PMSoESq2J0nsT3fnDVUYWQNo9kBuhuW-kUHAZoa4IoyQC3TXANFwZjuVys90L-5MOiIFnyM3j3vspSh9Y79G-Jdf9z6pw/w284-h400/20220630_141036.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Northern Marsh Orchid, </b><b>Malham Moss, 30/06/2022<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGsbovlAYwQ5XL5i9hQGnaCDC7FYAMAZ4Nw0ORxqIScHdybIT33m_QsJrMMHwinqQxFuNhUR05zErxSAwHTa61yLaXVEZQ7ioRXvyil2Ilqp8woj5Cy0ehGrDYtJf9A0gSNCC3jK-V-YidAo02lPP7aInbVGc7SN0Ee6w2uc4Lff1w8_R3u9n3ogqAg/s2833/20220630_141505.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2833" data-original-width="2215" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGsbovlAYwQ5XL5i9hQGnaCDC7FYAMAZ4Nw0ORxqIScHdybIT33m_QsJrMMHwinqQxFuNhUR05zErxSAwHTa61yLaXVEZQ7ioRXvyil2Ilqp8woj5Cy0ehGrDYtJf9A0gSNCC3jK-V-YidAo02lPP7aInbVGc7SN0Ee6w2uc4Lff1w8_R3u9n3ogqAg/w313-h400/20220630_141505.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Eyebright, </b><b>Malham Moss, 30/06/2022<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVaSs2ZIsDEvkVLvwVa0GOpWbdDmRXbp-lhbQsTPmhh8xsyAKvp1U_HaUtjF453Rjt4r9haolZk6kB08Y-KOpbDO5raV1hHJ34ajt5wi0PNXuPWygUfjfNPWJ_wyAmEe8529-0NuUy2Fpw3u69EmQNxi0Ev4tou0vOJwoXvETyotG43A7v3TOeI6R3Kw/s2521/20220630_141629.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2521" data-original-width="1550" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVaSs2ZIsDEvkVLvwVa0GOpWbdDmRXbp-lhbQsTPmhh8xsyAKvp1U_HaUtjF453Rjt4r9haolZk6kB08Y-KOpbDO5raV1hHJ34ajt5wi0PNXuPWygUfjfNPWJ_wyAmEe8529-0NuUy2Fpw3u69EmQNxi0Ev4tou0vOJwoXvETyotG43A7v3TOeI6R3Kw/w246-h400/20220630_141629.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Marsh Valerian, </b><b>Malham Moss, 30/06/2022<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNexW6x0omzSkEByP83ogFiS51M-2gIvDa3fZPCrKm187W1KTVoKTKeJFK3wDy_KvTkBM49EzSAPazvPIb3HzZS9bSO5Bw1R7Dl19xEQ_Y7_hQv_7jqaakBB4lUvRn5RUrRFWxxYscQ_ZAVKmhoaftsozjpRlXGKeQkzzjdYagnCBLZL2Jxe4UGEwBYQ/s2797/20220630_161114.jpg2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2797" data-original-width="2115" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNexW6x0omzSkEByP83ogFiS51M-2gIvDa3fZPCrKm187W1KTVoKTKeJFK3wDy_KvTkBM49EzSAPazvPIb3HzZS9bSO5Bw1R7Dl19xEQ_Y7_hQv_7jqaakBB4lUvRn5RUrRFWxxYscQ_ZAVKmhoaftsozjpRlXGKeQkzzjdYagnCBLZL2Jxe4UGEwBYQ/w242-h320/20220630_161114.jpg2.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wood Cranesbill, </b><b>Malham Moss, 30/06/2022<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBx7aSdWsXjvgI6Ou49NUN_n4xG1L44FBAMUWAJtLfTP2M5vRQurqSdSohgQLzp5AEyppWTX-iveUyKPi2YQyiAL2vOKItGsS2Ti94EYiy2htLgJ0UzPkRD4ts9-J0AuLee1PhiYSzbrUe1VSq6YeQ-jXGU_vsRY_x1KgEloUJOyvQsQo272MSIUnEg/s4032/20220630_142750.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBx7aSdWsXjvgI6Ou49NUN_n4xG1L44FBAMUWAJtLfTP2M5vRQurqSdSohgQLzp5AEyppWTX-iveUyKPi2YQyiAL2vOKItGsS2Ti94EYiy2htLgJ0UzPkRD4ts9-J0AuLee1PhiYSzbrUe1VSq6YeQ-jXGU_vsRY_x1KgEloUJOyvQsQo272MSIUnEg/w640-h480/20220630_142750.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Malham Moss, 30/06/2022</b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLuYJCBfoVGlA3lbQAnHLEuOQYc81rGvKbn7-puDlFNqJy-tAuYCGnRNnt3EecdQwljQwaZEWGff99r88L8-y6efGe646DudugdpFw5cLa8bNLzUV73eg2GBZADlnGC042WKqWZpZ6vQPvuzMYSnVewQhIBHFtE42Lm6oZELD2LLuKCVZYZUr9YxcqQ/s3541/20220629_111320.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2379" data-original-width="3541" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLuYJCBfoVGlA3lbQAnHLEuOQYc81rGvKbn7-puDlFNqJy-tAuYCGnRNnt3EecdQwljQwaZEWGff99r88L8-y6efGe646DudugdpFw5cLa8bNLzUV73eg2GBZADlnGC042WKqWZpZ6vQPvuzMYSnVewQhIBHFtE42Lm6oZELD2LLuKCVZYZUr9YxcqQ/w640-h430/20220629_111320.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Typical dales scenery, looking West from Twistleton Scar End, 29/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FRBJ0xwQSAHU-QmGCSdHZ43V23hf3S0r3GFvpJYhR6dvduADqJ5f472Jl7JhOUahBJ2ZikhqOfZFZY7hZCuBuKIo8Z2aX1FfEYTQ1X03Ep3H5UhcFv_0RplkTeXeFk6A2z52zklRyzkC50Kw5BTqUfFmuQ1GlVhhQp1QiJXlfzxgnV9YBa6rTX-kBQ/s4032/20220629_105113.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FRBJ0xwQSAHU-QmGCSdHZ43V23hf3S0r3GFvpJYhR6dvduADqJ5f472Jl7JhOUahBJ2ZikhqOfZFZY7hZCuBuKIo8Z2aX1FfEYTQ1X03Ep3H5UhcFv_0RplkTeXeFk6A2z52zklRyzkC50Kw5BTqUfFmuQ1GlVhhQp1QiJXlfzxgnV9YBa6rTX-kBQ/w640-h480/20220629_105113.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Looking back down the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, 29/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzsSqxGdEMnydLY_C9PqFYcFZV_apZUuaFKOvSLTcRVM3bJ900b94A3Nyi0aQq-we-7dDy1odPQ8Fjo0ts7bKv9JXZccBTHL2-RtmERCm1_x05xDgd2Of_1y4Mequ7nsX0SVW2L7J6mLlyGGTJMgp4DdMIgm87GJZtVLGytau1ZCan22_g9yTSVwaopw/s4032/20220628_164018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzsSqxGdEMnydLY_C9PqFYcFZV_apZUuaFKOvSLTcRVM3bJ900b94A3Nyi0aQq-we-7dDy1odPQ8Fjo0ts7bKv9JXZccBTHL2-RtmERCm1_x05xDgd2Of_1y4Mequ7nsX0SVW2L7J6mLlyGGTJMgp4DdMIgm87GJZtVLGytau1ZCan22_g9yTSVwaopw/w640-h480/20220628_164018.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hay Barn, Ashes Pasture, 28/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxARBRX3_TQyBJOlYtE9_yOgAUu1EFtBIh4LHcMxlsgzn3I1gHX1uHKvPmBPpeEvEEPTUIWU3hoDJFEQ5Rg88RdBHn1mUBOuDwTFbv3FiXfnyAD2l0tI8d_MvgjZHQOhn5zAL1ydyr_6VbrWAt_pMO2M99HFqVW0TWaw8YpPldn5fcTSNvSJw2v84WQ/s2632/20220629_105545.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2366" data-original-width="2632" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxARBRX3_TQyBJOlYtE9_yOgAUu1EFtBIh4LHcMxlsgzn3I1gHX1uHKvPmBPpeEvEEPTUIWU3hoDJFEQ5Rg88RdBHn1mUBOuDwTFbv3FiXfnyAD2l0tI8d_MvgjZHQOhn5zAL1ydyr_6VbrWAt_pMO2M99HFqVW0TWaw8YpPldn5fcTSNvSJw2v84WQ/w400-h360/20220629_105545.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Heath Bedstraw, Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, 29/06/2022<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikylx93omKerV1AA1ZmjaAGpnH4_Im1YQz3HAVXNHxVNikDWuQi6DZvKMLj3KTc99fyMgo-gckr013vnDgRMdFzeYeAz9Qz4Qw9ns9TB7Y3Ibyf-f2O5I26KiSM4kL3FqgCJcF9WJP7gbUFSkRCSqH_DIoa9LGvcMnWxoSb7C-f7oBtnEptrUKEfYBTw/s3478/20220629_163644.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2354" data-original-width="3478" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikylx93omKerV1AA1ZmjaAGpnH4_Im1YQz3HAVXNHxVNikDWuQi6DZvKMLj3KTc99fyMgo-gckr013vnDgRMdFzeYeAz9Qz4Qw9ns9TB7Y3Ibyf-f2O5I26KiSM4kL3FqgCJcF9WJP7gbUFSkRCSqH_DIoa9LGvcMnWxoSb7C-f7oBtnEptrUKEfYBTw/w400-h271/20220629_163644.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Foxgloves, Widdale, 29/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-3xTTHVq3kQrFNtWKsivKaqLHtL7S8GS2quYu3H8HnBnGiZxlpLlqByAdwonOePwLiiXUUI4-_DwnmQrV46HAPAMo9QHG2tRoBqQC4LetzotmuiX33TUAIrNC6w2t8EAWwvrIUV2h3q5PWvM4bgbLi9FKGExQU8MEFH-hrriTi2HOylpcrfKsuKcow/s3611/20220630_130844.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2721" data-original-width="3611" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-3xTTHVq3kQrFNtWKsivKaqLHtL7S8GS2quYu3H8HnBnGiZxlpLlqByAdwonOePwLiiXUUI4-_DwnmQrV46HAPAMo9QHG2tRoBqQC4LetzotmuiX33TUAIrNC6w2t8EAWwvrIUV2h3q5PWvM4bgbLi9FKGExQU8MEFH-hrriTi2HOylpcrfKsuKcow/w640-h482/20220630_130844.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wild Thyme, Brae Pasture, 30/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-6259751404938682772022-06-20T16:49:00.002+01:002022-06-20T16:49:56.305+01:00Black Winged Stilts breed in Yorkshire for the first time but should they be there?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">There was much excitement amongst local birders when<b> 2 </b></span><strong style="text-align: left;">Black Winged Stilts</strong><span style="text-align: left;">, a rare breeding bird in the UK, turned up at </span><b style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/" target="_blank">Yorkshire Wildlife Trust</a></b><span style="text-align: left;"> reserve </span><strong style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/potteric-carr" target="_blank">Potteric Carr</a></strong><span style="text-align: left;"> in South Yorkshire at the back end of last month.</span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcL3Bl80WH-y-fqDbyzSUNSeW4jRSoChEbbKklZbPlIUpKKDSAQua99UApb17Lg5BsMJxH6wUns72zR8IkT71HbbVO1EQzilZFC0CsPh2oBBRXplh9Zz1ZA7hWyUHt85wD4FRBBx4p-zTbAQwyM6clOttzkwops3-V0IrZxtspOMptMrHQabCqEouCrw/s1401/MX2A0215b.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black Winged Stilt, breeding, Potteric Carr, Yorkshire, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Climate Change" border="0" data-original-height="1401" data-original-width="1401" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcL3Bl80WH-y-fqDbyzSUNSeW4jRSoChEbbKklZbPlIUpKKDSAQua99UApb17Lg5BsMJxH6wUns72zR8IkT71HbbVO1EQzilZFC0CsPh2oBBRXplh9Zz1ZA7hWyUHt85wD4FRBBx4p-zTbAQwyM6clOttzkwops3-V0IrZxtspOMptMrHQabCqEouCrw/w400-h400/MX2A0215b.JPG" title="Black Winged Stilt, breeding, Potteric Carr, Yorkshire, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Climate Change" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Winged Stilt, Potteric Carr, 16/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span>Even more exciting was the news that they had bred and hatched 3 chicks! These elegant and distinctive 'black and white' wading birds are relatively common throughout the temperate zones of the world including most of Southern Europe, but many wildlife experts believe that because of the effects of climate change they could follow in the footsteps of birds such as</span><strong> Little Egrets </strong><span>and become a familiar sight across our wetlands. More of that later - but for now they're rightly being celebrated as yet another Yorkshire first.</span></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">The day I went for a look see was the day it was discovered that they had successfully hatched a fourth chick and although they weren't the easiest of birds to photograph, spending much of their time obscured by reedy vegetation on </span><b style="text-align: left;">Piper Marsh</b><span style="text-align: left;">, I managed to get some reasonable shots of the pair and their tiny '</span><i style="text-align: left;">stiltlets</i><span style="text-align: left;">'. So distinctive, the adult birds were easy to spot once they moved out of the reeds.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-7HXLW0iZg085DE8S9Ph3yfwO_B7aUhMpPsCx77QinQ0rCEW8NSww7DmVpYm8naj_IkYlcnwpmR-EeKlZpmV-rG8emXB38Ex23nf9TFvZYpZd7XmU7GzyM8YCIAkd0Ee_F20sexmbgku3SMyfGGbZWCI09OiidL7vEaUCNz-tKayjTk9cEoBgiYuSQ/s1544/MX2A0253b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1544" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-7HXLW0iZg085DE8S9Ph3yfwO_B7aUhMpPsCx77QinQ0rCEW8NSww7DmVpYm8naj_IkYlcnwpmR-EeKlZpmV-rG8emXB38Ex23nf9TFvZYpZd7XmU7GzyM8YCIAkd0Ee_F20sexmbgku3SMyfGGbZWCI09OiidL7vEaUCNz-tKayjTk9cEoBgiYuSQ/w640-h426/MX2A0253b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Winged Stilts, Potteric Carr, 16/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljc2THlglQIR7RqrOfuAj1pd_HG2C7OCV9Xdn-Nfq5yO3ULYj7E0vzPkmhU2hAwk_wsLpfb4jkaOp0ZsskFgeUM6WqnYl3mDjrc4EtYX5Y63OGRUL34SXKsNLn6Ej_XgACpuqBxrITBqTbRrlC-Gy7-RjodfOGq25z9hl1Mphc5tj6vn9SbXJVCDIeg/s1574/MX2A0136.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black Winged Stilt, breeding, Potteric Carr, Yorkshire, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Climate Change" border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="1574" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljc2THlglQIR7RqrOfuAj1pd_HG2C7OCV9Xdn-Nfq5yO3ULYj7E0vzPkmhU2hAwk_wsLpfb4jkaOp0ZsskFgeUM6WqnYl3mDjrc4EtYX5Y63OGRUL34SXKsNLn6Ej_XgACpuqBxrITBqTbRrlC-Gy7-RjodfOGq25z9hl1Mphc5tj6vn9SbXJVCDIeg/w640-h426/MX2A0136.JPG" title="Black Winged Stilts with chicks" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Winged Stilts, Potteric Carr, 16/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">If you look closely on the above picture and you can clearly see one of the chicks in the reeds in front of mum and dad, and a few minutes later all 4 chicks came briefly into view.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1qWvUZwgWAqXG11HOZJU8zvbaJMl2sZ3UC-PkB4fMwB7lrWuzxCy73Q0HDwpln20EjyXCSt9RaFEk5HsD3ptcKjqCp8SGnGzvLRF2xdz4964IoJshTH9jWVQDdzn51AAiFSjTCceS8nX9xIlGGXtUfPxOubbwL126_FtO3MDoAaP7ht8CFsO_-02zA/s1043/MX2A0129.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black Winged Stilt, breeding, Potteric Carr, Yorkshire, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Climate Change" border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="1043" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1qWvUZwgWAqXG11HOZJU8zvbaJMl2sZ3UC-PkB4fMwB7lrWuzxCy73Q0HDwpln20EjyXCSt9RaFEk5HsD3ptcKjqCp8SGnGzvLRF2xdz4964IoJshTH9jWVQDdzn51AAiFSjTCceS8nX9xIlGGXtUfPxOubbwL126_FtO3MDoAaP7ht8CFsO_-02zA/w640-h426/MX2A0129.JPG" title="Black Winged Stilt, breeding, Potteric Carr, Yorkshire, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Climate Change, chicks" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Winged Stilt chicks, Potteric Carr, 16/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>Like all newly fledged chicks they're vulnerable at this stage, especially if they stray too far from their parents, and whilst I was there I noticed both <b>Black Headed Gull </b>and<b> Lapwing</b> expressing an interest in a potential easy meal! Successfully repelled by the adult <b>Stilts</b> they soon gave up but sadly it's highly unlikely that all 4 will survive if previous breeding successes in the UK (In Norfolk, the Kent Marshes & Steart in Somerset) are anything to go by. </p><p>These were the best shots I managed with parents and chicks in the same shot - </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTvEIvGhBNHi0AVNFRNsL1lCx3Rx5oY9tgGM-m2A8u4KGpU10HemQ3SdMxmr5SrPRCwG5GdfFkpyZVkJkZ63ad5SzOVkJxoAc0hGA2bh2GwCNAtlvSUaTZIdXq8n_OMgazp16LVIDrgWaKAG3lC26X5rmS66NXpDyWGVEUKIqtxnhtZo_-17kLQmWBA/s1242/MX2A0241b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black Winged Stilt, breeding, Potteric Carr, Yorkshire, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Climate Change" border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1242" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTvEIvGhBNHi0AVNFRNsL1lCx3Rx5oY9tgGM-m2A8u4KGpU10HemQ3SdMxmr5SrPRCwG5GdfFkpyZVkJkZ63ad5SzOVkJxoAc0hGA2bh2GwCNAtlvSUaTZIdXq8n_OMgazp16LVIDrgWaKAG3lC26X5rmS66NXpDyWGVEUKIqtxnhtZo_-17kLQmWBA/w640-h426/MX2A0241b.JPG" title="Black Winged Stilt with chicks" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Winged Stilt & chicks, Potteric Carr, 16/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIed-VQAZowX8pRzuN-7V1xQxHhYgImmoHGsdyb9HMTNV2FxWmuOh8px4Xgokq0g8s5DQlxzR3Nj_zfLbRFKnyHhKWNn4p7Ix-VIg-JQUclvN5fi510OUo9d29Igj_vuQvhanJsgjLNNXG8esda2UTEAeKafAC5Whp3nIKsKENWYLwdBeJWI8PaqLm6A/s1289/MX2A0245b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black Winged Stilt, breeding, Potteric Carr, Yorkshire, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Climate Change" border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="1289" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIed-VQAZowX8pRzuN-7V1xQxHhYgImmoHGsdyb9HMTNV2FxWmuOh8px4Xgokq0g8s5DQlxzR3Nj_zfLbRFKnyHhKWNn4p7Ix-VIg-JQUclvN5fi510OUo9d29Igj_vuQvhanJsgjLNNXG8esda2UTEAeKafAC5Whp3nIKsKENWYLwdBeJWI8PaqLm6A/w640-h426/MX2A0245b.JPG" title="Black Winged Stilt with chicks" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Winged Stilts and chicks, Potteric Carr, 16/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mLzeAL6FL3Zo-8scGJNkuYnnuX5Kx0V2TEfptAXE01QHX4sChBn_fsYflyRT4-uSh6zs_7o_653V9XzriGmo0S9C5Mkv6xm-wNP_pRmaopHd0VQjwo74KQyQZc898Tmm5K9MS3VDBbqW1JveWnezr2kttw9jIMLEdIG6nz-UA9tHIBvKDXoCcPZACg/s5184/IMG_2547.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black Winged Stilt, breeding, Potteric Carr, Yorkshire, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Climate Change" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mLzeAL6FL3Zo-8scGJNkuYnnuX5Kx0V2TEfptAXE01QHX4sChBn_fsYflyRT4-uSh6zs_7o_653V9XzriGmo0S9C5Mkv6xm-wNP_pRmaopHd0VQjwo74KQyQZc898Tmm5K9MS3VDBbqW1JveWnezr2kttw9jIMLEdIG6nz-UA9tHIBvKDXoCcPZACg/w400-h266/IMG_2547.JPG" title="Black Winged Stilt, Camargue" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Winged Stilt, the Camargue, France, June 2011</b></td></tr></tbody></table>To me they always seem a bit 'gawky' looking on the ground (it's those legs!) but if you've ever been lucky enough to see hundreds of them flying together in wetlands of <b>Donana</b> in Spain, or the <b>Camargue</b> in France, trust me they look as graceful and elegant as anything out there.<p></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The Potteric birds weren't flying around much (too busy herding their offspring!) but on the occasions when they were chasing off unwanted attention I did manage a couple of half decent shots....</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEv3nSdeTCFIqUfYzfkPUQjjEOmQ95tqd6kBI1HlVsJojTlZdfhuLO-nbX7vWa22sh1705qMzIKEw842Mx8G3TrqPpMxBfHb9HTQP6eZymdu0Zha9SUipSLLxRLsEVPjuIXc6grC_brDdea_3yEQaci4LBpZhp5vpzuAMTGA0c1h8QWrbPgBdQsOXJA/s1545/MX2A0143.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black Winged Stilt, breeding, Potteric Carr, Yorkshire, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Climate Change" border="0" data-original-height="1030" data-original-width="1545" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEv3nSdeTCFIqUfYzfkPUQjjEOmQ95tqd6kBI1HlVsJojTlZdfhuLO-nbX7vWa22sh1705qMzIKEw842Mx8G3TrqPpMxBfHb9HTQP6eZymdu0Zha9SUipSLLxRLsEVPjuIXc6grC_brDdea_3yEQaci4LBpZhp5vpzuAMTGA0c1h8QWrbPgBdQsOXJA/w640-h426/MX2A0143.JPG" title="Black Winged Stilt flying, Black Winged Stilt, breeding, Potteric Carr, Yorkshire, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Climate Change" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Winged Stilt, Potteric Carr, 16/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJFCWHf01Th_vESEqXRoCtmzePkohPO1sliRcnq4j5RiMa__ak_dDXxo-TEidyfIcMSb2uW6NBUggi5YX7S72imkVCoirumxhI97OyfrPX3ClO2LhB9upilWVtQCtkGwfcoyvaSxCqFcgPl-hasWSjVd1TUxzztYDlLUT8Ultc5yLK6_jWfI8jBt05g/s1535/MX2A0155.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black Winged Stilt, breeding, Potteric Carr, Yorkshire, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Climate Change" border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="1535" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJFCWHf01Th_vESEqXRoCtmzePkohPO1sliRcnq4j5RiMa__ak_dDXxo-TEidyfIcMSb2uW6NBUggi5YX7S72imkVCoirumxhI97OyfrPX3ClO2LhB9upilWVtQCtkGwfcoyvaSxCqFcgPl-hasWSjVd1TUxzztYDlLUT8Ultc5yLK6_jWfI8jBt05g/w640-h426/MX2A0155.JPG" title="Black Winged Stilt in flight" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Winged Stilt, Potteric Carr, 16/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This latest breeding success is certainly a bit of a coup for <a href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/potteric-carr" target="_blank"><b>Potteric Carr</b> </a>and the <b><a href="www,ywt.org.uk" target="_blank">Yorkshire Wildlife Trust </a></b>but not everybody is celebrating. In just about every news item on this story the by-line is <b>climate change</b> and <b>global warming</b>. The fact is that many of the wetland areas around the <b>Mediterranean</b> are drying out because of rising temperatures, its been happening for years and I've seen it happening myself in <b>Spain</b> where previously wet places have become arid dustbowls. So the birds move north in search of more suitable breeding grounds. We've seen it happen with other wetland bird species - <b>Little Egrets</b>, rare in the UK 25 years ago are now commonplace, the same is happening with <b>Spoonbills</b> (now regular breeders at <b><a href="https://rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/fairburn-ings/" target="_blank">Fairburn Ings</a></b> and as far North as the borders in Scotland), same story with <b>Great White Egrets, Common Cranes</b> and to a lesser extent <b>White Storks, Little Bittern</b> and <b>Glossy Ibis</b>. </p><div>So whilst birdwatchers up and down the country revel in these new and more frequently seen water birds from the Mediterranean, many environmentalists are pointing to the bigger picture. In response to my tweet on the<b> Black Winged Stilts</b> at <b>Potteric Carr</b> via <a href="https://yorkshireswildlife.co.uk/" target="_blank">Yorkshires Wildlife</a> retweets with hashtags such as <b>#shouldntbethisway</b> and <b>#climateemergency</b> were not uncommon. Food for thought, but in reality thinking time is just about over is it not? </div><div><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ikXcgdOzIPzrVCo4Iz1spw3-34qNXIqMGz4j_cG_n5hbGJHQu8iEITFvO8_FNuxinWzC-KHy4bTTTwD7chI_cWsfY4rp6Fcao7ZyNkWg6kNlxVV2gykC_1klHJ8tmcD1pGJ2ZrZ4GS8SoTp6lnqacqTlI1R_nkvaTuntA2PrqbBSdcklr4vS_ypZCw/s340/Himantopus_himantopus_P5150181.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black Winged Stilt, breeding, Potteric Carr, Yorkshire, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Climate Change" border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="340" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ikXcgdOzIPzrVCo4Iz1spw3-34qNXIqMGz4j_cG_n5hbGJHQu8iEITFvO8_FNuxinWzC-KHy4bTTTwD7chI_cWsfY4rp6Fcao7ZyNkWg6kNlxVV2gykC_1klHJ8tmcD1pGJ2ZrZ4GS8SoTp6lnqacqTlI1R_nkvaTuntA2PrqbBSdcklr4vS_ypZCw/w640-h480/Himantopus_himantopus_P5150181.jpg" title="Black Winged Stilt Chick" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Winged Stilt chick (courtesy of Wikipedia) - should I really be in South Yorkshire?</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Some further reading here re the bittersweet phenomena of Mediterranean birds moving North. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/publications/bto_climate_change_and_uk_birds_-_james_pearce-higgins_bto_web-compressed.pdf" target="_blank">Climate Change and the UK's birds</a> (BTO)</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6256951_Climate_and_Dispersal_Black-Winged_Stilts_Disperse_Further_in_Dry_Springs" target="_blank">Climate & Dispersal: Black Winged Stilts disperse further in dry Springs</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0192702" target="_blank">How will Climate Change affect endangered Mediterranean waterbirds</a></div><div><br /></div><div><p><br /></p></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-56711257905919875172022-06-07T17:01:00.001+01:002022-06-09T10:29:49.575+01:00Blooming May<p>May, the month that always seems to see the greatest profusion of plant growth in the UK with seemingly new and different flowers sprouting nearly every day 🌼🌻🌺. Its difficult to keep up sometimes to be honest but I never tire of spotting the familiar blooms as they appear around my local meadows and hedgerows. </p><p>Here's what caught my eye through the month, nothing particularly unusual, the traditional colours of Spring with one or two quirks in the mix. This first few were all on roadside verges, fast becoming safe havens for our native wild flowers and insects.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPQG5wmsM57IJYxVDTR4KAFYRtcupVvkS1gjnzOfQ6THzKDiaTmY7PaDg6_DlhZ4FBYYP6rAwCDVoi9_8QB8qp1ZDbOwsWxhng81NyURRkozyM-Z9jBlwkcX-IXXSsArM_I7gk_J5Oy3LZRCLvR2-3KNBpujIgEbtM_fFmDpmfHBgHelHvUA2Q8DZTQ/s4032/20220509_173841.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPQG5wmsM57IJYxVDTR4KAFYRtcupVvkS1gjnzOfQ6THzKDiaTmY7PaDg6_DlhZ4FBYYP6rAwCDVoi9_8QB8qp1ZDbOwsWxhng81NyURRkozyM-Z9jBlwkcX-IXXSsArM_I7gk_J5Oy3LZRCLvR2-3KNBpujIgEbtM_fFmDpmfHBgHelHvUA2Q8DZTQ/w640-h480/20220509_173841.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Buttercups, Castle Howard, 09/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqOmmpN5a5Rufmj1LIIZbi9DpI4Bt_4wQeuw06o9xkutLhIYA5WMn3U2NPZaNbspa9qNow4hideg5Eiz6Lfbg1xeLKuCqjN0QszNAzK3ZRAOuZV3seJ0pC1R_4cAbQfGwyPQUgfYCOb6am0XsEYqZrICDKDTNe5II5XrWArF8vLRA8Fr4YIkjx2IG0Q/s3744/20220514_162259(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2659" data-original-width="3744" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqOmmpN5a5Rufmj1LIIZbi9DpI4Bt_4wQeuw06o9xkutLhIYA5WMn3U2NPZaNbspa9qNow4hideg5Eiz6Lfbg1xeLKuCqjN0QszNAzK3ZRAOuZV3seJ0pC1R_4cAbQfGwyPQUgfYCOb6am0XsEYqZrICDKDTNe5II5XrWArF8vLRA8Fr4YIkjx2IG0Q/w640-h454/20220514_162259(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dog Rose, Copmanthorpe nr York, 14/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqed73t9hQTFzym5z9stcy1x5AIMP4khY84QCxmyU3eATyr6QNdpQXFKqnHyGb1Ax-TzhnZbYI_XoOkSZ9jXgERNJ2L_kifnHbqSL_Gj7iGD9Nsgu41nBm9nKzcBRBpm51q8yhudG1zwy_4RTSjYfshxlHqJn__hXKF4uAKczWKyrlgarz9tpHfihaIw/s4032/20220514_162338.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqed73t9hQTFzym5z9stcy1x5AIMP4khY84QCxmyU3eATyr6QNdpQXFKqnHyGb1Ax-TzhnZbYI_XoOkSZ9jXgERNJ2L_kifnHbqSL_Gj7iGD9Nsgu41nBm9nKzcBRBpm51q8yhudG1zwy_4RTSjYfshxlHqJn__hXKF4uAKczWKyrlgarz9tpHfihaIw/w640-h480/20220514_162338.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Birds-Foot Trefoil, </b><b>Copmanthorpe nr York, 14/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhOiEDYMhArjmuRlZR3LiTW-C7G31Pm5BrmYq1iQyM82pE6gQuXAnw_hsNUc1rCHG3K9i_Q9Nyq-WRETOncczMNPrJToOeIUm7lruXMZYPQZ8ZRXSYh6vSaQk2EkX0VayGHvk5sLADItxqQJOrDdLIc6AH-mD55WfaC9wlH_qOw7wQQaF6MoUhNFaKA/s4032/20220516_173545.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhOiEDYMhArjmuRlZR3LiTW-C7G31Pm5BrmYq1iQyM82pE6gQuXAnw_hsNUc1rCHG3K9i_Q9Nyq-WRETOncczMNPrJToOeIUm7lruXMZYPQZ8ZRXSYh6vSaQk2EkX0VayGHvk5sLADItxqQJOrDdLIc6AH-mD55WfaC9wlH_qOw7wQQaF6MoUhNFaKA/w640-h480/20220516_173545.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red Clover, Castle Howard, 14/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyxiBibupW-ovlOqFWUdGmvr98WcIEXPrPOJUr5Bh-sVK8hcwRryvCoEs2RkzbklsYvXsiD6YA2IAtLMYE6V6PM5UjATzA2ZxzOp1AsyE1g4HKPYmWQ7exnmKcbLYEriTf3DZYcElNx0tV4KoqGPSI9wLK7gNnu28we14Bo0xjoBH1aYB3iZUJ0rLJA/s3054/20220513_161700(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2110" data-original-width="3054" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyxiBibupW-ovlOqFWUdGmvr98WcIEXPrPOJUr5Bh-sVK8hcwRryvCoEs2RkzbklsYvXsiD6YA2IAtLMYE6V6PM5UjATzA2ZxzOp1AsyE1g4HKPYmWQ7exnmKcbLYEriTf3DZYcElNx0tV4KoqGPSI9wLK7gNnu28we14Bo0xjoBH1aYB3iZUJ0rLJA/w640-h442/20220513_161700(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Camas (non native but looks the piece!), Heslington nr York, 13/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDaXMQ3xmyL4ECi18a_IvXbPnRoWy9eP_eDZTyl8-PG7T_3ACCowcTOv_6AAJ-4IuxODh41cyUnBJUr4mHu7HynI8bydBqqtP4WjIl55XuBQvsH-8YnSPNrK2jQns5--RWsTMEXPIfzXo8cN2f8-BuVYKU0MT0BbdylWdVP_fD23MdYzhiOz5Ru_jkA/s3226/20220520_103731.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="3226" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDaXMQ3xmyL4ECi18a_IvXbPnRoWy9eP_eDZTyl8-PG7T_3ACCowcTOv_6AAJ-4IuxODh41cyUnBJUr4mHu7HynI8bydBqqtP4WjIl55XuBQvsH-8YnSPNrK2jQns5--RWsTMEXPIfzXo8cN2f8-BuVYKU0MT0BbdylWdVP_fD23MdYzhiOz5Ru_jkA/w640-h480/20220520_103731.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red Poppy, Thornton nr Pocklington, 20/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBl6wgLfRtuKkQgwcf0wyi3-JF8qBFQmAcVsrZFAZzLinh_bk1CyXbd-otRYhIWc5iLeOtCU4mTU2pcvTrZPvpaq8ULc33tGKNFqLWQr6ltrY-E9S0NgEIzoavRGmBS4fXe_m-iRrX6kLILn26-yEcTdNBNiN2RBgMvc_2oDjuPkULLZMCKyAMurKzCQ/s3128/20220514_162550(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3128" data-original-width="2276" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBl6wgLfRtuKkQgwcf0wyi3-JF8qBFQmAcVsrZFAZzLinh_bk1CyXbd-otRYhIWc5iLeOtCU4mTU2pcvTrZPvpaq8ULc33tGKNFqLWQr6ltrY-E9S0NgEIzoavRGmBS4fXe_m-iRrX6kLILn26-yEcTdNBNiN2RBgMvc_2oDjuPkULLZMCKyAMurKzCQ/w466-h640/20220514_162550(1).jpg" width="466" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hawkweed sp. poss Rough Hawkbit, </b><b>Copmanthorpe nr York, 14/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuipo6xnjRPpGMhkqbKNZJiTIPMz9YEbGFeZZWJz-gHvIZ8gDCcw1yO9UjBVmRfHht2EtBaDG_aMFrVMvaSvSLqTMCxpaPuZRvWOHz3NFpC1t859Tf98DIjgBoWhovQEcvi8OPeZg2KOpAHyRoa2hUZEsVVYfIftBndJAvuhZYMUnvgcj9FVRoX3g74A/s3536/20220514_162743(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3536" data-original-width="2556" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuipo6xnjRPpGMhkqbKNZJiTIPMz9YEbGFeZZWJz-gHvIZ8gDCcw1yO9UjBVmRfHht2EtBaDG_aMFrVMvaSvSLqTMCxpaPuZRvWOHz3NFpC1t859Tf98DIjgBoWhovQEcvi8OPeZg2KOpAHyRoa2hUZEsVVYfIftBndJAvuhZYMUnvgcj9FVRoX3g74A/w462-h640/20220514_162743(1).jpg" width="462" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red & White (Bladder) Campions, </b><b>Copmanthorpe nr York, 14/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I was too early for the orchids at <b>Wharram Quarry</b> and there was nothing else unusual there with <b>Crosswort </b>being the dominant plant, but of interest to me was the profusion of the delicate and tiny <b>Milkwort.</b> Easy to miss, it just looks like indistinct blueish purple patches on the ground, but up close it's as pretty as anything.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMD7rWruMmJ9cOczsB7bjb6ONAusy95Lz5TDh6w9XrrMX1egVK6zVpVPAJH0kMSWGabJLUbu5pw3rNqtoQvp4r9FjzbRCiZHYBh8ykjB6v3uEjnKmI49ApCJZ6EnW-XVrzsaBOiW4JGkpiXzaMDqp3CXD7bIjK-4M3DWzRrKx-AFKFyqPHXJA1FeO0Q/s3064/original_15576c3b-22cf-4a68-8a13-b5507e302152_20220527_141513~2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2317" data-original-width="3064" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMD7rWruMmJ9cOczsB7bjb6ONAusy95Lz5TDh6w9XrrMX1egVK6zVpVPAJH0kMSWGabJLUbu5pw3rNqtoQvp4r9FjzbRCiZHYBh8ykjB6v3uEjnKmI49ApCJZ6EnW-XVrzsaBOiW4JGkpiXzaMDqp3CXD7bIjK-4M3DWzRrKx-AFKFyqPHXJA1FeO0Q/w640-h484/original_15576c3b-22cf-4a68-8a13-b5507e302152_20220527_141513~2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Milkwort, Wharram Quarry, 27/05/2022<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCP6jK8EjHWoYGJeTMceqMIm2e5KyX4ZOrgWRoQDB7xWBUikrw7NmMRgJSXsIQROIDssRe-TWYROlYYIHeo_5YNfG-_d9OU8rqYVawuroB6NglZ-v9cdyy-HED_UrALchDp2xWvMkpMlA7EghW526P5uRhrVfwJe0Z5hQ0_iHPjIF2H2LfQgeUp8UtFQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="320" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCP6jK8EjHWoYGJeTMceqMIm2e5KyX4ZOrgWRoQDB7xWBUikrw7NmMRgJSXsIQROIDssRe-TWYROlYYIHeo_5YNfG-_d9OU8rqYVawuroB6NglZ-v9cdyy-HED_UrALchDp2xWvMkpMlA7EghW526P5uRhrVfwJe0Z5hQ0_iHPjIF2H2LfQgeUp8UtFQ=w640-h512" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Crosswort, Wharram Quarry, 27/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Here's my <b>Askham Bog</b> selection, I'm there nearly every weekend recruiting for <b>YWT</b> so handily placed to see the first <b>Yellow Flag Irises, Ragged Robin </b>and<b> Water Violets</b>.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAj-uVVVXaI-BvvsDvwX6VmRXnmfNv-vAlmYqVdqxAVDZGdstFCcuaovBc1Je6pcAnV4NLh96AVIAhHayWbT8o12FJRSwHeQo0F8bneCJA54yntAtEjkhOZf0M92XkkPDdWYUj2ilcu66MLiweGEu0i-3pTuxLVR8VurAKLPO5hkFMeeaqPXzxLRj_Q/s3199/20220514_113251.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2570" data-original-width="3199" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAj-uVVVXaI-BvvsDvwX6VmRXnmfNv-vAlmYqVdqxAVDZGdstFCcuaovBc1Je6pcAnV4NLh96AVIAhHayWbT8o12FJRSwHeQo0F8bneCJA54yntAtEjkhOZf0M92XkkPDdWYUj2ilcu66MLiweGEu0i-3pTuxLVR8VurAKLPO5hkFMeeaqPXzxLRj_Q/w640-h514/20220514_113251.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>First Yellow Flag Iris, Askham Bog, 14/05/2022</b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMcSe7gi1IGTRHvR1-9pnErLKkZxUkATYHMdML_A7L1NhbtroLnghZp_b1BUbujayvAw9-YEp5BN2WCcp64IrbSPZWlrYyISKwp3px9WLP7myRUKcRtMYP5Y4iKOMkI2PupagBL7lZOMTk0fjjnFKNAa5O1Oc8NxOvkGlHaH7SxpbkjDhqB1FP_j7yQ/s2572/20220514_113302.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2572" data-original-width="1447" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMcSe7gi1IGTRHvR1-9pnErLKkZxUkATYHMdML_A7L1NhbtroLnghZp_b1BUbujayvAw9-YEp5BN2WCcp64IrbSPZWlrYyISKwp3px9WLP7myRUKcRtMYP5Y4iKOMkI2PupagBL7lZOMTk0fjjnFKNAa5O1Oc8NxOvkGlHaH7SxpbkjDhqB1FP_j7yQ/w360-h640/20220514_113302.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>First Ragged Robin, </b><b>Askham Bog, 14/05/2022<br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8uCwWzMWOkai2-ofEBJdK74OrccQTTte1kuDO7bs1wfE13WLKDwX7OPUd85op6LSTX2OZZtXyu_uS7ELOjdbuJKkQxwM1kv9KNkpeguagZhtCTpapO7azqXfqzXq0j_fEwfPNNSSdSNfZfaIEZOEdOzT1-gWf7kh1iFwBjPMtXHyCe123nD4jvKDLg/s2706/20220514_115853.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2706" data-original-width="1836" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8uCwWzMWOkai2-ofEBJdK74OrccQTTte1kuDO7bs1wfE13WLKDwX7OPUd85op6LSTX2OZZtXyu_uS7ELOjdbuJKkQxwM1kv9KNkpeguagZhtCTpapO7azqXfqzXq0j_fEwfPNNSSdSNfZfaIEZOEdOzT1-gWf7kh1iFwBjPMtXHyCe123nD4jvKDLg/w434-h640/20220514_115853.jpg" width="434" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Marsh Valerian, Askham Bog, 14/05/2022<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwTDT_eA7aUY0QgI4R8kmqccJ2NARbeuJNW4EvfQNZL219jb_B99hRu_3Us3_oGWOZIwRs3EjznEdM6q2acC3GSRHyD6GlB2Xlt3C_EbEzxxBgVWsQjbop-2GQeD8Qy2o7e3AlEIf63XiLb2I6WKLpoVGEtxI2O21LoQfOonYMs9U8-XrO2UpIzCbEQ/s3223/20220528_150225.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1706" data-original-width="3223" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwTDT_eA7aUY0QgI4R8kmqccJ2NARbeuJNW4EvfQNZL219jb_B99hRu_3Us3_oGWOZIwRs3EjznEdM6q2acC3GSRHyD6GlB2Xlt3C_EbEzxxBgVWsQjbop-2GQeD8Qy2o7e3AlEIf63XiLb2I6WKLpoVGEtxI2O21LoQfOonYMs9U8-XrO2UpIzCbEQ/w640-h338/20220528_150225.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Royal Fern, Askham Bog, 28/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsZLfi-7XFkLRRtgx8KROPXLo2cgwIJIIjKeQ3WPgMvzTy_dNMHhSLiXnQ2emsnvQXyBOwxMDqw3zS67mx80VUPX15MmaOkXzBytPBzit-7m3S9aNSyfqILn8-Vwxlw5q9zhnQQd0gdn-3PQU5-qprgLOP-Fxcluuhwomw12J2uLDM0KohZrNBG7m9g/s2072/MX2A9667.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2072" data-original-width="2072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsZLfi-7XFkLRRtgx8KROPXLo2cgwIJIIjKeQ3WPgMvzTy_dNMHhSLiXnQ2emsnvQXyBOwxMDqw3zS67mx80VUPX15MmaOkXzBytPBzit-7m3S9aNSyfqILn8-Vwxlw5q9zhnQQd0gdn-3PQU5-qprgLOP-Fxcluuhwomw12J2uLDM0KohZrNBG7m9g/w640-h640/MX2A9667.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Water Violet, Askham Bog, 15/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>On my own local patch at <b>Fangfoss Park </b>I noticed the first spikey purple blooms of <b>Comfry</b>, great to photograph and attracting the interest of a single <b>Brimstone</b> butterfly, and earlier in the month an unusual flower for here or maybe just overlooked in the past, a small clump of <b>Wood Avens</b> by the side of the disused railway.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybzhCDIRBzP8w5cWkgGHLsR9K8YyC3u-mqTZqK0xG1frv5WW4XeruVJdXkSTuPuKu_QIv5AnuWiv7xuGs4qzK0JYNDVqjhgplBM148Vxikwat05K1nI-_qh5NIakwDb0PPX2U2KIKe7MlV8XBaDqZfmm-_HF1CP5xDBN-l3tOEGhnYk3nzfIJfltFxQ/s2577/MX2A9943_edited.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2577" data-original-width="2393" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybzhCDIRBzP8w5cWkgGHLsR9K8YyC3u-mqTZqK0xG1frv5WW4XeruVJdXkSTuPuKu_QIv5AnuWiv7xuGs4qzK0JYNDVqjhgplBM148Vxikwat05K1nI-_qh5NIakwDb0PPX2U2KIKe7MlV8XBaDqZfmm-_HF1CP5xDBN-l3tOEGhnYk3nzfIJfltFxQ/w594-h640/MX2A9943_edited.JPG" width="594" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Brimstone on Comfry, Fangfoss Park, 24/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ktwb34kRs5FXuA35nLgHhk9Bb46O9nA6b8js-XS-O4WzidtcK-DWhEfSImxE2gzDACfNOoj50GmZ5sopzIXxaaxk2oqqGQotOfD_KDS06X0ZEOb1Lt7HOOf8iJY9QGCsoVSgtUlBDnJJWiV--1NnIYYvyJxQO1DF7eIGVIXftlLCKZqkLtjtp2pgCw/s1699/MX2A9676.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1699" data-original-width="1699" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ktwb34kRs5FXuA35nLgHhk9Bb46O9nA6b8js-XS-O4WzidtcK-DWhEfSImxE2gzDACfNOoj50GmZ5sopzIXxaaxk2oqqGQotOfD_KDS06X0ZEOb1Lt7HOOf8iJY9QGCsoVSgtUlBDnJJWiV--1NnIYYvyJxQO1DF7eIGVIXftlLCKZqkLtjtp2pgCw/w640-h640/MX2A9676.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wood Avens, Fangfoss Park, 16/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><b>Water</b> or '<b>Nodding' Avens</b> are the ones I'm much more familiar with and there were loads of these unobtrusive and I think quite strange looking flowers alongside the damp margins of <b>Howsham Wood</b> mid month, along with <b>Wild Garlic, Pignut</b> and a single orchid species I couldn't decide whether it was <b>Common Spotted</b> or <b>Pyramidal. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuQJjf-3XFGj14IZW0CjM5z8GuDG_UPg8eqCO0QE0aAd_c3MEkX9kKbb265UQNHD0CqcOy7HfcnyVABgwTfupGBeQwJ2fd3-_k3Sh7GOGz7PyGrsj1E1TL0y0KJGKOqw4HQjiJA49JfXli6rrCdWCUbtzjLmynWU2w-zeTZqx00daXVpZiKLdhVhlPA/s2801/20220523_185946.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2586" data-original-width="2801" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuQJjf-3XFGj14IZW0CjM5z8GuDG_UPg8eqCO0QE0aAd_c3MEkX9kKbb265UQNHD0CqcOy7HfcnyVABgwTfupGBeQwJ2fd3-_k3Sh7GOGz7PyGrsj1E1TL0y0KJGKOqw4HQjiJA49JfXli6rrCdWCUbtzjLmynWU2w-zeTZqx00daXVpZiKLdhVhlPA/w640-h590/20220523_185946.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Water Avens, Howsham Wood, 23/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJphNLJHm-uws6vqTd2MjTH1ub8ebuBufH65Vv3VLGGW9owX8AoTmguAvIBB3G12rFS2FUO7TM0yQc1cNaCxYI9TQJmuaqLe773jRz_Z8z8vzmb7o-rnWCKzncvE9vRtu3yuiVZSKzgqSZSh2RaN9bY1umSbMezI0OaBX_uhuJAAe227VT28djQ4XzA/s4032/20220523_190711.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJphNLJHm-uws6vqTd2MjTH1ub8ebuBufH65Vv3VLGGW9owX8AoTmguAvIBB3G12rFS2FUO7TM0yQc1cNaCxYI9TQJmuaqLe773jRz_Z8z8vzmb7o-rnWCKzncvE9vRtu3yuiVZSKzgqSZSh2RaN9bY1umSbMezI0OaBX_uhuJAAe227VT28djQ4XzA/w480-h640/20220523_190711.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Orchid sp. ?Common Spotted, </b><b>Howsham Wood, 23/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirolU7h6hetZgvhc_7teN4LpoCxr3ZtEGjG8E1Y_JaJ-CcwfeJAYTvjTQgmyewAXVHN6ZoLAgchw-lcmT6euM3lK-OBaNgYw3aDLhJyDOwkphOhO65oZVEF56_0cZ_B7O7SNeQyDWM5OhKyNWrekVkxG-BdN6sz8j9I-zfgkoETNtAv9FiXTj3XVQOQQ/s4032/20220523_191757.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirolU7h6hetZgvhc_7teN4LpoCxr3ZtEGjG8E1Y_JaJ-CcwfeJAYTvjTQgmyewAXVHN6ZoLAgchw-lcmT6euM3lK-OBaNgYw3aDLhJyDOwkphOhO65oZVEF56_0cZ_B7O7SNeQyDWM5OhKyNWrekVkxG-BdN6sz8j9I-zfgkoETNtAv9FiXTj3XVQOQQ/w640-h480/20220523_191757.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wild Garlic, </b><b>Howsham Wood, 23/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3227" data-original-width="2420" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9k24oaFCEC6nNWXJ-s9jUoKQZcOfc4EBFCjl1LfSmzq_tHrFR-Iq1sW-2km-m0TyY73ncN_Nx1PqVBaP0EIBj-hoTxoM942rCxZ0_ir7jHzfeQPb9q-US0J1V0iRkPpNsbF9oHTJnGgYrP494QmgtCufZJQ62gOZO1Qb9iq-rOYIn6FB7YPFiJ5NWig/w480-h640/20220523_184732.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pignut, </b><b>Howsham Wood, 23/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9k24oaFCEC6nNWXJ-s9jUoKQZcOfc4EBFCjl1LfSmzq_tHrFR-Iq1sW-2km-m0TyY73ncN_Nx1PqVBaP0EIBj-hoTxoM942rCxZ0_ir7jHzfeQPb9q-US0J1V0iRkPpNsbF9oHTJnGgYrP494QmgtCufZJQ62gOZO1Qb9iq-rOYIn6FB7YPFiJ5NWig/s3227/20220523_184732.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b></b></a></div><br /><div>Lastly a couple of 'wallpaper' / screensaver candidates. A lovely carpet of <b>Germander Speedwell</b> at <b>North Cave Wetlands </b>and straying into June masses of aromatic <b>Chamomile</b> growing in crop fields adjacent to the <b>Pocklington Canal </b>a few days ago.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhTMh85aX1cUHvp1cWco6bgOk7bmw-7z3Gv82FHS8SlcV1MhoO7kVeO8UL1R3FwHOJAygL_IIvbWJ8-7UN6JJQoZZL-wXORXuyMFINRcsodmzSWkzIvPhj-opbXlM5ES9kBISnBQoKqFpRnpgW0Wzft57tg7ImwQ1PsKoPIeQxokFcpLzVmvZNtPvSA/s4032/20220512_173818.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhTMh85aX1cUHvp1cWco6bgOk7bmw-7z3Gv82FHS8SlcV1MhoO7kVeO8UL1R3FwHOJAygL_IIvbWJ8-7UN6JJQoZZL-wXORXuyMFINRcsodmzSWkzIvPhj-opbXlM5ES9kBISnBQoKqFpRnpgW0Wzft57tg7ImwQ1PsKoPIeQxokFcpLzVmvZNtPvSA/w640-h480/20220512_173818.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Germander Speedwell, North Cave Wetlands, 12/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfesIOSL4F11qQUd7gLb28ib6aamFp6k0mBO1ZbHS73Lj2XeJEdY6FCpQMgKKsytBRlBK9QQFREmJ7B2YwMBxatKU62N0OjVuqhMyWozvZ6NUWtxzgfvfawYEW1hDWsQYibvxHFeeW70SlxAiFD5NUW2vPd4LVA_UdhiNFBgGFRqYcGVu5lNVmZ1Ibw/s4032/20220606_130332.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfesIOSL4F11qQUd7gLb28ib6aamFp6k0mBO1ZbHS73Lj2XeJEdY6FCpQMgKKsytBRlBK9QQFREmJ7B2YwMBxatKU62N0OjVuqhMyWozvZ6NUWtxzgfvfawYEW1hDWsQYibvxHFeeW70SlxAiFD5NUW2vPd4LVA_UdhiNFBgGFRqYcGVu5lNVmZ1Ibw/w640-h480/20220606_130332.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Chamomile, Pocklington Canal, 06/06/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><div>It's true I hardly saw a single orchid all month but you don't need the exotic to brighten up a Spring walk - all of the above are common wild flowers, within reach of most - probably not enough of them but they're still there thank God! 🌼🌻🌺</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div></div></div></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-25667145672238162432022-05-20T21:25:00.001+01:002022-05-25T21:31:42.920+01:002 stunning bird records for the York area and both new to me - Glossy Ibis & Ferruginous Duck.<p>May - always a good month for unusual birds passing through and whilst the coast usually turns up most of the interesting stuff, it was within the confines of the York recording area that produced a couple of new birds for me. </p><p>I've seen flocks of <b>Glossy Ibis</b> numbering well into the 1,000s over the wetland areas of Andalucía and the Ebro Delta in Spain but always contrived to miss them when they crop up here (which they have been doing in increasing numbers over the past decade). So I was well chuffed to hear about not one, but three turning up on my doorstep at <b>Wheldrake Ings</b> on the 8th.</p><p>Walking down to Swantail Hide where 2 of the Ibis's were still present on the 10th I got lucky with a flight shot of one of 2 <b>Cuckoos </b>(presumably a pair) flying around the riverside trees.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifL4fEUUVOyFW89NJDzNM3srJRoyvCrS098Gy1rlmAuKjmxhjiNn49-xLPjL9WiiQ794jDwK8Z3Ju9qU-ZbBSEHgWNQR0E4JCm-i4CliR_8hlkYLHIJwdWbYhyAajmsF_60ZQR9WAkS-SuIK3DdUPgezQ3P5pdGHjLBYiv4-ojTFGobnlVWje_GJJ0eg/s853/MX2A9507I.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="853" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifL4fEUUVOyFW89NJDzNM3srJRoyvCrS098Gy1rlmAuKjmxhjiNn49-xLPjL9WiiQ794jDwK8Z3Ju9qU-ZbBSEHgWNQR0E4JCm-i4CliR_8hlkYLHIJwdWbYhyAajmsF_60ZQR9WAkS-SuIK3DdUPgezQ3P5pdGHjLBYiv4-ojTFGobnlVWje_GJJ0eg/w640-h640/MX2A9507I.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cuckoo, Wheldrake Ings, 10/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Not a sniff of a chance with the <b>Glossy Ibis's</b> however but at least I got a sighting. Close on 2 hrs in Swantail Hide, me and a few other local birders got 2 minutes worth of the head & neck of one that decided to show itself briefly in the long wet grass of the 'refuge area' between the Ings and the Pocklington Canal. I was happy of course to add another bird to my UK list but there was no disguising that 'could have done better' feeling I get whenever I fail to get a photographic record. By all accounts they weren't particularly flighty birds so no way was I going to get any pics from Wheldrake, but given where they were I reckoned on getting a better view from a spot I knew about on the other side of the the Pocklington Canal. Made my way there the next day and saw both birds (albeit still a distance away) feeding away in the margins of a pool that was completely hidden from the Ings side. Ok, nothing more than record pics but at least they were in clear sight. Job done, get in!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ofwaFE2lGSdGK9QlzQFrrBiQMD-fQDcOFMG0zXJ4s-77fggjV7JDyv3Hzd7ojYRmq53jNyVtd_gOewifQwQPtP60OgXxtFmOOopjQu7rOoXQuQ7B9ycOMJeiWbsaF_0haLDfo2xc7fGfqj6cwkl0vgso-NAjoMtQEqB6zjU3z3af5H5Q5CET2O9dEw/s1317/MX2A9611b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1317" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ofwaFE2lGSdGK9QlzQFrrBiQMD-fQDcOFMG0zXJ4s-77fggjV7JDyv3Hzd7ojYRmq53jNyVtd_gOewifQwQPtP60OgXxtFmOOopjQu7rOoXQuQ7B9ycOMJeiWbsaF_0haLDfo2xc7fGfqj6cwkl0vgso-NAjoMtQEqB6zjU3z3af5H5Q5CET2O9dEw/w640-h426/MX2A9611b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Glossy Ibis, Wheldrake Ings, 11/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOA3zrh2oOtxb2quRDKjCV_e_-pMKHXMSbcRmxdl73oFyPAKvz7NH-ljkD4dAchVzNhVFRZe0OZpuCJHIwMYF_XQS9wdd8jnFsbf0C9L46wRE7YaMU3HFN0iLlp4SGo7EWnzFEwAuy5egLoGvHSr_BOEXWMZRL62VMRIKDHuDczj7Cf1Y0WjyghKXxA/s1271/MX2A9625b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="1271" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOA3zrh2oOtxb2quRDKjCV_e_-pMKHXMSbcRmxdl73oFyPAKvz7NH-ljkD4dAchVzNhVFRZe0OZpuCJHIwMYF_XQS9wdd8jnFsbf0C9L46wRE7YaMU3HFN0iLlp4SGo7EWnzFEwAuy5egLoGvHSr_BOEXWMZRL62VMRIKDHuDczj7Cf1Y0WjyghKXxA/w640-h426/MX2A9625b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Glossy Ibis, Wheldrake Ings, 11/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5B58ty9QKM5QMDNln6s1dLjDubYRl6naHFbtiSVFubP-5KE0d7Wc5KE0IKaIwtmt27nQw9LAMoZa4xTm_-sFk7yadYKr7TMGXnDaENfhore0AeXlQ1u22RsPMlZi2-NhIAuHhkdmFwwpn80q68yppm5wdZdOI_dzXlQEaKk0nITD1a_WT2wCK1RBng/s1667/MX2A9646b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="1667" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5B58ty9QKM5QMDNln6s1dLjDubYRl6naHFbtiSVFubP-5KE0d7Wc5KE0IKaIwtmt27nQw9LAMoZa4xTm_-sFk7yadYKr7TMGXnDaENfhore0AeXlQ1u22RsPMlZi2-NhIAuHhkdmFwwpn80q68yppm5wdZdOI_dzXlQEaKk0nITD1a_WT2wCK1RBng/w640-h426/MX2A9646b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Glossy Ibis, Wheldrake Ings, 11/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Check this out for more information about the modest spread of the Glossy Ibis in the UK - <a href="https://www.simelliott.net/post/glossy-ibis-and-global-warming-a-trip-to-rspb-pagham-harbour-01-02-22" target="_blank">Glossy Ibis and global warming </a></div><div><br /></div><div>My 2nd new bird was another wetland species and much scarcer in the UK, a<b> Ferruginous Duck</b> on the <b>Great Lake</b> on the Castle Howard estate. Plenty of these get rejected as escapees from wildfowl collections, especially at this time of the year, so it remains to be seen if this is a truly wild bird. Added it to my list though!</div><div><br /></div><div>Access to the lake at <b>Castle Howard</b> is restricted to say the least, you've got to gain permission from either the estate security guys or the lakeside holiday park, and even then you can only walk a section of the northern bank. The '<i><b>fudge</b></i>' was tucked away in the south east corner and in the company of <b>Tufted Ducks</b>, quite a distance from me but even at range the characteristic bright eye of the male of the species was obvious. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ihLKIEOHp8QqjGNNFJsWXAUCmhswN1hmfs52PwCmNO3CAeeO-4DNP4-SlexoS5YIwHzlRRkINLfA64-q9DBofFfuLEVnKyD1emH8iqyO0LTLFVcqGOSIfa3ZVAogywWyI9F5dZVsZ0naRZT0_NOFG8aLy9pv9rl5HbKP9aX3mWugDQddHVQHYHctYQ/s911/MX2A9706.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="911" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ihLKIEOHp8QqjGNNFJsWXAUCmhswN1hmfs52PwCmNO3CAeeO-4DNP4-SlexoS5YIwHzlRRkINLfA64-q9DBofFfuLEVnKyD1emH8iqyO0LTLFVcqGOSIfa3ZVAogywWyI9F5dZVsZ0naRZT0_NOFG8aLy9pv9rl5HbKP9aX3mWugDQddHVQHYHctYQ/w640-h426/MX2A9706.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ferruginous Duck, Great Lake, Castle Howard, 16/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I can easily see how these might be missed in amongst a raft of Tufties so it was nice to see this one side by side with a female Tufted Duck. That chocolate head and generally deep russet plumage a dead give away...</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-KBqraDXRvZTZ36WfBcZfM7FrLlqjVq-Exa96ZlBNqk7pJGG4jdre7gPH3snXK6TMPZOaDqrzHzc1xj_G7ZIfuzTcDt9MY4wTJZxeIj-6oW4qYNr_vaTo9ovnRvmYTuK5fQXyEXUPFH0elVFVbFByxFE1RzBb0zgpaEvlsm6O1YpQ3bR8zB7mXqmCA/s1328/MX2A9766.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="1328" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-KBqraDXRvZTZ36WfBcZfM7FrLlqjVq-Exa96ZlBNqk7pJGG4jdre7gPH3snXK6TMPZOaDqrzHzc1xj_G7ZIfuzTcDt9MY4wTJZxeIj-6oW4qYNr_vaTo9ovnRvmYTuK5fQXyEXUPFH0elVFVbFByxFE1RzBb0zgpaEvlsm6O1YpQ3bR8zB7mXqmCA/w640-h426/MX2A9766.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ferruginous Duck with Tufted Ducks, Great Lake, Castle Howard, 16/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> To my surprise and great fortune a passing<b> Red Kite</b> spooked all of the ducks on the lake and instead of cursing my luck I was overjoyed to see the<b> Ferruginous Duck</b> plop down not 30 yards away! It soon swam away as soon he saw me but not before I was able to snap a few closer range shots.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHCaC9G-ffb8J72H7tJrcHLBoRAEL5I32hg_C20pe5bogXKrRrh1sxF2FzTk7Px4PgI2CCdInUd28euCxxmJOsY8SjhVgAbkkp5dWB24dH7bgN1yj2GEFx61APeoQ5sm1iDmZcuFpW5NMV3uFHupKNqXWkGoHUakxahLbqmz0A4Ojhqvd0HzqLIhHJw/s1638/MX2A9819.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="1638" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHCaC9G-ffb8J72H7tJrcHLBoRAEL5I32hg_C20pe5bogXKrRrh1sxF2FzTk7Px4PgI2CCdInUd28euCxxmJOsY8SjhVgAbkkp5dWB24dH7bgN1yj2GEFx61APeoQ5sm1iDmZcuFpW5NMV3uFHupKNqXWkGoHUakxahLbqmz0A4Ojhqvd0HzqLIhHJw/w640-h426/MX2A9819.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ferruginous Duck, Great Lake, Castle Howard, 16/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIorctkFJROkAYdEHXe68saxTucB95X5_n8HhiBHl-Tjg1fzInMlFxIjPTzju8OQ-JG05jBDb5q01E5CDLvxS2UrgZBuQ9Mf7NLzW6hyotRyXQGDOac3O5UrgZUVW9yiwnkDvrwfGmiJMmf9iYOCPsEMlzvsFgJPCJy839M-RwjrZSBERTSQVFnvcc_A/s1374/MX2A9827.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="1374" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIorctkFJROkAYdEHXe68saxTucB95X5_n8HhiBHl-Tjg1fzInMlFxIjPTzju8OQ-JG05jBDb5q01E5CDLvxS2UrgZBuQ9Mf7NLzW6hyotRyXQGDOac3O5UrgZUVW9yiwnkDvrwfGmiJMmf9iYOCPsEMlzvsFgJPCJy839M-RwjrZSBERTSQVFnvcc_A/w640-h426/MX2A9827.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ferruginous Duck, Great Lake, Castle Howard, 16/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibbkqo27e3FhQbOWL98yDGnIWH1xpz4KNcOUd1sx2yHMu1u6om2W3htwqJDb6ypiyEH7qkzS533Mx2qQQkYhrU6djpOMuRV2ZcA_kyvCE2Smv3zAa7EC6JxKbpfm3m7pUxSDZ0SNo99LgjgV7ffJ3_J7u5Ae6smKRpIX1iLRz8OfF1eaW48seNH-bng/s1280/MX2A9837.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibbkqo27e3FhQbOWL98yDGnIWH1xpz4KNcOUd1sx2yHMu1u6om2W3htwqJDb6ypiyEH7qkzS533Mx2qQQkYhrU6djpOMuRV2ZcA_kyvCE2Smv3zAa7EC6JxKbpfm3m7pUxSDZ0SNo99LgjgV7ffJ3_J7u5Ae6smKRpIX1iLRz8OfF1eaW48seNH-bng/w640-h426/MX2A9837.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ferruginous Duck, Great Lake, Castle Howard, 16/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>With only 20 or so of these ducks<b> </b>accepted by the BBRC (British Birds Rarity Committee) this could turn out to be a feather in the cap for the York bird area, although whilst doing a bit of prep for this post I notice that there was one that dropped in at the same location in October 2011. </div><div><br /></div><div>Further info on <b>Ferruginous Ducks</b> in the UK if you're interested - </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/V104_N02_P077%E2%80%93083_A.pdf" target="_blank"><b>The Probable breeding of Ferruginous Ducks in Avon</b></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/article_files/V93/V93_N01/V93_N01_P004_021_A002.pdf" target="_blank"><b>Identification of Ferruginous Duck & status in UK</b></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><p><br /></p>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-38205631856005435712022-05-10T22:19:00.001+01:002022-05-10T22:31:21.411+01:00Hobbies arrive in force on Thorne Moor <p>The return of <b>Hobbies</b>, surely one of our most eye catching and entertaining falcons, is always eagerly anticipated by birdwatchers in the UK. Wintering in Africa they arrive up here in Yorkshire late April / early May and often congregate at favoured locations before dispersing to breed. Agile and fast they have no problem catching their food of choice - dragonflies, so <b>Thorne Moor</b> with its huge populations of such winged insects is <b>Hobby </b>central as far as Yorkshire is concerned. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-G08FZUrQJB5__UdMEJr_1q3YFhIR4SaKd_ITRlAIHz3gyhjuRaj_mChVmWZogV2qjhwUHADElnHqlxZWO8jXJAE1xX0nAMj-yyrSTrTg1lIClvvixzsc-rAAkNGvPHabShyT9tXAA9l0pgbvQl-nic1OwQYILNmL2SEdJB1jtstTTvd7nqNjeRe6dA/s4032/20220506_134932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-G08FZUrQJB5__UdMEJr_1q3YFhIR4SaKd_ITRlAIHz3gyhjuRaj_mChVmWZogV2qjhwUHADElnHqlxZWO8jXJAE1xX0nAMj-yyrSTrTg1lIClvvixzsc-rAAkNGvPHabShyT9tXAA9l0pgbvQl-nic1OwQYILNmL2SEdJB1jtstTTvd7nqNjeRe6dA/w640-h480/20220506_134932.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Thorne Moor</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I missed them there last year but in 2020 I had 15ish along with a rare Red Footed Falcon. They must be wintering well because we had at least 25 and a few days later (May 9th) someone recorded an incredible 68! That's just mad but very welcome and bodes well for a good breeding season. </p><p>Watching these red trousered aerial masters catching dragonflies in mid air above our heads with such ease was nothing short of awe inspiring. There was certainly no shortage of dragonflies - mainly <b>4 Spot Chasers</b>, newly hatched we reckoned, and they were taking such a pasting that some of the <b>Hobbies</b> looked a a bit fat! Photography was tricky - light wasn't great and well these birds are fast, but I managed enough decent shots; here's 6 of the best ...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdnp1UCOpOtd0CTT3uzMGlAgydfei2FYwe4Rk8gE0V98oUVOlJ0-4-mkzRnqIp9k3EwbAnH9L3f5Tvxjj8UWjnl1gzRIfpWdW0FIWszY3Ne4ZeX3UmR-mWlJBxOB6Lj5d0LbcKYv66ucncxAYBvdJauTIPOLOHuw_tMR_64spNCxNm6DRS29XEVxk6Q/s1820/MX2A9431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="1820" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdnp1UCOpOtd0CTT3uzMGlAgydfei2FYwe4Rk8gE0V98oUVOlJ0-4-mkzRnqIp9k3EwbAnH9L3f5Tvxjj8UWjnl1gzRIfpWdW0FIWszY3Ne4ZeX3UmR-mWlJBxOB6Lj5d0LbcKYv66ucncxAYBvdJauTIPOLOHuw_tMR_64spNCxNm6DRS29XEVxk6Q/w640-h426/MX2A9431.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hobbies, Thorne Moor, 06/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcbsyv2m45-iVXxA0t_GLGI2s_iCokkzsxeV0qMhGD1Qgb6T_Ak6bIGXRXylMe4VYF4DpEjvSuCjhxU2Pu9PzPXvJH3in3q2rOdVxBPDI8bitzxk3KeAwCrXaj3Vd1B88eZVPFU_tHZqGBVOy2NOWw9l1b8V7KvvjkL-nAezolJx9-ZUAzMfI1JazUA/s1686/MX2A9432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="1686" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcbsyv2m45-iVXxA0t_GLGI2s_iCokkzsxeV0qMhGD1Qgb6T_Ak6bIGXRXylMe4VYF4DpEjvSuCjhxU2Pu9PzPXvJH3in3q2rOdVxBPDI8bitzxk3KeAwCrXaj3Vd1B88eZVPFU_tHZqGBVOy2NOWw9l1b8V7KvvjkL-nAezolJx9-ZUAzMfI1JazUA/w640-h426/MX2A9432.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hobbies, Thorne Moor, 06/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6GhiFHBvF5EySR4VKZOroKmr3vPBQbfWjtL7sGcnyHMDs2mWJLLyG4LRljJb71DXMrGMjCrq6sPPeOs5kf8MLcXqVkZSFBt0pAwXfQIIre3s4s_hEBundCIwmuWz9uNZKVrh4O3R38Zo_v8lMPOvmO56eb7gKNe7asPDR6x938-6PrWZkj_zFMKRRA/s1469/MX2A9436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="979" data-original-width="1469" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6GhiFHBvF5EySR4VKZOroKmr3vPBQbfWjtL7sGcnyHMDs2mWJLLyG4LRljJb71DXMrGMjCrq6sPPeOs5kf8MLcXqVkZSFBt0pAwXfQIIre3s4s_hEBundCIwmuWz9uNZKVrh4O3R38Zo_v8lMPOvmO56eb7gKNe7asPDR6x938-6PrWZkj_zFMKRRA/w640-h426/MX2A9436.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hobby with dragonfly, Thorne Moor, 06/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BID4UYkz7Z07AZnByaWLb6IPkGckLiYVqYQ02YsgnTsseJTP8jqGpwIDqo23P7wbIwfB3cr3q7MaFsHq92PNtJtyjcPb9EhKZ77Qp5Nh0gNtzN7DA_vdJZ8SuUq0-p-HftEljAtpuozIRFvhWopFkw_mVW39mRzEIXZ49mGVjEyhdEJJ1kGhOcZeWQ/s2236/MX2A9454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1491" data-original-width="2236" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BID4UYkz7Z07AZnByaWLb6IPkGckLiYVqYQ02YsgnTsseJTP8jqGpwIDqo23P7wbIwfB3cr3q7MaFsHq92PNtJtyjcPb9EhKZ77Qp5Nh0gNtzN7DA_vdJZ8SuUq0-p-HftEljAtpuozIRFvhWopFkw_mVW39mRzEIXZ49mGVjEyhdEJJ1kGhOcZeWQ/w640-h426/MX2A9454.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hobby, Thorne Moor, 06/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RV0Fc915sPiF1-9xTe0rBE7CUbz_SlMY3CGqyV6pxtCVnNkGr6BTPdOluNaW_hUCnAA50am1Ivi4nBVH9IUxGOQrhqn6B9GTeGSqw9etM1bPlEXZqPbB6Owhq60kiRCy5LmIjKBxPyEIs6BVsl3gccmhSaJImhhk2UjOUpxGsXqKcLLLm8u3pk7_Mg/s1971/MX2A9455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1314" data-original-width="1971" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RV0Fc915sPiF1-9xTe0rBE7CUbz_SlMY3CGqyV6pxtCVnNkGr6BTPdOluNaW_hUCnAA50am1Ivi4nBVH9IUxGOQrhqn6B9GTeGSqw9etM1bPlEXZqPbB6Owhq60kiRCy5LmIjKBxPyEIs6BVsl3gccmhSaJImhhk2UjOUpxGsXqKcLLLm8u3pk7_Mg/w640-h426/MX2A9455.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hobby, Thorne Moor, 06/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtd_2zCLdGtjfkMceQfOXq5eCivfyKChbF-mzWt3yFHsOSqH3RAcm2yicfw-l-AtzjKu3V2FAQkf2sYzYAkSNP3HYSDzaGbWtUJtC1yWjksuFaeLgRGogyzFsYTHsc3jSS0Mrdi78TwW32QSQL6i_bVpvTGQcem5dg_wTPS5VtKv1d177q8uBX7SNVbQ/s2369/MX2A9460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1579" data-original-width="2369" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtd_2zCLdGtjfkMceQfOXq5eCivfyKChbF-mzWt3yFHsOSqH3RAcm2yicfw-l-AtzjKu3V2FAQkf2sYzYAkSNP3HYSDzaGbWtUJtC1yWjksuFaeLgRGogyzFsYTHsc3jSS0Mrdi78TwW32QSQL6i_bVpvTGQcem5dg_wTPS5VtKv1d177q8uBX7SNVbQ/w640-h426/MX2A9460.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hobby, Thorne Moor, 06/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />These are the poor little chappies they were plucking out of the air ..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBAIcwhgWCwb7MGO_tyTu63PNf7zTvvV-A52HXF7e2M_qBnGXevH2R2QFg8d0A7OwfySD33S7vhlR01uFlcOeTIwJ1UtCCx4QmhaQFwK8_Mk3pYlM-zGVvWg6VATkej7cTSqBXFUNZFPOurtC1FAQRpzdcl434yHzmdDR8yBFtghUZilxLRRksD_DFA/s2766/MX2A9476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1844" data-original-width="2766" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBAIcwhgWCwb7MGO_tyTu63PNf7zTvvV-A52HXF7e2M_qBnGXevH2R2QFg8d0A7OwfySD33S7vhlR01uFlcOeTIwJ1UtCCx4QmhaQFwK8_Mk3pYlM-zGVvWg6VATkej7cTSqBXFUNZFPOurtC1FAQRpzdcl434yHzmdDR8yBFtghUZilxLRRksD_DFA/w640-h426/MX2A9476.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>4 Spot Chaser, Thorne Moor, 06/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Elsewhere on Thorne we heard <b>Common Cranes</b> calling but didn't manage to spot them, a <b>Little Owl</b> on the way in (new bird for the year for me), several <b>Yellow Wagtails, Cuckoo</b>, at least 6 <b>Cettis Warblers</b>, a <b>Peregrine </b>and a single <b>Swift</b> on the way out.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeZ8HxZLmwABGsPx93C84nlOYPdS2fYc0XE0dtLBQEiV0XSQZjRPFcUuw-osxGc6xY8ayLmMytY80RRni7IYsurMn4xosCwp8a8E9yKb-g6If1msxWcVCuHZkIlgZooz7D9FjsFsbBE6XVnTwas99XhP_srRLcT3l7wNwVCZ3M1jQc9Nu5ZRzabfJ6w/s1624/MX2A9351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1624" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeZ8HxZLmwABGsPx93C84nlOYPdS2fYc0XE0dtLBQEiV0XSQZjRPFcUuw-osxGc6xY8ayLmMytY80RRni7IYsurMn4xosCwp8a8E9yKb-g6If1msxWcVCuHZkIlgZooz7D9FjsFsbBE6XVnTwas99XhP_srRLcT3l7wNwVCZ3M1jQc9Nu5ZRzabfJ6w/w640-h426/MX2A9351.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Little Owl, Thorne Moor, 06/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The day before we were on nearby <b>Hatfield Moor</b>, not nearly as wild a place as Thorne but certainly more accessible! We had some good waders on the wet peatlands including both <b>Ringed </b>and <b>Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin</b>, plus <b>Curlew, Oystercatcher, Redshank</b> and <b>Lapwing, </b>at least 3 <b>Cuckoos</b>, lots of singing warblers and several <b>Stonechats</b>. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvfGS7MUJNWyC00ikhiQMDUjcOapkBk4ZSY3r39QXx-oO-hR0R21MYszTnQUt6m0F1fejBPXkkZwiUdwj2PDHLXWM7xxt3u6PS9tRItr1ykPkznfufQhpw6bNqg0gw4CsVqIu21l1183QSi8YFOd7U4BwuZiIwBT6mmnPaV0qmF7ngsKhQ6VTu65O9g/s4032/20220505_182858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvfGS7MUJNWyC00ikhiQMDUjcOapkBk4ZSY3r39QXx-oO-hR0R21MYszTnQUt6m0F1fejBPXkkZwiUdwj2PDHLXWM7xxt3u6PS9tRItr1ykPkznfufQhpw6bNqg0gw4CsVqIu21l1183QSi8YFOd7U4BwuZiIwBT6mmnPaV0qmF7ngsKhQ6VTu65O9g/w640-h480/20220505_182858.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hatfield Moor</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Much better light for photography, I even managed a passable shot of one of the <b>Little Ringed Plovers</b> in display flight and you can't beat a golden hour shot of a <b>Redshank</b>!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwSdC3AoGMTSKiAEp9nkBMjrL8LK2vf4sugrDhA4Qif4UFcgtTxpwxEPfHMH3c6VOOnAdzHZdBgqrfKN_vxGlH_hl7byyI5Y3IpE4VltP3QYQNejSfE0d5BwsVJ-PT560d8Crw4GnE1LFRS-ylIK9mLjpY8pym3hi1o6P_YE49h8RIVBVDHQ6pisK8Q/s1697/MX2A9324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1697" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwSdC3AoGMTSKiAEp9nkBMjrL8LK2vf4sugrDhA4Qif4UFcgtTxpwxEPfHMH3c6VOOnAdzHZdBgqrfKN_vxGlH_hl7byyI5Y3IpE4VltP3QYQNejSfE0d5BwsVJ-PT560d8Crw4GnE1LFRS-ylIK9mLjpY8pym3hi1o6P_YE49h8RIVBVDHQ6pisK8Q/w640-h426/MX2A9324.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Redshank, Hatfield Moor, 05/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4OOOyfqQSPFKdkbUCg1Sb7miimjc705zX196yWGxNfYR8gIM264IY9OMzHwkqeeM1YRcluHnHbREyqxdSEsU5FkNlSBdeGRSYVwt9maS9vwPV_AOoYTbStien_HEW2gzDFUIGTTcZ3d8jQdge7kom4FXrAlDpLfPO_T93X2qycV7AnvP16WUFWJh6w/s1820/MX2A9280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="1820" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4OOOyfqQSPFKdkbUCg1Sb7miimjc705zX196yWGxNfYR8gIM264IY9OMzHwkqeeM1YRcluHnHbREyqxdSEsU5FkNlSBdeGRSYVwt9maS9vwPV_AOoYTbStien_HEW2gzDFUIGTTcZ3d8jQdge7kom4FXrAlDpLfPO_T93X2qycV7AnvP16WUFWJh6w/w640-h426/MX2A9280.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Curlew, Hatfield Moor, 05/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgwYI_cOpJc1BX1VrjfG7BendSPq9mIOHJZe9Vak04Gn1H2JLJHv6z7WMWb-H06ZLlJE6laXQ5-JbDUQct6KJTCmO0sVePkQDWXr_JJlAQXjv9DFhgA5yWPjlRDxcB270RQqESPARwqZjw5n6H5S29ZlWgucCsvbh0gKh2Oeh1JHes_KHd2ZHwskQmA/s1185/MX2A9254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="1185" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgwYI_cOpJc1BX1VrjfG7BendSPq9mIOHJZe9Vak04Gn1H2JLJHv6z7WMWb-H06ZLlJE6laXQ5-JbDUQct6KJTCmO0sVePkQDWXr_JJlAQXjv9DFhgA5yWPjlRDxcB270RQqESPARwqZjw5n6H5S29ZlWgucCsvbh0gKh2Oeh1JHes_KHd2ZHwskQmA/w640-h426/MX2A9254.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ringed Plover, </b><b>Hatfield Moor, 05/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcKSU1xGS2KBS4v693zKmInnRbWNC7QVp43JqLBnrraIAg2roADDp_27hG0Q9Bn6_mH-uvOQRX1ZxduJFWf-zDAJJeeMrX4iVqhaIF7G7mEF1AYwYXT4BEk3vuGR5pkwlp2YW9ds0D2T6mnLHTJjcj--MbttTbPTPeSjbM2ST7nsRSObilTUkIlwiMg/s1023/MX2A9305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1023" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcKSU1xGS2KBS4v693zKmInnRbWNC7QVp43JqLBnrraIAg2roADDp_27hG0Q9Bn6_mH-uvOQRX1ZxduJFWf-zDAJJeeMrX4iVqhaIF7G7mEF1AYwYXT4BEk3vuGR5pkwlp2YW9ds0D2T6mnLHTJjcj--MbttTbPTPeSjbM2ST7nsRSObilTUkIlwiMg/w640-h426/MX2A9305.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Displaying Little Ringed Plover, </b><b>Hatfield Moor, 05/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZbnnecuRNaGIr-TAXMFsQrVARpdbj3lEV9ziR1bB9FQO_7yiF60kms7cP-_9lpVXa12_ShjjnlgC-UG_AWbweHKFy-sS60pYA4iDwa_uLrADVonkg0dUV0Se2WnkdwQNUSV8bHmg_QIOqrlq5b02CsBqkImx0k0U4zAelAyFUJOSRh_qkF_SdGUFHQ/s1194/MX2A9309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1194" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZbnnecuRNaGIr-TAXMFsQrVARpdbj3lEV9ziR1bB9FQO_7yiF60kms7cP-_9lpVXa12_ShjjnlgC-UG_AWbweHKFy-sS60pYA4iDwa_uLrADVonkg0dUV0Se2WnkdwQNUSV8bHmg_QIOqrlq5b02CsBqkImx0k0U4zAelAyFUJOSRh_qkF_SdGUFHQ/w640-h426/MX2A9309.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Displaying Little Ringed Plover, </b><b>Hatfield Moor, 05/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwIpkW3qEF-erAv9KOK2-1mZ72UMgQBYg0enas9Eht8YJRww-Yw4i6BXVIxytFiapKOrgMugISC_eri2HEslmmGzSzOPagBC6Yt5aQbNGVSO11792zZ35gkBnkwNm3RP7CMNBDL_KIwChIw2rY9kUtotEjXUx2U32JJVn4OEuXYs-4Mj7ts5uIUO78g/s2502/MX2A9289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1668" data-original-width="2502" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwIpkW3qEF-erAv9KOK2-1mZ72UMgQBYg0enas9Eht8YJRww-Yw4i6BXVIxytFiapKOrgMugISC_eri2HEslmmGzSzOPagBC6Yt5aQbNGVSO11792zZ35gkBnkwNm3RP7CMNBDL_KIwChIw2rY9kUtotEjXUx2U32JJVn4OEuXYs-4Mj7ts5uIUO78g/w640-h426/MX2A9289.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Singing Stonechat, </b><b>Hatfield Moor, 05/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-72603171414381090162022-05-06T20:18:00.005+01:002022-05-10T16:07:40.486+01:00Every breeding bird counts! Yorkshire birds on show as they gear up for the mating game<p> Well the Spring is well underway at last and despite not being on top form I seem to have done a half decent job of getting around my local sites. As is sadly becoming the norm at this time of the year, there's lots of chat amongst birders I speak to about the lack of <b>Swallows </b>coming back, and this year was no different with <b>Sand Martins</b> too noticeably absent until well into April for me, and I'm sure I'll be having similar conversations soon about returning <b>Swifts</b>. </p><p>It's difficult to be optimistic sometimes, but I try to celebrate what and when I can, 'every breeding bird counts' as they say, and today I was watching reassuringly large flocks of <b>House Martins, Sand Martins </b>and <b>Swallows </b>over <b>Wheldrake Ings</b> this evening. </p><p>At the same location a week or so earlier this pair of <b>Redshank </b>were certainly getting in the mood and I was lucky enough to get some half decent shots of the the proceedings from start to finish.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRf5X1ffUcE5oOvzckeoZHCjuXXISVCe3EqEPSMfYflw-3Io00x8NoK5GG8c1ixKOg6nOcjy58pbvBKWIhzb6BlwUfRIuVMqf-tchMmUyIIhlNR1oxnL3wYElhfELYPXo8fhfXrF2eyjRMjipHcbwQjpgT-YW8iSVzGi7E9CXTj1VMp0U86ZGxrf8f4Q/s1355/MX2A8963.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1355" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRf5X1ffUcE5oOvzckeoZHCjuXXISVCe3EqEPSMfYflw-3Io00x8NoK5GG8c1ixKOg6nOcjy58pbvBKWIhzb6BlwUfRIuVMqf-tchMmUyIIhlNR1oxnL3wYElhfELYPXo8fhfXrF2eyjRMjipHcbwQjpgT-YW8iSVzGi7E9CXTj1VMp0U86ZGxrf8f4Q/w640-h426/MX2A8963.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Redshank, Wheldrake Ings, 21/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6gnNWgtgx0LDxuLWNPlo6FxjDELAzEt5clHA64TSPtC2V9YPG_Cy8DtT6dszYSzbEC_WKMhJXbuYmU0cP-jFOIn3F6iUroDvDehSPrOP_qjTJWGQzLZHpEeJa1e5TreJesBTVFVUeSI83Nslfn8td6h_NBziHnVvOjA0eXCE4gfi3kQCiRdkMlmm8g/s1268/MX2A8985.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1268" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6gnNWgtgx0LDxuLWNPlo6FxjDELAzEt5clHA64TSPtC2V9YPG_Cy8DtT6dszYSzbEC_WKMhJXbuYmU0cP-jFOIn3F6iUroDvDehSPrOP_qjTJWGQzLZHpEeJa1e5TreJesBTVFVUeSI83Nslfn8td6h_NBziHnVvOjA0eXCE4gfi3kQCiRdkMlmm8g/w640-h426/MX2A8985.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Redshank, Wheldrake Ings, 21/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6gnNWgtgx0LDxuLWNPlo6FxjDELAzEt5clHA64TSPtC2V9YPG_Cy8DtT6dszYSzbEC_WKMhJXbuYmU0cP-jFOIn3F6iUroDvDehSPrOP_qjTJWGQzLZHpEeJa1e5TreJesBTVFVUeSI83Nslfn8td6h_NBziHnVvOjA0eXCE4gfi3kQCiRdkMlmm8g/s1268/MX2A8985.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcQzk04sTqW5fP9D_nA2o7qHrDPQ2_6gWaoGadWJPKFRtpCV7FOKiiFHNu_ZljDa6GmSal3-p8rqAD1J5KMYDjnQhe3brRN8cX2Z8entlFaOLGaXOXuk2iUwyDNBbY8ltB1fbu8QK7Xcu4J_h0DO1d3zL-hIBZ-M2r6xxGUTebc6Uj2-xI9WIwu_a9w/s1238/MX2A8993.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="1238" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcQzk04sTqW5fP9D_nA2o7qHrDPQ2_6gWaoGadWJPKFRtpCV7FOKiiFHNu_ZljDa6GmSal3-p8rqAD1J5KMYDjnQhe3brRN8cX2Z8entlFaOLGaXOXuk2iUwyDNBbY8ltB1fbu8QK7Xcu4J_h0DO1d3zL-hIBZ-M2r6xxGUTebc6Uj2-xI9WIwu_a9w/w640-h426/MX2A8993.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Redshank, Wheldrake Ings, 21/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfmXI4kcUHn19h_teeEZoc8mMj6ZVEUplJmpBN4QvU3Ak1vZ8zs-imU1TbdVetfY5MOYTIm84AfGSAMyJlSmBf-k9QfZJredYBn8MZzKYwQIzuiVa4LhQNFSmVIjdPEkPnwBrdFRa8PLPcWGBuRJ36cFiBNLYj583TI-vYOl8Mrxv3Cey4xUoCkMU2Q/s1325/MX2A9007.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="883" data-original-width="1325" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfmXI4kcUHn19h_teeEZoc8mMj6ZVEUplJmpBN4QvU3Ak1vZ8zs-imU1TbdVetfY5MOYTIm84AfGSAMyJlSmBf-k9QfZJredYBn8MZzKYwQIzuiVa4LhQNFSmVIjdPEkPnwBrdFRa8PLPcWGBuRJ36cFiBNLYj583TI-vYOl8Mrxv3Cey4xUoCkMU2Q/w640-h426/MX2A9007.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Redshank, Wheldrake Ings, 21/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0IcgJmacqDwmuuRP3FCI66RWeSWEdMEqT8z8hwC4CHbR31rSrcqC8_p5YF3cY2pHvjh30rbfsg-VbvFMVG3iS64-WOxod9r1eZ9LTeZ09-YC-yIlNqnK3EmE1GVkByr470zUbTLFI__HOn9cbyLgpZUQdqFt2Id3Fg7IIPhCf6KloqgsupY4YyFDaA/s1277/MX2A9002.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1277" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0IcgJmacqDwmuuRP3FCI66RWeSWEdMEqT8z8hwC4CHbR31rSrcqC8_p5YF3cY2pHvjh30rbfsg-VbvFMVG3iS64-WOxod9r1eZ9LTeZ09-YC-yIlNqnK3EmE1GVkByr470zUbTLFI__HOn9cbyLgpZUQdqFt2Id3Fg7IIPhCf6KloqgsupY4YyFDaA/w640-h426/MX2A9002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Redshank, Wheldrake Ings, 21/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvCQD_r8rVAX41cD5ylFBykH4-UtHKRVbmkcfR7rwHypX4u1K7GWYPPOeY8WGj4ZO80HxoR46K7wKHABA0QTxNU0I_Vmr0zsCqSjJ63QA2lC7TF8rqKsEGw4fYlcKDYWa0vf72nrFuXZ1PPGhUt_FBegMJDK73BSUnzk1SNEz6uS9l7zNGvHKOcKyCQ/s1491/MX2A9012.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="1491" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvCQD_r8rVAX41cD5ylFBykH4-UtHKRVbmkcfR7rwHypX4u1K7GWYPPOeY8WGj4ZO80HxoR46K7wKHABA0QTxNU0I_Vmr0zsCqSjJ63QA2lC7TF8rqKsEGw4fYlcKDYWa0vf72nrFuXZ1PPGhUt_FBegMJDK73BSUnzk1SNEz6uS9l7zNGvHKOcKyCQ/w640-h426/MX2A9012.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Redshank, Wheldrake Ings, 21/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />On my local patch at Fangfoss Park I get <b>Grey Wagtail</b> most months of the year, but rarely 2 together, so a pair the other week in one of the drains around here was encouraging indeed. And in the same location a few days later a pair of <b>Great Spotted Woodpeckers</b> were larkin about in the nearby trees.<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpaaH2jZ7SfyaMeZdOLGNdl5wQjf0DhKKMzivhQ3bXbXq6leCwA68_KCLM-b8Qogg6agmk6-KmPSq5rVmMNWbeDP_vLWhrKiuVzaFMbHgL9M6NMJ3XgaqX1NOB-8KL6lBKBFm44m1Dvlu69oFzdA-ztwXPcGdOpZXuiL1zMmCk-LvMQ34RLLk_8wJbQ/s2510/MX2A8858.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1673" data-original-width="2510" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpaaH2jZ7SfyaMeZdOLGNdl5wQjf0DhKKMzivhQ3bXbXq6leCwA68_KCLM-b8Qogg6agmk6-KmPSq5rVmMNWbeDP_vLWhrKiuVzaFMbHgL9M6NMJ3XgaqX1NOB-8KL6lBKBFm44m1Dvlu69oFzdA-ztwXPcGdOpZXuiL1zMmCk-LvMQ34RLLk_8wJbQ/w640-h426/MX2A8858.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Grey Wagtail (female), Fangfoss Park, 13/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHPw7XHM3WmLxk_6vS_D5fRu4SzD_x69Bf7bSIVGDv20Sdf1iLi9HkFetm_IMMYjqDFhVhOl9euJqAtit3d-lZhI951qPy-Ks3muhqZPCvf1rAfyK8TuJoOzo4OlJuBtwCETRHobIcirGth10Hntbkic36vAjeMfqgJQ5cNmmSclRus3foCQ_FSYaBg/s2178/MX2A8859.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1452" data-original-width="2178" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHPw7XHM3WmLxk_6vS_D5fRu4SzD_x69Bf7bSIVGDv20Sdf1iLi9HkFetm_IMMYjqDFhVhOl9euJqAtit3d-lZhI951qPy-Ks3muhqZPCvf1rAfyK8TuJoOzo4OlJuBtwCETRHobIcirGth10Hntbkic36vAjeMfqgJQ5cNmmSclRus3foCQ_FSYaBg/w640-h426/MX2A8859.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Grey Wagtail (male), Fangfoss Park, 13/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4kzcAeVEUUTLnfjiuDvjbFPrL9gl8tWzlMnbGofuAQCNjQpXdEYGnUf3aO_WA_0xgOgdyWtKKWSNMsJKNik_juS3pTutuGiSBvTenfFqic8RbajHFAu2TiGm-fd5X8fd2MSP0C5ktIyE8E5prkp3XTLOPPTLGVfLALYF6T-HdFo0Vc0TE9GHdtoyBw/s1652/MX2A9195.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="1652" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4kzcAeVEUUTLnfjiuDvjbFPrL9gl8tWzlMnbGofuAQCNjQpXdEYGnUf3aO_WA_0xgOgdyWtKKWSNMsJKNik_juS3pTutuGiSBvTenfFqic8RbajHFAu2TiGm-fd5X8fd2MSP0C5ktIyE8E5prkp3XTLOPPTLGVfLALYF6T-HdFo0Vc0TE9GHdtoyBw/w640-h426/MX2A9195.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Great Spotted Woodpecker, Fangfoss Park, 01/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div>A trip up to the North Yorks Moors to see my mate Rob produced my first returning <b>Wheatears</b> around the slopes of Saltersgate and although more likely to be passing through than breeding, some distant views of a couple of <b>Ring Ouzels</b> strutting about in a sheep field. <b>Redstarts</b> do breed locally around there though and it was good to see a couple of those too. And <b>Stonechats</b> are in that select band of small birds that seem to be doing well with several sites in the York area with good populations as well as the many pairs on the moors. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2Yo61U3j8TGNe5vnaSrjEciUQgwTxvRTEiLPXmMx2caaUzM-fBIrYdQWkrz3a53R7eX1VhgFk9Q69Wg49M_qvUCOhtFzXXVG_7AcdSHWJ2KEBLT9ldOj5DjtkyU3WnfFjuZh287nJeCVuzSij8u5v58_8oqNENK2mFpxMbsw5RYW4BVrWBIARqaQRg/s1754/MX2A9108.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="1754" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2Yo61U3j8TGNe5vnaSrjEciUQgwTxvRTEiLPXmMx2caaUzM-fBIrYdQWkrz3a53R7eX1VhgFk9Q69Wg49M_qvUCOhtFzXXVG_7AcdSHWJ2KEBLT9ldOj5DjtkyU3WnfFjuZh287nJeCVuzSij8u5v58_8oqNENK2mFpxMbsw5RYW4BVrWBIARqaQRg/w640-h426/MX2A9108.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Northern Wheatear, Saltergate, 22/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0eK98vW6RVvBLBgJ9yt4wn9I-jCOJi-Pp3ZL0fAJSqY2cpOuj4ww0i3v63PGCupmQnYS7dLkUMH-n6mI4TA6OF_Jjqvci3bElRwbBEZqnaSOGbn_JCwv3rA3_wyrhyTY_SNTtqw6ebMyp1fOJ97l_KFfDmvSPwfJuRwarLvnP_8lX8jOn5-rULMDBA/s1993/MX2A9115.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1993" data-original-width="1424" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0eK98vW6RVvBLBgJ9yt4wn9I-jCOJi-Pp3ZL0fAJSqY2cpOuj4ww0i3v63PGCupmQnYS7dLkUMH-n6mI4TA6OF_Jjqvci3bElRwbBEZqnaSOGbn_JCwv3rA3_wyrhyTY_SNTtqw6ebMyp1fOJ97l_KFfDmvSPwfJuRwarLvnP_8lX8jOn5-rULMDBA/w458-h640/MX2A9115.JPG" width="458" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Stonechat, Fen Bog, 22/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Willow Warblers</b> have arrived in force with <b>Common Whitethroat</b> not far behind and I've been seeing a couple of <b>Little Egrets</b>, another bird that's doing well of course, hanging around the Spittal Beck nr Fangfoss - only a matter of time before they breed somewhere locally.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSl24rUKJGyYMlyNLnahiMLcFGi-6Ox6uNtT30nkDgZk2b8HlfSxK4F-kAlZkrw91ShIhm37mvC67KThGUr8ERRd-bc37PFaREDYpqJBM0_1IdH9XpxEZlc_YyTDRPhNh2pA0Rix2RY5xx4wv2QX5dB3wFDWSialTFzO9TRwhF_e348gnXv7AM9__Lg/s1478/MX2A8940.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="985" data-original-width="1478" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSl24rUKJGyYMlyNLnahiMLcFGi-6Ox6uNtT30nkDgZk2b8HlfSxK4F-kAlZkrw91ShIhm37mvC67KThGUr8ERRd-bc37PFaREDYpqJBM0_1IdH9XpxEZlc_YyTDRPhNh2pA0Rix2RY5xx4wv2QX5dB3wFDWSialTFzO9TRwhF_e348gnXv7AM9__Lg/w640-h426/MX2A8940.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Little Egret, Fangfoss, 18/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqNGOqCnKLU9Vz03pYqSyfrZ0uTSR8ecVahvQOJGJIueUEYMkiGvivgccu54PfO3oVNmAV3yo_-sKyjnKWhK42pxhgDhFon39ZtVRzA2uLJ1I8K9ZSArQiSeQcpFiaIKR8oR2L5T4pn4nyrEsrPbeY6eMMYj-YhYyLaGsblUc4rXCRAVuqyx9MTM6VQ/s2222/MX2A9056.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1481" data-original-width="2222" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqNGOqCnKLU9Vz03pYqSyfrZ0uTSR8ecVahvQOJGJIueUEYMkiGvivgccu54PfO3oVNmAV3yo_-sKyjnKWhK42pxhgDhFon39ZtVRzA2uLJ1I8K9ZSArQiSeQcpFiaIKR8oR2L5T4pn4nyrEsrPbeY6eMMYj-YhYyLaGsblUc4rXCRAVuqyx9MTM6VQ/w640-h426/MX2A9056.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Willow Warbler, South Wood, Hovingham, 22/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzQlPjyEUDojxi3RrHICtA1IZqJ4jzGeon4-sMmVNHd_kH0KTwcgtY2_a4ifbhGpPnbgfoRotljKhXUdA6q5dB1gZ03IztKGiq_BqhsJ1QNMClKr5I9fDVyLkw1BDqLxu-Lp72n6A2cWKwC-UChueqQbB9JDYbopI3YwVX1X06sDXI7ccNeiViCRLtw/s1482/MX2A9223.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="988" data-original-width="1482" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzQlPjyEUDojxi3RrHICtA1IZqJ4jzGeon4-sMmVNHd_kH0KTwcgtY2_a4ifbhGpPnbgfoRotljKhXUdA6q5dB1gZ03IztKGiq_BqhsJ1QNMClKr5I9fDVyLkw1BDqLxu-Lp72n6A2cWKwC-UChueqQbB9JDYbopI3YwVX1X06sDXI7ccNeiViCRLtw/w640-h426/MX2A9223.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Whitethroat, Fangfoss, 03/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Garganey</b>, scarce breeders in the UK, thankfully keep returning to the Lower Derwent Valley and always a thrill to see even if it is usually from afar!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgsM75-ht8GUT22K0EN1Mxhhe7P7YDk2ZjvdcSgR0RfGfMHrc47Ni6uI4y_B6ApMLsQdze6imPrORgcqpGECP-T6Y2RRoGvpcVh_esRCQRnKFRthipxeLDaS_2nV4q0XsArUfYm2D-Z9sWrIHDeqIPc5Ziu2deRC_Av3YD9PZaIg91kEQD2kPDW2qPw/s920/MX2A9208.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgsM75-ht8GUT22K0EN1Mxhhe7P7YDk2ZjvdcSgR0RfGfMHrc47Ni6uI4y_B6ApMLsQdze6imPrORgcqpGECP-T6Y2RRoGvpcVh_esRCQRnKFRthipxeLDaS_2nV4q0XsArUfYm2D-Z9sWrIHDeqIPc5Ziu2deRC_Av3YD9PZaIg91kEQD2kPDW2qPw/w640-h426/MX2A9208.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Drake Garganey, Lower Derwent Valley, 02/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Corn Buntings</b> have been declining as a breeding bird in the UK for years and never a common sight anywhere in Yorkshire, but again the <b>Lower Derwent Valley</b> is a bit of a stronghold for them, and I also regularly spot them in the fields around Holme on Spalding Moor and Everingham. Just great to hear that jangly call, like a someone rattling a bunch of keys, on a still April evening.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD67hhYtdmmpwcUXWF2G7JIPNnB7ksidaZB_YPlNTTUMnfEIgJphlQrOzytj3SJi1gtJLB6UGnjOD_vPn4q8rFBs4zsVD-T9efNYBa824fRbywNKwuTZ5mCFSO9dQbq1Y5B9UcFQe4N5YP0oMsVFH2oKMbG2dYT4lQ069U5Gi3bbTwpzLN145HcVpY5A/s2019/MX2A8936.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1346" data-original-width="2019" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD67hhYtdmmpwcUXWF2G7JIPNnB7ksidaZB_YPlNTTUMnfEIgJphlQrOzytj3SJi1gtJLB6UGnjOD_vPn4q8rFBs4zsVD-T9efNYBa824fRbywNKwuTZ5mCFSO9dQbq1Y5B9UcFQe4N5YP0oMsVFH2oKMbG2dYT4lQ069U5Gi3bbTwpzLN145HcVpY5A/w640-h426/MX2A8936.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Corn Bunting, Lower Derwent Valley, 15/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Even scarcer these days, sadly our dwindling populations of <strong>Willow Tit</strong> look to be in real trouble. Long gone are the days when it was not uncommon to see these birds on a regular basis in suitable habitat of wet woodland / willow carrs. <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/askham-bog-nature-reserve" href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/askham-bog-nature-reserve" target="_blank"><strong>Askham Bog </strong></a>used to be an absolute banker for seeing them during the annual bird race in the York area but now you're lucky to see just the one. Not seen 2 together there for over a year and I should know, I'm there nearly every weekend recruiting for <a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/" href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/" target="_blank">YWT</a>. I see and hear one every now and again but not since this one in early March. I really fear for their status as a local breeder.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6UPgUIVxXImhkjbkSvRvhcjaq7aFE3xQDGnEiM_pHBy8Ww0fwhiTduyeCdPdXRNhk_vFpQG1szfsEpiIValvmti-p6BdxSO_HZZtrPyjLJy9tn_55aLI9tXVsYRt4exDXV8YE4HvT-8LQwyJAbJv5-VbBgrWpxl-EOljLN7a6bBlu6ATA9xhz6I32w/s2093/MX2A8354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1395" data-original-width="2093" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6UPgUIVxXImhkjbkSvRvhcjaq7aFE3xQDGnEiM_pHBy8Ww0fwhiTduyeCdPdXRNhk_vFpQG1szfsEpiIValvmti-p6BdxSO_HZZtrPyjLJy9tn_55aLI9tXVsYRt4exDXV8YE4HvT-8LQwyJAbJv5-VbBgrWpxl-EOljLN7a6bBlu6ATA9xhz6I32w/w640-h426/MX2A8354.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Willow Tit, Askham Bog, 06/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There's many that'll tell you that the diminishing number of small birds is because there's so many birds of prey about these days, in fact I've met several game keepers who swear by their breeches that this is the truth - complete bollocks of course, there's actually no credible evidence to support that barnstorming theory. Habitat loss on the other hand, both here and where our summer birds winter, is clear for all to see, just look around! </div><div><br /></div><div>Top of the food chain, magnificent flying machines and awesome hunters, birds of prey (or 'raptors') are thankfully doing very well in Yorkshire. I'm old enough to remember a time when any sighting of a <b>Common Buzzard</b> outside of the Lake District or Scotland was almost unheard of - now I probably have at least 2 pairs within a square mile of where I live. <b>Red Kites </b>continue to prosper as do <b>Peregrine Falcons, Hobbies, Kestrels </b>seem to be holding their own up here, and <b>Goshawks</b> are expanding too. Most amazing to me though is the onward progress of the <b>Marsh Harrier</b>. Amazing because in 1971 there was just one confirmed breeding pair in the whole of the UK (at Minsmere) and none in Yorkshire until the mid 90s at <b>Blacktoft Sands</b>. Now there's upwards of 500 pairs in the UK with 10ish pairs at Blacktoft, they bred at <b>North Cave Wetlands </b>last year and probably at <b>Wheldrake Ings</b> and several other Yorkshire sites and have even spread as far north as Scotland. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the birding world these days you have to celebrate the success stories because it's all too easy to slip into total pessimism. It's not all bad; and to my mind, if the top of the food chain (ie raptors) are doing ok then it can't be all doom and gloom for our birds. So to round off this post here's a couple each of recent <b>Red Kite & Marsh Harrier</b> pics along with a few more local breeding birds.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMif1HpLfLYrB3DHWrJjrFAOXBtRgdDyjEOkOZ6VZWB9J1giwPEF33pmab6GcS4r7e8_njggxpiUVGZOWRbi5zxq6JENF3AWOLAYBsBtXLtxkyOHUSW4-zE0GZmjmCvgn0OtBJ7_CBCBT0FBGY6hdS-HYgqykD1qQ1W7m6cC3bpjfvDbHMunKiuIsQ3Q/s1580/MX2A9241.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1053" data-original-width="1580" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMif1HpLfLYrB3DHWrJjrFAOXBtRgdDyjEOkOZ6VZWB9J1giwPEF33pmab6GcS4r7e8_njggxpiUVGZOWRbi5zxq6JENF3AWOLAYBsBtXLtxkyOHUSW4-zE0GZmjmCvgn0OtBJ7_CBCBT0FBGY6hdS-HYgqykD1qQ1W7m6cC3bpjfvDbHMunKiuIsQ3Q/w640-h426/MX2A9241.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Marsh Harrier, Blacktoft Sands, 04/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvKZcLnX6yCWHcKxgkevDPw3n-rbPYc3zsKeBsmZSWHFYy8XQqICCkqfkn_jRfbgtU4lfCNV1qZtFgNsDkAVORxt4uqWN9XE4NbFmwiC3POi1Ua2_J5NXeGHHAPPuYuMe7_nfzo1-MkQf-VY4OUMYrd5WXrL6NTQEJbITfaiaSWRl0iyUyvTGDgPsZw/s1500/MX2A9249.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvKZcLnX6yCWHcKxgkevDPw3n-rbPYc3zsKeBsmZSWHFYy8XQqICCkqfkn_jRfbgtU4lfCNV1qZtFgNsDkAVORxt4uqWN9XE4NbFmwiC3POi1Ua2_J5NXeGHHAPPuYuMe7_nfzo1-MkQf-VY4OUMYrd5WXrL6NTQEJbITfaiaSWRl0iyUyvTGDgPsZw/w640-h426/MX2A9249.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Marsh Harrier, Blacktoft Sands, 04/05/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidXdxWCH8rn0Pwo6mOx6W4gaB7bPhI0BcHHSidulo8aXW_p3lAyPFTHFpiVEpX7Rs3tZ06M6L9tKslriXZlal-B8Zc5PqNkrAbGAS4RQbtN5rdC5QtffWMGlPPkJWVI9Cj2sG3XvWZmNX3A9IsUSlilaOnn4vkejHpfs49xWLOm4yrvietDgEHC2VMA/s2160/MX2A8829b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2160" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidXdxWCH8rn0Pwo6mOx6W4gaB7bPhI0BcHHSidulo8aXW_p3lAyPFTHFpiVEpX7Rs3tZ06M6L9tKslriXZlal-B8Zc5PqNkrAbGAS4RQbtN5rdC5QtffWMGlPPkJWVI9Cj2sG3XvWZmNX3A9IsUSlilaOnn4vkejHpfs49xWLOm4yrvietDgEHC2VMA/w640-h426/MX2A8829b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red Kite with a fish, Wheldrake Ings, 06/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeVa5ZOaP54ZrX0LVm8wQDcTvoUTYndCZjqAjjxe6Oy5AOQEAEB0jkqR841aUG1tF9txpUCta9mvHR5GwmFu_ls5uhr_RXIAPenEaKe4md1zafFAyybnR8DKDZpyGAJmt5Dgxt5tEwULA4HG2TZliGW58cYbJrD5yeRZoRW-O6ImwBoSpa4W3CnT1aA/s2886/MX2A8834.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1924" data-original-width="2886" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeVa5ZOaP54ZrX0LVm8wQDcTvoUTYndCZjqAjjxe6Oy5AOQEAEB0jkqR841aUG1tF9txpUCta9mvHR5GwmFu_ls5uhr_RXIAPenEaKe4md1zafFAyybnR8DKDZpyGAJmt5Dgxt5tEwULA4HG2TZliGW58cYbJrD5yeRZoRW-O6ImwBoSpa4W3CnT1aA/w640-h426/MX2A8834.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red Kite with a fish, Wheldrake Ings, 06/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyh7FRQXVq4H6cnRBywZ4QhdM18c3RhQUUVCkOHPR5XtJhdloIAbF9mTzcIohu1o0drjPg8zACDIRBl6Y2AD-esIfSs90gMwzmt9-YkRNVuN7IRgyi2PnCc8e4g_JrryhlDdCyHbv_mmES3eQZHfX2dd1HSMN42LE6DVXKc9P1VoxFMicQQVKaxvS5A/s2071/MX2A8802.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2071" data-original-width="1642" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyh7FRQXVq4H6cnRBywZ4QhdM18c3RhQUUVCkOHPR5XtJhdloIAbF9mTzcIohu1o0drjPg8zACDIRBl6Y2AD-esIfSs90gMwzmt9-YkRNVuN7IRgyi2PnCc8e4g_JrryhlDdCyHbv_mmES3eQZHfX2dd1HSMN42LE6DVXKc9P1VoxFMicQQVKaxvS5A/w508-h640/MX2A8802.JPG" width="508" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Treecreeper, Askham Bog, 03/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLMI4KzlGnoP6jmj0Tlpk4SvxU-lICS6K0r7O74ieIpbS6M5HTV_u55THubW9wavCgCBR9urPNZaPDqLWkhOnqcvD70vwDW1XT9oU4_veWkLiBWEWr73geqYelO7YqzuHvl_ShPACnHz4ZoMhRxTwrC6VGIQFYePKHyLadFFbn5ep0ajAuO2T-dSQmg/s2367/MX2A9019.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1578" data-original-width="2367" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLMI4KzlGnoP6jmj0Tlpk4SvxU-lICS6K0r7O74ieIpbS6M5HTV_u55THubW9wavCgCBR9urPNZaPDqLWkhOnqcvD70vwDW1XT9oU4_veWkLiBWEWr73geqYelO7YqzuHvl_ShPACnHz4ZoMhRxTwrC6VGIQFYePKHyLadFFbn5ep0ajAuO2T-dSQmg/w640-h426/MX2A9019.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lapwing, Wheldrake Ings, 21/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRnQpJr4Ld2kqzOntMK6sICf6UxD9PnS8azjqtmDiOe72cP-DVoCbGTL7z99ha2BnYQaimC7pwIVvl46YLE7aGVYsfNOXn6klV-dKY1wklBKlDMQp1xa9zej9IihDfzfd2KwjjsEto2WF3aUEmQ2QjS8HvU7EhNgESVog2XqUdlGcgE8SmUx9OF8LPA/s2085/MX2A9025.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1390" data-original-width="2085" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRnQpJr4Ld2kqzOntMK6sICf6UxD9PnS8azjqtmDiOe72cP-DVoCbGTL7z99ha2BnYQaimC7pwIVvl46YLE7aGVYsfNOXn6klV-dKY1wklBKlDMQp1xa9zej9IihDfzfd2KwjjsEto2WF3aUEmQ2QjS8HvU7EhNgESVog2XqUdlGcgE8SmUx9OF8LPA/w640-h426/MX2A9025.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Barn Swallow, Wheldrake Ings, 21/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmo1LBSTnRyP1VmOd7MrRJh0SBmH7-AQ9-eJSa2d5VJFzlnj82kl6hITTGnDgFilzIeeeQfw2tjxM6SyVwpM5Ay1HAs4adGALBP7nHh44Po1PZOej-69SnjYhMQkzjlG_OlX8nAiSqtBHNTqPLN4bTHLbOw-LzfGwiXt9PVuSnxnc9_BKVb__4PxGqJw/s2153/MX2A9029.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1435" data-original-width="2153" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmo1LBSTnRyP1VmOd7MrRJh0SBmH7-AQ9-eJSa2d5VJFzlnj82kl6hITTGnDgFilzIeeeQfw2tjxM6SyVwpM5Ay1HAs4adGALBP7nHh44Po1PZOej-69SnjYhMQkzjlG_OlX8nAiSqtBHNTqPLN4bTHLbOw-LzfGwiXt9PVuSnxnc9_BKVb__4PxGqJw/w640-h426/MX2A9029.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sedge Warbler, Wheldrake Ings, 21/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlF_jF4bU7EzVQsk_Qb3UoQyTywpVOuUVQBlfNTcCc9rLJ1AbrDMYMyc73VFPIGKnW2OwdGxICSZwxhDnP0fpBD6nt2btEe1IAQ2Ka0VvF7L4WUd2nvHi3FOL2M6AHAmYWb_uLkUUdq869L0M1TPbhM83XqMmrOrQ5O_xETUPGBoxyMnchDjzD5Mq1A/s1479/MX2A8841.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="1479" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlF_jF4bU7EzVQsk_Qb3UoQyTywpVOuUVQBlfNTcCc9rLJ1AbrDMYMyc73VFPIGKnW2OwdGxICSZwxhDnP0fpBD6nt2btEe1IAQ2Ka0VvF7L4WUd2nvHi3FOL2M6AHAmYWb_uLkUUdq869L0M1TPbhM83XqMmrOrQ5O_xETUPGBoxyMnchDjzD5Mq1A/w640-h426/MX2A8841.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Skylark, Fangfoss Park, 13/04/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-9278302902814495152022-04-05T19:05:00.006+01:002022-04-25T15:47:15.358+01:00Early spring break to Antalya, Turkey. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRNH_Nk8t5y5SBW5iM0elGxSDfpdK0lkmQk2owBo3YjNmxy_zc_tI2n_ZJNZcApwgCWjIM6TzpdRZ5qS884iTlyWnc4iHP5PcmKSWZPsIjJ6j8-TqBOalZQfd-9M3DTgi3DcBde0dpuZwKEJOuJSNwYgIXIhuzu9rK9HHVNGwDmoj29WeEGO2gUNRw9Q" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="549" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRNH_Nk8t5y5SBW5iM0elGxSDfpdK0lkmQk2owBo3YjNmxy_zc_tI2n_ZJNZcApwgCWjIM6TzpdRZ5qS884iTlyWnc4iHP5PcmKSWZPsIjJ6j8-TqBOalZQfd-9M3DTgi3DcBde0dpuZwKEJOuJSNwYgIXIhuzu9rK9HHVNGwDmoj29WeEGO2gUNRw9Q=w400-h371" width="400" /></a></div>Restless after being so travel restricted for so long I've been itching to get abroad somewhere for ages, so as soon as most of the Covid restrictions on foreign travel were lifted I was on it. Having just sold my campervan (I'll have another one soon enough) a road-trip was out of the question, but I was pleasantly surprised with the value to be had with the flight / hotel / car hire options. A bit of searching, a few clicks of the mouse, and in no time at all I found myself booked on a flight to Antalya, Turkey for the last week of March. <p>My base for the week was <b>Beldibi Mah</b>, some 20 kilometres south of Antalya and used a hire car to explore up and down the coast and inland into the mountains of the <b>Beydaglari Sahil Milli Park</b> (National Park). From a birding perspective I was definitely a week too early - isn't hindsight a bittersweet thing! Very few spring arrivals, in fact I had to work hard for any decent birds, but it was enjoyable searching. Always is when you're somewhere in the world you've never been before.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkzdcQDkmIsp3C0_0us9j_LNsWmP-Sm68MOad9imBSLsOwnMYh1aocNju3BDdUGvwoQ-KbiZcK535s71xXbOewiF6sX3zyR9zy4Hg65nf5mI-TlBO34bdaACRepBw50q0PH9GeSIUe7_O6tRCQfyc_CRHeg3Fuq2AVxf93rfRJ38eWnyHQ1h5Fuc9UA/s4032/20220327_124155.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkzdcQDkmIsp3C0_0us9j_LNsWmP-Sm68MOad9imBSLsOwnMYh1aocNju3BDdUGvwoQ-KbiZcK535s71xXbOewiF6sX3zyR9zy4Hg65nf5mI-TlBO34bdaACRepBw50q0PH9GeSIUe7_O6tRCQfyc_CRHeg3Fuq2AVxf93rfRJ38eWnyHQ1h5Fuc9UA/w400-h300/20220327_124155.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Goynuk Yaylasi, nr Ovacik, 27/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>For me it was the montane areas to the Southwest of my base that charmed me the most and I made a couple of trips up as far as the foothills of the <b>Beydaglari</b> mountains and the remote villages of <b>Ovacik</b> and <b>Sotugcuma</b>. Birds may have been thin on the ground but the scenery was spectacular.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVl5aS2GWTSL15DxSSF8DPBvr8_U1-m68xycukRnGV4huxDwuqiTOBS21Hr8eTmxIz7D8NxGMqckLg_V23eeasTnjztBIY8Kl0GFd66i7YsFLWOgRcOFOALB0ka7Z-Bv2OF8ktXl_pIActEnWdbQLPk0MWicSOCN_3f3BUGD0rgiw1UuKSeHxf0_x-2w/s4032/20220327_150351.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVl5aS2GWTSL15DxSSF8DPBvr8_U1-m68xycukRnGV4huxDwuqiTOBS21Hr8eTmxIz7D8NxGMqckLg_V23eeasTnjztBIY8Kl0GFd66i7YsFLWOgRcOFOALB0ka7Z-Bv2OF8ktXl_pIActEnWdbQLPk0MWicSOCN_3f3BUGD0rgiw1UuKSeHxf0_x-2w/w640-h480/20220327_150351.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bey Mountains, nr Ovacik, 27/03/2022<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiniZDkdXxLKOpmW9dmiVHGBu0OzY1cmz1jpUOKhjolWzHILM6_JCUoO7M4J9Pms08rcJWcj_9czILZuIXOf6lxRnrUA-Hj4rGXKAuCifY5piASc8Z00BpgpRAEFueL35u0gnnmI1rm3iYeVoFVRtCpWnhc--BlRmdaEYkmIdLq_OelImd7j7TJihnjw/s4032/20220329_130433.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiniZDkdXxLKOpmW9dmiVHGBu0OzY1cmz1jpUOKhjolWzHILM6_JCUoO7M4J9Pms08rcJWcj_9czILZuIXOf6lxRnrUA-Hj4rGXKAuCifY5piASc8Z00BpgpRAEFueL35u0gnnmI1rm3iYeVoFVRtCpWnhc--BlRmdaEYkmIdLq_OelImd7j7TJihnjw/w640-h480/20220329_130433.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Alcadag, Nr Sogutcuma, 29/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GSlzKdE0lGnvoU2PzLT4MvaLQrBz-BZk1IIr5V2EnoAWTKdc4huHUHoaaCr5v0p-hYXdwicEqiVGb6DiHgzXVijTKj_VBDpJw5dfv3_2hWIWfdwSonCVHGsK_cyfTHt16X6qqEK0JIW8_CGc15RLB9FlQ0uFuXS1MVJyrQRWx18soQP-ZJdIr5mNmA/s4032/20220329_134100.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GSlzKdE0lGnvoU2PzLT4MvaLQrBz-BZk1IIr5V2EnoAWTKdc4huHUHoaaCr5v0p-hYXdwicEqiVGb6DiHgzXVijTKj_VBDpJw5dfv3_2hWIWfdwSonCVHGsK_cyfTHt16X6qqEK0JIW8_CGc15RLB9FlQ0uFuXS1MVJyrQRWx18soQP-ZJdIr5mNmA/w640-h480/20220329_134100.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sogutcuma, 29/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Most of the terrain, even in the wooded areas (that were nearly all coniferous by the way), was 'rocky'. Rocks everywhere, and this river bed that flows out at Camyuva was typical of similar broad rocky water courses I saw across the patch.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwbAiS3G1ejKdUUgOTbqwUKGPUvnmROjVBPeacE521lWp4AyjmEbXxvSpmOob_Sw3BRDS4qLMxLBOyrA_Kck48M6UndK7LtBce85gisg9YGMEGSEqozb7tnU74eYROW0dkHyOASFwW6bBzpwokdiR3jIHtA374BN413jf6bSu6N5QF4LP9ejUrPmxiQ/s4032/20220326_164613.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwbAiS3G1ejKdUUgOTbqwUKGPUvnmROjVBPeacE521lWp4AyjmEbXxvSpmOob_Sw3BRDS4qLMxLBOyrA_Kck48M6UndK7LtBce85gisg9YGMEGSEqozb7tnU74eYROW0dkHyOASFwW6bBzpwokdiR3jIHtA374BN413jf6bSu6N5QF4LP9ejUrPmxiQ/w640-h480/20220326_164613.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kemer Cay at Kuzdere, 26/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>My best birds up in the mountains were <b>Kuypers Nuthatch</b>, a new bird for me, as was a single <b>Sombre Tit</b>, a <b>Hawfinch</b>, a small flock of <b>Crossbills</b>, surprising numbers of <b>Woodlark</b>, a few migratory <b>Barn Swallows, House Martins</b> and a single <b>Pallid / Common Swift</b>. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKI-N-PJZrYg-Q9N1nZbdGA3TuEKtB7brxBSABh2WHJOuv1X33utcARpYJzOsy7gRVzwFLV--EbP3sLT0SYeW84ALXCPua89QOs2ZsZJwRndJw1b7KzoXwBg0Vdw8xs34JNBh3QZy7ONKB-L0Hc2oO0IoieQXc6JZlBq802i4sMjzokFvO04afAnCbPg/s1611/MX2A8680.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1611" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKI-N-PJZrYg-Q9N1nZbdGA3TuEKtB7brxBSABh2WHJOuv1X33utcARpYJzOsy7gRVzwFLV--EbP3sLT0SYeW84ALXCPua89QOs2ZsZJwRndJw1b7KzoXwBg0Vdw8xs34JNBh3QZy7ONKB-L0Hc2oO0IoieQXc6JZlBq802i4sMjzokFvO04afAnCbPg/w640-h426/MX2A8680.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kuypers Nuthatch, nr Sogutcuma, 27/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQl0bocApdVITpsCSiKl06QGqyMjuRD-id52NDvC_jxEbPWMqXeA1PWkEqetOImSFF1NC8O0YW6Sy9S4C-UIzcpZ5HIB1VZG72-VkH6II1CX-0yLM9dtMD63t4E-nJZ2dd1z_QEBFQOtnicWGBiUXcae4JersIdrIS3A5lINvixpQSj_hBCW82XI3nQ/s1773/MX2A8695.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="1773" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQl0bocApdVITpsCSiKl06QGqyMjuRD-id52NDvC_jxEbPWMqXeA1PWkEqetOImSFF1NC8O0YW6Sy9S4C-UIzcpZ5HIB1VZG72-VkH6II1CX-0yLM9dtMD63t4E-nJZ2dd1z_QEBFQOtnicWGBiUXcae4JersIdrIS3A5lINvixpQSj_hBCW82XI3nQ/w640-h426/MX2A8695.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Woodlark, Ovacik, 29/03/2022<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aYnt78yPrPwov_BiNWa6FdVsDJ1ZsqzOkwtbL2qTSDYk0fbDHQcNSQ3uHQSzK8W75rUvrTcc07qaLvEVG3TekfANmKB0qv43I5M5DXPkhX0MV5tMAbcOBXSkSiPu1PEqwjwo_HUOYK2Z-NELAO0HVLprkXjIVXXBCa1M8TFp41jUQsZO4HJaKX81AQ/s1034/MX2A8691.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="1034" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aYnt78yPrPwov_BiNWa6FdVsDJ1ZsqzOkwtbL2qTSDYk0fbDHQcNSQ3uHQSzK8W75rUvrTcc07qaLvEVG3TekfANmKB0qv43I5M5DXPkhX0MV5tMAbcOBXSkSiPu1PEqwjwo_HUOYK2Z-NELAO0HVLprkXjIVXXBCa1M8TFp41jUQsZO4HJaKX81AQ/w400-h266/MX2A8691.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Buzzard Sp., Beldibi, 28/03/2022<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Raptors were scarce too. A couple of <b>Sparrowhawks</b>, a <b>Short Toed Eagle</b> and a dozen or so <b>Buzzards</b>, some of which were probably<b> Long Legged Buzzards</b> but my id skills on raptors is less pretty shabby to say the least - any shout outs for these?!</div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3qmw8OzSHXG8ZC24em6TDZbJrjp8hep44xloEF6_YIkm0L39KAZR9ohEpnAGQk_HiarZ4XECoKpNBh6nZJAsHYv4GAiJs1nn_HeMxU3-SfkvRdHDUYCv6mbrD4lChA4a1eBorGxYawxILVaVK73A-QQIhnDP6Df2cu0Ap6xdvQINB5m38EWYxKb0cw/s1364/MX2A8699.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="1364" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3qmw8OzSHXG8ZC24em6TDZbJrjp8hep44xloEF6_YIkm0L39KAZR9ohEpnAGQk_HiarZ4XECoKpNBh6nZJAsHYv4GAiJs1nn_HeMxU3-SfkvRdHDUYCv6mbrD4lChA4a1eBorGxYawxILVaVK73A-QQIhnDP6Df2cu0Ap6xdvQINB5m38EWYxKb0cw/w640-h426/MX2A8699.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Buzzard Sp., nr Ovacik, 29/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="1535" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihbi3LwimXXKP1F93Bl8ggwzAP9VddoY0vd2XdumjFJDzM7_hq2cPdZuOcbHYkWKMUdAYVWXAvDS0kkOXpc8L-a63Z83BZ1YCY3c2wyvsi98tU58Od4rYv9LlCaMGUpmDDYvoYirnjs1BwhvDcWrTah5HFrrePEfYSeoRivLimOQmNVi88WyDEa--Sg/w640-h426/MX2A8564.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Buzzard sp. Beldibi, 24/03/2022<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihbi3LwimXXKP1F93Bl8ggwzAP9VddoY0vd2XdumjFJDzM7_hq2cPdZuOcbHYkWKMUdAYVWXAvDS0kkOXpc8L-a63Z83BZ1YCY3c2wyvsi98tU58Od4rYv9LlCaMGUpmDDYvoYirnjs1BwhvDcWrTah5HFrrePEfYSeoRivLimOQmNVi88WyDEa--Sg/s1535/MX2A8564.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXUrK7TMWVuPD8kXHAxjLSGm4Ncll7GpGeSSXG7V6WnVHutdkHkX6WEkOrnrtqRJXsz61_qGIXCcTMXVL3NtjCUjM7cZYlv6pih61_KNv_nGs9iuNrT6J5aAgYJN4XR4aiNEkOtVNgr1Ovn5qKxVqPDqlajhdnY80cHCx5eRL46o83gN20ccEjZeyiA/s2568/MX2A8660.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1712" data-original-width="2568" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXUrK7TMWVuPD8kXHAxjLSGm4Ncll7GpGeSSXG7V6WnVHutdkHkX6WEkOrnrtqRJXsz61_qGIXCcTMXVL3NtjCUjM7cZYlv6pih61_KNv_nGs9iuNrT6J5aAgYJN4XR4aiNEkOtVNgr1Ovn5qKxVqPDqlajhdnY80cHCx5eRL46o83gN20ccEjZeyiA/w400-h266/MX2A8660.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;">White Spectacled Bulbuls, Kuzdere, 26/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div><br /></div><br />The rooftop space at my hotel in Beldibi was a vantage point that promised much but flattered to deceive - the odd soaring <b>Buzzard </b>(like the one above), passing <b>House Martins, Chiffchaffs</b> and common finches in the gardens was about it but good for seeing <b>Laughing Doves </b>close up and <b>White Spectacled Bulbuls</b> which were quite common throughout.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCanECL2aKApWSnolUgHBAAHkg7pNgn4Lw4vkK7jnCWMHJdfjB4cjObvRGTmhraryUSKS2rWMKQnHLMD9IyrilOIg7My8RX1vq2sVrbtNPHBJMxiDX_8ZcgplK-bnGAKmBNaHo5fKWi-LZHp4VW6LarX9y7WXIaSyNOvoAuiEVDHxPvr6BT4LGyYLAZQ/s2918/MX2A8561.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1945" data-original-width="2918" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCanECL2aKApWSnolUgHBAAHkg7pNgn4Lw4vkK7jnCWMHJdfjB4cjObvRGTmhraryUSKS2rWMKQnHLMD9IyrilOIg7My8RX1vq2sVrbtNPHBJMxiDX_8ZcgplK-bnGAKmBNaHo5fKWi-LZHp4VW6LarX9y7WXIaSyNOvoAuiEVDHxPvr6BT4LGyYLAZQ/w400-h266/MX2A8561.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Laughing Dove, Beldibi, 24/03/2022<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBzqeIXDt4z3x_BI_3vctIPswOe_gO980sTKKy2_FXk16LUiTA0hrksPBL9NaQ8EsM2OMOrt-MRR3-yWGkQ-O_Tj4AywYzKzAgZCiec-ONGmtjVtA39l5dDtD8PQJG0DXN4ANEoioAxdCui8ryVI5Gs1xfODMj4Vfh7Bcqd8e_oWx5MSQWHrr5d_CxA/s4032/20220324_121412.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBzqeIXDt4z3x_BI_3vctIPswOe_gO980sTKKy2_FXk16LUiTA0hrksPBL9NaQ8EsM2OMOrt-MRR3-yWGkQ-O_Tj4AywYzKzAgZCiec-ONGmtjVtA39l5dDtD8PQJG0DXN4ANEoioAxdCui8ryVI5Gs1xfODMj4Vfh7Bcqd8e_oWx5MSQWHrr5d_CxA/w400-h300/20220324_121412.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hotel roof, Beldibi Mah</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div>I had to wait until dusk on my penultimate day before another warbler species apart from <b>Chiffchaff</b>, a couple of voraciously feeding<b> Lesser Whitethroats </b>that looked noticeably bigger, longer legged and thicker billed than the ones I see back home and possible candidates for birds of the central asian race Halimodendri?</div><div><div><br /></div><div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASZ5iia2hhNVHBlD3g2IaGuPPs_hbJAB4I5XeRQxcvhnGyYzUh7ksxYjImPFeK2gtc9_QzFtEJIm4qjcFVOUQHr78inKD3gb0kE4L62xQ05crXvUlOcE8M6g_9hYGcRH9cvW3FAXCk8l0arkPjfw8M1Ac9LZ_nggzXEyFF_cy3YsViZZnN3qFbUx-bw/s1971/MX2A8753.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1314" data-original-width="1971" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASZ5iia2hhNVHBlD3g2IaGuPPs_hbJAB4I5XeRQxcvhnGyYzUh7ksxYjImPFeK2gtc9_QzFtEJIm4qjcFVOUQHr78inKD3gb0kE4L62xQ05crXvUlOcE8M6g_9hYGcRH9cvW3FAXCk8l0arkPjfw8M1Ac9LZ_nggzXEyFF_cy3YsViZZnN3qFbUx-bw/w640-h426/MX2A8753.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lesser Whitethroat (poss Central Asian), Beldibi Mah, 29/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sTAEDByMvnDbbt7HT4VO8tS1H5VlxtM_mUhOwdoZ45xGchmEYVcLfjiAtHlr6epQN7VlVoGn47jdIh_rFFMr8PSjb3VM9HJlrwicEhIcpQbsLGidzG9B_AnA4-o8H-TO0X46xKyfwYjS5VSG83nMeqsOK_hB5hSJRxhJHHVFSWBaPQ-a-QB9SoN-jA/s1809/MX2A8727.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="1809" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sTAEDByMvnDbbt7HT4VO8tS1H5VlxtM_mUhOwdoZ45xGchmEYVcLfjiAtHlr6epQN7VlVoGn47jdIh_rFFMr8PSjb3VM9HJlrwicEhIcpQbsLGidzG9B_AnA4-o8H-TO0X46xKyfwYjS5VSG83nMeqsOK_hB5hSJRxhJHHVFSWBaPQ-a-QB9SoN-jA/w640-h426/MX2A8727.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lesser Whitethroat (poss Central Asian), Beldibi Mah, 29/03/2022</b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh781bVNKyJRgucMqp7gyC-o1hF2y3CT5ASewfUPlI0WEIDyjtE_t9dwhHGIVBm0fUkxyKnHVSXS99-sIAFWuDcMnMQpEhkc-LHWgOP9N2hwHHOBwrZpBXHOKsLlN34kIlRCLLX90vM-ZgABsnEpi9mzy6IKx0pnJq27RmsUBnY0LRz7f5bE-jNGdAUag/s1697/MX2A8769.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1697" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh781bVNKyJRgucMqp7gyC-o1hF2y3CT5ASewfUPlI0WEIDyjtE_t9dwhHGIVBm0fUkxyKnHVSXS99-sIAFWuDcMnMQpEhkc-LHWgOP9N2hwHHOBwrZpBXHOKsLlN34kIlRCLLX90vM-ZgABsnEpi9mzy6IKx0pnJq27RmsUBnY0LRz7f5bE-jNGdAUag/w400-h266/MX2A8769.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ortolan Bunting, Beldibi, 29/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table>I had another first at the same location (a coastal drain just south of Beldibi) in the shape of a male <b>Rupell's Warbler, </b>a truly<b> </b>striking<b> </b>bird but sadly no photo opportunity, and a couple of male <b>Ortolan Buntings</b> in the gathering gloom I had to stalk to eventually get a record pic. On the same day <b>Wheatears</b> started appearing with several on the shorefront at Beldibi Mah, feeding amongst building excavations for yet more hotels! A few looked like half decent shouts for <b>Isabellines </b>but in truth probably all <b>Northern Wheatears</b>.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNi_HrdcxcP7s-wH3N_12IGlepLyhblK8dxwr90bhCx-OA6lr0eoz0i2dkS5Mz8qv9RDE45_1pj45jcC5JII45mgKzyPqwKToTUZjf4gTTPjEK9PnQlaAPf6eghvY3-NtD3Uzn4r0t1c6Vdafc1TTGQ8XVbJMmrNKlbCUac1Rf-YhAlUVgHds_wEPmMA/s2228/MX2A8714.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1485" data-original-width="2228" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNi_HrdcxcP7s-wH3N_12IGlepLyhblK8dxwr90bhCx-OA6lr0eoz0i2dkS5Mz8qv9RDE45_1pj45jcC5JII45mgKzyPqwKToTUZjf4gTTPjEK9PnQlaAPf6eghvY3-NtD3Uzn4r0t1c6Vdafc1TTGQ8XVbJMmrNKlbCUac1Rf-YhAlUVgHds_wEPmMA/w640-h426/MX2A8714.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Northern Wheatear, Beldibi Mah, 29/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXEfLHmhXW2qwp5yI5n3V4GRQbVVzLOvrdlR_pcjZwKngwvY3rX-FKfqeaPOaUByq8GPef3VEdifP8PFZGE1H7JUM8U1I2fQW2Uertymq1X2-7qQ49eLXs7SshvmXlv99MgqSPZ10z5zigPqvADGFPvDO9Bd96rikiUTnCvvfDWORkTNFWmGqWRchWA/s1658/MX2A8702.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1658" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXEfLHmhXW2qwp5yI5n3V4GRQbVVzLOvrdlR_pcjZwKngwvY3rX-FKfqeaPOaUByq8GPef3VEdifP8PFZGE1H7JUM8U1I2fQW2Uertymq1X2-7qQ49eLXs7SshvmXlv99MgqSPZ10z5zigPqvADGFPvDO9Bd96rikiUTnCvvfDWORkTNFWmGqWRchWA/w640-h426/MX2A8702.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Poss Ibelline Wheatear, </b><b>Beldibi Mah, 29/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfc2DWKZ3B-0p4WvM0IpSxB8505dCjiGBr_fe1JIRb3y_dc45uvyJptF9gG9G1f2Q7NfzZ-u8ECXtL6VpIRQOzDJQUseQAt7CMSfWIxCtC55wE6czy0uCU_hMEY7gfnc3DqRiBZiAvMFz1f8EOJxJOPFZC-jKOj-xEpd3AG2bp-Kp_zdedYra4Z0RvvA/s4032/20220324_182319.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfc2DWKZ3B-0p4WvM0IpSxB8505dCjiGBr_fe1JIRb3y_dc45uvyJptF9gG9G1f2Q7NfzZ-u8ECXtL6VpIRQOzDJQUseQAt7CMSfWIxCtC55wE6czy0uCU_hMEY7gfnc3DqRiBZiAvMFz1f8EOJxJOPFZC-jKOj-xEpd3AG2bp-Kp_zdedYra4Z0RvvA/w400-h300/20220324_182319.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kemer Cay at Camyuva.<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>One evening I got back to the hotel minus my smartphone. Potential disaster! Looked everywhere but there was no sign. After much swearing and unhelpful thoughts about future hassle, I remembered a stumble down a river bank trying to get a better view of a wader that turned out to be a <b>Green Sandpiper</b>, knew I'd had it before, and reckoned that was the only place it could have popped out. I needn't have worried, first thing the next morning I retraced my steps to said place and there it was sat up and looking at me on the rocky riverbank! Such relief. </div><br /><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhegYjoeFgiYO3HZWDdvSB4aOu0Ad7kDaA8PMTbCao_pojO82eZguFixC8gBhIzT8Ng9BKmmg5tWU4k-FGCZ3x_FS1MnNKLnuQJ_wTJsFk_Lxgf7aDbzl6ypMHW1T62ynsNbAic--IS2Yv_BLNr6nIKk3cJRatxVFYOpLBoOvIWz5UV8sGah5urBLsEVw" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="900" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhegYjoeFgiYO3HZWDdvSB4aOu0Ad7kDaA8PMTbCao_pojO82eZguFixC8gBhIzT8Ng9BKmmg5tWU4k-FGCZ3x_FS1MnNKLnuQJ_wTJsFk_Lxgf7aDbzl6ypMHW1T62ynsNbAic--IS2Yv_BLNr6nIKk3cJRatxVFYOpLBoOvIWz5UV8sGah5urBLsEVw=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Yellow Wagtail (Black-headed race), pic-'focussing on wildlife'</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The river in question was at Camyuva and turned out to be my only decent bit of reachable wetland and when I went back that morning there were more waders - a <b>Common Sandpiper, 5 Ruff,</b> a <b>Dunlin</b> and 6 <b>Little Ringed Plovers</b>. A few seconds later a couple of <b>Yellow Wagtails </b>of the black headed race fluttered into view. All most welcome birds - only shame was that in all my anxieties about retrieving my phone I inexplicably left the long lens at the hotel - duh!!</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>A day trip down to south facing <b>Karaoz</b> was again memorable for the drive rather than the birds. The hillside meadows were just starting to sprout spring flowers with these <b>Poppy Anemones </b>being the most abundant.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMw0UCaNf3JHqaJzucmgYFz8nDd3R41G34JcHETsACQykZ1cn6NMLVo1cDeq9EiP0K2YK1jbXYkdGLkG1W8CzfeOtW4spZdvNPZgYs7fhV2v9AZH8Thh868AfulxuLFaPZiCETQBp8aWtat0TCclmnolTh_yKwEzPvTCcDtVyS9Wmt6uIzjLjtdseNHA/s4611/MX2A8616b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3074" data-original-width="4611" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMw0UCaNf3JHqaJzucmgYFz8nDd3R41G34JcHETsACQykZ1cn6NMLVo1cDeq9EiP0K2YK1jbXYkdGLkG1W8CzfeOtW4spZdvNPZgYs7fhV2v9AZH8Thh868AfulxuLFaPZiCETQBp8aWtat0TCclmnolTh_yKwEzPvTCcDtVyS9Wmt6uIzjLjtdseNHA/w640-h426/MX2A8616b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Poppy Anemones, nr Adrasan, 25/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXpU_DJW3crSljRT87gPZDiFiRn4WPb0H8Fm7K8EWdJcgqpEgRDwUHpDk2JrE0YVIY2v9CJ2fMqv5jOi1q3Pi7mH020z7OnkvCT4FwkMFTjtjzROIPCMDD-nQjSX0G2YYRWanlpRP8ODBoXuC4Q7Cmu0iIliQBsoZ3g-Iw205REnyfbhKCHZ2irMrrQ/s3967/MX2A8615b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2645" data-original-width="3967" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXpU_DJW3crSljRT87gPZDiFiRn4WPb0H8Fm7K8EWdJcgqpEgRDwUHpDk2JrE0YVIY2v9CJ2fMqv5jOi1q3Pi7mH020z7OnkvCT4FwkMFTjtjzROIPCMDD-nQjSX0G2YYRWanlpRP8ODBoXuC4Q7Cmu0iIliQBsoZ3g-Iw205REnyfbhKCHZ2irMrrQ/w640-h426/MX2A8615b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Poppy Anemone, nr Adrasan, 25/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Another drive out, this time towards the Korkutelli Hills north west of Antalya was similarly disappointing from a birding point of view. I ended up stopping and walking around a remote settlement called Bayatbedelmeir. A frustratingly brief glimpse of a small woodpecker apart, nothing special and in many ways fairly typical of bird species I encountered in Turkey at this time of year - plenty of <b>Chiffchaffs, Song Thrush, Woodlark, Jays, Chaffinch, Serin, Greenfinch, House Sparrows, Crested Lark</b>, a lone <b>Buzzard</b> sp and <b>Stonechat</b>. Best bird was a big looking hawk that circled over my head but try as I may I couldn't turn into anything other than a <b>Sparrowhawk</b>. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLxdLml68RTCGM5Axr3DCob7E0M6mw_HTjUmjzLQQfnfvTyA6eVN8KFn4KnfUk8FXZpfLKtE7L6LDmh8tvAtGlf8yDld5_O0mpHpZFELEotc4lAMCXl_wqdsK5JBfBf1j5SDn42tAsjpqawqkEKpA7ZAYCvjJmgjSesFTakSxlqT5tvzUdSJXyCY4Lw/s1850/MX2A8644.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="1850" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLxdLml68RTCGM5Axr3DCob7E0M6mw_HTjUmjzLQQfnfvTyA6eVN8KFn4KnfUk8FXZpfLKtE7L6LDmh8tvAtGlf8yDld5_O0mpHpZFELEotc4lAMCXl_wqdsK5JBfBf1j5SDn42tAsjpqawqkEKpA7ZAYCvjJmgjSesFTakSxlqT5tvzUdSJXyCY4Lw/w640-h426/MX2A8644.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sparrowhawk, Bayatmedelmeir, 26/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>I reckon a week to 10 days later I would have doubled my paltry 75 bird species. It still seemed like winter there. We live and learn!<br /></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a few more pics from my short trip.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBicgtDsFc_ENm9izW0WUAj5Lx9VFiFLeS-9z4RmWFCex3zz27O-4kj2j7Nkq3iDFIW-ah3PqgZ6DhqW8zJXBPrjM0nKgYxBXOYD8bZyUGYAJVuSJTmxONWK7zS8bAeDYHzdSAzweGS-wd6frr3BVh6Q_va_QbUjHUsIplPh2SKiW8kjJgskMvN2KyQ/s4032/20220326_164613.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBicgtDsFc_ENm9izW0WUAj5Lx9VFiFLeS-9z4RmWFCex3zz27O-4kj2j7Nkq3iDFIW-ah3PqgZ6DhqW8zJXBPrjM0nKgYxBXOYD8bZyUGYAJVuSJTmxONWK7zS8bAeDYHzdSAzweGS-wd6frr3BVh6Q_va_QbUjHUsIplPh2SKiW8kjJgskMvN2KyQ/w640-h480/20220326_164613.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kemer Cay river at Kuzdere, 26/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfzySLfHsVGGHYUPA-QHvnPyxfrhHU0Pq0DYpNSNdykPOMlGy0cx-4lxiJVvjbTr6At3MP6hiLC8hK5ZEjYvbYn2K1MzSm4NdWW8iR-dP5uOpDZ_cENHQ6ZTRb7Yi8p49yYNjRTnep4-GsQIBjq-ojtUCmUe6AR3APXzfXcYYbXPO4YsPOtd1kGJLWw/s2511/MX2A8597.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1674" data-original-width="2511" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfzySLfHsVGGHYUPA-QHvnPyxfrhHU0Pq0DYpNSNdykPOMlGy0cx-4lxiJVvjbTr6At3MP6hiLC8hK5ZEjYvbYn2K1MzSm4NdWW8iR-dP5uOpDZ_cENHQ6ZTRb7Yi8p49yYNjRTnep4-GsQIBjq-ojtUCmUe6AR3APXzfXcYYbXPO4YsPOtd1kGJLWw/w640-h426/MX2A8597.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hoopoe, Camyuva, 24/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT139Ic-xEi9LQG5aWEamTMtinC_U5c2B6wjMrgFkk06w-JVOV4Vq2yrq18A91GJXTRCVXHQHeQPWcJJF1FqdjzKCzgzmGeL522RW6Ql5RPnadyjmuLhhWU9bmM0CaK3aSJB1NSGnJBz4aHaXZBcKq1tsH39OZ145bMPclvfoMYGTuBCYtzfcReecO2A/s4032/20220329_120028.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT139Ic-xEi9LQG5aWEamTMtinC_U5c2B6wjMrgFkk06w-JVOV4Vq2yrq18A91GJXTRCVXHQHeQPWcJJF1FqdjzKCzgzmGeL522RW6Ql5RPnadyjmuLhhWU9bmM0CaK3aSJB1NSGnJBz4aHaXZBcKq1tsH39OZ145bMPclvfoMYGTuBCYtzfcReecO2A/w640-h480/20220329_120028.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Nr Ovacik, 27/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVWWXe1xIId2kBTxm0DaL7ruWwMW9EcfROhfS1WjVPhIw_QWvwIisSYRCbq-SuRKOh1KMeqtY8zWlfUVTWFB7OEp7wS6-y9AdtDBnwjyf60eMqnofhDSrVnJmSKqIYuvy2fV9DkfD93z5srKacJCLyJoE0cEvkyMZ14hcMhg59G9wZvW_tViCTDr8aA/s1545/MX2A8647.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1030" data-original-width="1545" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVWWXe1xIId2kBTxm0DaL7ruWwMW9EcfROhfS1WjVPhIw_QWvwIisSYRCbq-SuRKOh1KMeqtY8zWlfUVTWFB7OEp7wS6-y9AdtDBnwjyf60eMqnofhDSrVnJmSKqIYuvy2fV9DkfD93z5srKacJCLyJoE0cEvkyMZ14hcMhg59G9wZvW_tViCTDr8aA/w640-h426/MX2A8647.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Serin, Bayatmedelmeir, 26/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGdZHNEl0Vn4xMrB6NwIuamlx85rS7PWwYhFTeck3GwZjjDkOXlb-w0HI8stnlYx8yQ0ECqN3Pkople60enXKnNVMiVybBREI7NXAJ_BRKgyFjaRP72_4rzegU_xk6OllTroug_ShXzFYaN99e0JDUKT-t4BvfxYcBkZo5d1PNW1t-PQ4RzUud24ckUA/s2529/MX2A8771.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1686" data-original-width="2529" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGdZHNEl0Vn4xMrB6NwIuamlx85rS7PWwYhFTeck3GwZjjDkOXlb-w0HI8stnlYx8yQ0ECqN3Pkople60enXKnNVMiVybBREI7NXAJ_BRKgyFjaRP72_4rzegU_xk6OllTroug_ShXzFYaN99e0JDUKT-t4BvfxYcBkZo5d1PNW1t-PQ4RzUud24ckUA/w640-h426/MX2A8771.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Redstart, Camyuva, 30/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5yOjOJAC5hOmEOXZCBDCM7-TzLdTN1xe6d5I_XdS_qy0OrJhyUdhSwuddJUyJ5ICoT7oMDN-Wya3bvQcnyELVBj3wbQDyYoq63Ff4Vsh3FlU5Yt-GcVIUj9YFpX5pJZtbRbZuxu0CqLwI4WRIZ1jRmyktjwZGAEm1l2i3RhQKAaRM_NIAlVmBa_HJA/s4032/20220329_142601.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5yOjOJAC5hOmEOXZCBDCM7-TzLdTN1xe6d5I_XdS_qy0OrJhyUdhSwuddJUyJ5ICoT7oMDN-Wya3bvQcnyELVBj3wbQDyYoq63Ff4Vsh3FlU5Yt-GcVIUj9YFpX5pJZtbRbZuxu0CqLwI4WRIZ1jRmyktjwZGAEm1l2i3RhQKAaRM_NIAlVmBa_HJA/w640-h480/20220329_142601.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Up in the moutains nr Sogutcuma, 29/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrtrRxfk8j94bJrBQZaOeYrEW8lijDQL8iKJ8W87HZ1_xG4YCMa8ZOlgiXLftiNsVSZWD4VfLZWtrNwzteSjkhLr71ftnIyVelvdjTK2HIFoxl-eCqZchbl558yyWqjY1GOll5ae86490SNzqb3qCwjABsh0FuYEoGPO76WrGGIFLcP-M-bE_6JYReg/s2445/MX2A8790.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1630" data-original-width="2445" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrtrRxfk8j94bJrBQZaOeYrEW8lijDQL8iKJ8W87HZ1_xG4YCMa8ZOlgiXLftiNsVSZWD4VfLZWtrNwzteSjkhLr71ftnIyVelvdjTK2HIFoxl-eCqZchbl558yyWqjY1GOll5ae86490SNzqb3qCwjABsh0FuYEoGPO76WrGGIFLcP-M-bE_6JYReg/w640-h426/MX2A8790.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Blackcap, Sarisu park, Antalya, 30/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-h5BGXRiVV7Mm-ZfVAoRM53_6-Wq9Rs1j6IDVwvQSytRoNGD7_6_0wjk51_g1oN4UOSJTzC_nXjTvivc5fgy5tSaHilFIV2GsEdQEmcYn4sXj959mti8Q7gqxeEdKVzCBXS6DlrfOoKm-HFjwet7S-JdPFOa9_wLNGJ212SvTiPZSZZDbUhcCN30a8Q/s2028/MX2A8527.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1352" data-original-width="2028" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-h5BGXRiVV7Mm-ZfVAoRM53_6-Wq9Rs1j6IDVwvQSytRoNGD7_6_0wjk51_g1oN4UOSJTzC_nXjTvivc5fgy5tSaHilFIV2GsEdQEmcYn4sXj959mti8Q7gqxeEdKVzCBXS6DlrfOoKm-HFjwet7S-JdPFOa9_wLNGJ212SvTiPZSZZDbUhcCN30a8Q/w640-h426/MX2A8527.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Chiffchaff, Beldibi Mah, 23/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-65963645604480387692022-03-07T20:13:00.007+00:002022-03-08T11:46:29.000+00:00Baikal Teal and my first Chiffchaff of the year at Pulfin Bog<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeAcRbqaU9lq8WMxRuzFakRhQGaPyeYm2BOTgaNLlL1UG4qP8P7CVLaGdrGCYTX-wk6HZSTIs_pJMKnZ5atFg9BRxtPyv6UPjfhidmYpfYdqQjoKFo3fSJIu1nyMpHkoWEq2ACHr9BFZAziKXbv_04vA4839OyXTXakXZ90rC-qtGjer1DUcroqhs5Jw=s879" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="879" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeAcRbqaU9lq8WMxRuzFakRhQGaPyeYm2BOTgaNLlL1UG4qP8P7CVLaGdrGCYTX-wk6HZSTIs_pJMKnZ5atFg9BRxtPyv6UPjfhidmYpfYdqQjoKFo3fSJIu1nyMpHkoWEq2ACHr9BFZAziKXbv_04vA4839OyXTXakXZ90rC-qtGjer1DUcroqhs5Jw=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Baikal Teal (centre), Swine Moor, 01/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;">I finally caught up with the <b>Baikal Teal </b>that's been hanging around with <b>Common Teal</b> and <b>Wigeon</b> on flooded areas at Swine Moor, near Beverley. First spotted at Hornsea Mere around New Year it had departed on the day I went, but was picked up again at Tophill Low a few days later until taking up residence at Swine Moor a few of weeks ago.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Good job there were several other birders there otherwise I'd have struggled to spot it, always distant and frustratingly asleep the whole time I was there. So nothing more than a record pic for me but here's the same bird taken by Andy Hood.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXQ1lNIEYxJfBda1N93AIZO3RQxuehnHwFzxm2DBE8Ig0UiMErP75WqT5PRzLc9xRhkMUh70K6iQvbHmXeusQzPxtzchDMx5f4tsSxlsO-L6-D2GJ0LXU4KXKc_w7PZzVNexR6u2vlOk-WVKkT1jdDlnYhIER1WebLm1J1KliLNc0iaWnDvV0ZkUhVPA=s810" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="810" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXQ1lNIEYxJfBda1N93AIZO3RQxuehnHwFzxm2DBE8Ig0UiMErP75WqT5PRzLc9xRhkMUh70K6iQvbHmXeusQzPxtzchDMx5f4tsSxlsO-L6-D2GJ0LXU4KXKc_w7PZzVNexR6u2vlOk-WVKkT1jdDlnYhIER1WebLm1J1KliLNc0iaWnDvV0ZkUhVPA=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Baikal Teal, Swine Moor, 21/02/2022. Andy Hood</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZkl9tOAXI3vrgeglkXizepWtaSNt_Cy7DGxcJEWuB_DYzq2yX2flPsud5XNjsgAMSjzNoRB-GXZYtUsY8Lv8UY6Z5yvOxDWt9wyeWbw1PcI8yDStVuX7jWnnAcMOfUQvu8hfPb2fDliM_WVGMPlYIv0RYj2F9B9mghsRJhtAsLvjm30ztUhdXWL-oEA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZkl9tOAXI3vrgeglkXizepWtaSNt_Cy7DGxcJEWuB_DYzq2yX2flPsud5XNjsgAMSjzNoRB-GXZYtUsY8Lv8UY6Z5yvOxDWt9wyeWbw1PcI8yDStVuX7jWnnAcMOfUQvu8hfPb2fDliM_WVGMPlYIv0RYj2F9B9mghsRJhtAsLvjm30ztUhdXWL-oEA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pulfin Bog, 01/03/2022<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table>I gave it a good hour but it remained in slumberland so I decided to take a walk up to <b>Pulfin Bog</b> and adjacent <b>High Eske</b> borrow pit. Situated a couple of miles further north up the <b>River Hull</b> from Swine Moor, its a place I've visited several times before and always been mildly fascinated by the place with its tidally influenced 'carr land', reedbeds, ditches and drains. Great for <b>Little Egrets!</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><br /><b><br /></b></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi82wETuz1SLVfwylJsP0O7wYYhUTf0r2-07pko4-dLlHX9zKOgHNhVf8jMkyfy1txd9wJ_GgidsMmFxz-BdfaWCi4HOPOdocSBMljtiwa33h3yMZVPcsnuWtD7hJDY7-knHx6YQV51Pnc4K_7JhgrP0TY9KQkdAoZL8BJtjjTkQffJ94VT4uXBmrJNRg=s2189" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1459" data-original-width="2189" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi82wETuz1SLVfwylJsP0O7wYYhUTf0r2-07pko4-dLlHX9zKOgHNhVf8jMkyfy1txd9wJ_GgidsMmFxz-BdfaWCi4HOPOdocSBMljtiwa33h3yMZVPcsnuWtD7hJDY7-knHx6YQV51Pnc4K_7JhgrP0TY9KQkdAoZL8BJtjjTkQffJ94VT4uXBmrJNRg=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Little Egret, River Hull, 01/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>First of the month and the meteorological start of spring, it was indeed a spring like day and I wasn't too unsurprised to see a <b>Chiffchaff</b> along with a group <b>Long-tailed Tits</b>. Never got close to a shot but the tits were quite obliging.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZfslJJ1Gms8RQXN1qZGUaRYU5J-AIJDM-Wqbb3ojtzw03KjDW0hwJtkHyx9Z-oektVVhvJ0HcfynCubN8dRzw0fvrCYfHZFUzS5PFYQAV-oUwTsl86lGwoNahysW1f0JQ-X2ahxV3fK8VqnbL8TGMTBjGnvTu4eLaIa9Oisvu3Xwxprot2TJPRMPaow=s2538" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1692" data-original-width="2538" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZfslJJ1Gms8RQXN1qZGUaRYU5J-AIJDM-Wqbb3ojtzw03KjDW0hwJtkHyx9Z-oektVVhvJ0HcfynCubN8dRzw0fvrCYfHZFUzS5PFYQAV-oUwTsl86lGwoNahysW1f0JQ-X2ahxV3fK8VqnbL8TGMTBjGnvTu4eLaIa9Oisvu3Xwxprot2TJPRMPaow=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Long-tailed Tit, Pulfin Bog, 01/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>And as I was looking up at trying to locate the Chiffchaff I saw a Bumblebee collecting pollen from emerging Willow blossom. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBT7UJvkDV_3KVuj5I7_TXe_qhX28plttOz0JLSO6DLNX9boHbczp2d-f_J9pqw0XKRqnnExle9EaZ_0eMsGZIzqD3rouzohWmfgQsJir01GGdaXQzF1v89nF1JcFodD5xkVPE58D_mLUjqRriEKleKE7mRk5uRvr3tY84rMc5DFVUcbiPcbvxd1rrrA=s1631" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1631" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBT7UJvkDV_3KVuj5I7_TXe_qhX28plttOz0JLSO6DLNX9boHbczp2d-f_J9pqw0XKRqnnExle9EaZ_0eMsGZIzqD3rouzohWmfgQsJir01GGdaXQzF1v89nF1JcFodD5xkVPE58D_mLUjqRriEKleKE7mRk5uRvr3tY84rMc5DFVUcbiPcbvxd1rrrA=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Early Bumblebee, Pulfin Bog, 01/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDg2m0cU7MPEMoljlAf0hWTXIkm7F7E0WXQSRXn5DYLn_gn_ljE3LW5JH186YI2rpZsN-Xg7A7Fism8BeFSES2XMmt8PpHVPKXgmhF31xWmI4jr3dRpY3U1AsqV1EjY_utt08ds9a7Z8Xg5btkgmSxlVmyRYjBTVNwGbWF8nqSNM1qHSEPRY5Vs7OBmQ=s2336" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1314" data-original-width="2336" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDg2m0cU7MPEMoljlAf0hWTXIkm7F7E0WXQSRXn5DYLn_gn_ljE3LW5JH186YI2rpZsN-Xg7A7Fism8BeFSES2XMmt8PpHVPKXgmhF31xWmI4jr3dRpY3U1AsqV1EjY_utt08ds9a7Z8Xg5btkgmSxlVmyRYjBTVNwGbWF8nqSNM1qHSEPRY5Vs7OBmQ=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Redshank, Pulfin Bog, 01/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table>I'm no expert but from what I know there's a small but noticeable tidal influence on the River Hull here and, via channel from the river, both the bog and the adjacent borrow bits are moderately flooded once a day. No wonder its a haven for wetland birds then. I always see a good variety of wildfowl and wading birds there and on afternoon I was there I had good numbers of <b>Goldeneye (12), Wigeon (30)</b> and <b>Teal (50)</b> along with an outstanding count of <b>96 Redshank</b>, all in one flock and looking stunning in the spring sunshine.</div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnWhtoa4klNGCXdakKw_sGYG9nXMhWu-QQ8VeGy-hZRz5att03nLScrHiMBB5Zi0LaN6MJanqIqlYZ11r2dSufUVdbaY1kURW31qHzeHnMFPvoP6SJNfVhk-DqMTicH65eYQKijsTnkrcnrNNhvO1BLJh4Xsfq_DfvIeGEJJ9BzMdXZ7GitoO-eXjIHw=s3707" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2085" data-original-width="3707" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnWhtoa4klNGCXdakKw_sGYG9nXMhWu-QQ8VeGy-hZRz5att03nLScrHiMBB5Zi0LaN6MJanqIqlYZ11r2dSufUVdbaY1kURW31qHzeHnMFPvoP6SJNfVhk-DqMTicH65eYQKijsTnkrcnrNNhvO1BLJh4Xsfq_DfvIeGEJJ9BzMdXZ7GitoO-eXjIHw=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Redshank, Pulfin Bog, 01/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLDCgwRU5qTVWj0anKQ7WLeEaNeGpSvvhPAUh9PZ7w_qJqoPSbdju7j7BvDtt3w4ArAYQ4J5Ag6HNjAyLL21gWU246K1YzNIe1cdAOicUTA--ruUTUamEw-SEDXxVUvg1d1cTB3kQyDROS6zoRlPw_XsI348Qex9Ss8PbSBi5NlfNbgKfAZFBumLlA9Q=s4189" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1774" data-original-width="4189" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLDCgwRU5qTVWj0anKQ7WLeEaNeGpSvvhPAUh9PZ7w_qJqoPSbdju7j7BvDtt3w4ArAYQ4J5Ag6HNjAyLL21gWU246K1YzNIe1cdAOicUTA--ruUTUamEw-SEDXxVUvg1d1cTB3kQyDROS6zoRlPw_XsI348Qex9Ss8PbSBi5NlfNbgKfAZFBumLlA9Q=w640-h272" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Redshank, Pulfin Bog, 01/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It's a bit out of the way (a mile or so walk up the floodbank alongside the River Hull) but an interesting place at any time of the year. A couple of mates of mine found there way on kayaks🛶🛶 but for the less intrepid here's all you need to know - <a href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/pulfin-bog-nature-reserve" target="_blank">Pulfin Bog - Access and visiting information</a>. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2plgLxgzQ9Lf12urp933cEgUfPVpbVJzO4kfHPULvf_Tz7RMy2fgqA8eS3kQqQksqxWJqvmAIMyQ73z-ifA_JcTlGIQObsIpLgBQVM0WGfSMyJA9RnVDFWdQbN4dxPmvKxeYzq5-s83C2rzxhqDQs6fz-Sh-50trE2aH52A5NHmYsi7ONda8S8z9Sag=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2plgLxgzQ9Lf12urp933cEgUfPVpbVJzO4kfHPULvf_Tz7RMy2fgqA8eS3kQqQksqxWJqvmAIMyQ73z-ifA_JcTlGIQObsIpLgBQVM0WGfSMyJA9RnVDFWdQbN4dxPmvKxeYzq5-s83C2rzxhqDQs6fz-Sh-50trE2aH52A5NHmYsi7ONda8S8z9Sag=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>River Hull at Pulfin Bog, 01/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjz5QSeXnFI038Z5vmTwU8x8G6sP3VFIm7SeEb9gLQy-w-P8pRB0Y_X0tC2D_HW9412ndv8OEq0vi0QrrxCom7KFkOCeJkAO1UuVeCPKEjyQJXjkygUlZQPt6l8lGRRi-9v5IdBtMIm4AzAwKojdmLvMew3AUtbtmxUI7VwDXXA4Q9QSjJDjMkS409wMw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjz5QSeXnFI038Z5vmTwU8x8G6sP3VFIm7SeEb9gLQy-w-P8pRB0Y_X0tC2D_HW9412ndv8OEq0vi0QrrxCom7KFkOCeJkAO1UuVeCPKEjyQJXjkygUlZQPt6l8lGRRi-9v5IdBtMIm4AzAwKojdmLvMew3AUtbtmxUI7VwDXXA4Q9QSjJDjMkS409wMw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Eske Borrow Pits, Pulfin Bog, 01/03/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-74713941583781931032022-02-25T19:22:00.003+00:002022-02-25T19:22:52.936+00:00Boxing Brown Hares <p> Wow do I need a bit of light relief from the troubles of the world right now! I sure hope the conflict in <b>Ukraine</b> isn't going to end badly, but a quick glance at the news & social media channels tells you all you need to know about how people these days are as hooked on the hype as they are concerned about those directly affected by this power grab. There's only so much 'coverage' I can stand, I need to get out and get that light relief!</p><p>In the natural world, such power struggles are routine, they happen every day - kill or be killed, breed or don't breed, feed or die. Blood curdling stuff but it's been ever thus, maintaining the natural balance and providing us all with the wonder of wildlife, with the only real harm being done by us humans and asteroids. Great theatre too and for me the perfect antidote to all this unnecessary warmongering.</p><p>A few hours spent in the countryside, tramping around my local fields soon restored a bit of balance to my world, and whilst I wasn't looking for any parallels, these 2 <b>Brown Hares</b> I'd been looking at chasing each other around only started to do a bit of 'boxing'!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjInBGFqd6OfOzeVtsOy-0xWDG7_4469mMLfWWfAvxuWHSRtR31jy5lyMjx0aslo0soc4q4DhwtYCwVgbYlgwYXbMR-vySrdCSNybeYsHaNuO8K3TEk-M2x7vjwlpv7KEMyzvpKyVaNTpqBWYZhoKs-zI5IwTKldVk6Zh09I-czBiZwrx38t-EteBa0pQ=s1932" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Boxing Brown Hares" border="0" data-original-height="1288" data-original-width="1932" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjInBGFqd6OfOzeVtsOy-0xWDG7_4469mMLfWWfAvxuWHSRtR31jy5lyMjx0aslo0soc4q4DhwtYCwVgbYlgwYXbMR-vySrdCSNybeYsHaNuO8K3TEk-M2x7vjwlpv7KEMyzvpKyVaNTpqBWYZhoKs-zI5IwTKldVk6Zh09I-czBiZwrx38t-EteBa0pQ=w640-h426" title="Boxing Brown Hares" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Brown Hares, Fangfoss Park, 22/02/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisFFOwmDreimQZKtpkwDFJRdqxMf054u29UpnkV-nbZLFgmHEfd69uwYMTGg5koMr9xH_5wC2pH5-jmj4aY1GD0GacQHkXpvygVn_8uOdESupGX8HQR8EspQ50qacaifVKgGOFduNqVwL6IM2sn0ixyLkJVL2GSV3XejAhldYPjl_avVnq4-0wsncwMg=s1583" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Boxing Brown Hares" border="0" data-original-height="1055" data-original-width="1583" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisFFOwmDreimQZKtpkwDFJRdqxMf054u29UpnkV-nbZLFgmHEfd69uwYMTGg5koMr9xH_5wC2pH5-jmj4aY1GD0GacQHkXpvygVn_8uOdESupGX8HQR8EspQ50qacaifVKgGOFduNqVwL6IM2sn0ixyLkJVL2GSV3XejAhldYPjl_avVnq4-0wsncwMg=w640-h426" title="Boxing Brown Hares" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Brown Hares, Fangfoss Park, 22/02/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcKRbC0F1QdkT_2k6H2ZTFXDbgloyPcBIY6hiFP7QLxo_EEx2dWgqMfycTQIY6Oy1c6Zv4PoNuy22pvy7LBMdg2hr3xCA4Z3SaOwI2qG99LZn7gP0iUu-70RoCKGEHjzfTjUEe0hwaFMKmCWb_Da8cR00TQMpVm4fmcH92ianEy6lsAy6v2yGAaDmonw=s1640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Boxing Brown Hares" border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="1640" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcKRbC0F1QdkT_2k6H2ZTFXDbgloyPcBIY6hiFP7QLxo_EEx2dWgqMfycTQIY6Oy1c6Zv4PoNuy22pvy7LBMdg2hr3xCA4Z3SaOwI2qG99LZn7gP0iUu-70RoCKGEHjzfTjUEe0hwaFMKmCWb_Da8cR00TQMpVm4fmcH92ianEy6lsAy6v2yGAaDmonw=w640-h426" title="Boxing Brown Hares" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Brown Hares, Fangfoss Park, 22/02/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfsJiuexCxYGuFqkXc9Ckdh88JyAxKTfTrDxksbREwPrMNnRr9DarHD-mtCEAEgXgwqUxE9OGJynAAxUemPL0NZuAuqhbqOwvHjGrfWFWc3rXubZ7oyCWP_LAggMasYYVH4xbPgchp95BpKs2E6TaIqi1RUdqkXvAKIko0QuxhXnRSnouMlyy5yeLrjw=s1848" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Boxing Brown Hares" border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="1848" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfsJiuexCxYGuFqkXc9Ckdh88JyAxKTfTrDxksbREwPrMNnRr9DarHD-mtCEAEgXgwqUxE9OGJynAAxUemPL0NZuAuqhbqOwvHjGrfWFWc3rXubZ7oyCWP_LAggMasYYVH4xbPgchp95BpKs2E6TaIqi1RUdqkXvAKIko0QuxhXnRSnouMlyy5yeLrjw=w640-h426" title="Boxing Brown Hares" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Brown Hares, Fangfoss Park, 22/02/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As far as I understand it's usually the females (does) that usually initiate the boxing in response to over amorous testosterone fuelled males (bucks) that chase them across the fields. All sorted out in a flash and a thrill to see so if you ever see a couple of <b>Hares</b> chasing each other this spring, keep watching - you might get lucky!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-29542056702219652782022-02-16T19:02:00.004+00:002022-02-16T22:36:09.751+00:00Godwits start to gather in the Lower Derwent Valley and some other signs of early spring.<p>Early spring last year produced some very healthy numbers of <b>Black Tailed Godwits</b> at Wheldrake Ings. From memory I had at least one count of 200+ there. Just a dozen or so here on the 8th Feb but their numbers will surely swell over the next few weeks. The majority of <b>Black Tailed Godwits</b> winter in Africa and SE Asia and breed across Northern Europe / Russia with a small population in the UK (around the Ouse Washes). Whilst threatened as a breeding bird in most of Europe, the Icelandic population is doing rather better and increasing year on year. Most of these birds choose to winter around the shores of Western Europe, including the UK, and gather at various wetland sites, including Wheldrake Ings, in early spring en route back to Iceland.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiudOi4FDeJBtyM2zGS9FO390k2mkFvtofXs1214bveNMCX8dqvhFEEczk_UTccbPbgGZQmKwJcBpJJKMig0IGMpqakJ5ymrcra-WwL1vzMP0sdeRGi4puw9LrNcBgk2Li9K7GN0Bge4E_b4yM_xfZZZg3YeYJgbMU8Xkv9anj8ZSX0EqfJPhaj0JbkTg=s2418" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1612" data-original-width="2418" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiudOi4FDeJBtyM2zGS9FO390k2mkFvtofXs1214bveNMCX8dqvhFEEczk_UTccbPbgGZQmKwJcBpJJKMig0IGMpqakJ5ymrcra-WwL1vzMP0sdeRGi4puw9LrNcBgk2Li9K7GN0Bge4E_b4yM_xfZZZg3YeYJgbMU8Xkv9anj8ZSX0EqfJPhaj0JbkTg=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Tailed Godwits, Wheldrake Ings, 08/02/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGydDa21SNeBOj5fzeBiOupq6eV2VV6ctF0IfjDrza4YMdlnKcxQaJKLVDsNH5-pVcepdTcqhQ4qJucVCT2eNmWuJb1E5djL5QZq8dlBXTdeZmI_Of1NzKWHCKSf5QvgOpSTN4tGqqu3w3IrYjroIQu6oVf37KxQRgJEO-4tbomme2yPosgMwYiI_Tcg=s2558" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1705" data-original-width="2558" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGydDa21SNeBOj5fzeBiOupq6eV2VV6ctF0IfjDrza4YMdlnKcxQaJKLVDsNH5-pVcepdTcqhQ4qJucVCT2eNmWuJb1E5djL5QZq8dlBXTdeZmI_Of1NzKWHCKSf5QvgOpSTN4tGqqu3w3IrYjroIQu6oVf37KxQRgJEO-4tbomme2yPosgMwYiI_Tcg=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Tailed Godwits, Wheldrake Ings, 08/02/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It was pleasing to see so many <b>Lapwings</b> and <b>Golden Plover</b> at Wheldrake too with circa 4,000 & 500 respectively plus 11 <b>Ruff</b>. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSkP8CoXNV6Y3XT2lxAFUJDhmUZUlQpOxaipWFpCCqJ5WQ1JhaDsV73Bi6fiCOC8IkjNB0FDVSpo7QBWslWruFQ4wPBYRzitZRWA1-9JUNKRFLNmsfEQlevYMB2sTslsTLNWhgKQLCauVsRTJmuf1Vt9oNBJElRG_FnQQh5A2CMlW7U2wdVg0JRVDzUQ=s3693" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2077" data-original-width="3693" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSkP8CoXNV6Y3XT2lxAFUJDhmUZUlQpOxaipWFpCCqJ5WQ1JhaDsV73Bi6fiCOC8IkjNB0FDVSpo7QBWslWruFQ4wPBYRzitZRWA1-9JUNKRFLNmsfEQlevYMB2sTslsTLNWhgKQLCauVsRTJmuf1Vt9oNBJElRG_FnQQh5A2CMlW7U2wdVg0JRVDzUQ=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lapwing flock, Wheldrake Ings, 08/02/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Elsewhere in the countryside I've seen plenty of the usual signs of the early spring - <b>Hazel Catkins, Snowdrops</b> and even the odd <b>Primrose</b>, more bird-song with <b>Song Thrushes</b> in particular spouting forth, and a build up of other birds such as <b>Shelduck </b>and <b>Oystercatchers</b> as they move away from the coast.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCB_S0cgkaZ0HvcOwQm_7U7BxMvX1Whf5z5Fhu7vxuMx7lQSbrbbvSIUkiKmYiAOnZgl7WeYGpUR3flPvHgQv8WPh0izGbaZcjFNebwfnsLhu1tE6nFbtC4Of-pMa_fNkmetaidHhC_ovrRJYLaRsjxdGCZxgGbPILt-m_iVNvKdzdpQgViAJxzMT7hA=s3024" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCB_S0cgkaZ0HvcOwQm_7U7BxMvX1Whf5z5Fhu7vxuMx7lQSbrbbvSIUkiKmYiAOnZgl7WeYGpUR3flPvHgQv8WPh0izGbaZcjFNebwfnsLhu1tE6nFbtC4Of-pMa_fNkmetaidHhC_ovrRJYLaRsjxdGCZxgGbPILt-m_iVNvKdzdpQgViAJxzMT7hA=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hazel Catkins, Staveley, 02/02/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjri5DwJM0N6pqMetyyVpj02HyRDM0XxkTby8dI6dQ1WFBXmF8y4OADBEAj3avtlrmdlzWQlIF2L4njYQvqJC_kvxfsAD50KFSbWQIApq9LWgCpcOFku4nw1QLsIfo0K9aHb80nptXvMbakuA-tfn2Ad-yyN4pXmjUn7ePAdkyAAMaMd-pJEFy88Fzlaw=s2420" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="2420" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjri5DwJM0N6pqMetyyVpj02HyRDM0XxkTby8dI6dQ1WFBXmF8y4OADBEAj3avtlrmdlzWQlIF2L4njYQvqJC_kvxfsAD50KFSbWQIApq9LWgCpcOFku4nw1QLsIfo0K9aHb80nptXvMbakuA-tfn2Ad-yyN4pXmjUn7ePAdkyAAMaMd-pJEFy88Fzlaw=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Snowdrops, Moorlands, 29/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCJxIjcXYT3UJj3112ym_-Nj2g3Awa_X1WLuQs8kYdw_op8XvwaJJs9xHLfWvVQpHXfiuCPDM8Ksbi4I52n9KZESHUAoO0fMW6puGknSNC0kSpkqKa9EGHNAWA_iUREHrzH3sXT084gsEUzgRe-DCJtkvRC_U69MhW7c96VuE88sxGl5_v7Xa-1AYGfA=s4473" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2516" data-original-width="4473" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCJxIjcXYT3UJj3112ym_-Nj2g3Awa_X1WLuQs8kYdw_op8XvwaJJs9xHLfWvVQpHXfiuCPDM8Ksbi4I52n9KZESHUAoO0fMW6puGknSNC0kSpkqKa9EGHNAWA_iUREHrzH3sXT084gsEUzgRe-DCJtkvRC_U69MhW7c96VuE88sxGl5_v7Xa-1AYGfA=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Shelduck, North Cave Wetlands, 10/02/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYxccjkcpFIs4HNpDjFigNB0GTJef3TmbcVtPVs-hqP88pwlm5q1gEQ31p0pYW8TQY2FAWTyIXN1qKDKbWihaeb8ggNcZUjUmEOk2rvqeNKQIBZkB7MTqgMQOwZJ65T__TZ4EpZi2c9AYgvin1JYvqSKWR-TCDsQHPcSUaDVDunWEqFxn2PFTRM-NOUQ=s2343" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2343" data-original-width="2343" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYxccjkcpFIs4HNpDjFigNB0GTJef3TmbcVtPVs-hqP88pwlm5q1gEQ31p0pYW8TQY2FAWTyIXN1qKDKbWihaeb8ggNcZUjUmEOk2rvqeNKQIBZkB7MTqgMQOwZJ65T__TZ4EpZi2c9AYgvin1JYvqSKWR-TCDsQHPcSUaDVDunWEqFxn2PFTRM-NOUQ=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>?Fox Moth caterpillar, 11/02/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Last week I met up with a couple of mates for a bit of a 'jamming' session 🎸🎸. It's been great to restart the music stuff over the past few weeks and we had a 'buzzing' session. Earlier in the day we went up to Sandsend for a walk around the old alum and slate mines there. Precious few birds about - Curlew, Oystercatcher, Goldcrest and a few Yellowhammers was about it, but we did see a brave caterpillar crossing the path. <b>Fox Moth</b> I reckon but could be wrong! Some stunning coastal scenery made up for the lack of birds.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgu5H-d0Y3f6xYdiBmRwJCpfrBjaFi1yNX4HKGythcazDSMaxSVN_rNVArqAEmrZQ851QaPj3VohuGhgIQYkIq3Slmbof3JYQsb0ilTNIK7ha6RXbmApvKQF5cfvL6d85uwSJb5SWEtVEoBq4QpAzPpqr56-yrijPAWFnIRImXHNw-ix7_FcQPyIFZo2A=s3935" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2623" data-original-width="3935" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgu5H-d0Y3f6xYdiBmRwJCpfrBjaFi1yNX4HKGythcazDSMaxSVN_rNVArqAEmrZQ851QaPj3VohuGhgIQYkIq3Slmbof3JYQsb0ilTNIK7ha6RXbmApvKQF5cfvL6d85uwSJb5SWEtVEoBq4QpAzPpqr56-yrijPAWFnIRImXHNw-ix7_FcQPyIFZo2A=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Deepgrove Wyke, Sandsend, 11/02/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0CgJDGtD74_sxFscfnGpTmGNNdH_yBWnMnNoa3DOKZceQDLoouQlV7EMLe1A7_kD8nRKYQ2bOgja-K03VmkUudaXQNYjirn6hmBwvZYX4LCR066pKCT3ssTKGM8rWvZo_6Mcf0ql0FbijOhUmp45q6GurovbGKh4wxVCiVwrzXfZKV3tO7UwU9Bn2ZQ=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0CgJDGtD74_sxFscfnGpTmGNNdH_yBWnMnNoa3DOKZceQDLoouQlV7EMLe1A7_kD8nRKYQ2bOgja-K03VmkUudaXQNYjirn6hmBwvZYX4LCR066pKCT3ssTKGM8rWvZo_6Mcf0ql0FbijOhUmp45q6GurovbGKh4wxVCiVwrzXfZKV3tO7UwU9Bn2ZQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Old Alum mine, Sandsend, 11/02/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>There's a few Yorkshire birds I'd like to catch up with - the <b>Baikal Teal</b> is still at Swinemoor nr Beverley, several <b>Twite </b>and <b>Snow Buntings</b> at various coastal locations, and though now long gone 3 <b>Chough </b>over Flamborough Head would have been amazing!</div><div><br /></div><div>1 added <b>Corn Bunting</b> to my year-list the other day along the Pocklington Canal but 116 is a poor tally compared with last year. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikuKZRhgP_gEpGIVNtfWDK1UeRZiC8QStN7oS6_MKb-AhBLSu2vbaz3U9ZMXFMi9p6K-W7SyCt-rLvivjYgiavKJih_XF9txEDsnp25KxDNrgeOxis_0tdK2OjhJngv4lGqDFjk19Shuunmc7XJ-WgSbGLE1jybwhn30Wcl4aUb0gEa8QTq5EMvcjcng=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="4032" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikuKZRhgP_gEpGIVNtfWDK1UeRZiC8QStN7oS6_MKb-AhBLSu2vbaz3U9ZMXFMi9p6K-W7SyCt-rLvivjYgiavKJih_XF9txEDsnp25KxDNrgeOxis_0tdK2OjhJngv4lGqDFjk19Shuunmc7XJ-WgSbGLE1jybwhn30Wcl4aUb0gEa8QTq5EMvcjcng=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Walbutt Bridge, Pocklington Canal, 14/02/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-8684077285949061762022-01-28T18:58:00.001+00:002022-01-28T18:58:35.626+00:00Crisp winter days and some cracking good New Year's birds.<p> A new year, fresh challenges and many promises to self - most of which I hope to achieve whilst realising that such is my want, many I wont! However and most importantly, I'm happy enough - <span>still doing my usual thing (strolling around birding and taking pictures mainly!), and </span>fit and healthy enough, although at 62, whilst I don't feel particularly old, becoming more and more aware that in the eyes of all the young bucks I am that grumpy old git walking around aimlessly with a pair of binoculars around his neck. It's a bit like the pandemic turning into an endemic - I must learn to live with it!</p><p>So last year I somehow manged to amass 207 bird species; very good for me, and nearly all in Yorkshire & North Lincs. Several 'twitches' in that lot of course and I fully intend to twitch again this year. So far I've managed to fail to see a <b>Dusky Warbler</b> at <a href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/wheldrake-ings-nature-reserve" target="_blank">Wheldrake Ings</a>, <b>Bittern</b> at <a href="http://northcavewetlands.com/News/News.aspx" target="_blank">North Cave Wetlands</a> and <b>Baikal Teal</b> at <a href="https://hornseamere.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Hornsea Mere</a>, but success 2nd time around with the <b>Great Grey Shrike </b>at Wistow Clough and <b>Richard's Pipit</b> on Filey Brigg. I found a <b>Water Pipit</b> in the <a href="https://ldvnnr.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lower Derwent Valley</a> and whilst at <a href="https://hornseamere.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Hornsea Mere</a> got both <b>Slavonian</b> & <b>Black Necked Grebe</b>, a <b>Long Tailed Duck</b> and 4 <b>Scaup</b>.</p><p>Of that healthy bunch my stand out bird so far this January has been the <b>Great Grey Shrike</b>. I couldn't have picked a better day for my second attempt to track down this most impressive bird, cold yes, but one of those bright and sunny winter days without a breath of wind. I watched it for a good hour or so as it flew around hedges and perched up on favoured treetops. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtqfUl4rstEnHPLPBb5JSWwd_dfh-cVyeJS1IZvmhfEFraYm5fw-YNIGlG1df-pqUXi2z1fF_6VO7vOtcUe0Eicg3bqLfj97o6kR1zabldH9hsgUfrXRsaEqGNWPwVCMbRaNW29gYwotY6rSYmh-47uXGBSxAvcx0DCuP_qhAWVb4Uc8bldpdcMB1dXw=s1073" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Great Grey Shrike, Wistow Clough" border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="1073" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtqfUl4rstEnHPLPBb5JSWwd_dfh-cVyeJS1IZvmhfEFraYm5fw-YNIGlG1df-pqUXi2z1fF_6VO7vOtcUe0Eicg3bqLfj97o6kR1zabldH9hsgUfrXRsaEqGNWPwVCMbRaNW29gYwotY6rSYmh-47uXGBSxAvcx0DCuP_qhAWVb4Uc8bldpdcMB1dXw=w640-h426" title="Great Grey Shrike, Wistow Clough" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Great Grey Shrike, Wistow Clough, nr Cawood. 17/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Even with a telescope, the problem with spotting birds at <a href="https://hornseamere.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Hornsea Mere</a> is its sheer size. It's the largest freshwater lake in Yorkshire and invariably most of the good stuff will be on the opposite side! The 4 <b>Scaup</b> came closest but the<b> Long Tailed Duck</b> was just a dot but at least I managed a record shot. No chance with the<b> Black Necked</b> and <b>Slavonian Grebe </b>but at least I saw them both.<div><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtueA-LttutDK6aLQlgzpbtt7VrbgGj2LoANUwe5A_l04dTJoYqDRzX129BoHUz4oY2fMzafPsztnXs_MNVWPxP-7vjHy79qoJZ2DNYBh1Nof84hURvHiSv24D8HSpi6UwrZg8o8eQ76yz2J8U2rdqqhU1yp1ozkte1B-_huNPxTjbf2jn1xHw6FqX_A=s930" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Long Tailed Duck, Hornsea Mere" border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="930" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtueA-LttutDK6aLQlgzpbtt7VrbgGj2LoANUwe5A_l04dTJoYqDRzX129BoHUz4oY2fMzafPsztnXs_MNVWPxP-7vjHy79qoJZ2DNYBh1Nof84hURvHiSv24D8HSpi6UwrZg8o8eQ76yz2J8U2rdqqhU1yp1ozkte1B-_huNPxTjbf2jn1xHw6FqX_A=w400-h266" title="Long Tailed Duck, Hornsea Mere" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Long Tailed Duck, Hornsea Mere. 10/01/2022<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiU3smBM_2KZg0iV5zdZyRWmWiIZ38nZnxN5Yv9GO22S1oJcmecMUzwp_L2YzX-29OMg5bEU4mVZuT0_9QkT88g17-TD-g1NT_xG3G-9qe4m-Agh48o7bI6Cz6aW2pTH-2hFVSY01azw_M65mip3TRokIsiGPMQ0UqIELM3JWGBEPe6AuzlCOwPSkm0Eg=s1484" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Scaup, Hornsea Mere" border="0" data-original-height="989" data-original-width="1484" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiU3smBM_2KZg0iV5zdZyRWmWiIZ38nZnxN5Yv9GO22S1oJcmecMUzwp_L2YzX-29OMg5bEU4mVZuT0_9QkT88g17-TD-g1NT_xG3G-9qe4m-Agh48o7bI6Cz6aW2pTH-2hFVSY01azw_M65mip3TRokIsiGPMQ0UqIELM3JWGBEPe6AuzlCOwPSkm0Eg=w400-h266" title="Scaup, Hornsea Mere" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Scaup, </b><b>Hornsea Mere. 10/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I knew about all of the above birds so it was just a case of going to find them but the thrill of finding your own good bird is something else, so I was a happy bunny indeed to find a <b>Water Pipit</b> on floodwater adjacent to the Pocklington Canal. <div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinaFTRuAj90ni6AOpbBRitMcB4OQhcDJ3i7YoP0yZRBIUIOVNsrK6IO63XxK7WVbvssv_8C3lArb5qBL3rlwb68EJh00kWzz-v5IAdlgi1z2rDyVdVYmCK2xuc2XliDDTaMhWcnVTwlOUgxGtoln6hhWwJIeTj4g9rvga5F-90ikhvTtVlqtJ1hDTxYg=s968" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Water Pipit, Pocklington Canal" border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="968" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinaFTRuAj90ni6AOpbBRitMcB4OQhcDJ3i7YoP0yZRBIUIOVNsrK6IO63XxK7WVbvssv_8C3lArb5qBL3rlwb68EJh00kWzz-v5IAdlgi1z2rDyVdVYmCK2xuc2XliDDTaMhWcnVTwlOUgxGtoln6hhWwJIeTj4g9rvga5F-90ikhvTtVlqtJ1hDTxYg=w640-h426" title="Water Pipit, Pocklington Canal" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Water Pipit, Pocklington Canal, 03/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXpF7Rfx7vo8frKv1xAzfqRDr6R4iFxsczGNu_aaR58q_mjUrMu8hYBkBErju575RskLbrVzPMt6jzB84v1zR396vea2OKSkAkbGR2R7JWN_XuUH5L7Kyql6gTOa2HRSVP19kv01mRedEw3Kgfz-txWtJ2av7ZKsjZ4p6KtOlDN_sXylj_2IY7Awg5xA=s4032" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Filey Brigg" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXpF7Rfx7vo8frKv1xAzfqRDr6R4iFxsczGNu_aaR58q_mjUrMu8hYBkBErju575RskLbrVzPMt6jzB84v1zR396vea2OKSkAkbGR2R7JWN_XuUH5L7Kyql6gTOa2HRSVP19kv01mRedEw3Kgfz-txWtJ2av7ZKsjZ4p6KtOlDN_sXylj_2IY7Awg5xA=w400-h300" title="Filey Brigg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Filey Brigg, 19/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Scarce as they are, especially around the York area, I suspect that more <b>Water Pipits</b> are missed than seen given the amount of favourable habitat throughout the <a href="https://ldvnnr.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lower Derwent Valley</a>. <b>Richard's Pipits</b> are even scarcer and although a photograph was never on the cards I was pleased to catch a brief glimpse of the elusive one that has been present at Filey for the past few weeks. No luck with <b>Grey Phalarope</b> though - been 2 reported from here recently, but 13 <b>Purple Sandpipe</b>r was a first for the year and it was good to see a few other shorebirds in great light.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTRuIHSnyq35HgnQrGsaVuQr4mFFWnC9RqcXHi_-bB3PadkD99_Iie750xZluHozp-pTWNtqdFA_CwCgLDZMdzZiODORkeROLUBlnPyWtNVa2qiJbQusTyFWpMnTmxYjmEIXKLpgiwywBsNVw9tJsOpAubft6GmA638stwmTSDyYT2FWEp50pZ_I5ceA=s2435" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Oystercatcher, Filey Brigg" border="0" data-original-height="1623" data-original-width="2435" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTRuIHSnyq35HgnQrGsaVuQr4mFFWnC9RqcXHi_-bB3PadkD99_Iie750xZluHozp-pTWNtqdFA_CwCgLDZMdzZiODORkeROLUBlnPyWtNVa2qiJbQusTyFWpMnTmxYjmEIXKLpgiwywBsNVw9tJsOpAubft6GmA638stwmTSDyYT2FWEp50pZ_I5ceA=w640-h426" title="Oystercatcher, Filey Brigg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Oystercatcher, </b><b>Filey Brigg, 19/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4Hvo398lPMvmMsxucx_BpeqMasLrGQbhZwdpbXaZX2KpER7hM4N_DzuXxfGIpmuTw9IOoUU00n_B7IH99DJyzpnT2tzUQn4BBskDSM94JvgRXrbIZTdV2PTYdkqlpqXFP2XMwXnUl_9lITcTaFAps02EYKXkHHCd56n10S3xURYPUiYZIY0x4fkH5Xg=s1214" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Shag, Filey Brigg" border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1214" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4Hvo398lPMvmMsxucx_BpeqMasLrGQbhZwdpbXaZX2KpER7hM4N_DzuXxfGIpmuTw9IOoUU00n_B7IH99DJyzpnT2tzUQn4BBskDSM94JvgRXrbIZTdV2PTYdkqlpqXFP2XMwXnUl_9lITcTaFAps02EYKXkHHCd56n10S3xURYPUiYZIY0x4fkH5Xg=w640-h426" title="Shag, Filey Brigg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Shag, prattling about on the sea, Filey Brigg, 19/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj93U2fwfzipcHCjz_n9_TMVo4OhNdOTN4PosN0EB8z9VZmdYe_vL6gPUHJf7lhVPUmjmv8KwOQM2so-hQlZcklfa_Gj3xsRpYcUTWJi7R72Zkl_4m1Qu8euJEoOBlKXJ7bzwqe_UbgcfSaHlK_Yx4Fc7i-wLn-zfXflKZdotwmoHX4eDjq3T78lTwtCg=s3368" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sanderling, Filey Brigg" border="0" data-original-height="2245" data-original-width="3368" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj93U2fwfzipcHCjz_n9_TMVo4OhNdOTN4PosN0EB8z9VZmdYe_vL6gPUHJf7lhVPUmjmv8KwOQM2so-hQlZcklfa_Gj3xsRpYcUTWJi7R72Zkl_4m1Qu8euJEoOBlKXJ7bzwqe_UbgcfSaHlK_Yx4Fc7i-wLn-zfXflKZdotwmoHX4eDjq3T78lTwtCg=w640-h426" title="Sanderling, Filey Brigg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sanderling, </b><b>Filey Brigg, 19/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Out and about elsewhere so far this January, I've got around some of my familiar haunts around the <a href="https://ldvnnr.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lower Derwent Valley</a>, <a href="http://northcavewetlands.com/News/News.aspx" target="_blank">North Cave Wetlands</a> and York, plus a couple of visits to the hills of North Yorkshire. </div><div><br /></div><div>A walk from Cockmoor Hall to the Wykeham raptor viewpoint was undertaken in the hope of seeing a <b>Goshawk</b>. It was another crisp sunny day, perfect I thought for raptors, and having seen nothing of note on the walk I was still hopeful .. certainly looked promising.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUGd5eTvMK0P4Bp2OMG47tuq7MCWLCH__aToxaPgfE9x4x_iMqKAa9CEhpx482tE3uwb3Iol2PcgBc69TDwDWVZ3kVL7pBkyqoZFGdIMtvl7ecgXSWkuV9DuWrKN3XxgLkd5b4EjMYsOabaM3hw1Ex4d8wc12khjJqqY58s12V4AStF33iPui1mgT3ug=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Raptor viewpoint, Wykeham" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUGd5eTvMK0P4Bp2OMG47tuq7MCWLCH__aToxaPgfE9x4x_iMqKAa9CEhpx482tE3uwb3Iol2PcgBc69TDwDWVZ3kVL7pBkyqoZFGdIMtvl7ecgXSWkuV9DuWrKN3XxgLkd5b4EjMYsOabaM3hw1Ex4d8wc12khjJqqY58s12V4AStF33iPui1mgT3ug=w640-h480" title="Raptor viewpoint, Wykeham" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Approaching the Raptor viewpoint, Wykeham, 14/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivh5Aa2h42eNfkZApSKCm9PT_vL1Ln--PUWoxmmqjqfk98sr8SCUAZthbFREfYRUUT-mRwLPK1U9A1RHBlVetR1B07iJtnehXN2esw8tcNb6kAcCLWTFvhLm5MrWSJhr-ylzbd92BlTSK_7ebbeE7YzerFGwaMptj8YmIol0p91_7J-TRphGO715FsgA=s5472" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cheeky Robin, Wykeham" border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivh5Aa2h42eNfkZApSKCm9PT_vL1Ln--PUWoxmmqjqfk98sr8SCUAZthbFREfYRUUT-mRwLPK1U9A1RHBlVetR1B07iJtnehXN2esw8tcNb6kAcCLWTFvhLm5MrWSJhr-ylzbd92BlTSK_7ebbeE7YzerFGwaMptj8YmIol0p91_7J-TRphGO715FsgA=w400-h266" title="Cheeky Robin, Wykeham" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Robin, </b><b>Filey </b><b>Wykeham, 14/01/2022<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table>Not a sausage, not even a Buzzard! I gave it an hour, photographed a cheeky Robin that was after scraps from my lunch, then gave up and not for the first time I left Wykeham 'hawkless'. Lovely walk though and I was happily compensated by some great views of 3 <b>Crossbills</b> '<i>gipp gipping</i>' away in the top of a fir tree and coming down to drink from a thawed out pond in a timber yard.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiw2NA6JbIrk1YVwcsOS7jJnRMKNzucTsCGJx5VuSpQWwXel9p3T6ZWz8CPB_L7t5ttTL2XK4XzUBfODgQRLYQwB7WXRuo2z5LuNqcMPUXZPyvEwQmT-gRDLh5CEVWjXjMMHpdrY5Mx5jDHlmC0pLW2DYiiOFFfPdSEyEYAnuuwHYcXgHXkDFcwTLVWFw=s2123" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Crossbill, Wykeham" border="0" data-original-height="1415" data-original-width="2123" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiw2NA6JbIrk1YVwcsOS7jJnRMKNzucTsCGJx5VuSpQWwXel9p3T6ZWz8CPB_L7t5ttTL2XK4XzUBfODgQRLYQwB7WXRuo2z5LuNqcMPUXZPyvEwQmT-gRDLh5CEVWjXjMMHpdrY5Mx5jDHlmC0pLW2DYiiOFFfPdSEyEYAnuuwHYcXgHXkDFcwTLVWFw=w640-h426" title="Crossbill, Wykeham" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Crossbill, Wykeham, 14/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhC0OibNPE_A6ct3vCWLqxj2ehgxkAGQTUNmFqRE5WDup-CSB4YKe6ZJWpgfjqtmaohm0ALKyO44hcSaTKdcy7zC7LT9dE1pNNCh7JLCzJBdzOsSneF9BT9q52PTmAB-ZUqpkCvTX9vQKEh-3raDS-6F6qqqd4hvBQ8Rt0pJ31CylmPiHAgdcyuN3VxAA=s1487" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Crossbill, Wykeham" border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1487" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhC0OibNPE_A6ct3vCWLqxj2ehgxkAGQTUNmFqRE5WDup-CSB4YKe6ZJWpgfjqtmaohm0ALKyO44hcSaTKdcy7zC7LT9dE1pNNCh7JLCzJBdzOsSneF9BT9q52PTmAB-ZUqpkCvTX9vQKEh-3raDS-6F6qqqd4hvBQ8Rt0pJ31CylmPiHAgdcyuN3VxAA=w640-h426" title="Crossbill, Wykeham" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Crossbill, Wykeham, 14/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The sun was shining again when I decided to do a 5 mile circular walk in the <a href="http://www.howardianhills.org.uk/" target="_blank">Howardian Hills</a> around Terrington and the Wiganthorpe estate. I've been transferring all of my old bird records from notebooks onto a database recently, and bearing in mind we're talking records from nearly half a century ago (now I really do feel old!), it's triggered many a memory. Back in the 80s Terrington Pond was a regular 'pop in' when out birding in these beautiful hills that I still explore today, but to my utter astonishment I realised that I hadn't gazed upon this particular spot for decades! So it was nostalgia that prompted this walk as it passed right by the place. Stupidly forgot to take a picture but it was looking good - mainly frozen over but 33 <b>Teal</b> hugging the thawed out margins were nice to see, as where 2 <b>Marsh Tits</b> by the side of Rose Cottage Farm. I broke out the packed lunch at the top a hill near Swinsy Carr with great views of Slingsby Heights and Thurtle Wood to the east, and disturbed 2 <b>Buzzards</b> that flapped around quite close giving me some great pics of our most common raptor.<div><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghY9S3bdSFQkeQhOdOWnejumvle8esN0mqvazSZDKbsmFXxTk6-NK97AOl2iOUee-Fx8atxcfMoH4AJBiX4MKps-60bc9YcLJJMPbODYp8yCflfOMlaAPRCE0F6Ey9vN9Ap2tssYWzGH1tiEMZZZiA0brhqfmIA74kdQAYLTiJp3lkt2T7gKJOkIe4GQ=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghY9S3bdSFQkeQhOdOWnejumvle8esN0mqvazSZDKbsmFXxTk6-NK97AOl2iOUee-Fx8atxcfMoH4AJBiX4MKps-60bc9YcLJJMPbODYp8yCflfOMlaAPRCE0F6Ey9vN9Ap2tssYWzGH1tiEMZZZiA0brhqfmIA74kdQAYLTiJp3lkt2T7gKJOkIe4GQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Looking east from Wiganthorpe towards Slingsby Heights, 13/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirlTMl4oaAzzMxfIrzeV81BXn1jNmEnlCb-PV8tVvIoZUL7nf4N7qE10qnGKfJ2aYEYKjnS9pBXGZ1JZyzY9CD4G1yU0Jbzrti5ROglLys-hRouIFFtZ0K45tpmUOmo9BhNR1G1_4_1um5e5qkrb9GYpdNgcXgMmR1seM7iugVwWqHTX6-gGl0Ve2oFQ=s3068" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2045" data-original-width="3068" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirlTMl4oaAzzMxfIrzeV81BXn1jNmEnlCb-PV8tVvIoZUL7nf4N7qE10qnGKfJ2aYEYKjnS9pBXGZ1JZyzY9CD4G1yU0Jbzrti5ROglLys-hRouIFFtZ0K45tpmUOmo9BhNR1G1_4_1um5e5qkrb9GYpdNgcXgMmR1seM7iugVwWqHTX6-gGl0Ve2oFQ=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Buzzard, Wiganthorpe, 13/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />A further trip up to the <a href="http://www.howardianhills.org.uk/" target="_blank">Howardian Hills</a>, this time around Scackleton, Grimston and Yearsley Moors later on this month was marred by a group of rowdy pheasant shooters around Oulston Reservoir, but <b>Brambling, Goldcrest, Redpoll</b> and <b>Nuthatch</b> were welcome additions to the year list. Lots of <b>Fieldfares</b> about (including a flock of about 320 in one field alone), 2 <b>Marsh Tits</b> and a single <b>Willow Tit</b> taking bird seed from one of the entrances to Yearsley Moor the other highlights.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQNiFtW6jE-H5-na_EEMhH1tigT-5k08VLmpqjj6W4tdKLKtJNETWgCjNPJ_7NNCVgQzjTqVLbjDcMJ69Ba2C73j0q4IFWhVNj71grdWPs3TkAKeqWDOaesTzmuNR08hKlg6_vvvmLbrMmfmB2xVQgcTnRPU5KRLhIT2mmGTT_dYwpIBMFe8kIPpcy0w=s3278" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2185" data-original-width="3278" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQNiFtW6jE-H5-na_EEMhH1tigT-5k08VLmpqjj6W4tdKLKtJNETWgCjNPJ_7NNCVgQzjTqVLbjDcMJ69Ba2C73j0q4IFWhVNj71grdWPs3TkAKeqWDOaesTzmuNR08hKlg6_vvvmLbrMmfmB2xVQgcTnRPU5KRLhIT2mmGTT_dYwpIBMFe8kIPpcy0w=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Willow Tit, Yearsley Moor, 26/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Elsewhere, both <a href="http://northcavewetlands.com/News/News.aspx" target="_blank">North Cave Wetlands</a> and <a href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/wheldrake-ings-nature-reserve" target="_blank">Wheldrake Ings</a> have been superb this month for massed flocks of thousands of ducks, geese and other over-wintering birds such as <b>Golden Plover</b> of which I approximated about 850 on one my visits to Wheldrake. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTpp8KLHSl7IM6HhKRUnA_kdvLgfkVqwaOetRvaNKvRGlds1kRJvUSC7IYxo4s1onqiEHbjSUiKm7OX6kKfm9eR4Ej8Oy64K6Phs4_VE8-fMzxiay1vvFZRlvrfOQ5X1WsMAus8hf5CO8pDVYQck3ks02oMDUEWrH3bupggrQ8yWLLzd09c4Cpt86OxQ=s1913" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="1913" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTpp8KLHSl7IM6HhKRUnA_kdvLgfkVqwaOetRvaNKvRGlds1kRJvUSC7IYxo4s1onqiEHbjSUiKm7OX6kKfm9eR4Ej8Oy64K6Phs4_VE8-fMzxiay1vvFZRlvrfOQ5X1WsMAus8hf5CO8pDVYQck3ks02oMDUEWrH3bupggrQ8yWLLzd09c4Cpt86OxQ=w640-h344" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Golden Plover, Wheldrake Ings, 07/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfve89eLXXvCcyGONQ85sx9ajlN9nbITNe60Jq1svDxlZIUboj5So4KOaswFo53D3NPuj7midLksMeOQ79iZz3nQncGZOLtKTrKPP3xI8yaNzAYeMdFokV-M_IScKxfJ7JrJZFsfI6hZTiYbPLGty3CDOGtUhuAN0txKslb3nBHdAXpiX2uXv9s8DJIQ=s4508" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2355" data-original-width="4508" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfve89eLXXvCcyGONQ85sx9ajlN9nbITNe60Jq1svDxlZIUboj5So4KOaswFo53D3NPuj7midLksMeOQ79iZz3nQncGZOLtKTrKPP3xI8yaNzAYeMdFokV-M_IScKxfJ7JrJZFsfI6hZTiYbPLGty3CDOGtUhuAN0txKslb3nBHdAXpiX2uXv9s8DJIQ=w640-h334" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wintering ducks, mainly Wigeon & Teal, Wheldrake Ings, 07/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWVGyNqLDztzlzMTYygJxUsmRiWFyFRLkP19eoDQ8QJmmHYFXwDXUIb63SuRf5wWkqOEZTpufcqMt12Lul32zNrGO218PYTKD8S4_-eV7NSDiI79_aE5MKl0aFgsNEpqiameY51G9oPiH3x6RO2Da3I2_p8uGSTwxEAyuX7cwtCNIVexfocI0cDmjoGQ=s3075" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1851" data-original-width="3075" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWVGyNqLDztzlzMTYygJxUsmRiWFyFRLkP19eoDQ8QJmmHYFXwDXUIb63SuRf5wWkqOEZTpufcqMt12Lul32zNrGO218PYTKD8S4_-eV7NSDiI79_aE5MKl0aFgsNEpqiameY51G9oPiH3x6RO2Da3I2_p8uGSTwxEAyuX7cwtCNIVexfocI0cDmjoGQ=w640-h386" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lapwings, North Cave Wetlands, 11/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />As far as smaller birds are concerned I've had some impressive counts of <b>Fieldfares</b> in various fields round and about including appx 440 nr Terrington on the 13th and have been thoroughly entertained by a regular flock of anywhere between 50 & 100 <b>Siskins</b> at <a href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/askham-bog-nature-reserve" target="_blank">Askham Bog</a> whilst out recruiting for YWT<br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKQJUGzfAgEk4Ujco24cjqSvPn9o67DFqUCu-eyTm8eCm31IAkVrk6myz3ysbmhEWHRbxUaijCpiGb_oZKikr_-rCE7g5t1Z3epcdOJlGeDcMit9p__B7x3bjzV0xbslUcG9gfxrfYfS2zbd6HnMWlknJDmzmNeIIIXH9Agpm_CHeI4rOL0O2BkkQjdg=s2567" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1711" data-original-width="2567" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKQJUGzfAgEk4Ujco24cjqSvPn9o67DFqUCu-eyTm8eCm31IAkVrk6myz3ysbmhEWHRbxUaijCpiGb_oZKikr_-rCE7g5t1Z3epcdOJlGeDcMit9p__B7x3bjzV0xbslUcG9gfxrfYfS2zbd6HnMWlknJDmzmNeIIIXH9Agpm_CHeI4rOL0O2BkkQjdg=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Siskin, Askham Bog, 26/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihfK9QyP7gy9i30BkcFFOsN3Q49CsD062MR0Ix8M058JdxFILteMkCHH1l2PGhlJJe9hwF5f_Fx-_riT6FrrKntilGFNTI9XgJLm6eKHcd5WiAypySNHtyImCbwKtSyl6nB30RVEmwqQ3PC9-kVGKaG-gQAHW5ppQwypwCRQQUoylEmfBEbuWIo71pjQ=s2946" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1964" data-original-width="2946" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihfK9QyP7gy9i30BkcFFOsN3Q49CsD062MR0Ix8M058JdxFILteMkCHH1l2PGhlJJe9hwF5f_Fx-_riT6FrrKntilGFNTI9XgJLm6eKHcd5WiAypySNHtyImCbwKtSyl6nB30RVEmwqQ3PC9-kVGKaG-gQAHW5ppQwypwCRQQUoylEmfBEbuWIo71pjQ=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Siskin, Askham Bog, 26/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZSHmxbDA9DOjgFFXkQmd4wwC2WEEu4Rhkx3TJEafVXNNho_cntSNJ71cd4cgGpS4yzrPHaMIA9ee26zRSwgRW-ONJ7T13cz_nZ0bKye4CntgVeUihBdLohNwMNyRC2uFSrsiiY4MmDJpkKNqry9b-U_TZSpj49kz-43PTdLTG9D5f5IKhJvqJbSNbIQ=s1674" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="1674" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZSHmxbDA9DOjgFFXkQmd4wwC2WEEu4Rhkx3TJEafVXNNho_cntSNJ71cd4cgGpS4yzrPHaMIA9ee26zRSwgRW-ONJ7T13cz_nZ0bKye4CntgVeUihBdLohNwMNyRC2uFSrsiiY4MmDJpkKNqry9b-U_TZSpj49kz-43PTdLTG9D5f5IKhJvqJbSNbIQ=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Fieldfare, Wheldrake Ings, 07/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>It hasn't been a particularly harsh winter so far this year but there have been some impressively frosty mornings around my way and as I've alluded to above, a fair few bright and sunny days to gladden the heart and I can sense the first stirrings of spring. <b>Hazel Catkins</b> have begun to appear and I had my first snatch of <b>Chaffinch </b>song on the 23rd January at my campsite at Fangfoss. Yesterday at <a href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/askham-bog-nature-reserve" target="_blank">Askham Bog</a> one of several <b>Coal Tits</b> was singing too and presented nicely for the camera. I don't think I've fully appreciated the subtleties of this tiny tit's colouring before - look at that gorgeous sandy orange on its flanks!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtALVhfctcWBe0uKtF_HfoNdosozSLOaqGW1yme8-ZA2grnUFyU-Ketrb4QhquV6Mj6Heql9VYY5NkZy5gpud_Pc2FDBWWEKXv2KH9y7vEqwqa4nXEKdtrS7MMNt0Iux1d9XT6-r2xph_s2ZfmsYm3Z5qA5QGqP9fFjAVRHLmxfhEPNkaXwEere8pgTA=s3410" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2273" data-original-width="3410" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtALVhfctcWBe0uKtF_HfoNdosozSLOaqGW1yme8-ZA2grnUFyU-Ketrb4QhquV6Mj6Heql9VYY5NkZy5gpud_Pc2FDBWWEKXv2KH9y7vEqwqa4nXEKdtrS7MMNt0Iux1d9XT6-r2xph_s2ZfmsYm3Z5qA5QGqP9fFjAVRHLmxfhEPNkaXwEere8pgTA=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Coal Tit, Askham Bog, 26/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Today during a walk around <a href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/strensall-common-nature-reserve" target="_blank"><b>Strensall Common</b> </a>that yielded no real surprises I saw this <b>Great Spotted Woodpecker</b> busily pecking away at a dead silver birch and it reminded of 2 I heard 'drumming' in the grounds of Sledmere House last week. Both in the same general vicinity and I was struck by the different timbre of each - that's how I knew there were two, probably my earliest record of this early sign of spring.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikm-KAX3F0kFoC_VgV70njtAXlqZPwgRGIGXlBWHz1KGsH_o86DJFgIRc1sC_CBdF4T68WGx10fQ_nb90sEj1f3Ckeyympg3DOlzH5PzQT2M79Y4Xl-2umxSLJv1pmbegcaGjtphxMgd_kjC8J8KpfsMK6r-Awb3IdYqU7vFnQem9lDfqX3ubq5UFDEg=s2171" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1447" data-original-width="2171" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikm-KAX3F0kFoC_VgV70njtAXlqZPwgRGIGXlBWHz1KGsH_o86DJFgIRc1sC_CBdF4T68WGx10fQ_nb90sEj1f3Ckeyympg3DOlzH5PzQT2M79Y4Xl-2umxSLJv1pmbegcaGjtphxMgd_kjC8J8KpfsMK6r-Awb3IdYqU7vFnQem9lDfqX3ubq5UFDEg=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Great Spotted Woodpecker, 27/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div>I'm still finding that my smartphone is more than adequate for landscapes (as long as I don't zoom in too much) and though not ready to give up on my shorter lens SLR set up just yet , I remain very impressed with my S10e's picture quality - and so lightweight! Here's a few from my January ramblings - </div><div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOyiP6EnVNaMolr0GtngBl-BY2SIw7U_6-91a32m0OuO2QrimDjOx93i_Wa9pDhqfpy4N7J27XzL411KzdnakC2Ats2jtp9DcvxGdXOVTTBCFhKmQ_BMLS7yvy-savNBiv0A9DNLkE3z_oJdMNtU5rwcfSmHwvnIYkRTPooKDPGIQDrV-hURd8zInESw=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOyiP6EnVNaMolr0GtngBl-BY2SIw7U_6-91a32m0OuO2QrimDjOx93i_Wa9pDhqfpy4N7J27XzL411KzdnakC2Ats2jtp9DcvxGdXOVTTBCFhKmQ_BMLS7yvy-savNBiv0A9DNLkE3z_oJdMNtU5rwcfSmHwvnIYkRTPooKDPGIQDrV-hURd8zInESw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sunset over North Cave Wetlands, 11/01/202</b>2</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHONFwVfmhkmGCqKIKBl-YY6xngmeH607L7-ZyMXDTuNhZODrKqOTB65HbYwGuWcuRz2MklK00fZBhwTvLCQY9y0yYK0VNg8vQT66ACd3JCRkE8ao2Lop_kKPpQAnupXndDkhByMs76vKtPqvWRWBc3my8UPo6oomNimXzl1zIU7L3246L7-FMEs9vIA=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHONFwVfmhkmGCqKIKBl-YY6xngmeH607L7-ZyMXDTuNhZODrKqOTB65HbYwGuWcuRz2MklK00fZBhwTvLCQY9y0yYK0VNg8vQT66ACd3JCRkE8ao2Lop_kKPpQAnupXndDkhByMs76vKtPqvWRWBc3my8UPo6oomNimXzl1zIU7L3246L7-FMEs9vIA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spittal Beck, Nr Fangfoss, 18/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhD9wlL2gDeIhTksg43Bvu3O1RXWiTV0Q8u1Of4-b4PjmnKqaPRMmXbjFb60w-ffkJpgPx5C2npJ7H5bBAuyp8mWwr8KHE_9qc56Klp4PNkv-cnFGHKHUgCAsv6r4G6KeNmvPwAmySrdAdU9thbeRMUjKVqVqlqwPRhhAbcrJpmfcvGTm-wnovc8As-3w=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhD9wlL2gDeIhTksg43Bvu3O1RXWiTV0Q8u1Of4-b4PjmnKqaPRMmXbjFb60w-ffkJpgPx5C2npJ7H5bBAuyp8mWwr8KHE_9qc56Klp4PNkv-cnFGHKHUgCAsv6r4G6KeNmvPwAmySrdAdU9thbeRMUjKVqVqlqwPRhhAbcrJpmfcvGTm-wnovc8As-3w=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pocklington Canal at Storwood, 03/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVrGVkEmyfXgf3ivV8zLga9661XVuBsRuPf_gIyzTBiQdq674ERDLBrekSn1ZZPtR1hibtWiUIZF-nrINibsYh7Ztb2mpQfTkmVMtL4imPSjjkSy8JqV2sE3pArW71nLTh3bUfz-FV5MlwTYSlt-gDu_WKXIkTCHyT0xwZRRcsFjayIdVFTDGM0y9ogA=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVrGVkEmyfXgf3ivV8zLga9661XVuBsRuPf_gIyzTBiQdq674ERDLBrekSn1ZZPtR1hibtWiUIZF-nrINibsYh7Ztb2mpQfTkmVMtL4imPSjjkSy8JqV2sE3pArW71nLTh3bUfz-FV5MlwTYSlt-gDu_WKXIkTCHyT0xwZRRcsFjayIdVFTDGM0y9ogA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Yearsley Moor, 26/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpdwy5Pz01CiCJTaNXbRFzOXO27yX_xALbimhgcISTYTKA-uJiIqjOw6k-3T8wxg8HPlu30QdzyWNLzzuCuigJNwmNadiMiFC-kkir5ZQu2eVgTHPZ6QqkxicAkTxLlJcQk0Q1sjhT-vCiHIZCf1Fo4kw_azdbhyefqa1J4ZlD4axJ96h-WyN4Y1uHdA=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpdwy5Pz01CiCJTaNXbRFzOXO27yX_xALbimhgcISTYTKA-uJiIqjOw6k-3T8wxg8HPlu30QdzyWNLzzuCuigJNwmNadiMiFC-kkir5ZQu2eVgTHPZ6QqkxicAkTxLlJcQk0Q1sjhT-vCiHIZCf1Fo4kw_azdbhyefqa1J4ZlD4axJ96h-WyN4Y1uHdA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Oulston Reservoir, 26/01/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-87610973644054958142021-12-01T21:48:00.001+00:002022-01-29T20:10:07.955+00:00A couple of new Yorkshire destinations visited, Caukleys Bank & Spaldington Common. <p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tGQzFsDeQJ0CBI29cbXQqPxPVDa8vJYm-QDcUXmg6ClxlsogH4TGGTQ563NEAVm363l1isFIelxTYseHpcvVUoWmwI0Qh9pX_A6X4HbzRxqgI69FVySPWdrDFs6g3g4YpLRqmz_u1wfl/s2048/20211108_140942.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tGQzFsDeQJ0CBI29cbXQqPxPVDa8vJYm-QDcUXmg6ClxlsogH4TGGTQ563NEAVm363l1isFIelxTYseHpcvVUoWmwI0Qh9pX_A6X4HbzRxqgI69FVySPWdrDFs6g3g4YpLRqmz_u1wfl/w400-h266/20211108_140942.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Looking NW from the back of Garrowby Hill, 08/11/2021<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table> After nearly 10 years since I lost a smartphone whilst doing some voluntary work at Wheldrake Ings I've finally been persuaded to buy another😁📱 - a Samsung S10e. It's not about to change my life and I'm not gonna wax lyrical about it, but as these things go it's great. I'm re-discovering the joy of apps at the age of 62 and have found that I haven't taken a landscape picture with my SLR camera for a whole month such is the picture quality on this thing!<p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheznp7DfJkf9536kDu8_Ee1SfDyaLqDz1tWtxviKKyohuwxR5nH9btEEW9qoEBvktIR11kOVisX79LMzwFT3Zn3vah_mRjT50a8e0Y-aBzhyphenhyphenpjfxWDKYt6NmQJyr6DdtKNvBYET7OiU97n/s2048/20211108_141442.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheznp7DfJkf9536kDu8_Ee1SfDyaLqDz1tWtxviKKyohuwxR5nH9btEEW9qoEBvktIR11kOVisX79LMzwFT3Zn3vah_mRjT50a8e0Y-aBzhyphenhyphenpjfxWDKYt6NmQJyr6DdtKNvBYET7OiU97n/w640-h426/20211108_141442.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Looking NW from the back of Garrowby Hill, 08/11/2021</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2KuByi554znpt_d8S6T_qcTfWCdG23Jo7QVTQxfD4h5s_yM5HcLOHNGNtcjVubQlP6RokPTUx9sutT_an-J1YKH6XEFGG9EP-8Akv-OsXt2bLk-JjeEyDwlNfDySK7oWU8oCPzoIJ-DZ/s1827/MX2A7513.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="1827" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2KuByi554znpt_d8S6T_qcTfWCdG23Jo7QVTQxfD4h5s_yM5HcLOHNGNtcjVubQlP6RokPTUx9sutT_an-J1YKH6XEFGG9EP-8Akv-OsXt2bLk-JjeEyDwlNfDySK7oWU8oCPzoIJ-DZ/w400-h266/MX2A7513.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Brambling, Garrowby Hill, 08/11/2021<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table>Those two were the first pics I took with it whilst I was walking down the back of Garrowby Hill - the village you can see in the mid distance is Kirby Underdale. It was a little patch of the Wolds I hadn't been to before - not many birds but a lovely walk. I flushed a <b>Woodcock</b> from the public footpath at the top of the hill, counted 9 <b>Buzzards</b> in the sky and had 2 <b>Bramblings</b> 'toing and froing' from some dead sunflower heads. <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9JbqBsop0lB788TdyR6txw60HhNlOXbNtlt29J2w6NgOS2en0G-q4hTYVYSd8PHF7X0HfqU17Gz3WkXCm4Rdg68Bta0imFLwxfhk9UiFvM-q24yUTTebynxD69wfT8VZrtEFnAH5Qe6i/s1563/MX2A7495.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1563" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9JbqBsop0lB788TdyR6txw60HhNlOXbNtlt29J2w6NgOS2en0G-q4hTYVYSd8PHF7X0HfqU17Gz3WkXCm4Rdg68Bta0imFLwxfhk9UiFvM-q24yUTTebynxD69wfT8VZrtEFnAH5Qe6i/w640-h426/MX2A7495.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Brambling, Garrowby Hill, 08/11/2021</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />A few days before, at the beginning of the November, I was out at the coast hoping for some late passage migrants and struck gold with a <b>Short Eared Owl, 3 Snow Buntings</b> and a <b>Woodcock</b> at Barmston, and a further 2 <b>Woodcock</b> (1 in off the sea at South Landing, and another flying over a road in Bridlington), and then the next day I saw the<b> Taiga Flycatcher</b> & <b>Red-flanked Bluetail</b> at South Landing ( see post here)<div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGwnuXv9oHV-cok_qIB_7gJyvxS7Iag4gJCjVB8hA6AsrFYE0bAYuEZR9ylCRZxsY0V9rZhtYBErlK97onBUgsMNF4PGugET3F0GW0whPyEJ_YEcPosQxM9WX3VouNyN0oWdQXzgShL0Nmc9V2Sxvg9HHCRP7l4O-LduPyX-1sMDG86rAmaTnyxUOQdQ=s2048" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGwnuXv9oHV-cok_qIB_7gJyvxS7Iag4gJCjVB8hA6AsrFYE0bAYuEZR9ylCRZxsY0V9rZhtYBErlK97onBUgsMNF4PGugET3F0GW0whPyEJ_YEcPosQxM9WX3VouNyN0oWdQXzgShL0Nmc9V2Sxvg9HHCRP7l4O-LduPyX-1sMDG86rAmaTnyxUOQdQ=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pink Footed Geese, Barmston, 04/11/2021</b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>The <b>Short Eared Owl</b> was from the sandy cliff tops just north of the caravan park - it flew along the beach for a bit and then dived back into the cliff spooking 3 <b>Snow Buntings</b> in the process - that's one way of getting another bird for the year list! A <b>Woodcock</b> flushed from the same cliff tops and a big skein of <b>Pink Footed Geese </b>flying in off the sea added to the sense of incoming birds.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If I hadn't been so stressed after a confrontation with a couple of hare coursers that had me both fuming and fearful, I would have tried for some pics of the <b>Owl</b> & <b>Snow Buntings</b> but I was in a rush, I'd taken some pictures of the enraged dumbwits and they knew where my car was! </div><div><br /></div><div>I made it safely out of Barmston that day but 2 transit vans heading into the village as I was exiting had me thinking I'd got away with it!</div><div><br /></div><div>Thankfully the rest of my trips out in November were drama free. I visited a couple more places I hadn't been to before. Mid month I did a circuit around the ancient field systems around Spaldington Common nr Howden and was pleasantly surprised with the amount of birds that were around. A couple of small flocks of <b>Siskin, Nuthatch</b>, a <b>Sparrowhawk</b> chasing a Redwing and about a hundred <b>Lesser Black Backed Gulls</b> in amongst many more <b>Black Headed Gulls</b> being the highlights.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg05hUaq5oNram38vKS_2qZndp0jSeP_QYoXeL74LyAa-imdoZgwvxhmC2srHrzqOs3EyKJE2n3ODjirgj2CK92EvOZCb2Ji6Xv0_MZnLXfd0sIGXNvVjnXdvJq0basWwEM7mdHj5mjonOpW1ygsIz8xx2sQWXaXBT4elc0RJK_F9tOSlpmBW-47FDa8A=s4012" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2674" data-original-width="4012" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg05hUaq5oNram38vKS_2qZndp0jSeP_QYoXeL74LyAa-imdoZgwvxhmC2srHrzqOs3EyKJE2n3ODjirgj2CK92EvOZCb2Ji6Xv0_MZnLXfd0sIGXNvVjnXdvJq0basWwEM7mdHj5mjonOpW1ygsIz8xx2sQWXaXBT4elc0RJK_F9tOSlpmBW-47FDa8A=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Featherbed Lane, Spaldington Common, 19/11/2021</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfkUkhCkwiAfM21w3su7B2zC-wSkOU0Jj3PeIyczjyrB1POE4Rjh9U2NdTpdmz_YcX40xeHYjZ4mR3Du-XbzCZwkyGic9ndrhGD3cBfkDjX2BpJVpdPJ8dz3xcw3IUl___VGL6VrUpYYC3f_W3F0rdHHbpfn4vprZru2KyWiydJcEkRyA25Zpoc5ShDw=s2795" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1863" data-original-width="2795" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfkUkhCkwiAfM21w3su7B2zC-wSkOU0Jj3PeIyczjyrB1POE4Rjh9U2NdTpdmz_YcX40xeHYjZ4mR3Du-XbzCZwkyGic9ndrhGD3cBfkDjX2BpJVpdPJ8dz3xcw3IUl___VGL6VrUpYYC3f_W3F0rdHHbpfn4vprZru2KyWiydJcEkRyA25Zpoc5ShDw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Siskin, Spaldington Common, 19/11/2021</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGyudscy2T1Mn5_BifPMLBfbkBvN3WDfw2vC6JSLTPtb8MA5C93H9dRog6x31MjxXQ0oBIc5a6NkTDX6ikwIBcXlC11RS0Zzs1vk_i3G1ECQZbQ5zYwLh05qIdEaXwtmvvyjsp8oluQJ6QowzrwPtSPxDzY9JRQGWwNYPPC7ZW82KeDHI7xi0AoaJ1EA=s4290" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2860" data-original-width="4290" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGyudscy2T1Mn5_BifPMLBfbkBvN3WDfw2vC6JSLTPtb8MA5C93H9dRog6x31MjxXQ0oBIc5a6NkTDX6ikwIBcXlC11RS0Zzs1vk_i3G1ECQZbQ5zYwLh05qIdEaXwtmvvyjsp8oluQJ6QowzrwPtSPxDzY9JRQGWwNYPPC7ZW82KeDHI7xi0AoaJ1EA=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Roe Deer, </b><b>Spaldington Common, 19/11/2021</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCcbdNFoXCXccPOUJ64ZLkUdKKiwNJD6gQ3GjpoPFMzitNgXxv02cK7EqpynX7Y3QYvzr-UKLsVDh9UXkxav79jmfRONMbgD_XE_y-O2tVzYfH65baT2pUEZ1Wo-CAg46Z3js748jQtWhMJvJseTjK0AfExaRh9Jz_Ep6N7e0GCyd0Ko0uR6_rghn9Yw=s4032" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="4032" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCcbdNFoXCXccPOUJ64ZLkUdKKiwNJD6gQ3GjpoPFMzitNgXxv02cK7EqpynX7Y3QYvzr-UKLsVDh9UXkxav79jmfRONMbgD_XE_y-O2tVzYfH65baT2pUEZ1Wo-CAg46Z3js748jQtWhMJvJseTjK0AfExaRh9Jz_Ep6N7e0GCyd0Ko0uR6_rghn9Yw=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Nunnington Church</b>, <b>22/11/2021<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table>Always great to visit new places on your doorstep and a few days later I went up to Nunnington and Caukleys Bank, just north of the Howardian Hills in Ryedale and then to nearby Slingsby Carr. Nothing to write home about in terms of birds but got some more nice landscapes.</div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEy6un81CykOKN_l8f50X2kf_nAWgf9YqHVoMQ9OW31msRPs47sKCmd___TNEO1zeY-ScUzXIShdeOgY58LlsopMc5u0JEacCWPtKLEKFXbnqjbouy3Rfwo713imYNmCyuLrWAhpNw2B-1VlVbjixRz9Fl8joG9VKT_xi5a5bbr-EE7yLVXs1glFrDew=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="4032" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEy6un81CykOKN_l8f50X2kf_nAWgf9YqHVoMQ9OW31msRPs47sKCmd___TNEO1zeY-ScUzXIShdeOgY58LlsopMc5u0JEacCWPtKLEKFXbnqjbouy3Rfwo713imYNmCyuLrWAhpNw2B-1VlVbjixRz9Fl8joG9VKT_xi5a5bbr-EE7yLVXs1glFrDew=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Looking south towards Slingsby Heights from Caukleys Bank, 22/11/2021</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgD-L4b2vcL3VTNdx-lEP-DmKjJA5kQjkQJR9S4zsyoYCP1P4V4BVh4hDpqzwqhzezogrJKeZLzJFz06pO7o63qVbQr6-wVaPFu2roLY7BCLgYly8GmwkUDasnFDQWnDie_BEElqR_y8zxiNAuF29gwpp839wf7LeRfsjXPRyVoETi2r8KR_1QiKPQLww=s3923" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2615" data-original-width="3923" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgD-L4b2vcL3VTNdx-lEP-DmKjJA5kQjkQJR9S4zsyoYCP1P4V4BVh4hDpqzwqhzezogrJKeZLzJFz06pO7o63qVbQr6-wVaPFu2roLY7BCLgYly8GmwkUDasnFDQWnDie_BEElqR_y8zxiNAuF29gwpp839wf7LeRfsjXPRyVoETi2r8KR_1QiKPQLww=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Caukleys Bank, 22/11/2021</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijqwvAJ9_mArYcF1ruNmFrvuPRNKNlk8zMOqwvwf1y9CUOOBf4yFwNRgptGQxxrGtnAtszJcW0t-Klg2GBRBoW2_lJorAbLgm_sUBC82LEwTcvy4g_w6PRwcSiceWY_MADztPa2X9RqUSKKO31vQgl8sWDnsQbZ9z4IKAkrv3_b6aq9eyYKnx3-EaVHQ=s3975" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2650" data-original-width="3975" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijqwvAJ9_mArYcF1ruNmFrvuPRNKNlk8zMOqwvwf1y9CUOOBf4yFwNRgptGQxxrGtnAtszJcW0t-Klg2GBRBoW2_lJorAbLgm_sUBC82LEwTcvy4g_w6PRwcSiceWY_MADztPa2X9RqUSKKO31vQgl8sWDnsQbZ9z4IKAkrv3_b6aq9eyYKnx3-EaVHQ=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Floodbank at Slingsby Carr, 22/11/2021</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEIEXsx1ETCq74PVdtkaxciDbzzSupTeCLp4XyBPRfcwoyHRA5BVV6adjiOmUbLA2pTR3SIQU9zhQ2v8X-KFiaaItLhMf-gkvfl1a6IjmyR_tDHADmERBkEh1t4HNcJd8lVz3Vknb32EWP-DsD9W648CL9RNddwSG-iV_3Pq6uTxb2qr8nQ7pK3HnRzg=s4032" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="4032" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEIEXsx1ETCq74PVdtkaxciDbzzSupTeCLp4XyBPRfcwoyHRA5BVV6adjiOmUbLA2pTR3SIQU9zhQ2v8X-KFiaaItLhMf-gkvfl1a6IjmyR_tDHADmERBkEh1t4HNcJd8lVz3Vknb32EWP-DsD9W648CL9RNddwSG-iV_3Pq6uTxb2qr8nQ7pK3HnRzg=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hay bails, Terrington Moor, 25/11/2021<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table>A walk around Terrington Moor was similarly quiet on the bird front but again, lovely walking weather and some nice vistas.</div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEij6sNic1c8X6FIXkRovoX8dpS9Dpk6U0GmQhPdo7AXVPweMAle64X8IUdOZ4N8NotcSOemlLS1V25KRlylKs0Hb9OtuUyOSJICxdzC1qkK1R6EhEIoT1SoExhCA4OezZCcVAPauPLCHuI2LZ4uOVx1Um_LSfwpE5TAndherLDHHPfBY_o8sFP7r30JLg=s3735" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2490" data-original-width="3735" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEij6sNic1c8X6FIXkRovoX8dpS9Dpk6U0GmQhPdo7AXVPweMAle64X8IUdOZ4N8NotcSOemlLS1V25KRlylKs0Hb9OtuUyOSJICxdzC1qkK1R6EhEIoT1SoExhCA4OezZCcVAPauPLCHuI2LZ4uOVx1Um_LSfwpE5TAndherLDHHPfBY_o8sFP7r30JLg=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Looking south from Terrington Moor, 25/11/2021</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijIGuRPeFUZJ583EUuHrLhTLlCFPJk6aCuHRtO0RRSJagHIaEtypd146RVj-qXQ5IobNaZwGR7P0PmRZzPNFpDJV8jwMonprfpEHeWBrM5nk9Y0wy-bCBRgjYKo1GgLG5D0gQh3FU7XujHPAwlYSXn3nkrrJhLSaM5T1qWANNg0fBKxatu_VXEBTf81g=s3813" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2542" data-original-width="3813" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijIGuRPeFUZJ583EUuHrLhTLlCFPJk6aCuHRtO0RRSJagHIaEtypd146RVj-qXQ5IobNaZwGR7P0PmRZzPNFpDJV8jwMonprfpEHeWBrM5nk9Y0wy-bCBRgjYKo1GgLG5D0gQh3FU7XujHPAwlYSXn3nkrrJhLSaM5T1qWANNg0fBKxatu_VXEBTf81g=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Terrington Moor, 25/11/2021</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Towards the end of the month I ventured down to the Humber and a walk around the fields and estuary side between Broomfleet and Faxfleet. I like it down here, apart from the odd dog walker it's always so undisturbed and, as is the case with most estuaries the world over, there's always something going on!</div><div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCQ5MSZQIfLA4YIhe-EbkPTI2Ekun1_LMmN277L-61hpV4p6J9kVH9LBkzC6PPnNujpi7furuFof6rfzEobMUoggGQF6bYUQj-TwuSIMi8KyA91Q-ppfkPxJ-K_taYcDHqAhjb1KxPmkxV4Hq0jOdlHADgLakXTsfCkxP0lfZ8B1bwwXkXwEd30VqMqA=s4017" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2678" data-original-width="4017" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCQ5MSZQIfLA4YIhe-EbkPTI2Ekun1_LMmN277L-61hpV4p6J9kVH9LBkzC6PPnNujpi7furuFof6rfzEobMUoggGQF6bYUQj-TwuSIMi8KyA91Q-ppfkPxJ-K_taYcDHqAhjb1KxPmkxV4Hq0jOdlHADgLakXTsfCkxP0lfZ8B1bwwXkXwEd30VqMqA=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Weighton Lock, 26/11/2022<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div>I noted some of the usual suspects as far as Humber birds are concerned - <b>Curlew, Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck, Dunlin, Marsh Harrier</b> and a couple of <b>Bearded Tits</b> but the most entertaining were a highly mobile flock of about 260 <b>Golden Plover</b> in the adjacent fields. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUf6TsaQEYLoCcvFev4A_wd28QE3pe9fBdVlvUZySg2sL5ZebWHYaqdlldZTrN7KfsHcv5i58Z-FGYlmDBkieoELujyp1NbBRCF-kiOrY6FyUxeG-RqiqH9KUJ8mMqB0tsOG1HnpCzJ4W7mwg8tq_22pnSMuY6uRtmxw7VqNuce33AjiWaMiXpUDq0Aw=s4640" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3093" data-original-width="4640" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUf6TsaQEYLoCcvFev4A_wd28QE3pe9fBdVlvUZySg2sL5ZebWHYaqdlldZTrN7KfsHcv5i58Z-FGYlmDBkieoELujyp1NbBRCF-kiOrY6FyUxeG-RqiqH9KUJ8mMqB0tsOG1HnpCzJ4W7mwg8tq_22pnSMuY6uRtmxw7VqNuce33AjiWaMiXpUDq0Aw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Golden Plover, Faxfleet, 26/11/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOuksDlyrukeq8ERvG43uj9LdbeYU6PlTfo2JW-O5z9w9xq-WHCFk9a8jfJj8xK_vE7slV59r0NOZggTcwbgOflOt8K_GhhKLoXf_GtucLyaP676Iro1_HloCfPMpU818vdW75APLPcozcFHiEaC2KkAljoJDPxM6Aq-TrlwlcYyE_rcpRunFEI6utig=s3967" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2645" data-original-width="3967" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOuksDlyrukeq8ERvG43uj9LdbeYU6PlTfo2JW-O5z9w9xq-WHCFk9a8jfJj8xK_vE7slV59r0NOZggTcwbgOflOt8K_GhhKLoXf_GtucLyaP676Iro1_HloCfPMpU818vdW75APLPcozcFHiEaC2KkAljoJDPxM6Aq-TrlwlcYyE_rcpRunFEI6utig=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Reeds in the sunlight, Broomfleet, 26/11/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>A few days later whilst out recruiting for YWT at <a href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/askham-bog-nature-reserve" target="_blank">Askham Bog </a>I had a surprise visitor on the boardwalk in the shape of a <b>Bank Vole</b> that was scurrying about near my table!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9Ui5kRoHw4uZxt_GmlcUK-XZM48x23Ce6pRYTJwN4EIKK05iKZtlznGbMho8beVepFTxxBz0B-7hVo35iF7d9dxU1u3Qca-UHgqbXk6jwmCCsIY5f_-IqQmgvpDwNz3PjUXCQS77j-6TiWuyF0twskOZ61rgp-x8aLQSzEypSDEMPGM5Pi22Yiw5BSw=s3096" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2064" data-original-width="3096" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9Ui5kRoHw4uZxt_GmlcUK-XZM48x23Ce6pRYTJwN4EIKK05iKZtlznGbMho8beVepFTxxBz0B-7hVo35iF7d9dxU1u3Qca-UHgqbXk6jwmCCsIY5f_-IqQmgvpDwNz3PjUXCQS77j-6TiWuyF0twskOZ61rgp-x8aLQSzEypSDEMPGM5Pi22Yiw5BSw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bank Vole, Askham Bog, 28/11/2022</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Never fails to amaze me what you can see when you're more or less rooted to one spot all day!<div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-58320102229853757392021-11-30T19:06:00.026+00:002021-12-06T13:13:01.736+00:006 new bird species added to my UK list this Autumn<p>I bumped into a long lost birding pal earlier this year and found out he'd got well over 500 bird species on his UK list with around 400 of those in Yorkshire alone! I was impressed and told him so, and if I'd been more of a <i>twitcher</i> I might have been envious, but it's never been my scene. Mind you, having maintained that friendship and chased a few rare birds around Yorkshire, it's a scene I'm rapidly embracing. 50+ years birding in the UK, and though I say it myself, a good birder, I'm definitely mediocre when it comes to numbers of species seen - so an additional haul of 6 new birds for my own UK list this autumn, all in Yorkshire - has been most welcome!</p><p></p>The <b>White Tailed Lapwing</b> at <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/blacktoft-sands/" target="_blank">RSPB Blacktoft</a> and <b>Green Warbler</b> at Buckton (featured in my last post) started things off nicely, then a couple of misses - a <b>Western Bonelli's Warbler</b> at Flamborough was gone before I had the opportunity, and then a <b>Red-flanked Bluetail</b> at the same location was frustratingly elusive and I left empty handed. Better luck with the <b>Long Toed Stint</b> at <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/st-aidans/" target="_blank">RSPB St Aidan's</a> though (only the 5th ever record for the UK) - 100s of birders there for this tiny speck of a wader, and it wasn't close either and my pics were rubbish!<div>.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5ONSC7eCmFpY-S6zPsM1fgHc7hS5kINfJVBLlDpfgLTqAdnyT6uVs5RsBj4CLU3PjgHy8flWtVv2_zb4zZVHPjaA2N9lSk-3jSUuBAPK9vO-AcHYLlURfOqKmnu8rK3vosB6QwmErT0G/s1200/Long-toed+Stint+001.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5ONSC7eCmFpY-S6zPsM1fgHc7hS5kINfJVBLlDpfgLTqAdnyT6uVs5RsBj4CLU3PjgHy8flWtVv2_zb4zZVHPjaA2N9lSk-3jSUuBAPK9vO-AcHYLlURfOqKmnu8rK3vosB6QwmErT0G/w640-h426/Long-toed+Stint+001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Long Toed Stint, RSPB St Aidan's, 11/10/21. Pic - Tony Dixon</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />A week later <a href="https://www.spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/sightings/" target="_blank">Spurn</a> hosted a <b>Two-barred Greenish Warbler</b> (a first for the reserve) and thankfully this bird was neither distant nor shy. Like nearly of the rarities about this autumn it's of Asiatic origin and this one breeds in Mongolia / Siberia - it was a 10th record for the UK.<br /><div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTIiTXIB5jamRNVfOfivOFEYgt5qRilzDPAzrF8TokJfpEaU_gh4_175OZm4cDHuNZlJbBukVO5TiSCDOnpNihj-f_IoLIaShoNFqZ2i1VsQ6UQsUw4ndsu-UlcwP5M-a_5_PcvkYhZ9I/s1734/MX2A7375.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="1734" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTIiTXIB5jamRNVfOfivOFEYgt5qRilzDPAzrF8TokJfpEaU_gh4_175OZm4cDHuNZlJbBukVO5TiSCDOnpNihj-f_IoLIaShoNFqZ2i1VsQ6UQsUw4ndsu-UlcwP5M-a_5_PcvkYhZ9I/w640-h426/MX2A7375.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Two-barred Greenish Warbler, Spurn, 18/10/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6YkDM1ZEiYlM3lgpehhq1oOJxYM8ZCdP2KVo_vvZDGIbBPY1rHoA0cyECIFj59pMG5tjz_3XC-8wybXVHUfFDVXnnEecL-y_H6Ib8k_szgEyNxqznR6yVB8ni-VhsaYU3XoiZ8NqphYv/s1904/MX2A7357.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1269" data-original-width="1904" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6YkDM1ZEiYlM3lgpehhq1oOJxYM8ZCdP2KVo_vvZDGIbBPY1rHoA0cyECIFj59pMG5tjz_3XC-8wybXVHUfFDVXnnEecL-y_H6Ib8k_szgEyNxqznR6yVB8ni-VhsaYU3XoiZ8NqphYv/w640-h426/MX2A7357.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Two-barred Greenish Warbler, Spurn, 18/10/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>There was a <b>Taiga Flycatcher</b>, a 5th record for the UK, mid October at the foghorn station at Flamborough but it was gone before I could get up there, but as luck would have it another, or the same one, turned up nearby at South Landing in early November. It wasn't a good sign when I turned up and found out the bird hadn't been seen for an hour, and fed up with hanging around making small talk with other birders, I went for a stroll and ended up standing by the bridge over the beck. 10 minutes later a small grey bird with white outer tail feathers flew right over my shoulder and into a bush - I knew it was the bird, and with luck it perched for just long enough for a quick record shot. It was seen in the same general location on and off for the rest of the day but that view was mine alone.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCluxBM1e6zrbzjmeEnys2izaHLbq4K0I6MPN1EVcbjDuBU_5J7IeneEstuxJ8o_cIH_z2H_kGcrZR99acMSXwBCO-_h9SxlVQR81_5Bc0isvAMZ95fzuukjCTgTSD7jgZ76XL6_u8ARaa/s1905/MX2A7486.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1270" data-original-width="1905" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCluxBM1e6zrbzjmeEnys2izaHLbq4K0I6MPN1EVcbjDuBU_5J7IeneEstuxJ8o_cIH_z2H_kGcrZR99acMSXwBCO-_h9SxlVQR81_5Bc0isvAMZ95fzuukjCTgTSD7jgZ76XL6_u8ARaa/w640-h426/MX2A7486.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Taiga Flycatcher, South Landing, Flamborough, 05/11/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The photo doesn't do the bird justice (not helped by that unfortunate twig!), it was a great looking bird and a magical, if brief, moment of birding pleasure. These birds breed in Eastern Russia / Mongolia wintering in Southern Asia, and there's a school of thought suggesting that some birds from this region are choosing to fly West across the top of Europe and possibly wintering in Africa / Southern Europe. Either way, being able to see such birds and marvel at their journeys is one of the many thrills of birding.</div><div><br /><div>Things got even better when one of the many birders there turned up a <b>Red-flanked Bluetail</b> skulking around in the undergrowth. With a handful of UK records most years it's not in the 'mega' rarity bracket but I'd never seen one so this was an added bonus. Everyone there struggled to get a good view and I had to crouch down to get a decent line of sight but I got some reasonable views in the end, no chance of any pics though. My 'twitcher' mate Tony did get some decent pics of both birds over the next few days when the <b>Bluetail</b> in particular was showing really well.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8qev_AYq8rZfMeApyyj37QsatKGb4y1hgYJvlqU6vs9OMbHfof-4JQV5-TPE6aBSRtFPb87fPaQsFnC0kKJdFochxLGyQ29qgA38hetDQbE_m450oMV9jOwgVEGjTt9UdHZT342VRMHu/s519/Bluetail+01.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="519" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8qev_AYq8rZfMeApyyj37QsatKGb4y1hgYJvlqU6vs9OMbHfof-4JQV5-TPE6aBSRtFPb87fPaQsFnC0kKJdFochxLGyQ29qgA38hetDQbE_m450oMV9jOwgVEGjTt9UdHZT342VRMHu/w640-h426/Bluetail+01.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red-flanked Bluetail, Flamborough South Landing, 09/11/21. Tony Dixon</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcX2OpSXDdi3HpSc5K5OWOLoHKmdC6Sa671cY1Y00x-eekipoCO0iMup3dGQY-Hmez9QP78DwjYnW5Zkat5fq0pwn7V80RLXkqcGuBURxaWf9XEPBl4A9Orn58f7uGPwamOR0MZoTYT19f/s519/Taiga+Flycatcher.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="519" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcX2OpSXDdi3HpSc5K5OWOLoHKmdC6Sa671cY1Y00x-eekipoCO0iMup3dGQY-Hmez9QP78DwjYnW5Zkat5fq0pwn7V80RLXkqcGuBURxaWf9XEPBl4A9Orn58f7uGPwamOR0MZoTYT19f/w640-h426/Taiga+Flycatcher.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Taiga Flycatcher, Flamborough South Landing, 06/11/21. Tony Dixon</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>A none too shabby half dozen birds to add to my UK list - up to 293 now. A week later there was a <b>Pallas's Warbler</b> on the golf course at Flamborough, again not mega rarity and I didn't get a chance to go see it, but it reminded me of the first of two of these beautiful little warblers I saw in between South Landing and Flamborough headland some years ago.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhob5FqyfMaQFAPbYm914Kjw9pS09G0wQYHsdOsPf13hO9Mb4eSjekX0SIru-TGSZ8FU41Xha83J3qhJAWffNidKvD3dFQo7SnclPrO9OUKaJYipi5zSK-0mBT8O9stPswWYgfPTaLy3Ehe/s446/pallas%2527s+warbler2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="446" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhob5FqyfMaQFAPbYm914Kjw9pS09G0wQYHsdOsPf13hO9Mb4eSjekX0SIru-TGSZ8FU41Xha83J3qhJAWffNidKvD3dFQo7SnclPrO9OUKaJYipi5zSK-0mBT8O9stPswWYgfPTaLy3Ehe/w640-h500/pallas%2527s+warbler2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pallas's Warbler, Flamborough, 15/10/2013<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwuy23C3RMPM6WnastORNWL7t2w0tpcGfaS_rPnkABixzIyZHMKUIDtK1VFUOcK2tP-4_jGpwJ_wRuUOa8f0pOpNxNHTbvCqqnGIsaKO85w4X2cFoQ8wQu_eQNw28YNVLDyBIerI-vsom/s520/Pallas%2527s+Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="520" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwuy23C3RMPM6WnastORNWL7t2w0tpcGfaS_rPnkABixzIyZHMKUIDtK1VFUOcK2tP-4_jGpwJ_wRuUOa8f0pOpNxNHTbvCqqnGIsaKO85w4X2cFoQ8wQu_eQNw28YNVLDyBIerI-vsom/w640-h428/Pallas%2527s+Warbler.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pallas's Warbler, Flamborough, 14/11/2021<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-60677674224572433112021-10-31T10:22:00.481+00:002021-12-07T17:48:51.492+00:00The comings & goings of October plus standout local birds - Hen Harrier & Short Eared Owl<p><span style="font-size: medium;">October, the month when birds from further north begin arriving in earnest to winter in the UK. I love this time of year, still get a thrill when the first <b>Redwings</b> &<b> Fieldfares</b> arrive and usually have a few extended days on the east coast somewhere to witness a bit of incoming migration. Not the case this year though - an almost complete absence of favourable winds did nothing to blow in any of the usual 'falls' of migrants, and I just couldn't match any free days in my diary with decent weather periods, so its been very much a 'bits and pieces' October for me.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9a95Y-G690TzhNwwzjHnP28WrCGlg8cKURdMbRxhjdWd2T5FYrcQE-Q0zdUCX2GayTZeRig34B1zxKGoRTpmf6ZZB-lgTDJu7S3-8MszmrEZjTcqeL-2YkZqCyJ6fwzdw9_1rkVX_Ep9/s1473/IMG_3556.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="982" data-original-width="1473" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9a95Y-G690TzhNwwzjHnP28WrCGlg8cKURdMbRxhjdWd2T5FYrcQE-Q0zdUCX2GayTZeRig34B1zxKGoRTpmf6ZZB-lgTDJu7S3-8MszmrEZjTcqeL-2YkZqCyJ6fwzdw9_1rkVX_Ep9/w400-h266/IMG_3556.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Brambling, Flamborough, 06/10/2021</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">I twitched a couple of the few rarities that were around - a <b>Two-barred Greenish Warbler</b> at Spurn and a <b>Long-toed Stint </b>at St Aidan's (<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4864162408204773585/5832010222985375739" target="_blank">details and pics here</a>) and picked up a few common passage migrants from a couple or 3 trips up to Flamborough Head - a few <b>Siskins</b> and <b>Bramblings</b> in off the sea, the odd <b>Wheatear</b>, a <b>Spotted Flycatcher</b> and a <b>Jack Snipe</b> flushed from the cliff top, but slim pickings really and the first year for a while I've gone without a single <b>Yellow Browed Warbler</b>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQfOKTEChW5UHdq1YqAkwa0h3izGEjMhH1ADI8BGuSEWt1aN1DPKvSvbP7IpYNZoz7VzvnbMIRwNleqQM_NwC6PeJkcQQexBq3hwwaJk6rvK_KStmRN6tM7rED9ySlqYx4wSSWe9GJklU/s1947/IMG_3601.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1298" data-original-width="1947" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQfOKTEChW5UHdq1YqAkwa0h3izGEjMhH1ADI8BGuSEWt1aN1DPKvSvbP7IpYNZoz7VzvnbMIRwNleqQM_NwC6PeJkcQQexBq3hwwaJk6rvK_KStmRN6tM7rED9ySlqYx4wSSWe9GJklU/w640-h426/IMG_3601.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Spotted Flycatcher, Flamborough, 06/10/2021</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Best birds of the month by far were much closer to home with a stunning <b>Short Eared Owl</b> on my own patch at Fangfoss - a great record for the York area and my first at Fangfoss, and then a few days later a ringtail <b>Hen Harrier</b> through Wheldrake Ings. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5c_DLclS31315nF9be_2A_lAz53P2vphyphenhyphenQxC3MhvlMem7oJOTHRgctBI6QZwQZsbaT_Sh9rZXK_Nq9Qdh_TnuTBKujZ3S-wpAGo5XTT0b76dgM7tNsKYNJn6nBcpkjpBZF-GyKnukNVlX/s1062/MX2A7253.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="1062" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5c_DLclS31315nF9be_2A_lAz53P2vphyphenhyphenQxC3MhvlMem7oJOTHRgctBI6QZwQZsbaT_Sh9rZXK_Nq9Qdh_TnuTBKujZ3S-wpAGo5XTT0b76dgM7tNsKYNJn6nBcpkjpBZF-GyKnukNVlX/w640-h426/MX2A7253.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Short Eared Owl, Fangfoss Park, 16/10/2021</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaRpobSyK_gZbKrrXkMi9vuMUSL6epn0uZvLXbqv_CU3pCnhhrjycyb93couloFRVKXSoAQ5lkPiDHRMByGsXlNdUwwoNf91HnECBnPa7xumkonO5cY0ZR2ngoy74CILTnIM-8fl5DIHD/s1775/MX2A7336.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="1775" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaRpobSyK_gZbKrrXkMi9vuMUSL6epn0uZvLXbqv_CU3pCnhhrjycyb93couloFRVKXSoAQ5lkPiDHRMByGsXlNdUwwoNf91HnECBnPa7xumkonO5cY0ZR2ngoy74CILTnIM-8fl5DIHD/w640-h426/MX2A7336.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Short Eared Owl, Fangfoss Park, 16/10/2021</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The <b>Hen Harrier</b> was my 4th this year in the York area and I seem to be gaining a bit of a reputation locally for turning up these most impressive of raptors. It was a group of noisy crows that put me onto this one as I was walking down the river Derwent between Bank Island and Wheldrake bridge. It didn't hang around and flew off NW hotly pursued by said corvids.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrtkwZigIk6LglbcseIwXHQzteWHX9wEz1mdrsXR1wtiEnGKsuc6Sq4Wa4coIuoYz8oDQj8DzMsjWEzyg4X6Uj5_xCrVnkrXIHG4jsgy5eLuvnajCpJUziEQ_GQSbYxDSR9FyLExrRd7L/s1062/MX2A7401.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="1062" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrtkwZigIk6LglbcseIwXHQzteWHX9wEz1mdrsXR1wtiEnGKsuc6Sq4Wa4coIuoYz8oDQj8DzMsjWEzyg4X6Uj5_xCrVnkrXIHG4jsgy5eLuvnajCpJUziEQ_GQSbYxDSR9FyLExrRd7L/w640-h426/MX2A7401.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Hen Harrier, Wheldrake Ings, 21/10/2021</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKj7pjCeXnE8WaZlDTzzfiF8Q9N9ILzauS2Rwd6K5bz2jOrAYRx7osclU5SCzF4CBHT6yUZr3lz6aoF579Pv3EyBZjtHXsE9Mu5Ucuo6miiTnfQwF03WgzRX52w85aFQuAESFfKJjKJ80/s973/MX2A7402.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="973" data-original-width="973" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKj7pjCeXnE8WaZlDTzzfiF8Q9N9ILzauS2Rwd6K5bz2jOrAYRx7osclU5SCzF4CBHT6yUZr3lz6aoF579Pv3EyBZjtHXsE9Mu5Ucuo6miiTnfQwF03WgzRX52w85aFQuAESFfKJjKJ80/w640-h640/MX2A7402.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Hen Harrier, Wheldrake Ings, 21/10/2021</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUK-9KKf4-5pzx7MLYez1GivOmDYZIqr-Gqbg82UMDbdztBtIOleuLmDiZiUdyB1aOPIZzPcv5Ha-m_1mXgvoiBBp91bKNqNNbrZ3FzaJERtL_OLbqVQCdDu8QFhYnX3_goAUkABreFTJ/s2048/MX2A7421.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUK-9KKf4-5pzx7MLYez1GivOmDYZIqr-Gqbg82UMDbdztBtIOleuLmDiZiUdyB1aOPIZzPcv5Ha-m_1mXgvoiBBp91bKNqNNbrZ3FzaJERtL_OLbqVQCdDu8QFhYnX3_goAUkABreFTJ/w400-h266/MX2A7421.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Painted Lady, Wheldrake Ings, 21/10/2021</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On the same day, an unseasonably warm one for October I had another great record but not a bird - a <b>Painted Lady</b> butterfly which could turn out to be the latest ever for Yorkshire. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My first <b>Redwings</b> of the autumn were at Flamborough on the 6th but the only mass influx was over the 13th / 14th of the month when there was a brief lull from the prevailing westerly winds and tens of thousands were reported nationwide. I had maybe 400 over Fangfoss along with smaller numbers of <b>Fieldfares, Song Thrush</b> and <b>Blackbirds</b>, and over the next few days a noticeable increase in birds such as <b>Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Robin, Yellowhammer</b> and <b>Chaffinches</b>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQQOcZwBcBpuwuRmd6DTeqLD9jPbEe2DuH6OJN9PlEIFYzqXlsTQbrmEO6krOemaElyaoTtpcESRon1ZbvVX-cAdjw9Rns4M7ZRl2cE8mLN7lUGgvL2eWVXn17oBxWSHhepCde8dSk7q1/s906/IMG_3651.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="906" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQQOcZwBcBpuwuRmd6DTeqLD9jPbEe2DuH6OJN9PlEIFYzqXlsTQbrmEO6krOemaElyaoTtpcESRon1ZbvVX-cAdjw9Rns4M7ZRl2cE8mLN7lUGgvL2eWVXn17oBxWSHhepCde8dSk7q1/w400-h266/IMG_3651.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Yellow Wagtail & Ruff, Alkborough, 07/10/2021</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My only trip out of Yorkshire during the month was a few hours at <b>Alkborough Flats</b> on the Lincolnshire side of the Humber. I met up with my birding pal Mark P. and on another incongruously warm day we weren't at all surprised to see 6 <b>Barn Swallows</b> and a late <b>Yellow Wagtail</b>, both of which turned out to be my last of the year. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As per usual at Alkborough it was the wading birds that took the eye with good numbers of <b>Black Tailed Godwits (c55) Redshank (c50), Spotted Redshank (15), Dunlin (c140), Curlew, (c20) Golden Plover (c260), Lapwing (c200)</b> plus the odd <b>Avocet, Ruff, Snipe</b> and <b>Ringed Plover</b>. Great light on the day produced some pleasing images of the waders viewable from the main hide.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-siXR9iSxZvCWdMJih75UT8P-Ityj7nJay20K3msRF_Cnwy2rey4GHEJCV3QjwY6P8IOvh_F8BzYHQSUnX3-9zfn-vicoNqZjeyPXksCDsFwoDI_Auou-BqivYSe7XrdAwv5k4o1399-1/s1715/IMG_3620.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1715" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-siXR9iSxZvCWdMJih75UT8P-Ityj7nJay20K3msRF_Cnwy2rey4GHEJCV3QjwY6P8IOvh_F8BzYHQSUnX3-9zfn-vicoNqZjeyPXksCDsFwoDI_Auou-BqivYSe7XrdAwv5k4o1399-1/w640-h426/IMG_3620.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Common Redshank, </b><b>Alkborough, 07/10/2021</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGT8zNC1QSUJXBgUyP6Sfw0FbhoQIiI4dO-WTjEKCM-RDX7MywkRsaUmfzAJItpQ8f2ig8-Bdg0dUzUh3F9U813rNzJcm012rTpqwFwkm9hvcwZXfFiBRuIOQDmMr6jxRn1lr1fVu3Yobo/s2048/IMG_3640.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGT8zNC1QSUJXBgUyP6Sfw0FbhoQIiI4dO-WTjEKCM-RDX7MywkRsaUmfzAJItpQ8f2ig8-Bdg0dUzUh3F9U813rNzJcm012rTpqwFwkm9hvcwZXfFiBRuIOQDmMr6jxRn1lr1fVu3Yobo/w640-h426/IMG_3640.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Dunlin, </b><b>Alkborough, 07/10/2021</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXJqIj66l2FyFO6uebi6uG5T035WJq7pzlHaDBcB_-XFJURVQohaUYdA9IpSgzJzVEGUdxgTqSrlPHPuM-MO6oaVDKZaiHDAZLTp2ds4ZjJXUapjYti_ii0U1bVcyQNaeLAs5GEesoo7M/s2634/IMG_3637.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="2634" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXJqIj66l2FyFO6uebi6uG5T035WJq7pzlHaDBcB_-XFJURVQohaUYdA9IpSgzJzVEGUdxgTqSrlPHPuM-MO6oaVDKZaiHDAZLTp2ds4ZjJXUapjYti_ii0U1bVcyQNaeLAs5GEesoo7M/w640-h290/IMG_3637.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Mixed waders, Alkborough, 07/10/2021</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> Other good birds on the day included a <b>Water Rail </b>scurrying across the mud right in front of the hide, 10ish <b>Bearded Tits</b>, a couple of <b>Mediterranean Gulls</b>, a <b>Kingfisher </b>and several skeins of <b>Pink Footed Geese</b> over and looking slightly incongruous against a clear blue sky.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_bliRtwZCFa0EGf8wzb94nS307jC2hbe5L5G9yBEfanRACdzS8CxLFMUmeeWLXLO4lsW-ZTjD20NFB0Mkv3VHVfYnILR-WBSZyEgf7EW0S8NvCyPGOSBmYEALsSlHy4UPNsgt86Qks3d/s1940/IMG_3661.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1293" data-original-width="1940" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_bliRtwZCFa0EGf8wzb94nS307jC2hbe5L5G9yBEfanRACdzS8CxLFMUmeeWLXLO4lsW-ZTjD20NFB0Mkv3VHVfYnILR-WBSZyEgf7EW0S8NvCyPGOSBmYEALsSlHy4UPNsgt86Qks3d/w640-h426/IMG_3661.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Pink Footed Geese, Alkborough, 07/10/2021</span><br /><br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table>Elsewhere around the patch in October it's been the usual comings and goings with a steady build up of ducks and geese at both <b>North Cave Wetlands</b> and the <b>LDV</b> (Lower Derwent Valley), and there were 5 <b>Goosanders</b> back on the brickyard pond behind my mother's house in York on the 20th. More<b> Stonechats</b> about (one of the few birds that seem to be actually growing in numbers) including 4 at North Cave along with a <b>Wheatear</b> on the 1st were notable, as was a latish <b>Common Whitethroat</b> on the 5th, a male <b>Blackcap</b> on the 14th, and 6 probable <b>Bramblings</b> over on the 13th, all here at <b>Fangfoss Park</b>. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Whilst it was thrilling to add a couple of new species to my UK list this month, the highlight for me was the <b>Short Eared Owl</b> - you just can't beat that feeling of seeing a new bird on your own local patch! Here's a few more pics from the month - </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdeYVxhX1oQij_8duHKmj8NNd58r9e7o4gNqSJurwRSD1ynBo2-GPCKTVovIdOuDI5K8WdNjefIOEMXNG6KdAVEUbl-yKQyu1VitU8OhYdF-vMD5TCKwM53B3KzYngEg2YxtpqQnHxfe5/s1854/IMG_3515.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1854" data-original-width="1418" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdeYVxhX1oQij_8duHKmj8NNd58r9e7o4gNqSJurwRSD1ynBo2-GPCKTVovIdOuDI5K8WdNjefIOEMXNG6KdAVEUbl-yKQyu1VitU8OhYdF-vMD5TCKwM53B3KzYngEg2YxtpqQnHxfe5/w490-h640/IMG_3515.JPG" width="490" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Northern Wheatear looking at a passing Stonechat, </b><b>North Cave Wetlands, 01/10/2021<br /><br /></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9ub0osxbxAUuJCUcXekpmuKOMsKFdGrDA9Qsbbf3M1YwZgyal2GZ4Z9oh6z2Jny3OkhwLOLeY3Tr4Yd0FHYupK3lIi3600lAn33uTcwMMl3rmVAaYqefDXFWOsQHrY_h1dyG6VSkXZoM/s1602/IMG_3526.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1602" data-original-width="1144" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9ub0osxbxAUuJCUcXekpmuKOMsKFdGrDA9Qsbbf3M1YwZgyal2GZ4Z9oh6z2Jny3OkhwLOLeY3Tr4Yd0FHYupK3lIi3600lAn33uTcwMMl3rmVAaYqefDXFWOsQHrY_h1dyG6VSkXZoM/w458-h640/IMG_3526.JPG" width="458" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Stonechat, </b><b>North Cave Wetlands, 01/10/2021</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfHL6Ovj_-7ZF-KSKKHPVH1fZ9BXSJlXbrDXStnHEthfEOPl7KQXB2HL2hFG6kkDnvxlKJvMUC6jyx4hbCpqvhNshW-vS5KXZ1F8To1PgLVa_5z7t4BkynNMnOnEDWvWmZYZiMN86XoA-/s1688/IMG_3542.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1688" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfHL6Ovj_-7ZF-KSKKHPVH1fZ9BXSJlXbrDXStnHEthfEOPl7KQXB2HL2hFG6kkDnvxlKJvMUC6jyx4hbCpqvhNshW-vS5KXZ1F8To1PgLVa_5z7t4BkynNMnOnEDWvWmZYZiMN86XoA-/w640-h426/IMG_3542.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Teal, North Cave Wetlands, 01/10/2021</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoZOQr2LmWO8D5p2kH936ExpzObwZf8VtOVsV6wT_H5zTv261eQPIekJntWObtf9J8uDL3v7mk5bdnjpwjUhBn9XCYCU31PU5cuYsUMyl521yqA8kjxtevM15EaZG5m_DCOUbgEOxvwXn/s1895/IMG_3562.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1263" data-original-width="1895" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoZOQr2LmWO8D5p2kH936ExpzObwZf8VtOVsV6wT_H5zTv261eQPIekJntWObtf9J8uDL3v7mk5bdnjpwjUhBn9XCYCU31PU5cuYsUMyl521yqA8kjxtevM15EaZG5m_DCOUbgEOxvwXn/w640-h426/IMG_3562.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Female Kestrel, Flamborough, 06/10/2021</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOs9ahP53RjI09k4qgpiiCkEu4VnJQSfdKvrcD6BZXxY4wGewW5aeNO0ScaYI_k7UNVjT6z3KqnA5G1G2l2RQ0E7i5_wW9Eg0OysFefF0OpKX8jAC3j7VsY7EhjidE-ZoNjjsQce-mqD9X/s2048/MX2A7404.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOs9ahP53RjI09k4qgpiiCkEu4VnJQSfdKvrcD6BZXxY4wGewW5aeNO0ScaYI_k7UNVjT6z3KqnA5G1G2l2RQ0E7i5_wW9Eg0OysFefF0OpKX8jAC3j7VsY7EhjidE-ZoNjjsQce-mqD9X/w640-h426/MX2A7404.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Grazing Highland Cattle, Wheldrake Ings, 21/10/2021</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWVJS0dL5SatEVizBrQ9aiiejGKNvneyKJ-amlOdp0gO5SMwVJwQErqjX14nHCe3BJiy-pHcQPwcDjlcNDWc3sk-yJyBJzP3C0NMH8BO7TTKjoW8K1ptxbZ36jYsCQfzrDAZATIe07h6Y/s1374/MX2A7433.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="1374" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWVJS0dL5SatEVizBrQ9aiiejGKNvneyKJ-amlOdp0gO5SMwVJwQErqjX14nHCe3BJiy-pHcQPwcDjlcNDWc3sk-yJyBJzP3C0NMH8BO7TTKjoW8K1ptxbZ36jYsCQfzrDAZATIe07h6Y/w640-h426/MX2A7433.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Hovering Kestrel, Wheldrake Ings, 21/10/2021</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6gI3e685L1yQAW_er8orB23YnV_-0_sMVj1vD6OMaIpJqbrCSi7LslI7CB5A3nTEDBZiTPFlP4TWZmtzW8nl4vONg90eZmWO_JpZ57QbnCZGILSBvt58zmg1ossUn89Qw_imKS2SBkii/s1809/MX2A7448.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="1809" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6gI3e685L1yQAW_er8orB23YnV_-0_sMVj1vD6OMaIpJqbrCSi7LslI7CB5A3nTEDBZiTPFlP4TWZmtzW8nl4vONg90eZmWO_JpZ57QbnCZGILSBvt58zmg1ossUn89Qw_imKS2SBkii/w640-h426/MX2A7448.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Long Tailed Tit, Fangfoss Park, 25/11/2021</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-40416882313708730852021-09-14T22:35:00.007+01:002021-09-14T22:39:45.736+01:002 Yorkshire firsts - White Tailed Lapwing & Green Warbler, and some decent passage migrants through Fangfoss Park.<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8txjTeJdMPYxfNESyRo1d5vk0YvhqQtbxRBtjOHIgw-xqR_pziU8YSSnyvxQsKhvPlhpKD94Swsd7a5wbv3GtKPRcV3aVNOG16E1odyNR-dNq8MxjcqCAgUESPoWmezl_RwPVFKL-bze/s1302/IMG_3246.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="1302" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8txjTeJdMPYxfNESyRo1d5vk0YvhqQtbxRBtjOHIgw-xqR_pziU8YSSnyvxQsKhvPlhpKD94Swsd7a5wbv3GtKPRcV3aVNOG16E1odyNR-dNq8MxjcqCAgUESPoWmezl_RwPVFKL-bze/w400-h266/IMG_3246.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Whinchat, Fangfoss Park, E.Yorks, 01/09/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table>So far the first half of September has produced some cracking good birds for me. A couple of 'lifers' (both firsts for Yorkshire) and a clutch of decent passage migrants on my local patch around Fangfoss Park.<p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3aVnQUaeewcyj9rXvLdPU6Hji27JJl6IHSuHxqeYhKZ8PjXxo94HUd9eLOPdQT9Lbph0IYcZGoiWZ0w1AwyyXg9NIYUP5itz7xpN27HlGbhp2zfa-77kfjo-vtclMELku_ai65Ivy5RJ/s1451/MX2A6897.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="967" data-original-width="1451" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3aVnQUaeewcyj9rXvLdPU6Hji27JJl6IHSuHxqeYhKZ8PjXxo94HUd9eLOPdQT9Lbph0IYcZGoiWZ0w1AwyyXg9NIYUP5itz7xpN27HlGbhp2zfa-77kfjo-vtclMELku_ai65Ivy5RJ/w400-h266/MX2A6897.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>White Tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands, E.Yorks, 01/09/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>In birdwatching / twitching language the <b>WT Lapwing</b> is a proper 'MEGA RARITY' but if truth be told I got more of a thrill finding my own <b>Whinchat </b>dropping in on my own little patch of Yorkshire. A predominantly upland breeding bird and in Yorkshire their strongholds are in the North Yorks Moors and Pennine areas, but they're a red listed bird in the UK as a whole due to a population crash over the past couple of decades. </p><p>I'd been noticing a series of connected grassy fields the local farmer has left fallow this year, fields with vast swathes of some kind of Hawkweed and other tall plant species, and thinking 'that looks good habitat for a <b>Stonechat</b> or two'. 2 days later in the late evening gloom I did indeed have a <b>Stonechat</b> plus another chat I struggled to identify. The next morning it revealed itself to be juv <b>Whinchat</b>, only my second record for around here. Always a bit distant and being in the middle of a field tricky to approach, but I managed some decent shots as it flitted from the tops of the vegetation.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhpGYktpxf5V3QdkMuVBjPhZkXAjfajF9qfOvQvLTleMr_qvIABq6RPpDHSJ9k0j7nJ7vorwb7isNDhUdvNQUw7joZdlbF8TJFQ5vrCPpv-n8vKTC4ZEMyjlWWmfqFfTGIoDCsYVwh355/s1306/IMG_3199.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1306" data-original-width="933" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhpGYktpxf5V3QdkMuVBjPhZkXAjfajF9qfOvQvLTleMr_qvIABq6RPpDHSJ9k0j7nJ7vorwb7isNDhUdvNQUw7joZdlbF8TJFQ5vrCPpv-n8vKTC4ZEMyjlWWmfqFfTGIoDCsYVwh355/w458-h640/IMG_3199.JPG" width="458" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Juv Whinchat, Fangfoss Park, 01/09/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhas3PH0XHyfCk4ZHWIIMUiOZ_tO_nxil-BRcN5CY5S3nSC9du4XLN5ejol3-_HKAnS8UjOi9lbiC7H0kXH1cxO2ijI6UUnmaWHBqvicz758hvlTbr0bKZE4urH0XujeYjc-Gm-L8np8A30/s1357/IMG_3202.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1357" data-original-width="969" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhas3PH0XHyfCk4ZHWIIMUiOZ_tO_nxil-BRcN5CY5S3nSC9du4XLN5ejol3-_HKAnS8UjOi9lbiC7H0kXH1cxO2ijI6UUnmaWHBqvicz758hvlTbr0bKZE4urH0XujeYjc-Gm-L8np8A30/w458-h640/IMG_3202.JPG" width="458" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Juv Whinchat, Fangfoss Park, 01/09/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTer3sH-fFDQ-3xZJTThdrp_kmitpU80vegIhYwWkkGECJ7e9SZkFxv06PuAGHg13PpU15wI0lJHIflHCiBfW55LQx1WjYy56-gmN4aDLeNxo3hKL1AvV95KYwWOZETKd4PBMv6fdeVxyj/s1437/IMG_3213.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1437" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTer3sH-fFDQ-3xZJTThdrp_kmitpU80vegIhYwWkkGECJ7e9SZkFxv06PuAGHg13PpU15wI0lJHIflHCiBfW55LQx1WjYy56-gmN4aDLeNxo3hKL1AvV95KYwWOZETKd4PBMv6fdeVxyj/w640-h426/IMG_3213.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Juv Whinchat, Fangfoss Park, 01/09/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8JptsPttHbhD_Ous61taxxPsc_wnDJgAPq-_tbjqSgD_Alc9M4hLOF4m0NQ-q7C0TmICpICPaYOeW1_hoIaz8hMyGlKK7NJFEJAE6tQLfPOhMDzC9bSXLu6-38cHh-OOnumV7hpXN9NI/s1245/IMG_3223.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1245" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8JptsPttHbhD_Ous61taxxPsc_wnDJgAPq-_tbjqSgD_Alc9M4hLOF4m0NQ-q7C0TmICpICPaYOeW1_hoIaz8hMyGlKK7NJFEJAE6tQLfPOhMDzC9bSXLu6-38cHh-OOnumV7hpXN9NI/w640-h426/IMG_3223.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Juv Whinchat, Fangfoss Park, 01/09/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVKy0o2-MDpgbhyuykqDqXvKKHDF4C8sOzToRIT1HnDuHBdR-_uXXNX_AWmsKJEQoU3XZqCfBD5OqmrkTNY4c4hpnKdI5N1d4pKIRlYPKvG9nWPVBVS7R38uRVKlKRcfqJCP2s9-dXUIU/s1221/IMG_3271.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Whinchat (juv), Fangfoss Park, East Yorkshire, 06/09/21" border="0" data-original-height="1221" data-original-width="872" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVKy0o2-MDpgbhyuykqDqXvKKHDF4C8sOzToRIT1HnDuHBdR-_uXXNX_AWmsKJEQoU3XZqCfBD5OqmrkTNY4c4hpnKdI5N1d4pKIRlYPKvG9nWPVBVS7R38uRVKlKRcfqJCP2s9-dXUIU/w458-h640/IMG_3271.JPG" title="Whinchat (juv), Fangfoss Park, East Yorkshire, 06/09/21" width="458" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Juv Whinchat, Fangfoss Park, 01/09/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It might be a bit of scruffy youngster but always good to have something out of the ordinary and it sparked a good couple of weeks around here as for migrant birds with a female / juv<b> Redstart</b> and a <b>Stonechat </b>the previous evening, single <b>Spotted Flycatchers </b>on the 3rd & 14th Sept, a <b>Lesser Whitethroat</b> on the 4th and then 2 others on the 6th, 7 <b>Blackcaps</b> on the 6th, plenty of <b> Chiffchaffs</b> and a fantastic flock of 15 <b>Yellow Wagtails</b> on the same day in recently cut fields. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Vo4YbKRS6dAXwkSUDY6feCFvRi55NBnQjl36BAPR6ZHw8GtIaHeOCV48nRc9t2NFe0BuT5fpNTvYtzIslBlLnfjUyDNn-l5mvrTXIGLnA2twbpekxXHcCmHv6c638qudsVnwPsG1CkQd/s1337/MX2A7078.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Yellow Wagtail, Fangfoss Park, East Yorkshire, 06/09/21" border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="1337" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Vo4YbKRS6dAXwkSUDY6feCFvRi55NBnQjl36BAPR6ZHw8GtIaHeOCV48nRc9t2NFe0BuT5fpNTvYtzIslBlLnfjUyDNn-l5mvrTXIGLnA2twbpekxXHcCmHv6c638qudsVnwPsG1CkQd/w640-h426/MX2A7078.JPG" title="Yellow Wagtail, Fangfoss Park, East Yorkshire, 06/09/21" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Yellow Wagtail, Fangfoss Park, 06/09/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>And so to the <b>White Tailed Lapwing</b> - or <b>White Tailed Plover </b>according to which classification you use! The bird had been present for some days by the time I had a chance to pop down to the Humber but such was the draw of this bird ( a 1st for Yorkshire and only the 7th ever record for mainland UK) I still had to squeeze myself into the Xerox Hide at <b><a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/blacktoft-sands/" target="_blank">RSPB Blacktoft Sands</a></b> for some great views of this rare visitor from central Asia.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRtNNyLMY6cK5MXrhT9p5eZJzQ14-hP_Dmm4uuow7AIl2BoIrbI84ppodx5UTfrZL7Xwyax7sPJhfZYNj_To01rNe83iDKJ8bu7EoFxISnWx3DMDb3l3Bl5iuqZF4SS7gqqcNcjpSZZzR/s1233/MX2A6860.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="White Tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands, East Yorkshire. 01/09/21" border="0" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="1233" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRtNNyLMY6cK5MXrhT9p5eZJzQ14-hP_Dmm4uuow7AIl2BoIrbI84ppodx5UTfrZL7Xwyax7sPJhfZYNj_To01rNe83iDKJ8bu7EoFxISnWx3DMDb3l3Bl5iuqZF4SS7gqqcNcjpSZZzR/w640-h426/MX2A6860.JPG" title="White Tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands, East Yorkshire. 01/09/21" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>White Tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands, 01/09/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eUqngfdsp8397uaM1aKGU_hl8HO5WdY-c1jsOYZzo4fE-E3LAxN6Re-s64o1fTAFmDzQZT-x2v73DiNCiL6zVOq3fxLiKWp-rjoo4gQVnx27BKZwadm8C0r6zaXZkGjfFea4mpYnsryy/s1544/MX2A6958.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="White Tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands, East Yorkshire. 01/09/21" border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1544" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eUqngfdsp8397uaM1aKGU_hl8HO5WdY-c1jsOYZzo4fE-E3LAxN6Re-s64o1fTAFmDzQZT-x2v73DiNCiL6zVOq3fxLiKWp-rjoo4gQVnx27BKZwadm8C0r6zaXZkGjfFea4mpYnsryy/w640-h426/MX2A6958.JPG" title="White Tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands, East Yorkshire. 01/09/21" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>White Tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands, 01/09/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOCy7zDXCLOSArSqOYy3FHOYW-QY4_zRPIFf5szRyisuH4MmsOPZf31C5SsTiCJKtR6hxGTCxSaWQ_0xENqn4dov7R017zmgluR7DHVFfRRSeZMsDexbBcNcckA2xbufOzk-ypOAy1W1I/s1611/MX2A6962.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="White Tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands, East Yorkshire. 01/09/21" border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1611" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOCy7zDXCLOSArSqOYy3FHOYW-QY4_zRPIFf5szRyisuH4MmsOPZf31C5SsTiCJKtR6hxGTCxSaWQ_0xENqn4dov7R017zmgluR7DHVFfRRSeZMsDexbBcNcckA2xbufOzk-ypOAy1W1I/w640-h426/MX2A6962.JPG" title="White Tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands, East Yorkshire. 01/09/21" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>White Tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands, 01/09/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Despite the above pics, the bird was not an active bird during the 2 hrs or so I was there, making only a couple of feeding forays either side of some extended sleeping - probably bewildered at finding itself deep in Humber mud rather than some inland marsh in Iraq! </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiSsesjDOYagqquaO7Gz0fg0jOq49YAhJIxvsbkBQLDGTUvu6GW2LaF7j173qLY7jQLPsjPDrq7ejtZK6bFJ6wUYMFUwpBn3UNf2-oqfJOUDuv705WPVT29JiGC0RPYWZdDWA0qT-Ke69/s2048/MX2A6872.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiSsesjDOYagqquaO7Gz0fg0jOq49YAhJIxvsbkBQLDGTUvu6GW2LaF7j173qLY7jQLPsjPDrq7ejtZK6bFJ6wUYMFUwpBn3UNf2-oqfJOUDuv705WPVT29JiGC0RPYWZdDWA0qT-Ke69/w400-h266/MX2A6872.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Goldfinches, Blacktoft Sands, 01/09/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table>A nice big charm of <b>Goldfinches</b> entertained whilst waiting for the plover to wake up, as did plenty of other passage wading birds including <b>Ruff, Green Sandpiper</b> and <b>Black Tailed Godwit</b>, a <b>Water Rail</b> and several <b>Bearded Tits</b>. <p></p><p>It never flew during the time I was there - shame, I was hoping for some 'in flight' pics, but it did do a spot of stretching and flapping showing off those broad white wing bars!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQgVO4G6Ixp0cYQ7LJ97nxYny4_wwkm5-YKl2xRQQLwnKSIA26Dc_hvhqp3FgBu8BPdAiOWy9siroQmZxn0M0zbxCA3ckWwQoPkITsEwnSLfhjx7n_R_NJteqOwLOXg-K3fvMizBz-x8R/s1469/MX2A6889.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="White Tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands, East Yorkshire. 01/09/21" border="0" data-original-height="979" data-original-width="1469" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQgVO4G6Ixp0cYQ7LJ97nxYny4_wwkm5-YKl2xRQQLwnKSIA26Dc_hvhqp3FgBu8BPdAiOWy9siroQmZxn0M0zbxCA3ckWwQoPkITsEwnSLfhjx7n_R_NJteqOwLOXg-K3fvMizBz-x8R/w640-h426/MX2A6889.JPG" title="White Tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands, East Yorkshire. 01/09/21" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>White Tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands, 01/09/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilel8EYa8T2DLK7VrrESYJ54t4nW4uI44NrySP91uBq6GyBczFl9wr5P4QDirbxxrsYfu29R5lCFshcojT1lhAVMC8UqJlpgbDTJD-29YHr8hgKrPdcxAVm-Cx37yBFpY36Oa0-j_nLew6/s1631/MX2A6890.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="White Tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands, East Yorkshire. 01/09/21" border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1631" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilel8EYa8T2DLK7VrrESYJ54t4nW4uI44NrySP91uBq6GyBczFl9wr5P4QDirbxxrsYfu29R5lCFshcojT1lhAVMC8UqJlpgbDTJD-29YHr8hgKrPdcxAVm-Cx37yBFpY36Oa0-j_nLew6/w640-h426/MX2A6890.JPG" title="White Tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands, East Yorkshire. 01/09/21" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>White Tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands, 01/09/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnnQ61ZmACsqeh7EiilInl31rAXxM-jNOM-lri102bM4bSuT9jJcEx-8UFXd5C4YeMho0ElFLc67lUJWLS8WQGe5sBGC9QObM54y2Bi3uJhO83oPpu4Wwm3CeP3SD7Oe7DawKe2RZHSBz/s1677/MX2A6893.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="White Tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands, East Yorkshire. 01/09/21" border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="1677" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnnQ61ZmACsqeh7EiilInl31rAXxM-jNOM-lri102bM4bSuT9jJcEx-8UFXd5C4YeMho0ElFLc67lUJWLS8WQGe5sBGC9QObM54y2Bi3uJhO83oPpu4Wwm3CeP3SD7Oe7DawKe2RZHSBz/w640-h426/MX2A6893.JPG" title="White Tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands, East Yorkshire. 01/09/21" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>White Tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands, 01/09/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>September rarely fails to deliver its fair share of rare and scarce birds to the Yorkshire coast and you never know what might turn up next, but a wee warbler caught & ringed at the cliffside dell at Buckton on the 9th surpassed even the WT Lapwing and attracted even bigger crowds of eager twitchers hoping to catch a glimpse of an extremely rare <b>Green Warbler</b>. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yECVTwRPNeFeaGBWZOVnGAluy9fXu8pyowJwU-CHqynNh-ezKvNe0YOmEoKYGGNQjq5SJNu0UkTLDsrfPirFRSHXmStRCGPEJkBAcxZmtnVX3bNbkz5dVWUcDw5MOL4xda5kuG34cPCE/s1800/Green+Warbler+001.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yECVTwRPNeFeaGBWZOVnGAluy9fXu8pyowJwU-CHqynNh-ezKvNe0YOmEoKYGGNQjq5SJNu0UkTLDsrfPirFRSHXmStRCGPEJkBAcxZmtnVX3bNbkz5dVWUcDw5MOL4xda5kuG34cPCE/w640-h426/Green+Warbler+001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Green Warbler, Buckton, East Yorks, 13/09/21. </b><b> Picture credit - Tony Dixon.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDO0xoLg25LGeu-tNvO-IPQtjjoxsA5_dZEE7sgpnmvSHcH-sP0veBpJIva2V12k8yFTz_Z-UERKlsoA6DyTy5U56jftkmRSQURqOzhi4yxY74U4ag2F_DYT1MYnsCWL2RZx2hvl3pcVWb/s1800/Green+Warbler+002.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDO0xoLg25LGeu-tNvO-IPQtjjoxsA5_dZEE7sgpnmvSHcH-sP0veBpJIva2V12k8yFTz_Z-UERKlsoA6DyTy5U56jftkmRSQURqOzhi4yxY74U4ag2F_DYT1MYnsCWL2RZx2hvl3pcVWb/w640-h426/Green+Warbler+002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Green Warbler, Buckton, East Yorks, 13/09/21. Picture credit - Tony Dixon.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Another bird normally to be found in central Asia (was it driven here by the same weather system as the <b>WT Lapwing</b>?) this is another 1st for Yorkshire and only the 2nd ever in mainland Britain. No wonder I rubbing shoulders with over 200 birders all straining for a glimpse of what proved to be a very shy and retiring leaf warbler. A glimpse is all I managed but enough to see the distinctive wing bar. <div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com1United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-61387129671140495692021-08-24T21:52:01.007+01:002021-09-29T19:48:35.334+01:00A jaunt to the Lincolnshire coast - waders galore plus Black Stork and a Pacific Golden Plover.<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyOVrne8nShq1mCdZkrw6YOINoV-KbZQdK60RO90-vmzu_ybdKBimNDMnulgXPKUzcMQqARV_ddpPQS4fV2Q0_c_Jkl1aJDSDOnt-kf-eBUD5caDuQqz0qRVFTmWVwzRPsIqP3xNIiTpJ/s2048/MX2A6746.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyOVrne8nShq1mCdZkrw6YOINoV-KbZQdK60RO90-vmzu_ybdKBimNDMnulgXPKUzcMQqARV_ddpPQS4fV2Q0_c_Jkl1aJDSDOnt-kf-eBUD5caDuQqz0qRVFTmWVwzRPsIqP3xNIiTpJ/w400-h266/MX2A6746.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Gibraltar Point, Lincs, 18/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Mid August and I took advantage of a few midweek days of dry and bright weather in what has been anything but a long hot summer, at least up here in the northern half of the country. So I rocked up in the campervan at <b>Gibraltar Point </b>on the <b>Lincolnshire</b> coast mid afternoon and strolled around the dunes for the rest of the day and the next morning. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHr1bzJpd75Lj8kfc9IJPK97OQtxIoWOEmBvNV7CzU9C049GSiqZJ87SXXgX5KJoYEsWaX1f4bxkcDNMc8I0_W4MCcgEm-v8R-k1WA-NiqP-sosZ_PE-oHlhDsjtQmqHaZCxaEeAoJh8K/s1239/IMG_2607.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Curlew Sandpiper, Gibraltatar Point," border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="1239" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHr1bzJpd75Lj8kfc9IJPK97OQtxIoWOEmBvNV7CzU9C049GSiqZJ87SXXgX5KJoYEsWaX1f4bxkcDNMc8I0_W4MCcgEm-v8R-k1WA-NiqP-sosZ_PE-oHlhDsjtQmqHaZCxaEeAoJh8K/w400-h266/IMG_2607.JPG" title="Curlew Sandpiper, Gibraltatar Point," width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Curlew Sandpiper, Gibraltar Point, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table>There's such a mix of habitats here - saltmarsh, freshwater lagoons & scrapes and acres of scrub amongst the sand dunes, that I wasn't surprised to rack up 72 bird species in less than 24hrs. Time of year helped with plenty of wading birds on the move with an impressive 17 species here including <b>Wood Sandpiper (2), Little Stint (1), Black Tailed Godwit (c140) Bar Tailed Godwit (2), Avocets (c90), Spotted Redshank (11),</b><b> Curlew Sandpiper (1) </b>and I think my highest ever count of <b>Spoonbills</b> in the UK with at least 24 here.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Frustratingly, most of the good waders were on the far side of the lagoons and the light wasn't great but this <b>Common Snipe</b> struck a jaunty pose as it strode across the scrape!</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHNRxNQy-IxSsakpndlRBbJdauKIjRxSb5_ff5Kw5VCrtpbsTcPsSbZ6-OnTuQdgic1ipBOETJc6RKH4kvokwX25NiCNEq5ISH3fEn2vXH8UB0dt5JW2fnHlRUwe5ZhqXWfgE5hpSvElF/s1742/IMG_2599.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="1742" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHNRxNQy-IxSsakpndlRBbJdauKIjRxSb5_ff5Kw5VCrtpbsTcPsSbZ6-OnTuQdgic1ipBOETJc6RKH4kvokwX25NiCNEq5ISH3fEn2vXH8UB0dt5JW2fnHlRUwe5ZhqXWfgE5hpSvElF/w640-h426/IMG_2599.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Snipe, Gibralter Point, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupzBUp5ifgaXZg2kPDMsedJDoUCawALyg1TEN8ixijsG3A6PGyyedeuj0RxaXOpqgPvoJx3cKU30lu1Ne7rzg9bfPyOagzi151Kh7AkYahXNw2LK4xhyphenhyphen7RTHO6PNGw-hpwMaecO5-X_-i/s2048/IMG_2543.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupzBUp5ifgaXZg2kPDMsedJDoUCawALyg1TEN8ixijsG3A6PGyyedeuj0RxaXOpqgPvoJx3cKU30lu1Ne7rzg9bfPyOagzi151Kh7AkYahXNw2LK4xhyphenhyphen7RTHO6PNGw-hpwMaecO5-X_-i/w640-h426/IMG_2543.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point, 18/08/21</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEise4UsH2Vs5znEt3U3l4nD-aS2DJbqTa2R37r8OAnRSA0PQsU89xZa0BU64bycvtWdNlV1duUl1tfhYsAAhAZg3V297BX3mQWP1JyxHcXyb9hI8B23hU2in-4aBHnhK0eBsW6iRElwYVwA/s1248/IMG_2583.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="1248" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEise4UsH2Vs5znEt3U3l4nD-aS2DJbqTa2R37r8OAnRSA0PQsU89xZa0BU64bycvtWdNlV1duUl1tfhYsAAhAZg3V297BX3mQWP1JyxHcXyb9hI8B23hU2in-4aBHnhK0eBsW6iRElwYVwA/w400-h266/IMG_2583.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lesser Whitethroat, Gibraltar Point, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table>The sand dunes here are extensive and more often than not covered with deep scrub, so finding good birds is sometimes very tricky, but in one particular sheltered area I came across a <b>Spotted Flycatcher,</b> a <b>Lesser Whitethroat </b>and several <b>Chiffchaffs </b>& <b>Willow Warblers</b> - all within a few square metres. </div><div><br /></div><div>I stood for ages in this spot trying to get a shot of the <b>Spotted Flycatcher</b> but to no avail but as I hid away I was rewarded with some close views of a <b>Chiffchaff</b> passing food to one of its youngsters.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZN_wQebdPmiOL9xgXfMPL3nrvTmi0jkIp1DhA9Bey7aDlIJ1px8pC8iZZoePYo4XqRgfa-sEDek8cOydbyUSMfCC_9Yc4nGoEWBmZcpP4hARWLxtbXNCtFkzcFJFjQsGgtr9jEiNyBDb/s1573/IMG_2561.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1573" data-original-width="1573" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZN_wQebdPmiOL9xgXfMPL3nrvTmi0jkIp1DhA9Bey7aDlIJ1px8pC8iZZoePYo4XqRgfa-sEDek8cOydbyUSMfCC_9Yc4nGoEWBmZcpP4hARWLxtbXNCtFkzcFJFjQsGgtr9jEiNyBDb/w640-h640/IMG_2561.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Chiffchaff feeding young, Gibraltar Point, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63qB9Emrk1Hf5qNjo2WpeJiIoOl0xvbNRlaUoGYti-a1kRhNRJEzfj9xLtNFroIEPkbMjj-J_-jn9gVg8cH4eEbhNnwDevYzLmdAW2DkSa1CD61QV59FHp_oePmLco2O83qaYgEmMfOYD/s1600/IMG_2548.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63qB9Emrk1Hf5qNjo2WpeJiIoOl0xvbNRlaUoGYti-a1kRhNRJEzfj9xLtNFroIEPkbMjj-J_-jn9gVg8cH4eEbhNnwDevYzLmdAW2DkSa1CD61QV59FHp_oePmLco2O83qaYgEmMfOYD/w286-h400/IMG_2548.JPG" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cuckoo (juv), Gibralter Point, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table>The previous evening, again in and amongst the dunes I was treated to a nice but typically brief view of a <b>Hobby</b> and there was a juvenile <b>Cuckoo</b> also hanging around, whilst on the shoreline I had at least 5 <b>Arctic Skuas</b> that were harassing <b>Sandwich</b> & <b>Common Terns</b>. I'd never managed to photograph a single Skua species until this day - they've always been too far out to sea, so I was pleased to put that particular record straight, even though the results weren't that great!</div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8j2bW1dsUiacjdYpdb7s3BK6wP04VgkuRn6klnJIWHzEV7uRD3Dle74kJF942voZQTkS88eofigJcT8nBba-6YFZrTFESwyeta2-a88nTHN4pObnTsXH4mtusPFMuIG22ZxXMaGT1J3j/s1724/IMG_2504.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="1724" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8j2bW1dsUiacjdYpdb7s3BK6wP04VgkuRn6klnJIWHzEV7uRD3Dle74kJF942voZQTkS88eofigJcT8nBba-6YFZrTFESwyeta2-a88nTHN4pObnTsXH4mtusPFMuIG22ZxXMaGT1J3j/w640-h426/IMG_2504.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hobby, Gibraltar Point, 18/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWH92GLWX6hdXAnk0U5vlgfbK8sNRotGbdCHlVzlvHTiEev0QbbJubEsXROfkO9JeYeh_k8_p_okTyIXTw4n042qoRMXHlzUW-lPweba0IjxTuMQgzavr53q25QzePNZ0IUIpxTtY9MyF/s1490/IMG_2519.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="1490" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWH92GLWX6hdXAnk0U5vlgfbK8sNRotGbdCHlVzlvHTiEev0QbbJubEsXROfkO9JeYeh_k8_p_okTyIXTw4n042qoRMXHlzUW-lPweba0IjxTuMQgzavr53q25QzePNZ0IUIpxTtY9MyF/w640-h426/IMG_2519.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Arctic Skua, Gibraltar Point, 18/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIm66d76nccKp97WQWV9euKv-LQdCUbT73llDTfzHlpGgBgmgfb4Yi31OOB7wpLndeRgmzVojaXacOFSRzvSNHiJUpRHZLKnWk9B_jeQjAuNSj3NF3CQnnA_HfDMZsuxZ6yIDmzIzIJPYx/s2048/IMG_2536.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIm66d76nccKp97WQWV9euKv-LQdCUbT73llDTfzHlpGgBgmgfb4Yi31OOB7wpLndeRgmzVojaXacOFSRzvSNHiJUpRHZLKnWk9B_jeQjAuNSj3NF3CQnnA_HfDMZsuxZ6yIDmzIzIJPYx/w640-h426/IMG_2536.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Arctic Skua pursuing a Sandwich Tern, Gibraltar Point, 18/08/21<br /></b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Next stop, a bit further down the coast was <b>RSPB Freiston Shore</b>. Never been here before and didn't plan on visiting but I heard that there was a <b>Black Stork</b> frequenting the area (a rarity for the UK). Have to say the habitat here looked perfect for a stork species - with a bit of imagination this could be a wetland in Spain (Emporda perhaps?)<div><br /></div><div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPTwBtDqg-5VPtc0O0-PQOuHYBsSSyOiEmiEk2962nj7BlRnkY_AxyUL4UXoqDc_C9sHrcDeOSA2cHevE5IPXUZniKjU-HUs56xrjyYuuLntvLwmm07roqkA78bARhDF2rg4Dsj4KED6m/s2048/MX2A6756.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPTwBtDqg-5VPtc0O0-PQOuHYBsSSyOiEmiEk2962nj7BlRnkY_AxyUL4UXoqDc_C9sHrcDeOSA2cHevE5IPXUZniKjU-HUs56xrjyYuuLntvLwmm07roqkA78bARhDF2rg4Dsj4KED6m/w640-h426/MX2A6756.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>RSPB Freiston Shore, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div>And as luck would have it, moments after I took the above a dark shape appeared in my field of view and turned into said Stork, a juvenile so not the most striking of birds but I wasn't complaining, I had the bird to myself and my first <b>Black Stork</b> in the UK since 1974!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_q7ZfVwqJcJG-1Rfsr48yFrnyPqqdW4QY3C9Vt5oklE38VkyDnlHX20Ab1lN7e4ePY7YpRslxZaAr1EKRzcyQ5SP0OsJAahjjxq3HQgrx_KPDpBmiNDuyvzUI2B5KV2s8OF7p6l3DDX6/s1697/IMG_2674.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black Stork (juv), RSPB Freiston Shore, 19/08/21" border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1697" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_q7ZfVwqJcJG-1Rfsr48yFrnyPqqdW4QY3C9Vt5oklE38VkyDnlHX20Ab1lN7e4ePY7YpRslxZaAr1EKRzcyQ5SP0OsJAahjjxq3HQgrx_KPDpBmiNDuyvzUI2B5KV2s8OF7p6l3DDX6/w640-h426/IMG_2674.JPG" title="Black Stork (juv), RSPB Freiston Shore, 19/08/21" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Stork (juv), Freiston Shore, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFGCJ65qCT650eKF0PGb-jLPd9jykaNv4xnETqmTVkNMABtfKjEWCLyt1-ARNde9nIO2jZdpWGpdf0wCC0hQtCUMjJ0lH2B_BJdfqHlSI8ivq8F0OjXJH0ASHVUeVczeqyu0hI6-nitaZ/s1257/IMG_2675.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Black Stork (juv), RSPB Freiston Shore, 19/08/21" border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="1257" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFGCJ65qCT650eKF0PGb-jLPd9jykaNv4xnETqmTVkNMABtfKjEWCLyt1-ARNde9nIO2jZdpWGpdf0wCC0hQtCUMjJ0lH2B_BJdfqHlSI8ivq8F0OjXJH0ASHVUeVczeqyu0hI6-nitaZ/w640-h426/IMG_2675.JPG" title="Black Stork (juv), RSPB Freiston Shore, 19/08/21" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Stork (juv), Freiston Shore, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Z85meMf0SWmjKFYu5V13Dtjc4diYJXFgsvsJcsn746OeapnWz0WeL8HR7MeGzd2S2c2VXbGb265t4YmRvdQaux8hGXlWAuyFEgww8jfQi46dxzMCOqyee0kjPaBwuFaJCzwg6wgoqDHX/s1571/IMG_2695.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1047" data-original-width="1571" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Z85meMf0SWmjKFYu5V13Dtjc4diYJXFgsvsJcsn746OeapnWz0WeL8HR7MeGzd2S2c2VXbGb265t4YmRvdQaux8hGXlWAuyFEgww8jfQi46dxzMCOqyee0kjPaBwuFaJCzwg6wgoqDHX/w400-h266/IMG_2695.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Greenshanks, Freiston Shore, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table>I watched it for maybe 10 minutes before it took off and headed south presumably heading for <b>Frampton Marshes</b> where it had also been reported from and my next destination. Other good birds from Freiston included 9<b> Greenshank </b>and 10 <b>Yellow Wagtails</b> on the scrape.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I made it to Frampton by late afternoon and had time for a complete circuit of the reserve before darkness. I've been here several times before and it's a firm favourite of mine - mainly because of the wading birds it attracts and once again it didn't disappoint, but before I get on to the birds allow me a bit of a self indulgent pause - my normal everyday lens for bird pics (Canon Ef 400mm) was in for repair during this trip and I've been using a Sigma 120-400 - not a bad lens but not a patch on the Canon, however at 120mm and slightly above it produces some great results for long range landscapes and here's a selected few from <b>Frampton Marshes</b> in the evening sunshine - not just landscapes either, look closely and you'll see some good birds in these vistas. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ztyhr_if27ZDxOH-BfGYEEo0JbI4sResbTQWboFyezh80yPNd-e2zWDBf4gXWXFH-YRROL6Nxr6SLQpyNndCA_DuRXTAQEBVshmo2cbFDFlyH8d7uzoGJO7d-c8Yx60VjBawtOdOhbZs/s2048/IMG_2787.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ztyhr_if27ZDxOH-BfGYEEo0JbI4sResbTQWboFyezh80yPNd-e2zWDBf4gXWXFH-YRROL6Nxr6SLQpyNndCA_DuRXTAQEBVshmo2cbFDFlyH8d7uzoGJO7d-c8Yx60VjBawtOdOhbZs/w640-h426/IMG_2787.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Frampton Marshes, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6jvhG0qAV8o4m4fIh1mEWnj-zbVGwH672VbF5QXcB9j2Ct54WcQpyabsgIgbp4CUUYbvffhch0fBrL3OYgzoi1w0Lk4s9d_jE9jD4PBV6MWaN58odo80sdeiqBql5uKl0OxjhcQ7JEg6/s2048/IMG_2789.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6jvhG0qAV8o4m4fIh1mEWnj-zbVGwH672VbF5QXcB9j2Ct54WcQpyabsgIgbp4CUUYbvffhch0fBrL3OYgzoi1w0Lk4s9d_jE9jD4PBV6MWaN58odo80sdeiqBql5uKl0OxjhcQ7JEg6/w640-h360/IMG_2789.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>On the edge of the Wash. looking SE from the flood bank, </b><b>Frampton Marshes, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWO7momr_hvvGcfVvF_-fQMXZjlyNRRS4HlCbX8imp5bT293Ywan0GYK8ZW-oDb_1WrCpElFMWP28zVptohbKpz-jiQesSrHEvsFSdjDOQ4haJ5vzrrMJnVqa1qcZyJRl1DTEi-pkJaCC/s2048/IMG_2791.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWO7momr_hvvGcfVvF_-fQMXZjlyNRRS4HlCbX8imp5bT293Ywan0GYK8ZW-oDb_1WrCpElFMWP28zVptohbKpz-jiQesSrHEvsFSdjDOQ4haJ5vzrrMJnVqa1qcZyJRl1DTEi-pkJaCC/w640-h426/IMG_2791.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Frampton Marshes, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYfsv2mgdXXJeVoMVfIJh10YyIlLiDq3Vf424lu1DIZ3_gCb2B69eoNo3iYJqdK9SY7uixPSLKY14WvoCazxMPzQfbz-grECrgIp6n08-6soOFAhyphenhyphen07onvw6aNjS8555ef-_AM-z-GUoU/s2048/IMG_2763.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYfsv2mgdXXJeVoMVfIJh10YyIlLiDq3Vf424lu1DIZ3_gCb2B69eoNo3iYJqdK9SY7uixPSLKY14WvoCazxMPzQfbz-grECrgIp6n08-6soOFAhyphenhyphen07onvw6aNjS8555ef-_AM-z-GUoU/w640-h360/IMG_2763.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Floodbank, Frampton Marshes, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The stand out bird here was a rare vagrant from Asia, a <b>Pacific Golden Plover </b>and with less than 100 ever seen in the UK there was a steady stream of observers. A 'lifer' for me, I'd had it pointed out to me the evening before - 70 yards beyond the flood wall on the Wash side, but it was asleep and all I could see was its head! Same place the next morning it emerged a bit perkier and I watched for 30 mins or so wondering where this lost and dainty plover might end up, whether it will make it back to Asia😕<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBRBG5e-NM-kaydP5cMTEma0G26c3H2Lc9X-wu3uAr3FilcNPtRolYR7PZlX9k12IMib5eymEoXAS-uO_vJjUDhw-n5EZ7yDby-rq5cW458mTfnFpG096rQuZSXavvLaalyT7eb5T-a3A/s1329/IMG_2932.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pacific Golden Plover, Frampton Marsh, 20/08/21" border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1329" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBRBG5e-NM-kaydP5cMTEma0G26c3H2Lc9X-wu3uAr3FilcNPtRolYR7PZlX9k12IMib5eymEoXAS-uO_vJjUDhw-n5EZ7yDby-rq5cW458mTfnFpG096rQuZSXavvLaalyT7eb5T-a3A/w640-h426/IMG_2932.JPG" title="Pacific Golden Plover, Frampton Marsh, 20/08/21" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pacific Golden Plover, </b><b>Frampton Marsh, 20/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIxeZzTX85urAfSLwC5J_IQR_IZ5h1HDV7iFRs679mpyV_clb7Rc29TgoE05mIn5ijsa3L6lBEmG8iTu8tIGZyJmJw2RM4M0dVNJOgfIu-egQ0R8vqa4I_LY4pz2x4dpBmgN5rucVJwCk/s1365/IMG_2923.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pacific Golden Plover, Frampton Marsh, 20/08/21" border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1365" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIxeZzTX85urAfSLwC5J_IQR_IZ5h1HDV7iFRs679mpyV_clb7Rc29TgoE05mIn5ijsa3L6lBEmG8iTu8tIGZyJmJw2RM4M0dVNJOgfIu-egQ0R8vqa4I_LY4pz2x4dpBmgN5rucVJwCk/w640-h426/IMG_2923.JPG" title="Pacific Golden Plover, Frampton Marsh, 20/08/21" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pacific Golden Plover, </b><b>Frampton Marsh, 20/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNEZY_vtXOQYFqjJYmHRfQaUQJj4zAlGF6MfmEUyskKwiEiVCJ5ID37kgoqESuQ8mtek9VhyphenhyphenVm1Q1hr3H_r0KjlmSTawaRvGgxCuf0YoD22jwItyggB7Rly4MOLpX6Mq9CrhKh59R4LgX/s1415/IMG_2762.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1415" data-original-width="1011" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNEZY_vtXOQYFqjJYmHRfQaUQJj4zAlGF6MfmEUyskKwiEiVCJ5ID37kgoqESuQ8mtek9VhyphenhyphenVm1Q1hr3H_r0KjlmSTawaRvGgxCuf0YoD22jwItyggB7Rly4MOLpX6Mq9CrhKh59R4LgX/w458-h640/IMG_2762.JPG" width="458" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Tailed Godwit, Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Renowned for attracting wading birds of many species and regular rarities, <b>Frampton</b> served up the goods once again with another 17 species haul (same as yesterday at Gib. Point) with many juvenile birds, especially <b>Ruffs</b> & <b>Spotted Redshank </b>causing many a second glance and a scratching of the head! Nothing out of the ordinary this time of year but not sure I've ever estimated more than 600 <b>Black Tailed Godwit</b> in one place! Here's one of them having a bit of a preen and a few other wader pics from here.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKleeRJZSIdW7bf3FKxRPIPoSWfMGPYXf4y4OQ1sOJdkMQ4gw1ut25zmXV4VtmknrCnRgjt1i4xBDw2yqJI1vFTbHuFaFuBhSehqacp1SJlTYmRQA5uwvNGGhQrkufkNlMI9ML3Pdl5zOx/s1499/IMG_2836.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1499" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKleeRJZSIdW7bf3FKxRPIPoSWfMGPYXf4y4OQ1sOJdkMQ4gw1ut25zmXV4VtmknrCnRgjt1i4xBDw2yqJI1vFTbHuFaFuBhSehqacp1SJlTYmRQA5uwvNGGhQrkufkNlMI9ML3Pdl5zOx/w640-h426/IMG_2836.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Little Stints, Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJpoD9NgSu6a8yz5hVKx7BZZ3SDP128mipJZ53cxVVW8qsIIwdKKsTfF6Z3zJYCmIQeO-fKsBZQLC5XeWdo-Rf6Mzz3WSQ4aU5Ji8UEGhkgllCe9qB9Pqa_Hmkup4EUOCdQCsTf4HAHmIb/s2048/IMG_2901.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJpoD9NgSu6a8yz5hVKx7BZZ3SDP128mipJZ53cxVVW8qsIIwdKKsTfF6Z3zJYCmIQeO-fKsBZQLC5XeWdo-Rf6Mzz3WSQ4aU5Ji8UEGhkgllCe9qB9Pqa_Hmkup4EUOCdQCsTf4HAHmIb/w640-h426/IMG_2901.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ruff (juvs), Frampton Marsh, 20/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEw11jNdRsSh1XSLkBzqvwewxQq78S9Y2xD1B_wqScP-UaNtLzpjRv5RIzrPW6ke2o6h4gdmGxDceIYHCeh1NnFR0XtA2uxUFTkG2UVQCFRB6fkfOuglo2YxY383lXRLbHh4I9QfWarvud/s1599/IMG_2808.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21" border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1599" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEw11jNdRsSh1XSLkBzqvwewxQq78S9Y2xD1B_wqScP-UaNtLzpjRv5RIzrPW6ke2o6h4gdmGxDceIYHCeh1NnFR0XtA2uxUFTkG2UVQCFRB6fkfOuglo2YxY383lXRLbHh4I9QfWarvud/w640-h426/IMG_2808.JPG" title="Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><b>Spoonbills </b>were again much in evidence with at least 25 congregating on the lagoons and flying over the reserve, that's another UK high for me and just great to see these once scarce birds becoming part of our wetland sceneries.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI8BIXJfCp5T_eLcvbHSNDXqZ_EPeW5UNDXv3JiyhuhhFrymnHRK0YhDPgW6U_2qoZ99j-olO_D87kD4V1RdfHGexYHK27EjSpiCw5IaeUs-W6yb1mm1yRmNHltTVYyhdWGsIGKcOY6fJ/s2048/IMG_2714.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI8BIXJfCp5T_eLcvbHSNDXqZ_EPeW5UNDXv3JiyhuhhFrymnHRK0YhDPgW6U_2qoZ99j-olO_D87kD4V1RdfHGexYHK27EjSpiCw5IaeUs-W6yb1mm1yRmNHltTVYyhdWGsIGKcOY6fJ/w640-h426/IMG_2714.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0h3F-mnufk0k2SgSgoCi4TshI29v8mmw3hMyCe0oWwvvw9zHuLDzPsANpBoXce8PsBmLC3OlxD0xNS8LGt-HQT1sr1AzDwl5HeT1Tx6XtyNWv2hD4sGvz0qhUwIT3XOMt4dlnpniHmrwO/s2048/IMG_2774.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21" border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0h3F-mnufk0k2SgSgoCi4TshI29v8mmw3hMyCe0oWwvvw9zHuLDzPsANpBoXce8PsBmLC3OlxD0xNS8LGt-HQT1sr1AzDwl5HeT1Tx6XtyNWv2hD4sGvz0qhUwIT3XOMt4dlnpniHmrwO/w640-h360/IMG_2774.JPG" title="Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spoonbills over Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbb654vy7Bx-HrVKO8JyYYiGrmRDAjWs24vIBCmKLVkWZ55vrIGbRkTEMv6JxLRLGNWuAd992SXFHege4aAuw4i8HgTSOuQOIVqyUyDSC1HVlq6afyZqx4kbJoTrjQDCZtRJMz69cg5H8/s2048/IMG_2816.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbb654vy7Bx-HrVKO8JyYYiGrmRDAjWs24vIBCmKLVkWZ55vrIGbRkTEMv6JxLRLGNWuAd992SXFHege4aAuw4i8HgTSOuQOIVqyUyDSC1HVlq6afyZqx4kbJoTrjQDCZtRJMz69cg5H8/w640-h426/IMG_2816.JPG" title="Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Out of interest here are my wader counts from Frampton - <b>Oystercatcher (4), Avocet (c70), Pacific Golden Plover (1), Ringed Plover (c20), Little Ringed Plover (5), Northern Lapwing (c40), Whimbrel (1), Black Tailed Godwit (c600), Ruff (c70), Dunlin (c50), Little Stint (3), Common Snipe (c50), Common Sandpiper (1), Green Sandpiper (15), Spotted Redshank (c30), Common Redshank (c15), Greenshank (4)</b>, plus there was also a <b>Wood Sandpiper</b> and a <b>Curlew Sandpiper</b> there that both eluded me😖</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHNywMMpNGuEw4Ig2ChhXNqGZSfwQjDJfc-V4AZKNJvhn6D-hkDE91R4mD5V2cWrehtAeK61oM0eqn1BZoni7WL1xDDy_J23MYufXxhb_JcmdzHqqMIkvhSq51TOnXq8Yu-oXYxHfU0np/s1617/IMG_2711.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1617" data-original-width="1155" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHNywMMpNGuEw4Ig2ChhXNqGZSfwQjDJfc-V4AZKNJvhn6D-hkDE91R4mD5V2cWrehtAeK61oM0eqn1BZoni7WL1xDDy_J23MYufXxhb_JcmdzHqqMIkvhSq51TOnXq8Yu-oXYxHfU0np/w458-h640/IMG_2711.JPG" width="458" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Reed Warbler, Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Other good birds I had here included a single <b>Short Eared Owl</b> perched up on a post in the saltmarsh beyond the flood wall, a juv <b>Scaup, Wheatear, Kingfisher,</b> a probable <b>Whinchat</b> and still plenty of <b>Sedge</b> & <b>Reed Warblers</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixY2rYs7PBg5jXE6Dv2dDUKm1suTOVUorsSwC5fgEKpOqy_rrjZzzT-8J1w-G0PcuoRgQ1XDguIe_-HGzUPtxfijq8R0Q-110ynjmOnQLVLQf7eQPaNFe0Fpm5EC-y8HdlMJoNKQyMroH/s2048/IMG_2885.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Scaup (juv) Frampton Marsh, 20/08/21" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixY2rYs7PBg5jXE6Dv2dDUKm1suTOVUorsSwC5fgEKpOqy_rrjZzzT-8J1w-G0PcuoRgQ1XDguIe_-HGzUPtxfijq8R0Q-110ynjmOnQLVLQf7eQPaNFe0Fpm5EC-y8HdlMJoNKQyMroH/w640-h426/IMG_2885.JPG" title="Scaup (juv) Frampton Marsh, 20/08/21" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> Scaup (juv), Frampton Marsh, 20/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp3zp7_Ky7YDftTKu3nYy_sRoEvfsrx4APCMBp5Yt8Df8j149dMXOCOt-vngnvr5gCZc64A-Js07p7Cmamrfs79qXruqZ6br0d1kynKHkjL1xX0xmHry7JM0NuaPJYHh1PxrLs7_Aft0Fd/s1861/IMG_2837.JPG" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1861" data-original-width="1329" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp3zp7_Ky7YDftTKu3nYy_sRoEvfsrx4APCMBp5Yt8Df8j149dMXOCOt-vngnvr5gCZc64A-Js07p7Cmamrfs79qXruqZ6br0d1kynKHkjL1xX0xmHry7JM0NuaPJYHh1PxrLs7_Aft0Fd/w458-h640/IMG_2837.JPG" width="458" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Northern Wheatear, </b><b>Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJQFgrOVH1zQgxt8MDGwGqIOtBIKauxCF6uXmZV2kRTUmHTH1GIK1QHMKHkJ_C5zNzdBUetUeN9CI91AlfkrpSvkE2Iwrq_378YQ-fJ-GG_tN0ual5NQTqIwQxcX2eyhX81-ODuMro114/s2048/IMG_2766.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJQFgrOVH1zQgxt8MDGwGqIOtBIKauxCF6uXmZV2kRTUmHTH1GIK1QHMKHkJ_C5zNzdBUetUeN9CI91AlfkrpSvkE2Iwrq_378YQ-fJ-GG_tN0ual5NQTqIwQxcX2eyhX81-ODuMro114/w400-h266/IMG_2766.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Walking testosterone machine, Frampton Marsh.<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table>Away from the birdies, I watched a water channel favoured by <b>Water Voles</b> for a full hour without any luck, but did witness a impressive looking Bullock striding along the flood wall as I waited, and later on spotted a nice <b>Painted Lady </b>butterfly and got a nice pic of a <b>Common Hawker</b> dragonfly perched on a reed stem.</div><div><br /></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDOhPB6kOf_3CqZJhfCEoP_iMNnRHEDnYmNT7oEeFhke0iR2F8dWJwBK2qlfS7arFWBal7cyHPDcQQbmA5roxCwyHF7LhN-_Lmi3ZjZncGmXpeqZJTGs6YKpjpK8JnxGEWQqiNHMiiLHd/s2048/IMG_2911.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1462" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDOhPB6kOf_3CqZJhfCEoP_iMNnRHEDnYmNT7oEeFhke0iR2F8dWJwBK2qlfS7arFWBal7cyHPDcQQbmA5roxCwyHF7LhN-_Lmi3ZjZncGmXpeqZJTGs6YKpjpK8JnxGEWQqiNHMiiLHd/w456-h640/IMG_2911.JPG" width="456" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Painted Lady, Frampton Marsh, 20/08/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EbLWYnvlHLQZP2a8ESGif7ywBiduD_kcOIte3jCEMeLC7rSOzo_S0dsEyoh9mqPsQnFK4l3uVRTJeGPywFUGeSbDUYigD7AT_uC4Cfo6arNl5cSTVmpKsCZMpnx0ObCBNMvDgIhE9rLY/s2048/IMG_2919.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EbLWYnvlHLQZP2a8ESGif7ywBiduD_kcOIte3jCEMeLC7rSOzo_S0dsEyoh9mqPsQnFK4l3uVRTJeGPywFUGeSbDUYigD7AT_uC4Cfo6arNl5cSTVmpKsCZMpnx0ObCBNMvDgIhE9rLY/w640-h426/IMG_2919.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Hawker, </b><b>Frampton Marsh, 20/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVYTCylCf5Fj0D5r0mxaOTxic9Xft1OBhFFDAZrmvav7lwXeVRaFhI4AiwC3tcgrG71txfzEf3xnxgBl3TQ5lae4oiz3-AKVxmPOKDaUYTy2yi2nQmvcyRbxyoGWE5Hb_TImOApISPI9J/s2048/IMG_2949.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVYTCylCf5Fj0D5r0mxaOTxic9Xft1OBhFFDAZrmvav7lwXeVRaFhI4AiwC3tcgrG71txfzEf3xnxgBl3TQ5lae4oiz3-AKVxmPOKDaUYTy2yi2nQmvcyRbxyoGWE5Hb_TImOApISPI9J/w400-h266/IMG_2949.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Roe Deer, Theddlethorpe, 20/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table>On the way back home to Yorkshire I popped into a part of <b>Theddlethorpe</b> dunes I hadn't visited before, the southernmost section just north of <b>Mablethorpe</b>. With the benefit of hindsight (and looking at a map) I maybe should have walked south from here along a public footpath that borders the <b>Viking gas terminal</b> and some good looking habitat instead of struggling across the very overgrown dune system near <b>Crook Bank</b> - saw hardly anything noteworthy apart from a <b>Blackcap</b> (a new bird for the trip) a single <b>Swift</b> and a bunch of <b>Sandwich Terns</b> on the beach, oh and I disturbed a young <b>Roe Deer</b> as I was thrashing my way through!</div><div><br /></div><div>Much easier going at <b>Donna Nook</b>, my last destination before home. It was mid afternoon, grotty cloud cover, and a with a brisk Westerly wind I'd already dialled down my expectations which were not to be surpassed on this occasion! The relatively new wetland area here seemed a bit like the poor relation compared to the rich pickings at Frampton and I had to be satisfied with 60 or so <b>Redshank</b>, 3 <b>Greenshank </b>and a healthy count of <b>Yellow Wagtails</b> (23) for my efforts to circumnavigate a changed access route to the reserve due to some sort of construction work going on in the car park. If truth be told, although a bit weary after putting maybe a few too miles in my old legs, I would've gladly turned around and done what I often feel like doing - headed back south, even if it is just as far as South Lincolnshire! There was nothing at Donna Nook tempting me to reach for the camera so here's a final few from Gib. Point & Frampton to round off this post .....</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zCdNRZOEEWmzMhC2R8FTG_LVxJxSJO70q-iEN7lLVUtHk0hQMjEfu_08vIqAZKgVVtUIh_7_huxKkAq4RGABrX4xhjQc64ocmEJcGQUJr_0u2pWlqW0R4ZAsO3SQcBCXgP46bg_fnrPR/s1931/IMG_2511.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1287" data-original-width="1931" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zCdNRZOEEWmzMhC2R8FTG_LVxJxSJO70q-iEN7lLVUtHk0hQMjEfu_08vIqAZKgVVtUIh_7_huxKkAq4RGABrX4xhjQc64ocmEJcGQUJr_0u2pWlqW0R4ZAsO3SQcBCXgP46bg_fnrPR/w640-h426/IMG_2511.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sanderling, Gibraltar Point, 18/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8LUSo7yOWvf0dUfYejULSyoyPb7iXxsBq-oa-BDwSeROmRGSFEyjRAfEtFE1egWc1bPB-xTJNRx_CaBbd_ETdDfm1COiTbEdGYRQTIKSvXBZ5EfDJg2587du7mQ4_eBQqDnqxMSsE-6B/s1841/IMG_2574.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1841" data-original-width="1315" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8LUSo7yOWvf0dUfYejULSyoyPb7iXxsBq-oa-BDwSeROmRGSFEyjRAfEtFE1egWc1bPB-xTJNRx_CaBbd_ETdDfm1COiTbEdGYRQTIKSvXBZ5EfDJg2587du7mQ4_eBQqDnqxMSsE-6B/w458-h640/IMG_2574.JPG" width="458" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Juv Chiffchaff, Gibraltar Point, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIh_jSXyiZ3gRSlMYTzybUny4ZIx8OcdQwfRMCzBQp_W0xyv1Ny4u_cQKtu-eYvDEogZOSv03VCNVM5Q1FwsPjOgkboHpFXp_q5KAj0wWLCE_YTtTj1SdPdnyRqe0Tl96NDte5VqJ6haJ/s2048/IMG_2769.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIh_jSXyiZ3gRSlMYTzybUny4ZIx8OcdQwfRMCzBQp_W0xyv1Ny4u_cQKtu-eYvDEogZOSv03VCNVM5Q1FwsPjOgkboHpFXp_q5KAj0wWLCE_YTtTj1SdPdnyRqe0Tl96NDte5VqJ6haJ/w640-h426/IMG_2769.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wonderful Phragmite Reeds, Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY547r-GkKjAoyBzMoUzhuQTTcp4jjMHw2BTlUp3TPy8hV5P92DABf1VNM1wTjKUb-fe-z8RU74rNUq6h28N1SrMEVcQ86UbDh2ihDWUOGd9W6DHbmOy6A_wDb2CRewmVww8UTC7_9sGca/s2048/IMG_2783.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY547r-GkKjAoyBzMoUzhuQTTcp4jjMHw2BTlUp3TPy8hV5P92DABf1VNM1wTjKUb-fe-z8RU74rNUq6h28N1SrMEVcQ86UbDh2ihDWUOGd9W6DHbmOy6A_wDb2CRewmVww8UTC7_9sGca/w640-h426/IMG_2783.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The 360 degrees hide at Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqOrAd6CBpZTc66RXI9TQ5GPWzdJL44xLs6yz7ReYeATmpee1SjZKpPsLB5-Y2pKR1l5J6ZP9mXKhsoyOwrQJm-DhB1VqzuTV6t7mMEdh6plvAKwkq4CaqJx9WQGrVl0oWzpLV1-pav6T/s2048/IMG_2853b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqOrAd6CBpZTc66RXI9TQ5GPWzdJL44xLs6yz7ReYeATmpee1SjZKpPsLB5-Y2pKR1l5J6ZP9mXKhsoyOwrQJm-DhB1VqzuTV6t7mMEdh6plvAKwkq4CaqJx9WQGrVl0oWzpLV1-pav6T/w640-h426/IMG_2853b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Massing Starlings over the floodbank, Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvub7uzNVHe3xebE239u5Bn5UXfxm5X0ZWKhcfn4SxZHCX0kEwrpceFdVPgLuhMOW715T4DS0Y2lCLag38PhxAk5tv0-L5eTURAvhiEcrSMPnelh6VSkqeUWlnoZ0se3JHbPlK73FKekp/s2048/IMG_2894.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvub7uzNVHe3xebE239u5Bn5UXfxm5X0ZWKhcfn4SxZHCX0kEwrpceFdVPgLuhMOW715T4DS0Y2lCLag38PhxAk5tv0-L5eTURAvhiEcrSMPnelh6VSkqeUWlnoZ0se3JHbPlK73FKekp/w640-h640/IMG_2894.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lapwing, Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNO056C3JQKdjIEIkYG-4eWINsVoel7FjhYaBL0MxOI9RGlZIIPhko6_kpBKabco8H9sAWdpWHyWUsvySoyI4aWv88n2dT-Dru7OIJlzOEs9VcQNppeXlJ0JZyqNiKxk3wIWDDN9IqC58f/s1947/IMG_2897.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1298" data-original-width="1947" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNO056C3JQKdjIEIkYG-4eWINsVoel7FjhYaBL0MxOI9RGlZIIPhko6_kpBKabco8H9sAWdpWHyWUsvySoyI4aWv88n2dT-Dru7OIJlzOEs9VcQNppeXlJ0JZyqNiKxk3wIWDDN9IqC58f/w640-h426/IMG_2897.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ruff, Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYAW57R11penx18vk_luyctpvlNAfqA3tP0eo7-4XcSe9DUgYjjb7q5-W3Hf32_oukBgVTo9rLU2cRHoWc55rhVa33L-H0ETNIgmELSeVUTPqeMwcNwqx0hyphenhyphenQkAoxtLnTMErkJ0dpAVOc/s1643/IMG_2752.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1643" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYAW57R11penx18vk_luyctpvlNAfqA3tP0eo7-4XcSe9DUgYjjb7q5-W3Hf32_oukBgVTo9rLU2cRHoWc55rhVa33L-H0ETNIgmELSeVUTPqeMwcNwqx0hyphenhyphenQkAoxtLnTMErkJ0dpAVOc/w640-h426/IMG_2752.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh, 19/08/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-68363321345103800642021-05-12T22:49:00.013+01:002021-05-13T20:15:10.115+01:00North Wales road trip - hunting Ospreys, aerobatic Choughs, prospecting Pied Flycatchers and wonderful scenery.<p> After months of not being able to travel widely it felt like something of a novelty to load up the van and set off another road trip, my first since last November, and with restrictions on travelling out of England finally lifted North Wales was my destination and a rendezvous with my mate Mark who had set off the day before to explore some peat bog near Wrexham.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjS-xh5JNgCtPQHbHuxC0MLeUDHj5Vi8JLz47SDoufOvrLD3Xz8rV0RAPIO_YhZLbCLIPrLaIutVfZmf4UG2Zac8cITIjcgmmAVLmTRsd9blJ_CY3LbF7KZ_HsjibNe6rdTZdqchSLFc1S/s2048/MX2A5355_edited.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjS-xh5JNgCtPQHbHuxC0MLeUDHj5Vi8JLz47SDoufOvrLD3Xz8rV0RAPIO_YhZLbCLIPrLaIutVfZmf4UG2Zac8cITIjcgmmAVLmTRsd9blJ_CY3LbF7KZ_HsjibNe6rdTZdqchSLFc1S/w400-h266/MX2A5355_edited.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lake Vrynwy, 20/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><u>Day1 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Vyrnwy" target="_blank">Lake Vrynwy</a></u></b></p><p></p>Not so much a day but a convenient place to stop for the night and have a bit of an explore the next morning. Built in the 1880s to supply water to the city of Liverpool and set in upland Powys, the reservoir is surrounded by mixed conifers & deciduous trees and part of the surrounding area is also an RSPB reserve.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>It was late when I arrived with only an hour or so of light left and in the gloom a couple of smallish ducks I was almost sure were <b>Garganey</b> were probably one of the same <b>Mandarin Duck</b> I saw the next day. No complaints though because the next morning I got a great shot of this spectacular duck that although not a true native bird is always a joy to see.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS196A7h88M-oQsNdmyj00kE62OjwjPKPk4VNZ5VmZXAk6YOJFTrr-K3riWgh5bTAR70Y5zNQAmbvAJ5VlouneeC9g963bPg0YRRklR_KN9cRu7CDMXnGwM9cQpHFnv7TD3UA09qHuC-SR/s2048/IMG_9557b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS196A7h88M-oQsNdmyj00kE62OjwjPKPk4VNZ5VmZXAk6YOJFTrr-K3riWgh5bTAR70Y5zNQAmbvAJ5VlouneeC9g963bPg0YRRklR_KN9cRu7CDMXnGwM9cQpHFnv7TD3UA09qHuC-SR/w640-h426/IMG_9557b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mandarin Duck, Lake Vrynwy, 20/04/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">A lovely bright and sunny day and a beat around the RSPB visitor centre in the morning I picked up <b>Siskin, Kingfisher, Goosander</b> several <b>Common Sandpiper </b>and was convinced I heard a diver species the evening before - the RSPB guys weren't having it but after playing all the calls on Xeno Canto I was even more convinced I heard a <b>Red Throated Diver</b>.</div><div><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuQBJMZTD6l1nvKRqyWdx0NJZrwtLB9MYQvR8PTCr_T7llwnAWPlW_Ps5_m2u3Kb2Pz5_NEMcF5SVEIM1zGMmHoeRdoWYYyhZYb28IEvQK5cMduEqOdHpovitsfyg_ZTldTTmyaRmWgyI/s1499/IMG_9568.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1499" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuQBJMZTD6l1nvKRqyWdx0NJZrwtLB9MYQvR8PTCr_T7llwnAWPlW_Ps5_m2u3Kb2Pz5_NEMcF5SVEIM1zGMmHoeRdoWYYyhZYb28IEvQK5cMduEqOdHpovitsfyg_ZTldTTmyaRmWgyI/w640-h426/IMG_9568.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Goosander, Lake Vrynwy, 20/04/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Eventual destination for later in the day was another RSPB reserve - well known and used more than once as the base for BBC's Spring / Autumn Watch, <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/ynys-hir/" target="_blank"><b>Ynys Hir</b></a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oKstHl5qOrbL9Gr66hPOOtJZrsE7PTQU5vDnvGGBlbz9HWhbXZ9vHcEDjbZ-pTJNxDK4a5yZGq_abdqeuvCT733EyIzlzlspeVwK4KaYqEkcceKrwYuVKCfbTF3wHs8bDIy_XU0bPzMn/s2048/MX2A5359.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oKstHl5qOrbL9Gr66hPOOtJZrsE7PTQU5vDnvGGBlbz9HWhbXZ9vHcEDjbZ-pTJNxDK4a5yZGq_abdqeuvCT733EyIzlzlspeVwK4KaYqEkcceKrwYuVKCfbTF3wHs8bDIy_XU0bPzMn/w400-h266/MX2A5359.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Above the River Vrynwy at Pont Llogel</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On the way I stopped for breakfast on the outskirts of the <b>Dyfnant Forest </b>at <b>Pont Llogel</b> and a bit of up and down walking along the banks of the River Vynrwy. I was expecting a <b>Dipper</b> at any moment but it wasn't until I got back to the van that I caught up with one.</div></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEime6UBHk5f4tJEpiMpJ1zb6JMClmrWKjkqW_XPlw299qE8kMNCrC04oSy0nQLS7tgD9A5hsMuZdkQNuTyF1jDj6OuIico3RD13BQi5NHz9eBC9vixjuNjSXwm8DM7i2BX5g3AmAIZP7Emt/s2048/IMG_9578.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEime6UBHk5f4tJEpiMpJ1zb6JMClmrWKjkqW_XPlw299qE8kMNCrC04oSy0nQLS7tgD9A5hsMuZdkQNuTyF1jDj6OuIico3RD13BQi5NHz9eBC9vixjuNjSXwm8DM7i2BX5g3AmAIZP7Emt/w640-h426/IMG_9578.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dipper, Pont Llogel, 20/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfwbX-sNRkI-H0S9Vj1wABTWtNgUrcHutbhDpKT-H6T5RSlQ3lJyLPMf6mxAOrp22CCu8EP2qqLItYlupuTcyqvL5S_uvug7ZWMbXQUJQosc-P8jgPJPwAaWrwX80NwYnU9-hBS3ObYqM/s2048/MX2A5368b.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfwbX-sNRkI-H0S9Vj1wABTWtNgUrcHutbhDpKT-H6T5RSlQ3lJyLPMf6mxAOrp22CCu8EP2qqLItYlupuTcyqvL5S_uvug7ZWMbXQUJQosc-P8jgPJPwAaWrwX80NwYnU9-hBS3ObYqM/w400-h266/MX2A5368b.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> Aberdyfi from Ynyslas sand dunes, 20/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Finally caught up with Mark at the mouth of the <b>Dyfi Estuary</b> at the <b>Ynyslas </b>sand dunes, part of the<b> Dyfi National Nature Reserve</b>. Some great birds about - Mark had already heard <b>Grasshopper Warbler</b> and had a close encounter with an <b>Osprey</b> over the beach, there were plenty of waders about including <b>Whimbrel </b>and some stunning <b>Golden Plover</b> huddled together amongst the rocks, a <b>Red Kite</b> and<b> Ravens</b> in the air and several hundred <b>Manx Shearwaters</b> offshore.</p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem6Us6Vyj0L-4FvFgf3UQxa4VaCalOmmAfyVrnso9n-ihMWDoVX6LJLLDIHXwhLw4KtiuOIjo0dHk3WWt8LBkPa99krXYQA3SbVipy22GWoDGKzY9Wl6uyIITfr6LwYAKJGOFliX5rnhW/s2048/IMG_9639.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem6Us6Vyj0L-4FvFgf3UQxa4VaCalOmmAfyVrnso9n-ihMWDoVX6LJLLDIHXwhLw4KtiuOIjo0dHk3WWt8LBkPa99krXYQA3SbVipy22GWoDGKzY9Wl6uyIITfr6LwYAKJGOFliX5rnhW/w640-h426/IMG_9639.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Whimbrel, Ynyslas, 20/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRf3a9SWEDdi3VMKCaYN55xUuqC535t6XN2t8OjTQRaENAEPcTS1L2muMSkLTNF994sDi3cXdShNI0Aj62JEPKYj-n675hUufQYo2c5tNkZ95Jb_ms5oas25DBcMW6E4nibbbPIl6hRf1H/s2048/IMG_9629.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRf3a9SWEDdi3VMKCaYN55xUuqC535t6XN2t8OjTQRaENAEPcTS1L2muMSkLTNF994sDi3cXdShNI0Aj62JEPKYj-n675hUufQYo2c5tNkZ95Jb_ms5oas25DBcMW6E4nibbbPIl6hRf1H/w640-h360/IMG_9629.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Golden Plover, Ynyslas, 20/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuseq9vsEgjKYqXjdgAK-t3VaDQ-qa1qzul2mvJH7lTbV_dkdeZdsJskYLa_y0kDf6cmFohdk3CE3yl7b_QCc-9WTFPrP4YBwuUotm2LkvRIt7R4KU4WLdkrR8PqkskU0Kbo-s3r8IGzY/s1466/IMG_9621.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1466" data-original-width="1466" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuseq9vsEgjKYqXjdgAK-t3VaDQ-qa1qzul2mvJH7lTbV_dkdeZdsJskYLa_y0kDf6cmFohdk3CE3yl7b_QCc-9WTFPrP4YBwuUotm2LkvRIt7R4KU4WLdkrR8PqkskU0Kbo-s3r8IGzY/w400-h400/IMG_9621.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Golden Plover, Ynyslas, 20/04/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjug5nYOJ41W5Gj6XHvfRsB1zUEapOebKwPYhBK-3hXbmhGbPVisjKyZS82IrPx8iatEjF_pCTdU9aMe4PovIK_liym_PYxim0GOrB8X1HV_PDGKaOpNcKo9o23-_3NmAGzPZFt3UzZy-FE/s1143/IMG_9620.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="927" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjug5nYOJ41W5Gj6XHvfRsB1zUEapOebKwPYhBK-3hXbmhGbPVisjKyZS82IrPx8iatEjF_pCTdU9aMe4PovIK_liym_PYxim0GOrB8X1HV_PDGKaOpNcKo9o23-_3NmAGzPZFt3UzZy-FE/w325-h400/IMG_9620.JPG" width="325" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sanderling roosting, Ynyslas, 20/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tM1-QL4UO-7Y4-ucBS6zRIXZSaLpOfc5yZrjb_6Lj5yczrK759z8wNL8Mww-hHJttB7FakHlFyaxO55WjUWu678zjvUybb8lLa2Jxg9rGuvdyCgSr28hv8mDew3uCzCUvoBqf9iogS0i/s2230/IMG_9597.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="2230" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tM1-QL4UO-7Y4-ucBS6zRIXZSaLpOfc5yZrjb_6Lj5yczrK759z8wNL8Mww-hHJttB7FakHlFyaxO55WjUWu678zjvUybb8lLa2Jxg9rGuvdyCgSr28hv8mDew3uCzCUvoBqf9iogS0i/w640-h312/IMG_9597.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Manx Shearwater, Ynyslas, 20/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuYVq7p497RhmmdX0d9CAjp2vJlg2KjvI8iUS-kmJBCZSDtp4y-_aL3_d8aCbEUzkwMGe4GLdpERB9qnu7fVgO-YsG1gGqgAgUfV2WQj6FHdw28L26AQbgVPqVkdjhyphenhyphen-UlsY8W6DZ4GrL/s1697/IMG_9593b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1697" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuYVq7p497RhmmdX0d9CAjp2vJlg2KjvI8iUS-kmJBCZSDtp4y-_aL3_d8aCbEUzkwMGe4GLdpERB9qnu7fVgO-YsG1gGqgAgUfV2WQj6FHdw28L26AQbgVPqVkdjhyphenhyphen-UlsY8W6DZ4GrL/w640-h426/IMG_9593b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red Kite over Ynyslas, 20/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div><b><u>Day 2 Ynys Hir</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFki6yAtn7NWkorxN5OtXnPjyd_-b_J1SeLiPga3yog75yFNd1e_KMvSD4_d5h_BgpAw5cx3WWOxFe_gyh9fqHmePOhjGlV7aFc6qT3rtEuWoiwSq14ji1D8E34L4s7Bk-tzCkD9q-fui/s2048/MX2A5376_edited.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFki6yAtn7NWkorxN5OtXnPjyd_-b_J1SeLiPga3yog75yFNd1e_KMvSD4_d5h_BgpAw5cx3WWOxFe_gyh9fqHmePOhjGlV7aFc6qT3rtEuWoiwSq14ji1D8E34L4s7Bk-tzCkD9q-fui/w400-h266/MX2A5376_edited.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ynys Hir, 21/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Up at the crack of dawn for once - camped right next to one of Wales' best nature reserves does that for you😃. 550 hectares of mudflats, saltmarsh, hillside scrub and ancient woodland extending inland from the Dyfi estuary, <b>Ynys Hir</b> is a fabulous reserve and I gave it all a thorough going over. </div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ClnUDzKPj4DxDBqAd8nYGgsdC51pTvGvdo1x_n36FIIKO7GypU4qlsuK3EFxCMU85sZ9qOMQ2P6vflAllFqGqW5Tr3uZ32fZnVnN5W9Etyf7CQHrmfmIgpHH7Kmljp0X3l1PJXwW_90d/s1579/IMG_9704.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1579" data-original-width="1206" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ClnUDzKPj4DxDBqAd8nYGgsdC51pTvGvdo1x_n36FIIKO7GypU4qlsuK3EFxCMU85sZ9qOMQ2P6vflAllFqGqW5Tr3uZ32fZnVnN5W9Etyf7CQHrmfmIgpHH7Kmljp0X3l1PJXwW_90d/w305-h400/IMG_9704.JPG" width="305" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pied Flycatcher, Ynys Hir, 21/04/24<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>The woodlands were alive with singing warblers first thing and by the end of the day I must have had 30+ each of <b>Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff </b>and <b>Blackcap</b>, and after some patient waiting and hiding a tantalising first glimpse of a <b>Pied Flycatcher</b> was rewarded by some great close views, followed by a pair later on inspecting a nest box.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeuXmD4WFjsFdj_NWDH97dMMZlLzTeFHXCwgUWe7eHKR_Sjcbf8imyYiDR3ppe3uThqcUtDRWAGrqwC1Zsa2MaRVLgx2Dts76vz-cZuwX_0bSGQ3HJ-n86lj6875ZnfS91G_1SgybpZ2L/s2026/IMG_9681.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2026" data-original-width="1737" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeuXmD4WFjsFdj_NWDH97dMMZlLzTeFHXCwgUWe7eHKR_Sjcbf8imyYiDR3ppe3uThqcUtDRWAGrqwC1Zsa2MaRVLgx2Dts76vz-cZuwX_0bSGQ3HJ-n86lj6875ZnfS91G_1SgybpZ2L/w548-h640/IMG_9681.JPG" width="548" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pied Flycatcher, Ynys Hir, 21/04/24</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />What a cracker! I was well chuffed😁 A pair of displaying <b>Tree Pipits</b>, a pair of late <b>Pink Footed Geese </b>and <b>Little Ringed Plover</b> were the other birding highlights, and newly flowering <b>Stitchwort</b> added to the floral displays in the woodlands. <div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ohPDiW8RElT54UcN8eZ6qHOI4elp1Og20TXXDx9VStJT2zuvSKRjoChDWQvoGYYt-fE1jY9hRaGmYbQzVQMceIDPIIOLZY6C9ASYBVLxmG5RaL_ZOIdahuHGxrMu8KCfIfTeJfvlOw6j/s2048/IMG_9647.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1548" data-original-width="2048" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ohPDiW8RElT54UcN8eZ6qHOI4elp1Og20TXXDx9VStJT2zuvSKRjoChDWQvoGYYt-fE1jY9hRaGmYbQzVQMceIDPIIOLZY6C9ASYBVLxmG5RaL_ZOIdahuHGxrMu8KCfIfTeJfvlOw6j/w400-h304/IMG_9647.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bluebells, </b><b>Ynys Hir, 21/04/24</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhDEdsvxiwdLnfETO-2RH2DSrDfT8htnHiBeTkw5GBKaTOjj58UN_55xNO0ocFlZq3l29bCKucpFJKqZ_mhgSyDuKqz0YLm81BVoxBbgjE7NPdsiHsQtLHUBIkDRFoG2auUO4oxhHz_Hn/s2048/IMG_9690.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1693" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhDEdsvxiwdLnfETO-2RH2DSrDfT8htnHiBeTkw5GBKaTOjj58UN_55xNO0ocFlZq3l29bCKucpFJKqZ_mhgSyDuKqz0YLm81BVoxBbgjE7NPdsiHsQtLHUBIkDRFoG2auUO4oxhHz_Hn/w331-h400/IMG_9690.JPG" width="331" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Stichwort,</b> <b>Ynys Hir, 21/04/24</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZeZM9MwNwzUMyi3WKdtws-1ywlxw6dChV_EDOZKgyonDibRp-DHIL5MSf7p-lEfOrS0SRpqoNQrb7q1LFgwyz5wSbt7F-eF_e86vOTybQKvScwJPjorBVpgcwOkttnpdd0w37eRYCVZ4/s2048/MX2A5383.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZeZM9MwNwzUMyi3WKdtws-1ywlxw6dChV_EDOZKgyonDibRp-DHIL5MSf7p-lEfOrS0SRpqoNQrb7q1LFgwyz5wSbt7F-eF_e86vOTybQKvScwJPjorBVpgcwOkttnpdd0w37eRYCVZ4/w640-h426/MX2A5383.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ynys Hir, 21/04/24</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKJsnzxiHEE2_vezyNXsl6Z1HOVn2_uYxa4f0WPpNF4AI9SK0WTXDxBKbDb5LtG4ENXf3gBsI5ORQLE0SmpNKr9J0GK50Rho95_A4ZupnbaPVJ9_1hyphenhyphenQZJq87lkqgdRuTQYzul-V1eBt7/s1052/IMG_9755.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1052" data-original-width="862" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKJsnzxiHEE2_vezyNXsl6Z1HOVn2_uYxa4f0WPpNF4AI9SK0WTXDxBKbDb5LtG4ENXf3gBsI5ORQLE0SmpNKr9J0GK50Rho95_A4ZupnbaPVJ9_1hyphenhyphenQZJq87lkqgdRuTQYzul-V1eBt7/w328-h400/IMG_9755.JPG" width="328" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Redstart, nr Ynys Hir, 22/04/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table>Our campsite just outside the reserve was pretty good too with at least one <b>Redstart </b>on adjoining woodland, more emerging wild flowers and an early <b>Large Red Damselfly</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mark had <b>Wood Warblers </b>in a nearby wooded ravine and with hindsight I should have made the effort to go to the same spot but was too knackered!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IXIoX8aob23Yvug0dLTKTKyhoAyZUbb3Op9olEHthTKleUQ28H3vjSdMtGgUTNzNj2kQmeCJuXGNPNVrdJ5PEVzB5PnNkX2XxCjQwXGLZ1rtSzqpnZgmU3vsUN6sxf3jfK5fesT3X5wu/s1335/IMG_9737.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1335" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IXIoX8aob23Yvug0dLTKTKyhoAyZUbb3Op9olEHthTKleUQ28H3vjSdMtGgUTNzNj2kQmeCJuXGNPNVrdJ5PEVzB5PnNkX2XxCjQwXGLZ1rtSzqpnZgmU3vsUN6sxf3jfK5fesT3X5wu/w640-h426/IMG_9737.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Redstart, nr Ynys Hir, 21/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBP1GFE7AEvFttjalIWrQyDBB0txRqP0Lj06hL7UugcGNnFQ6xXmNbMBY74Ck6q88IG5hdUWiky78urT4c7GIprvjR3mH3G3rwE6FM7hIQ9czRN1QsBPMoa9mgkdezCfIK34jOunUYqb9/s1831/IMG_9720.JPG" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1831" data-original-width="1544" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBP1GFE7AEvFttjalIWrQyDBB0txRqP0Lj06hL7UugcGNnFQ6xXmNbMBY74Ck6q88IG5hdUWiky78urT4c7GIprvjR3mH3G3rwE6FM7hIQ9czRN1QsBPMoa9mgkdezCfIK34jOunUYqb9/w338-h400/IMG_9720.JPG" width="338" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bugle, nr Ynys Hir, 21/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsihtnW-LdQBn7MJwl2rppWCjiWbidk_DteHywaaLTXGaMOs9tmvLz14vdDQ4N7rAP9CXcPNWG0npESR6b05DRHxTvTyI86QSyKzGCo-E57HsBXW7QBOkE8d8cJ6jV9bYGOsqQVzt2fr-a/s2048/MX2A5396.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsihtnW-LdQBn7MJwl2rppWCjiWbidk_DteHywaaLTXGaMOs9tmvLz14vdDQ4N7rAP9CXcPNWG0npESR6b05DRHxTvTyI86QSyKzGCo-E57HsBXW7QBOkE8d8cJ6jV9bYGOsqQVzt2fr-a/w640-h426/MX2A5396.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dovey Estuary, 22/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>Days 3 - 5 Mawddach Estuary</b><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsu7JaMEcqv1tn67MulIO2DlA6bPInIdcsFqdgsxMO5sl0anJl4IbghY8O0Ygeqo5mJrOD9hVyFp92E01bo7bQ4MrQTGZviPG-XtRGYdRf8A_6en-fPy3DxHbJ43yY6trESuBnMuBIbD0/s2048/MX2A5411.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsu7JaMEcqv1tn67MulIO2DlA6bPInIdcsFqdgsxMO5sl0anJl4IbghY8O0Ygeqo5mJrOD9hVyFp92E01bo7bQ4MrQTGZviPG-XtRGYdRf8A_6en-fPy3DxHbJ43yY6trESuBnMuBIbD0/w400-h266/MX2A5411.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mawddach Estuary, 23/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table>A wonderfully rustic and eco friendly 'wild campsite' on a wooded hillside was our base for the next 3 nights - no electric hook up but my leisure battery held up with help from a the boost of a drive to the base of iconic <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadair_Idris" target="_blank">Cadair Idris</a></b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The estuary itself extends 8 miles inland from the seaside towns of Barmouth and Fairborne to Dolgellau and there is a cycle trail that runs along the entire southern bank.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjZEGAG3seNuLtgkU-SK55CcvVostTF3gy0DaJenvrQeXGiRWPTOHmIHw3RaiFQKEUIg_HBQ5l19tlLnQ5JTy3ktRZeIcQ9sSKN1DFJPOUh8oKICp7ame7xrY2OYA1whgeXOd2aYLFIRH/s2048/MX2A5412.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjZEGAG3seNuLtgkU-SK55CcvVostTF3gy0DaJenvrQeXGiRWPTOHmIHw3RaiFQKEUIg_HBQ5l19tlLnQ5JTy3ktRZeIcQ9sSKN1DFJPOUh8oKICp7ame7xrY2OYA1whgeXOd2aYLFIRH/w640-h426/MX2A5412.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mawddach Estuary, 23/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTvcU-ru05xlKuBFdwkXbaPM5zXPo2offu9gM2bQ4CXNgEaeLnVH7f_y9murtp7g5VpvW-MWrmVa8u39Za-gOGKZVub9PLm0AxKywYEakDo4iRdkAHXLZ0M2CYKEEFAX3I4uL1mTXsRRc/s2048/IMG_9820.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1663" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTvcU-ru05xlKuBFdwkXbaPM5zXPo2offu9gM2bQ4CXNgEaeLnVH7f_y9murtp7g5VpvW-MWrmVa8u39Za-gOGKZVub9PLm0AxKywYEakDo4iRdkAHXLZ0M2CYKEEFAX3I4uL1mTXsRRc/w325-h400/IMG_9820.JPG" width="325" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pied Flycatcher, Paenmanpool, 24/04/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table>As you can see from the above pic of the estuary, the weather remains gloriously settled (apart from that pesky north westerly wind), in fact it remained that way for the entire break apart from the last day or so on Anglesey. There's another <b>Redstart</b> singing around the trees near our vehicles and not much further away another pair of <b>Pied Flycatchers </b>actively<b> </b>investigating a hole in a tree. We didn't linger.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ru6SyFTciTvIHBRDJBSgdpZ6F0v5d-sT6d18ImVQwsyr8y-l9EPb5kvTKVzb-yas06TI0AtKqEWErbE3wKBlI0QTrzwNKvLlFEgYZb2FEz94Uu_jVjFTxLKt-eIoOI4DTjBZYp6xhpTn/s1687/IMG_9847.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1687" data-original-width="1466" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ru6SyFTciTvIHBRDJBSgdpZ6F0v5d-sT6d18ImVQwsyr8y-l9EPb5kvTKVzb-yas06TI0AtKqEWErbE3wKBlI0QTrzwNKvLlFEgYZb2FEz94Uu_jVjFTxLKt-eIoOI4DTjBZYp6xhpTn/w556-h640/IMG_9847.JPG" width="556" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pied Flycatcher, Paenmanpool, 24/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The estuary is is surrounded by various woodland trails that climb up the valley sides, much of it coniferous but steadily being replaced by native deciduous trees. Lots of <b>Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff,</b> and <b>Blackcap</b> but no more <b>Wood Warblers</b> and nothing more exotic than our first <b>Cuckoo </b>on the 23rd. </div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIx0glejUtMMcqw9bKcoeG7Xqdpnz0h6ZkeiyiierOjo0PCMllp2tncoGR9MjfSnFxyK4Xh_jT4J9zNobzj2Qwdv1SSqgGw83_WLzt9fjIP3Ft_bxNYJ31MxeNdoY1kyVC5d-nUrf7blW/s2048/MX2A5428.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIx0glejUtMMcqw9bKcoeG7Xqdpnz0h6ZkeiyiierOjo0PCMllp2tncoGR9MjfSnFxyK4Xh_jT4J9zNobzj2Qwdv1SSqgGw83_WLzt9fjIP3Ft_bxNYJ31MxeNdoY1kyVC5d-nUrf7blW/w400-h266/MX2A5428.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mawddach Estuary from the top of Coed y Gribin<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table>2nd day we were there I decided to test my legs and climb the 500 foot hill overlooking the campsite. Stupidly steep, I had to use tree branches to haul myself up in parts, but I got to the top a lot easier than expected and was rewarded with some splendid views of the estuary and <b>Cadair Idris</b>. Have to say not many birds apart from <b>Ravens, Blackca</b>p and <b>Willow Warbler.</b> Plantwise, there was <b>Bilberry</b> at the top and from the ankle deep dead bracken I got bitten to bits on both legs!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinYGGsJa9dVDpi_DCIdCcuRDEQ3udF4sW34JcK3HjotWa-YfXWo89aXROzyNJZRKTJHPBNjhroLYqppfywCXdXk2vi2wouPMH3xK2taBANCNQlxCy8IhNdRAPd5I3QgMVpF0DKDC3r1fR/s2048/MX2A5424.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinYGGsJa9dVDpi_DCIdCcuRDEQ3udF4sW34JcK3HjotWa-YfXWo89aXROzyNJZRKTJHPBNjhroLYqppfywCXdXk2vi2wouPMH3xK2taBANCNQlxCy8IhNdRAPd5I3QgMVpF0DKDC3r1fR/w400-h400/MX2A5424.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bilberry,</b><b>Coed y Gribin, </b><b>23/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVQykrDPKf01h0ff8IyJXeutmtqly7hmLff81BhyE8ZK2aZEqj0SeyNs6i7eM5Bm4pzbUIg3Kc-o1n-AXeeqRhTcBx7vWXUi9GA3ey28uUxaaZFTFCuTvF7fFl3vFP_6TbmHlxjr1ZeGo/s2048/MX2A5431.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVQykrDPKf01h0ff8IyJXeutmtqly7hmLff81BhyE8ZK2aZEqj0SeyNs6i7eM5Bm4pzbUIg3Kc-o1n-AXeeqRhTcBx7vWXUi9GA3ey28uUxaaZFTFCuTvF7fFl3vFP_6TbmHlxjr1ZeGo/w640-h426/MX2A5431.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mawddach Estuary from the top of Coed y Gribin</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7U6DXdxvJk1osqMD25J2is-vJ0106KvxxhTvxiP04w8I6_xyYGzHebKy_lgxpJFjlOb_KntyZrsf6BaIWUMPFxql6fX-JlmOBz7TrcQM9cI8lHW77yiiKSCE14T_32X6Go4HsjZnJoZjw/s2048/MX2A5434.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7U6DXdxvJk1osqMD25J2is-vJ0106KvxxhTvxiP04w8I6_xyYGzHebKy_lgxpJFjlOb_KntyZrsf6BaIWUMPFxql6fX-JlmOBz7TrcQM9cI8lHW77yiiKSCE14T_32X6Go4HsjZnJoZjw/w640-h426/MX2A5434.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cadair Idris from the top of Coed y Gribin</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUwb3CScubGDEZL6HBl-EZA31FvXce9YLDGEtwSrWdBVb2BhA2yLkeVpFuA7eorqneDUam31oP3R5yYv5xduRggp6PhP8zXq01gFxUJ6Uoua9kd_MaSOMDWryybyHDkmaCPIDSOhASpac/s2048/IMG_9804.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUwb3CScubGDEZL6HBl-EZA31FvXce9YLDGEtwSrWdBVb2BhA2yLkeVpFuA7eorqneDUam31oP3R5yYv5xduRggp6PhP8zXq01gFxUJ6Uoua9kd_MaSOMDWryybyHDkmaCPIDSOhASpac/w640-h426/IMG_9804.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Willow Warbler, Mawddach Estuary, 23/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNl46teJ77NptvnoN161cSXwEciJk0DnOEUmIg5zI_veL3ZtgIV3Emy1luaT9acz3qo2r4hCTB9lrRsgzUpn5R64KwRnQeIM0-U5DgTl1YdOsI9c7Zqbph8zD1zGY3nAOtowkTJXRVLdI8/s2048/MX2A5409.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNl46teJ77NptvnoN161cSXwEciJk0DnOEUmIg5zI_veL3ZtgIV3Emy1luaT9acz3qo2r4hCTB9lrRsgzUpn5R64KwRnQeIM0-U5DgTl1YdOsI9c7Zqbph8zD1zGY3nAOtowkTJXRVLdI8/w640-h426/MX2A5409.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Our vehicles at Peanmanpool</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>A drive out to the base of <b>Cadair Idris </b>produced our first <b>Wheatears </b>of the trip but little else of note in the birding department, some splendid views though...... </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-yTPa9iJUm2C2moAwYFynU21FTdfMBBEABZvQ_1CR9JiPCsLXya64PY_Tlqv27IOdyaVk1abrrxFxvC9NG86sqkc67I2g7ldBsXsoKbuYOIcdvNnWFymq5Fyzd2mOsLs0U9gVXyjH7Ai/s2048/MX2A5450.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-yTPa9iJUm2C2moAwYFynU21FTdfMBBEABZvQ_1CR9JiPCsLXya64PY_Tlqv27IOdyaVk1abrrxFxvC9NG86sqkc67I2g7ldBsXsoKbuYOIcdvNnWFymq5Fyzd2mOsLs0U9gVXyjH7Ai/w640-h426/MX2A5450.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Looking north east from Cadair Idris, 24/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIdo7MKCarewE7dC_H4ueQTeziInwKguIAPJY5QgGBZ3So28ABaFMBuRhRA8eA8ky4RFP_7GxbuSJyTDWp18fOIIDQ1CaBxAcTJ5xgTB0PmKzXcR82KVHAWhX1T_rSTfUUgjYR4JxV_ks/s2048/MX2A5446.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIdo7MKCarewE7dC_H4ueQTeziInwKguIAPJY5QgGBZ3So28ABaFMBuRhRA8eA8ky4RFP_7GxbuSJyTDWp18fOIIDQ1CaBxAcTJ5xgTB0PmKzXcR82KVHAWhX1T_rSTfUUgjYR4JxV_ks/w640-h426/MX2A5446.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cadair Idris, 24/04/21</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div>From coastal Snowdonia we headed north west for the <b>Lleyn Peninsular</b>, a longish drive with several stop offs including a breakfast break at <b>Lleyn Trawsfynydd</b> reservoir where I had a nice <b>Red Breasted Merganser </b>along with several other duck species, 5 <b>Dunlin</b> and 3 <b>Common Sandpipers</b>.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpVo_L4Vj6n7PpuIoO44pJue1xDpvDbH47_SXLNtDbSE7ur0tJaYieNHQj1TulPFd48AaRej-JsxZlhkRG6YnpjIl4If4ztebih0Fz1-3TvQ6VPNLxosvydn8HNLaXHDYrnr7AByOQnzE/s1209/IMG_9859.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="1209" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpVo_L4Vj6n7PpuIoO44pJue1xDpvDbH47_SXLNtDbSE7ur0tJaYieNHQj1TulPFd48AaRej-JsxZlhkRG6YnpjIl4If4ztebih0Fz1-3TvQ6VPNLxosvydn8HNLaXHDYrnr7AByOQnzE/w640-h426/IMG_9859.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red Breasted Merganser, </b><b style="text-align: left;">Lleyn Trawsfynydd, 25/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFgwlJdN1fTA1FzedvUhTwoxFXAFhLRcTZnkTtXHsoUYJTHGYbK7uu8gYa4Oakh1zXPDeCGK0nF8Rvsc8XyXq67b4NxtyzB2CxQ6AhaYuExQdZEucv1lVBNgjKGPCoNeTYHAxUx9zGwXt/s2048/IMG_9868.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1759" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFgwlJdN1fTA1FzedvUhTwoxFXAFhLRcTZnkTtXHsoUYJTHGYbK7uu8gYa4Oakh1zXPDeCGK0nF8Rvsc8XyXq67b4NxtyzB2CxQ6AhaYuExQdZEucv1lVBNgjKGPCoNeTYHAxUx9zGwXt/w550-h640/IMG_9868.JPG" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lady's Smock (Cuckoo Flower), </b><b style="text-align: left;">Lleyn Trawsfynydd, 25/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><b>Days 5 - 6 Llanllowan, Lleyn Peninsular</b></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-aDfG6Ueawc01Soyshb3nnwc03VIcil9VTPn7QMDX6egBif7Hn0zoNYrBphB5fzANGxud5p2rnF-VWCul5fMFSVp3JuQ6oKbRfp4wQcwdtyxyBYyJ7r6FBbpsXr2_k9-XK3MjmnrzCQz/s1573/IMG_9926.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1573" data-original-width="1573" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-aDfG6Ueawc01Soyshb3nnwc03VIcil9VTPn7QMDX6egBif7Hn0zoNYrBphB5fzANGxud5p2rnF-VWCul5fMFSVp3JuQ6oKbRfp4wQcwdtyxyBYyJ7r6FBbpsXr2_k9-XK3MjmnrzCQz/w400-h400/IMG_9926.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Northern Wheatears, Lleyn Peninsular, 25/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Right on the tip of the Lleyn and with fine views of <b>Bardsey Island</b>, blue skies and an electric hook up - what's not to like😀. All hooked up, I took an afternoon stroll along the cliff tops and was straight into <b>Wheatears</b> - they seemed to be everywhere, I reckoned on 35 - 40 - some of which were clearly defending nest sites, others on passage? </div><div><br /></div><div>Either way I got some stonking pics!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeQpbAfUtU8L5pTnnvCxLUGmkaIyWPg3cA0xhghto6hD4j6l-22C-j5lJ-POx12ngLZLYwar02q83XjZw3rdM-2fD7AYj5zxzppQJ7zQZiNtfAYOQwpqSWvSo52aQa-Kagcd2ICa9dtj_/s2048/IMG_0035.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeQpbAfUtU8L5pTnnvCxLUGmkaIyWPg3cA0xhghto6hD4j6l-22C-j5lJ-POx12ngLZLYwar02q83XjZw3rdM-2fD7AYj5zxzppQJ7zQZiNtfAYOQwpqSWvSo52aQa-Kagcd2ICa9dtj_/w640-h426/IMG_0035.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Northern Wheatear, Lleyn Peninsular, 25/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTHjU1Px-tB2epBxYLVuXJ_86TxH3VNlTOLjoDKWzV-2m3UBuzdxPHGgK_PKPUG7GLPNNFCxb073dcaUEgMip-pD7OFLAsbGlpzcdgC_LupHT647wZ_oYs4StxYF-5pAxvkGPRdqLpx7V/s2048/IMG_0104.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTHjU1Px-tB2epBxYLVuXJ_86TxH3VNlTOLjoDKWzV-2m3UBuzdxPHGgK_PKPUG7GLPNNFCxb073dcaUEgMip-pD7OFLAsbGlpzcdgC_LupHT647wZ_oYs4StxYF-5pAxvkGPRdqLpx7V/w640-h426/IMG_0104.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Northern Wheatears, Lleyn Peninsular, 25/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMrN4mFsKCdnky5PWBYeWdzpuJO9cRiK0ZdqBicax-3e6c-FAkSLMkFuSffg3FFATL1IfqQuuYBy5ZqvAFrLk8SkHXXaJ1t9OFIa3HjXxtepSj7lYsSlpj0imMEQpLhz3lEyM2JyjHwTR/w400-h400/IMG_0114.JPG" width="400" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Northern Wheatear, Lleyn Peninsular, 25/03/21</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMrN4mFsKCdnky5PWBYeWdzpuJO9cRiK0ZdqBicax-3e6c-FAkSLMkFuSffg3FFATL1IfqQuuYBy5ZqvAFrLk8SkHXXaJ1t9OFIa3HjXxtepSj7lYsSlpj0imMEQpLhz3lEyM2JyjHwTR/s2048/IMG_0114.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="color: black;"></span></b></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">If the Wheatears were the most noticeable birds on the cliffs, the most spectacular were without doubt the handful of </span><b style="text-align: left;">Choughs</b><span style="text-align: left;"> that graced the skies with their aerial displays and unmistakable calls. Rapidly in decline with only about 300 pairs left in the UK These were the first Choughs I'd seen in this country for 30 years! Never got a good sharp picture that the great views deserved but I was happy enough.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBG5Q-uYohyphenhyphenG5v2HyJpYzYur3YPmaWBekrEzlOoGm429gQlJ4lHtf2jHR3VuKfiiMqAMvJXCwKN1BOWkfDyh_q05O-4N4GaCs1x_l4sXdVku1V_CBVJiPLg-jA5pAxJ293OL7OkmUxH7u/s1681/IMG_9964.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1681" data-original-width="1543" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBG5Q-uYohyphenhyphenG5v2HyJpYzYur3YPmaWBekrEzlOoGm429gQlJ4lHtf2jHR3VuKfiiMqAMvJXCwKN1BOWkfDyh_q05O-4N4GaCs1x_l4sXdVku1V_CBVJiPLg-jA5pAxJ293OL7OkmUxH7u/w588-h640/IMG_9964.JPG" width="588" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Displaying Choughs, Lleyn Peninsular, 25/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPLnUtHnoW8L4oP4xvuo2d_XzDMrs2bVSkQrrbvcpuJC3mTXdlqUA99UQkrf1GqXDRb6V6QI89H2AGws1IeroqwAzzEoiZFXT0pNBdRQLw8_WQxoNYeOS1mBNYsFcPpITIzrOX8nD7Y4Z/s1769/IMG_0053.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="1769" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPLnUtHnoW8L4oP4xvuo2d_XzDMrs2bVSkQrrbvcpuJC3mTXdlqUA99UQkrf1GqXDRb6V6QI89H2AGws1IeroqwAzzEoiZFXT0pNBdRQLw8_WQxoNYeOS1mBNYsFcPpITIzrOX8nD7Y4Z/w640-h426/IMG_0053.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Chough, Lleyn Peninsular, 25/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQJyfj7Fmg8VUeUyyh48k6p61FoUX12SrYHZMxCJyCXDO2uXL1w-MnoV-OgMJq6wQvp0Gl4zG8PSEHoAA6ApXdliGkcHhMeJ102qmBgc8QmqF-M1WbgLeZd6dKchjnZQJi0Eon9w7G5dY/s2048/IMG_0057.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQJyfj7Fmg8VUeUyyh48k6p61FoUX12SrYHZMxCJyCXDO2uXL1w-MnoV-OgMJq6wQvp0Gl4zG8PSEHoAA6ApXdliGkcHhMeJ102qmBgc8QmqF-M1WbgLeZd6dKchjnZQJi0Eon9w7G5dY/w640-h426/IMG_0057.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Chough, Lleyn Peninsular, 25/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkkYu6zF-b-e1uxIycY8DzFYOpGDhPJTHYHWbrK_tYoxD1e9ybN-K1uiAIV7pT0DEETvn3qBEB18ZyP8uWct9CiCWq4T23eYgBa9uP9MCaVpbP_vuLhza-amjEePmvcJrgNkkx4B-L2ea/s1898/MX2A5479.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1898" data-original-width="1434" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkkYu6zF-b-e1uxIycY8DzFYOpGDhPJTHYHWbrK_tYoxD1e9ybN-K1uiAIV7pT0DEETvn3qBEB18ZyP8uWct9CiCWq4T23eYgBa9uP9MCaVpbP_vuLhza-amjEePmvcJrgNkkx4B-L2ea/w303-h400/MX2A5479.JPG" width="303" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Fumitory, </b><b>Lleyn Peninsular, 26/04/21</b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div>Other birds here included <b>Manx Shearwater, Sandwich Tern, Guillemot, Shag, Rock Pipit</b> and <b>Stonechat</b>, whilst on the ground there were some attractive displays of wild flowers including a plant I don't see very often in Yorkshire - <b>Common Fumitory </b>and a small delicate blue flower growing on the cliff tops that I'm yet to identify.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb49n00tSb72APKkWcWNYBf6YmD-0Zn9wxhG5WPZOGCvk2nTm3ym0TFzy-buXr5YgT7iR2TIh1HNdFnWPF5YlYsUqiNizr84di5bsODy-RDgw1YrIoB1y5yJZvnO8jzZycF44wjapb_AfM/s2048/IMG_0036.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb49n00tSb72APKkWcWNYBf6YmD-0Zn9wxhG5WPZOGCvk2nTm3ym0TFzy-buXr5YgT7iR2TIh1HNdFnWPF5YlYsUqiNizr84di5bsODy-RDgw1YrIoB1y5yJZvnO8jzZycF44wjapb_AfM/w299-h400/IMG_0036.JPG" width="299" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sea Thrift, Lleyn Peninsular, 25/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnp-MNAIDTla5jMT_8iYAlBneV1vclG-sFiRbLWbiOBg8J1Qi4AuaPnk-urkIrKjWy8Pzk8_hZx2dsKBYjx4Qc5F3trIxmdK4RtSpyDFevL35nzoSfyzxJ3zdvVpg1MlEi2zVp7AoIMMMn/s2048/IMG_0071.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="2048" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnp-MNAIDTla5jMT_8iYAlBneV1vclG-sFiRbLWbiOBg8J1Qi4AuaPnk-urkIrKjWy8Pzk8_hZx2dsKBYjx4Qc5F3trIxmdK4RtSpyDFevL35nzoSfyzxJ3zdvVpg1MlEi2zVp7AoIMMMn/w400-h286/IMG_0071.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bladder Campion, Lleyn Peninsular, 25/04/21<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGrUOmT-zugXoeyelRwz1cNiPT_eB1RGg_LYQbdcudm1hdqz6KbhqW0IkpFhg1q3nyJgfzw8TzXGrxf87E1zRIoVE4xiXBRBDgkD4PC1wVLOpBO1HaCjV9TE9zDYg0txWyA8Xg3XNCxuk/s1974/MX2A5464.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1974" data-original-width="1597" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGrUOmT-zugXoeyelRwz1cNiPT_eB1RGg_LYQbdcudm1hdqz6KbhqW0IkpFhg1q3nyJgfzw8TzXGrxf87E1zRIoVE4xiXBRBDgkD4PC1wVLOpBO1HaCjV9TE9zDYg0txWyA8Xg3XNCxuk/w324-h400/MX2A5464.JPG" width="324" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Unidentified, Lleyn Peninsular, 25/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMahWxyEcooE39Qaxyy-U_NEWmqr_Rn9PoufF-GhwonaHNswnWE8U29K0zGR24MQ38vgpPnLk17xB5vnhTAVxYpfNUkBWxxb-wBH_TZRp_S2vCNbzfzFnssAy7nJfmVIvPvPyyIzpN8Ct/s2048/IMG_9919.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMahWxyEcooE39Qaxyy-U_NEWmqr_Rn9PoufF-GhwonaHNswnWE8U29K0zGR24MQ38vgpPnLk17xB5vnhTAVxYpfNUkBWxxb-wBH_TZRp_S2vCNbzfzFnssAy7nJfmVIvPvPyyIzpN8Ct/w640-h640/IMG_9919.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Stonechat, </b><b>Lleyn Peninsular, 25/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErO-3AVf9iDYfOp5vjmhQ4XmzwfNLKj049wJKoMZ5Ug9LN7zPEkQi89KQJF7NtDg7tT7f8IHBmCVrQdhyOxY3O7NOM99XdOI8BpPCr3aVMgx8Ei6om1I43Yrh1jGBixYqJaj5BNxymBcG/s2048/MX2A5473.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErO-3AVf9iDYfOp5vjmhQ4XmzwfNLKj049wJKoMZ5Ug9LN7zPEkQi89KQJF7NtDg7tT7f8IHBmCVrQdhyOxY3O7NOM99XdOI8BpPCr3aVMgx8Ei6om1I43Yrh1jGBixYqJaj5BNxymBcG/w400-h266/MX2A5473.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Aberdaron Bay from the top of Mynydd Maw</b></td></tr></tbody></table>In other, less restrictive times, I would have considered a trip over to<b> Bardsey Island</b> to see the seabird colony and <b>Red Squirrels</b> - but of course no boat trips were running because of the pandemic; so views from afar had to do and a drive up to the top of <b>Mynydd Maw</b> before heading up to Anglesey gave a wonderful perspective this part of the Lleyn as well as a chance for a few self indulgent van pics🚙😁</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPCO9V3qRhgPZ3jrl-QSK8l5WsPBhkAs6MMZoof1G9E9TbLgrxnOCAbR9O2cS5eS71BdCZCnQk9_W5YwpwbLAfzGtdP1_Eh2ouOw1ZpXEZ71yDwlhyIolzlb6dKXCg6aGvqT-MwnXm5yq/s2048/MX2A5469.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPCO9V3qRhgPZ3jrl-QSK8l5WsPBhkAs6MMZoof1G9E9TbLgrxnOCAbR9O2cS5eS71BdCZCnQk9_W5YwpwbLAfzGtdP1_Eh2ouOw1ZpXEZ71yDwlhyIolzlb6dKXCg6aGvqT-MwnXm5yq/w640-h426/MX2A5469.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bardsey Island, 26/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQjI64yV9WGb1pAssL5SPPaDAqECb2E5kH32O0e5MvlY6Hffiphzg7rjJKjOPP9goE79pSe_8LUE1cCLMDHNXS22oKLr0t0hL0-13a-Hpe6WrXxvueCDShUGJ1ToE1INfVUKF3lQLJvsj/w640-h426/MX2A5468.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The van, Myndd Maw, 26/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQjI64yV9WGb1pAssL5SPPaDAqECb2E5kH32O0e5MvlY6Hffiphzg7rjJKjOPP9goE79pSe_8LUE1cCLMDHNXS22oKLr0t0hL0-13a-Hpe6WrXxvueCDShUGJ1ToE1INfVUKF3lQLJvsj/s2048/MX2A5468.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b></b></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Still relatively new to me, the van is performing nicely, great to drive, goes anywhere and has everything inside I need.</div><div><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaq4HKRb_xxUV2p9xb-Z9S6n_m_moOcFhN1vWqCBIe0pkIZaUwGHJgdKDHzUvZFrYEzvF9BBVOYXftTMl0nCyfwqtrk_VRR4qyZM1ic___WmYj8yUD6wiEqkovOaN79RYCSfuot3DJQMe/s1994/IMG_0139.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1329" data-original-width="1994" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaq4HKRb_xxUV2p9xb-Z9S6n_m_moOcFhN1vWqCBIe0pkIZaUwGHJgdKDHzUvZFrYEzvF9BBVOYXftTMl0nCyfwqtrk_VRR4qyZM1ic___WmYj8yUD6wiEqkovOaN79RYCSfuot3DJQMe/w400-h266/IMG_0139.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Choughs, nr Rhos Fawr, 26/04/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div>En route heading back up the Lleyn Peninsular I just followed my nose along the back roads. Had another <b>Chough</b> experience with 4 of them up in the air doing their <i>Red Arrows</i> impersonation and then a couple more harrying a hovering <b>Buzzard</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iKz21adksN40neU8yVQD8etc6gzuHh_CgkMZQ9xKO1WzMhxZ-qoF99i0hEgipptHIV2szq0MgBL1jQtq11fCXiJNvllbKkVzpZ0ML_-bpMdPwMtxrFYNPwM7CnxooBWd2QE0WOUJ-v1c/s2048/IMG_0130.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1643" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iKz21adksN40neU8yVQD8etc6gzuHh_CgkMZQ9xKO1WzMhxZ-qoF99i0hEgipptHIV2szq0MgBL1jQtq11fCXiJNvllbKkVzpZ0ML_-bpMdPwMtxrFYNPwM7CnxooBWd2QE0WOUJ-v1c/w515-h640/IMG_0130.JPG" width="515" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Choughs & Common Buzzard, Lleyn Peninsular, 26/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbK6E2n03CGwfxfzvn0UdYyWMEkFOSD013ir8KWdYkIDkZJbI3CLabUDL-W7pmZE4p6W3a76uLwRgXyJ9QdvAYI-ssdAapH0zqAFnQOxXYoBIoTZltLsyyX0bfUVkchP1KYdHA0SjVybMJ/s4491/MX2A5481.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2994" data-original-width="4491" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbK6E2n03CGwfxfzvn0UdYyWMEkFOSD013ir8KWdYkIDkZJbI3CLabUDL-W7pmZE4p6W3a76uLwRgXyJ9QdvAYI-ssdAapH0zqAFnQOxXYoBIoTZltLsyyX0bfUVkchP1KYdHA0SjVybMJ/w640-h426/MX2A5481.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Distant Snowdonia from the Lleyn Peninsular, nr Rhos fawr</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmWaFqIggNiEMQAstbypNKXlJetaooJo0hgN4Vl8P-pUelCLx-nCIrLEbsJsmlBUl3gHvh7mfL2E3QKpPjkF8e3PiW-3VA4MttPV0mkUzxgijvoKagrtugeQNIHWYDPYlo_MPzeXrtjE1/s1795/IMG_0167.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1795" data-original-width="1795" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmWaFqIggNiEMQAstbypNKXlJetaooJo0hgN4Vl8P-pUelCLx-nCIrLEbsJsmlBUl3gHvh7mfL2E3QKpPjkF8e3PiW-3VA4MttPV0mkUzxgijvoKagrtugeQNIHWYDPYlo_MPzeXrtjE1/w400-h400/IMG_0167.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sandwich Terns, Caernarfon Straits, 26/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Having gone off on separate ways after we departed the tip of the Lleyn, we met up again at the mouth of the <b>Caenarfon Straits </b>just across the way from Anglesey with the<b> Newborough Warren</b> sand dunes in sight to the north. A trudge up the spit bordering Caenarfon airport to get closer to some distant possible <b>Arctic Terns </b>terns revealed them to be just <b>Sandwich Terns</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Not a lot else apart from 4 <b>Red Breasted Mergansers</b> flying right past me and out to sea, and a few nice displays of <b>Field Pansy</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYEqtkbjZOPEF0-1_PaJfZfputIr564p2H28mrq8nEIU8wDRZHtS8XngcviaW3W6_0L8NHqZUQw7cqXvlCncWT-Ss2UzQZFYhS7NmzjqnFx4W01fKbMzpfXe4UgJOey6HOkDWnrilFS4u/s2048/IMG_0161.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYEqtkbjZOPEF0-1_PaJfZfputIr564p2H28mrq8nEIU8wDRZHtS8XngcviaW3W6_0L8NHqZUQw7cqXvlCncWT-Ss2UzQZFYhS7NmzjqnFx4W01fKbMzpfXe4UgJOey6HOkDWnrilFS4u/w640-h426/IMG_0161.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red Breasted Mergansers, Caernarfon Straits, 26/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNV8omI2TbDHPZwy99NRZIjZlW-wGbQ-BORFdqyVI3T5M2xqkGw-XulNAGHU2Csto-e5FwgaNGVetCNO0uDTzRM0H7087NVD8AcrE0Xe6Q1ZTFTH6mPr9MU5VTb-QJ7tav8g9Xz9d752V/s2048/MX2A5490.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNV8omI2TbDHPZwy99NRZIjZlW-wGbQ-BORFdqyVI3T5M2xqkGw-XulNAGHU2Csto-e5FwgaNGVetCNO0uDTzRM0H7087NVD8AcrE0Xe6Q1ZTFTH6mPr9MU5VTb-QJ7tav8g9Xz9d752V/w640-h426/MX2A5490.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Field Pansy, Caernarfon Straits, 26/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_N7nerVTfB6Fr53xZ9u7kP6gcZfxXxsa6Nwbus_viRdYcuR5N83b8FBKLorMRQvKr6MxSvPCwNK_zoztyGehophm-HjaJxW8hVPi9CMpXgu03j0pEopRTr1u1f-Kk_BEl3pvnLbYCPkT/s2048/MX2A5489.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_N7nerVTfB6Fr53xZ9u7kP6gcZfxXxsa6Nwbus_viRdYcuR5N83b8FBKLorMRQvKr6MxSvPCwNK_zoztyGehophm-HjaJxW8hVPi9CMpXgu03j0pEopRTr1u1f-Kk_BEl3pvnLbYCPkT/w640-h360/MX2A5489.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Caernarfon from the mouth of the straits, 26/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><b><u>Days 7 & 8 Anglesey</u></b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnsCOVUTaJoU4lohkz8ZpG8jmhHijFOCUrK2N5HBC9i47hVn5WX2TOyOoV5aZE8sdtRI0S_y5vsAtEEycaaO8iySqIQCv5_aQPyXtrkiWF7p8rVewizRAR6h0HcwfdL-B_4ygLfLUU6ge/s2048/IMG_0171.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnsCOVUTaJoU4lohkz8ZpG8jmhHijFOCUrK2N5HBC9i47hVn5WX2TOyOoV5aZE8sdtRI0S_y5vsAtEEycaaO8iySqIQCv5_aQPyXtrkiWF7p8rVewizRAR6h0HcwfdL-B_4ygLfLUU6ge/w400-h400/IMG_0171.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Grey Heron, Malltraeth, 27/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div>Just as we arrived on Anglesey and our campsite for 2 nights close to <b>Newborough Warren </b>and the <b>Malltraeth Sands</b>, the weather turned with increasing cloud cover, westerly winds and periodic rain showers. Made the best of it of course and although nothing spectacular there were plenty of wetland birds about - <b>Grey Herons, Whimbrel, Sedge Warblers</b> and in Newborough Warren tons of <b>Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff</b> and <b>Common Whitethroats</b>, alas no <b>Red Squirrels</b> though.</div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpkFYN4w4mqFkrtVJulfpko0sp5WHwZXg27ylCaieWjXABKEyz3hXq9oQaW_5GjJH7FnzWV2KU_p3KWzvCl4gUrRQjvlGo02krryXmrqRJQpwCnbJCThrBQXgbDkEHOhXVZWK5Pah8sfj/s2048/IMG_0187.JPG" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpkFYN4w4mqFkrtVJulfpko0sp5WHwZXg27ylCaieWjXABKEyz3hXq9oQaW_5GjJH7FnzWV2KU_p3KWzvCl4gUrRQjvlGo02krryXmrqRJQpwCnbJCThrBQXgbDkEHOhXVZWK5Pah8sfj/w400-h266/IMG_0187.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sedge Warbler, </b><b>Malltraeth, 27/04/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4V4602IW_vYUynMig1RPKp-5fqqg2m8a0NTl6N8dowFKlYmAWklHEz6nZaXoCJjD58tbwGYsVFCft4D4Lr3j__6UtsVvuNFDF9CwgSwPOAV5P1oLikQDSaXeproRU3T_0cXBTvPsjVJ4o/s1669/IMG_0179.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="1669" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4V4602IW_vYUynMig1RPKp-5fqqg2m8a0NTl6N8dowFKlYmAWklHEz6nZaXoCJjD58tbwGYsVFCft4D4Lr3j__6UtsVvuNFDF9CwgSwPOAV5P1oLikQDSaXeproRU3T_0cXBTvPsjVJ4o/w640-h426/IMG_0179.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Whimbrel, Malltraeth, 27/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTujZX90-xbhBi0BZRrLtwFFyIts4dcfLDX1Ije51pyH39IuoXGtqExjRwk1SNokcBB5N6XAAjyrhLEwxFOr_GwBSeB9ko_Ycsl_6EzBHTraWZ_XH6O-iJWyBaUysKG3lZeWFmDDB03vCX/s2048/MX2A5494.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTujZX90-xbhBi0BZRrLtwFFyIts4dcfLDX1Ije51pyH39IuoXGtqExjRwk1SNokcBB5N6XAAjyrhLEwxFOr_GwBSeB9ko_Ycsl_6EzBHTraWZ_XH6O-iJWyBaUysKG3lZeWFmDDB03vCX/w640-h426/MX2A5494.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Malltraeth Sands, 27/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The next day Mark went off on his bike along the Malltraeth Trail and I drove around to the RSPB reserve of <b><a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/cors-ddyga/" target="_blank">Cors Ddyga</a></b>. A former coal mining area in the Victorian era, many of the drains and lagoons have been transformed by the RSPB into a thriving nature reserve.<div><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGea3MliD-Pbdlf9iLfSHkGSoTedlK_GdeJc5X-QNVrZL51Ozf43u_CT0hGvX1BcvC0lQvJK0njTq_JpsZRsTQykW052XCv5lkXeeaAhanHYTJ5Cyvu-lBDJi6P2OIwUIW2qzSt1EpYvK/s2048/MX2A5495.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGea3MliD-Pbdlf9iLfSHkGSoTedlK_GdeJc5X-QNVrZL51Ozf43u_CT0hGvX1BcvC0lQvJK0njTq_JpsZRsTQykW052XCv5lkXeeaAhanHYTJ5Cyvu-lBDJi6P2OIwUIW2qzSt1EpYvK/w400-h266/MX2A5495.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Old mine workings and pit cottages, Cors Ddyga</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLVX5Woeefjyb-h-KpJjNa4YmbKLBWrBF1lrAkBkabloB5WuC5fD-IS_DZ1mnueNTI3sbbrbciYs_IY213X07S2n1QLLi4pGcZM1ET9SDCnL8uIs3vQi1AK1ycikrhO44-SXRJDDAzQVn/s2048/IMG_0207.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1463" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLVX5Woeefjyb-h-KpJjNa4YmbKLBWrBF1lrAkBkabloB5WuC5fD-IS_DZ1mnueNTI3sbbrbciYs_IY213X07S2n1QLLi4pGcZM1ET9SDCnL8uIs3vQi1AK1ycikrhO44-SXRJDDAzQVn/w286-h400/IMG_0207.JPG" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bog Asphodel, Cors Ddyga, 27/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Renowned for its assemblage of scarce wetland plants and water birds, I spent a good 4 - 5 hours there and covered just about all of it. <b>Bog Asphodel</b> was the only plant of note but I wasn't looking too hard, I was looking up more than I was looking down and got lucky with an <b>Osprey </b>hunting over one of the lagoons and also got my first <b>Swift</b> of the year.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI49hECoyiPueFncDuAQ1kekk7dH7yu-BKvoEFcGIni0orJLqXKPn03Bkw2SQdYE2l-NJtOUWxBlwXcr0QC6l5xZw5VpCKODkL7SYVjsEPwMOwFYZsQrZWUyDYaokykvgpsyY-fFJ6dwfY/s1769/IMG_0193.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="1769" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI49hECoyiPueFncDuAQ1kekk7dH7yu-BKvoEFcGIni0orJLqXKPn03Bkw2SQdYE2l-NJtOUWxBlwXcr0QC6l5xZw5VpCKODkL7SYVjsEPwMOwFYZsQrZWUyDYaokykvgpsyY-fFJ6dwfY/w400-h266/IMG_0193.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Swift, </b><b>Cors Ddyga, 27/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1fnvdqSJiHSySQWS3Tyvu8G6xQaTz6dxVOCXXbsDM2-mdpBY_dGOhrZUqtqnYFV2_FAzUejVVEOHrzIh8L4z3lguM62860YI5nPXaneHyZ9EET6MlHD5ND97dCcBriH302OeIH95T1aE/s1194/IMG_0224.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1194" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1fnvdqSJiHSySQWS3Tyvu8G6xQaTz6dxVOCXXbsDM2-mdpBY_dGOhrZUqtqnYFV2_FAzUejVVEOHrzIh8L4z3lguM62860YI5nPXaneHyZ9EET6MlHD5ND97dCcBriH302OeIH95T1aE/w400-h266/IMG_0224.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Osprey, Cors Ddyga, 27/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>I must have watched the <b>Osprey</b> for a good 30 minutes - I wasn't right on it so couldn't see it dive into the water but I got plenty of decent shots.<br /></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKER5Tm_5V0ZapfO2x8QNkD9KtyYJjGi2BGZHCJWkC_ApAM_ivgABfAgKYk2eYdp-v6K-Tgbjji-sYV-5hUw4l4TYQOr1ePlYl9nbgVdWgvIRcURi9FJmaGPwUmL6LHXKlS-vDTEaFFiI/s1653/IMG_0222b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="1653" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKER5Tm_5V0ZapfO2x8QNkD9KtyYJjGi2BGZHCJWkC_ApAM_ivgABfAgKYk2eYdp-v6K-Tgbjji-sYV-5hUw4l4TYQOr1ePlYl9nbgVdWgvIRcURi9FJmaGPwUmL6LHXKlS-vDTEaFFiI/w640-h426/IMG_0222b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Osprey, Cors Ddyga, 27/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyXnn5YZ97Hyvbxjhax4xJEiYvNgWjiR4TviBYPRvWZdz0ruiP8gpX7Ucvg8_z2q4r3SR1iDWURgKKJ2dlVXC9777ezfLKVeF-RRbIS8IlvJTZV2raB2SSGIy_UKFLVrVFXeiUXn5_eCU/s1340/IMG_0239.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1340" data-original-width="1197" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyXnn5YZ97Hyvbxjhax4xJEiYvNgWjiR4TviBYPRvWZdz0ruiP8gpX7Ucvg8_z2q4r3SR1iDWURgKKJ2dlVXC9777ezfLKVeF-RRbIS8IlvJTZV2raB2SSGIy_UKFLVrVFXeiUXn5_eCU/w572-h640/IMG_0239.JPG" width="572" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Osprey, Cors Ddyga, 27/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>As ever with RSPB reserves, the habitat creation and management is second to none - it reminded me a little of the Somerset Levels in miniature form.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuboOiTIQgzL1az24x6iW1J_dg9NEVIBtEYUPpmaBzIkHGf3YfD3uPVWsLWWvMsChgMYTE75s8Wv1bs9lQ4bs2LIIoXqLPeuDHUBrU-5IeXRAh5E0f3p8IQrCoBCXGTgO0wtNmq_CVUakO/s2048/MX2A5496.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuboOiTIQgzL1az24x6iW1J_dg9NEVIBtEYUPpmaBzIkHGf3YfD3uPVWsLWWvMsChgMYTE75s8Wv1bs9lQ4bs2LIIoXqLPeuDHUBrU-5IeXRAh5E0f3p8IQrCoBCXGTgO0wtNmq_CVUakO/w640-h426/MX2A5496.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>RSPB Cors Ddyga, 27/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>Bitterns</b> breed here but I heard no 'booming' birds - waders were in short supply apart from <b>Lapwings</b>, some of which had young already, and a single<b> Ruff</b>. <b>Shoveler</b> seemed to be the most obvious duck species and I had several views of a splendid male <b>Marsh Harrier</b> as it made repeated forays over the marshes and there were at least 2 <b>Great White Egrets </b>present, and Mark heard a <b>Grasshopper Warbler</b> here when he popped in on his way back to the campsite.<br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ztlcqI2brdNcFGVcunlFQapIAyx-nBlWVba9y3cs15WTZAJLXaTwyogHi_ZdAECJWt1n191HkS1-zUnrjEcqc18coE_SbgiqQkjYGKHfm4Fcn1CqpjLh9-Pn6V1Jp4UPlPJueYTXzsDf/s2048/IMG_0332.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ztlcqI2brdNcFGVcunlFQapIAyx-nBlWVba9y3cs15WTZAJLXaTwyogHi_ZdAECJWt1n191HkS1-zUnrjEcqc18coE_SbgiqQkjYGKHfm4Fcn1CqpjLh9-Pn6V1Jp4UPlPJueYTXzsDf/w400-h400/IMG_0332.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lapwing, Cors Ddyga, 27/04/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01hdT07zrsz40w5S2Gf8cTHF85qx-VXMi_vymW4ba6vOiPyZrCv5EHjHkAL20CjCZeY7_AOqYvo0nv5OhNYACSNDdxHlxc6MBv06YvAoB0mBZ-Wth_yuoMVF3wxkx5_S46dKp0qiB4dtZ/s2048/IMG_0316.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01hdT07zrsz40w5S2Gf8cTHF85qx-VXMi_vymW4ba6vOiPyZrCv5EHjHkAL20CjCZeY7_AOqYvo0nv5OhNYACSNDdxHlxc6MBv06YvAoB0mBZ-Wth_yuoMVF3wxkx5_S46dKp0qiB4dtZ/w640-h426/IMG_0316.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Shovelers, Cors Ddyga, 27/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0PjWbyBCDqQHWpFlELgtJN7z4y2ECJTE8vT4uMrCLPlDtF50zFF85cZBirBt6sdrNFrQWYliechZALvLkla-eg_Z7im00V_H8l_L3ZgxYN06IwcIzfXQGB1jIWugYbf0hFnYBwTD86Ki/s1474/IMG_0338.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1474" data-original-width="1474" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0PjWbyBCDqQHWpFlELgtJN7z4y2ECJTE8vT4uMrCLPlDtF50zFF85cZBirBt6sdrNFrQWYliechZALvLkla-eg_Z7im00V_H8l_L3ZgxYN06IwcIzfXQGB1jIWugYbf0hFnYBwTD86Ki/w400-h400/IMG_0338.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ruff, Cors Ddyga, 27/04/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQahSG5SsA2eilCFFRo0AwbwcKn6PFNiesw9kR5-8F09tt30fi1s7g4sPK2bck8khSDQJ9PMH8MgjSKuWesSAlEHjDEiOSbIhT9XeP665VuZGQ3RmLLBIbWIn8Vfas1wxfppwkX-bo32O/s1550/IMG_0347.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1033" data-original-width="1550" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQahSG5SsA2eilCFFRo0AwbwcKn6PFNiesw9kR5-8F09tt30fi1s7g4sPK2bck8khSDQJ9PMH8MgjSKuWesSAlEHjDEiOSbIhT9XeP665VuZGQ3RmLLBIbWIn8Vfas1wxfppwkX-bo32O/w400-h266/IMG_0347.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Great White Egret, Cors Ddyga, 27/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsVVOflb4m6mObXNGxTyMT03ENrYqtnghkFWMX8JR0gs4JnI5fn2YoKCVeWEevBo18k-S_PQZNXeczvhUAMgt62pFXZsUZJygIzf0ueTRj0a15KREWE_GqkJPWGqrKQ0wGxEb0pH9ZK5N/s1932/IMG_0354.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1288" data-original-width="1932" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsVVOflb4m6mObXNGxTyMT03ENrYqtnghkFWMX8JR0gs4JnI5fn2YoKCVeWEevBo18k-S_PQZNXeczvhUAMgt62pFXZsUZJygIzf0ueTRj0a15KREWE_GqkJPWGqrKQ0wGxEb0pH9ZK5N/w640-h426/IMG_0354.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Marsh Harrier, Cors Ddyga, 27/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The next day brought rain and we decided not to do <b>South Stack</b>, cut our losses and call in at another RSPB reserve <b>Conwy Bay</b> on our way back to the mainland and then home. We had a couple more <b>Swifts</b> here and a new species for the trip, a singing<b> Lesser Whitethroat</b>.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-RFLfF8df2dT4FXlxsTvH-RIDIOtcNYLrqPtl-N_XEq9xQ5nSiwHjLhEDp8Nw50LIo6dVqBo_Bt7IBxCg-hmaknQDTcNUO-mcHKu4BZ7vaClTYtmixAHay2nUfsNvCJT8bq6XXnbXuA_/s2048/MX2A5503.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-RFLfF8df2dT4FXlxsTvH-RIDIOtcNYLrqPtl-N_XEq9xQ5nSiwHjLhEDp8Nw50LIo6dVqBo_Bt7IBxCg-hmaknQDTcNUO-mcHKu4BZ7vaClTYtmixAHay2nUfsNvCJT8bq6XXnbXuA_/w640-h426/MX2A5503.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>RSPB Conwy Bay, 28/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then it was time to travel back to Yorkshire. Great trip, some mega birds; I regret not going to grab a Wood Warbler when I had the chance but otherwise well 'choughed' with how the trip went, the van was great and we ended up with a good bird species total - 125. Here's a few additional pics to round off - </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdqKt07JJIBvBd5YRIl0UqUrQWop0sldeohTSbqM1ispYy-Eve_MVGs3oma1fgHq8P_nz8bKj4OWTRBbM62UBRqjNHnPxlGx8TygqDoSM1GymeT5dQDNrVliWPc23VfaDJerLHy-Z7Pg9/s2048/MX2A5396.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdqKt07JJIBvBd5YRIl0UqUrQWop0sldeohTSbqM1ispYy-Eve_MVGs3oma1fgHq8P_nz8bKj4OWTRBbM62UBRqjNHnPxlGx8TygqDoSM1GymeT5dQDNrVliWPc23VfaDJerLHy-Z7Pg9/w640-h426/MX2A5396.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dovey Estuary, 22/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAXHN13dAG7dbFSqohHjk3Ea5pwdWravgnOzJTZwpaYRNFpezq0nT4oZu1GORglXSYjs8QiZromS5RnMvcZlCT_Div8p3Ovh6Ewn-7kALQQbuZzC2rtxEVgVfbMd4bGr329D92KVJbUH2/s2048/MX2A5465.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAXHN13dAG7dbFSqohHjk3Ea5pwdWravgnOzJTZwpaYRNFpezq0nT4oZu1GORglXSYjs8QiZromS5RnMvcZlCT_Div8p3Ovh6Ewn-7kALQQbuZzC2rtxEVgVfbMd4bGr329D92KVJbUH2/w640-h426/MX2A5465.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Coastline at the tip of the Lleyn & the islet Careg Ddu, 25/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_EEVb9IFxqB2Ry3dlHg0GyYDaiCrgK26LY_rd5BeRdqkXAgsCBubUMrmfENmP6877DMVXU5rBL0ycAWrxepYyklk24GIs_imMpq2oC5bUKt7e7RwZUJkF6Cx0m-_i-2hN2BQuA1KFHPm/s2048/MX2A5467.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_EEVb9IFxqB2Ry3dlHg0GyYDaiCrgK26LY_rd5BeRdqkXAgsCBubUMrmfENmP6877DMVXU5rBL0ycAWrxepYyklk24GIs_imMpq2oC5bUKt7e7RwZUJkF6Cx0m-_i-2hN2BQuA1KFHPm/w640-h426/MX2A5467.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Campsite & our vehicles on the Lleyn, 25/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJ2pEM6wn2Xc9W7blvD6MTqOkJYzqriEOGOjJgHdOJDdkBwTJuKGsHz9hYin1ZA-C8yL6ej8wiVt8tl8qUrNtqHPRebh-RoO6m2f8ChwnaeCQb-ikO0jI0kPiOasDZdDI7XmR7nMwHK4d/s2048/IMG_0006.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJ2pEM6wn2Xc9W7blvD6MTqOkJYzqriEOGOjJgHdOJDdkBwTJuKGsHz9hYin1ZA-C8yL6ej8wiVt8tl8qUrNtqHPRebh-RoO6m2f8ChwnaeCQb-ikO0jI0kPiOasDZdDI7XmR7nMwHK4d/w640-h360/IMG_0006.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pair of Wheatears, Lleyn Peninsular, 25/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgO1ULjxXhDPkitkmwpftdJHHHVmzYO2H_h622HFOA59rLYistyhLmG1Gueadma_u6MKU4etWTqLInfqw2bS3-_yeqvk5DHa1fsKh3Llrf1OPm1KYrDjULTvufoLCg8bGE-Wnsbkv6k9y_/s2048/IMG_0079.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgO1ULjxXhDPkitkmwpftdJHHHVmzYO2H_h622HFOA59rLYistyhLmG1Gueadma_u6MKU4etWTqLInfqw2bS3-_yeqvk5DHa1fsKh3Llrf1OPm1KYrDjULTvufoLCg8bGE-Wnsbkv6k9y_/w640-h426/IMG_0079.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wheatear, Lleyn Peninsular, 25/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijH-ZM4qp4cgAGw-uf5CdUCc-jc28YIwU-xqMfgWriud_c4PfuZRbZvaLszwVMnJYWFQfS7q11Di-Kpat1VUn21cA-WU1Tf0gO_NuPfcFFZ-aXDo26Pre1HLwtdmsauKnmnEqA887F2E-w/s2583/IMG_0113.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="2583" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijH-ZM4qp4cgAGw-uf5CdUCc-jc28YIwU-xqMfgWriud_c4PfuZRbZvaLszwVMnJYWFQfS7q11Di-Kpat1VUn21cA-WU1Tf0gO_NuPfcFFZ-aXDo26Pre1HLwtdmsauKnmnEqA887F2E-w/w640-h302/IMG_0113.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Guillemots, Lleyn Peninsular, 26/04/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFfTHR5DHpZwXKyuYCxbMydUAjrFJ41JLC_ScvwBb_aq26qCoAaoZqmsq2QPPAdvgyD4y0p2VWT0SjhDrjz2EU77xdo5zi4ejnbTzOYyQKe1kKdyqcN_8jUk1UA95IERy2Nj5qg53YqC2/s1401/IMG_0371.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="1401" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFfTHR5DHpZwXKyuYCxbMydUAjrFJ41JLC_ScvwBb_aq26qCoAaoZqmsq2QPPAdvgyD4y0p2VWT0SjhDrjz2EU77xdo5zi4ejnbTzOYyQKe1kKdyqcN_8jUk1UA95IERy2Nj5qg53YqC2/w640-h426/IMG_0371.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ravens, Malltraeth, 27/04/21 </b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuW6OvyAJAVBls0KeS1-h0Vb96CgUE1Swx1okDYlUjNbn4yUDV4lt8brtd3-l9Zn9zTFZeoRLOFwV8QIOsli0-tpzZ7g6kdeBdSJEbrcRz8VFCHMnkEVd0ZwFlmnfrE8XBCmijmAfHUvXr/s2048/IMG_9587.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuW6OvyAJAVBls0KeS1-h0Vb96CgUE1Swx1okDYlUjNbn4yUDV4lt8brtd3-l9Zn9zTFZeoRLOFwV8QIOsli0-tpzZ7g6kdeBdSJEbrcRz8VFCHMnkEVd0ZwFlmnfrE8XBCmijmAfHUvXr/w640-h426/IMG_9587.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Meadow Pipit, Ynyslas, 20/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGJrRi4DBoCiErK_Wvgf5c7Qw6qnBIWgwLO0-NM_RfsHLN_bfxKrRivc6P0rbCDDKk3ycJ0b43u7JD2BuRwCgUTWNYk4T5haFHrAIKPYbSaxoRkx6SmYjqwQcKwx9X0XlDkkfshTxWomO/s1771/IMG_9724.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1771" data-original-width="1714" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGJrRi4DBoCiErK_Wvgf5c7Qw6qnBIWgwLO0-NM_RfsHLN_bfxKrRivc6P0rbCDDKk3ycJ0b43u7JD2BuRwCgUTWNYk4T5haFHrAIKPYbSaxoRkx6SmYjqwQcKwx9X0XlDkkfshTxWomO/w620-h640/IMG_9724.JPG" width="620" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Slender Speedwell, nr Ynys Hir, 21/04/21 </b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWs2W2KkvPDR5ZQfDqV6wqOTtmW_AC41KPZ2daBlQeUSXGhm6BaWPzKuah3qAWKz_8zqrBcfYUpL2FeLG1Q4tB1BTI_6nOCPjmo9O0YXbxvj3fVArrYGXjXruBKF2dnBH7zBXMFblgktn6/s1527/IMG_9781.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="1527" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWs2W2KkvPDR5ZQfDqV6wqOTtmW_AC41KPZ2daBlQeUSXGhm6BaWPzKuah3qAWKz_8zqrBcfYUpL2FeLG1Q4tB1BTI_6nOCPjmo9O0YXbxvj3fVArrYGXjXruBKF2dnBH7zBXMFblgktn6/w640-h426/IMG_9781.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Raven, nr Tywyn, 22/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkOiG3R-CUO8p9Cf-bvu0s4ADkTJL-G44TKOhRvFlfy_ZJ5gIL4eTjdefLBEOW9kKQBg_UgR6H6R1kpqFjc9UGmtcW2E4enzS1UV09Bnb2nlxQmeV-43opeakDi4jIDrFjxIrNYIxEzjf/s2048/MX2A5370.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkOiG3R-CUO8p9Cf-bvu0s4ADkTJL-G44TKOhRvFlfy_ZJ5gIL4eTjdefLBEOW9kKQBg_UgR6H6R1kpqFjc9UGmtcW2E4enzS1UV09Bnb2nlxQmeV-43opeakDi4jIDrFjxIrNYIxEzjf/w400-h266/MX2A5370.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>MP gazing out to see, Dovey Estuary, 20/04/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYuLWrtxi4OfVZd9VOn2gI9R2lQjkwx1j_ty4j2x5ebp_FdEQUd0J9CgqNZUeVKBzKsrOS9IQJiFomwk6FS6qwevmD2gA8mGjndnJ_0-_jQf11XnUSH0q698bP08KZOboH0J4lrfk1wwi/s2048/MX2A5501.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYuLWrtxi4OfVZd9VOn2gI9R2lQjkwx1j_ty4j2x5ebp_FdEQUd0J9CgqNZUeVKBzKsrOS9IQJiFomwk6FS6qwevmD2gA8mGjndnJ_0-_jQf11XnUSH0q698bP08KZOboH0J4lrfk1wwi/w640-h426/MX2A5501.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Our vehicles, campsite on Anglesey, 28/04/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-58394159930699457242021-03-31T22:12:00.001+01:002021-04-18T19:59:19.884+01:00 Early Spring post - 2 Hen Harriers & Crossbills through York, entertaining Green Woodpeckers, first migrants trickle in whilst the ducks linger whilst spring flowers and butterflies add some much needed colour!<p>Don't you just love it when those bright green little leaves start appearing on the hedgerows, when the birds start to sing again and the first flowers poke their way up from the ground🌸🌼🌻 - yes we're still in lockdown but Spring is sprung and things are slowly getting better. Here's my round up for March - it was a busy month with many highlights😅</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObe4XsfcsuEDXTQfQ1Dr2CU97vnCo1nS_axfuoKLSnX0hphGUPwNG5Hwc9mfOFU46s6fVXmaVYAuK5DmkJCuPA-KXpaO-W38_joQFrNibuR4OAafeYae5DbCFUaN0FJM-za82dgHHvLMK/s2048/MX2A5143.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObe4XsfcsuEDXTQfQ1Dr2CU97vnCo1nS_axfuoKLSnX0hphGUPwNG5Hwc9mfOFU46s6fVXmaVYAuK5DmkJCuPA-KXpaO-W38_joQFrNibuR4OAafeYae5DbCFUaN0FJM-za82dgHHvLMK/w400-h225/MX2A5143.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Yearsley Moor, 01/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><u>Howardian Hills</u></b>. - a couple of visits to the hills, <b>Yearsley Moor</b> & <b>Wass Bank</b> on the 1st and <b>Coulton Moor</b> on the 9th. These hills are so picturesque, at any time of the year, and great for walking. I've pretty much done all of the well known beauty spots, especially around <b>Castle Howard</b>, but never really explored <b>Coulton Moor</b> and found a path around <b>Yearsley</b> I hadn't walked before, an elevated track with good views of the surrounding woodlands.<div><br /><p></p><p>A couple of <b>Great Spotted Woodpeckers</b>, both 'drumming', <b>Marsh Tit, Barn Ow</b>l and small numbers of <b>Siskin</b> and <b>Lesser Redpoll</b> were the birding highlights here, and then a punishing walk to the top of <b>Wass Bank</b> was rewarded by a highly mobile flock of 18 <b>Golden Plovers</b>. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9DpYKveClbuCAZa_XOwok4HVRKsTCSuYdQ6jbwFaWPDvKD3EV1SUgz7jBqLe5CKCh6-CmT0y6CDwBtlMKaqsOGs1gi-TZW6EDj2XOlUhfqSCdD6SWY2H9SOlRL0k77CdqfKLkOSrvizJ/s2048/MX2A5228.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9DpYKveClbuCAZa_XOwok4HVRKsTCSuYdQ6jbwFaWPDvKD3EV1SUgz7jBqLe5CKCh6-CmT0y6CDwBtlMKaqsOGs1gi-TZW6EDj2XOlUhfqSCdD6SWY2H9SOlRL0k77CdqfKLkOSrvizJ/w400-h266/MX2A5228.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Coulton Moor, 09/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">A week or so later around <b>Coulton Moor</b> on an altogether brighter day I had my second <b>Chiffchaffs</b> of the spring, 2 of them, both subdued and I'm yet to hear one 'chiffchaffing'. Also had a nice male <b>Brambling </b>in with <b>Chaffinches,</b> a tantalising flock of big finches over the trees that were probably <b>Crossbills,</b> a nicely posed male <b>Yellowhammer </b>and continuing the 'yellow' theme a few bunches of small <b>Daffodils </b>that to my eye resembled the wild daffs you get around <b>Farndale</b> at this time of year🌻</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBoR_CPTaGuMbDuyHRWEczMiefhSk6Daruai2T9UhmmPBiyJyIX7bQIYSV65U5IfbIy_XSwdGlCFFF9O0_BGuwAUKAbU6ndwBwr-ieRW6oowCwT-n1VF4XIEUmK4VZriUQETTiOAqO2x3/s1670/IMG_8596.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="1670" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBoR_CPTaGuMbDuyHRWEczMiefhSk6Daruai2T9UhmmPBiyJyIX7bQIYSV65U5IfbIy_XSwdGlCFFF9O0_BGuwAUKAbU6ndwBwr-ieRW6oowCwT-n1VF4XIEUmK4VZriUQETTiOAqO2x3/w400-h266/IMG_8596.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Yellowhammer, Coulton Moor, 09/03/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6l-MnjSBhBG8usvkMTWEZm0qcMZKqQH-3GMoDiYEhZUpEe8s-OzV7UbGQ8DuKokxs9XnCp2PohNG4vHCaAOlivx3Ka8ICCIAb_OubINN5_MYK7LtNkXnFER1xgquVVaec6t6PnF_A6vu/s2048/MX2A5236.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6l-MnjSBhBG8usvkMTWEZm0qcMZKqQH-3GMoDiYEhZUpEe8s-OzV7UbGQ8DuKokxs9XnCp2PohNG4vHCaAOlivx3Ka8ICCIAb_OubINN5_MYK7LtNkXnFER1xgquVVaec6t6PnF_A6vu/w400-h300/MX2A5236.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wild Daffodils, Coulton Moor, 09/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtzqAM7qBzTBDf9lA2LiPEIffF5MlJ0yWMoWzgvG3jKbpKQJzmy6cVeOelRO3AT26Gz8REEaLB1mogGpZqJ7CaIfKCMhyphenhyphenf16U2d1tNjcxLiFzomKdH372WJDRtCibTOHc2TEhE9w9bzzJ/s1286/IMG_8462.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1286" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtzqAM7qBzTBDf9lA2LiPEIffF5MlJ0yWMoWzgvG3jKbpKQJzmy6cVeOelRO3AT26Gz8REEaLB1mogGpZqJ7CaIfKCMhyphenhyphenf16U2d1tNjcxLiFzomKdH372WJDRtCibTOHc2TEhE9w9bzzJ/w400-h266/IMG_8462.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hen Harrier, Strensall Common, 07/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><u>Strensall Common </u></b>- 3 visits (7th, 12th & 26th.) Forget the 26th (all I saw of note was a flock of 80 <b>Lesser Redpolls</b>) but on the 7th and feeling suitably self righteous for getting up early and beating most of the dog walkers on 'Strenny' Common, I had a very productive morning. First up and literally my first scan of the common I came onto a 'grey ghost' - a male <b>Hen Harrier</b> gliding along the northern boundary of the reserve. That's a great record for the York area😮</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3mBMJp26P8zMOZd3y9u-WowofOzoCGYSmqapyY4om9n9SPEX2fc09dZIw5fZ6mPTNTGBMH3PugTj-HSgsAeBAjN8yA5vfqOdjY3BHnzG5D_k4p4KLUWJ8IxF3tU31oLTZzgS-M1bRX3r/s946/IMG_8471.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="946" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3mBMJp26P8zMOZd3y9u-WowofOzoCGYSmqapyY4om9n9SPEX2fc09dZIw5fZ6mPTNTGBMH3PugTj-HSgsAeBAjN8yA5vfqOdjY3BHnzG5D_k4p4KLUWJ8IxF3tU31oLTZzgS-M1bRX3r/w400-h400/IMG_8471.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Male Crossbill, Strensall Common, 07/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Doubly satisfying for me as I'd dipped out on one of the same that was roosting at the same location over the new year. Minutes later and still feeling mightily pleased with myself I lifted the bins to some fluttering birds at the top of a stand of Scots Pine trees - <b>Crossbills</b>! Not a common bird around here and a first for me on Strensall. There were 9 in total, mostly males, and I spent a good while watching and photographing them.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">To cap off a memorable morning I managed to get a decent few pics of at least 2 sing <b>Woodlarks</b>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSImKdtKx60wD4aWAXis7nT2LtgW_jGBt8AA1pvKqhlBdQA29ECQQXrl0F4Hoafm_fMvSIf5kaFgvrPJRr6MeE_DGnegXmUVPg1uORmkLuRsIPWk0TjtfzrcSzi1gX5u1tlnP1ehzzUta/s1653/IMG_8503b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1653" data-original-width="1102" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSImKdtKx60wD4aWAXis7nT2LtgW_jGBt8AA1pvKqhlBdQA29ECQQXrl0F4Hoafm_fMvSIf5kaFgvrPJRr6MeE_DGnegXmUVPg1uORmkLuRsIPWk0TjtfzrcSzi1gX5u1tlnP1ehzzUta/w426-h640/IMG_8503b.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Male Crossbill, Strensall Common, 07/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhs9ucCocg-QoDOFvg-mWFxrv0-PPF2HXNhjh1J1OX0jX8DvJ78ByvBHjLiZjjJFTxKaOtZ2N7Kxc5jebRFEg7VRZJGWoYevlmIA40ElVlRr7ffe3baH2dClV3Er7aVjdhVvoXOv5tU4e/s1499/IMG_8537b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1499" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhs9ucCocg-QoDOFvg-mWFxrv0-PPF2HXNhjh1J1OX0jX8DvJ78ByvBHjLiZjjJFTxKaOtZ2N7Kxc5jebRFEg7VRZJGWoYevlmIA40ElVlRr7ffe3baH2dClV3Er7aVjdhVvoXOv5tU4e/w640-h426/IMG_8537b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Singing Woodlark, Strensall Common, 07/03/21</b><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> </div></td></tr></tbody></table>A return visit on the 12th yielded none of the above star birds but a group of 5 <b>Common Buzzards</b> cruising over the common was a pleasing sight. I'm old enough to still remember when even a single Buzzard anywhere in Yorkshire was a red letter day!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYIX4QvbKN6KR3QonHOGn-MwVCI76-EJA47iwoJja7HYguTXceS7_rzvqgQFOPpRyHl6N29wJtLy2rav3IbUZHeM_WKUgl4ZDy1vRqKqH1xugbYboKwPyLqklYcnb1cfdwnh1-WQHufv3/s2048/IMG_8614.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1852" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYIX4QvbKN6KR3QonHOGn-MwVCI76-EJA47iwoJja7HYguTXceS7_rzvqgQFOPpRyHl6N29wJtLy2rav3IbUZHeM_WKUgl4ZDy1vRqKqH1xugbYboKwPyLqklYcnb1cfdwnh1-WQHufv3/w361-h400/IMG_8614.JPG" width="361" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Buzzards, Strensall Common, 12/03/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ87szNrezBPEz93BPgUsv6rfsQPt-GDcsQS8A2oHQ7X4SzN08DnicZ4x4Ai8MXxdJYt5p9OMTkObd7ijJqjGSWtT8I6xasGglhiIwou7w7aa_vWEYRMzseeDp3uFKBGkSxvbQO0aa-m27/s2048/MX2A5239.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ87szNrezBPEz93BPgUsv6rfsQPt-GDcsQS8A2oHQ7X4SzN08DnicZ4x4Ai8MXxdJYt5p9OMTkObd7ijJqjGSWtT8I6xasGglhiIwou7w7aa_vWEYRMzseeDp3uFKBGkSxvbQO0aa-m27/w640-h360/MX2A5239.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Strensall Common, 12/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lower Derwent Valley</b> - several visits throughout the month. 2 weeks after my <b>Hen Harrier</b> on Strensall I was unbelievably lucky again with another male through <b>Melbourne Ings</b> on the 26th. Closer and with better light I got some better pics of this fabulous bird as it flew in from the west and then disappeared over <b>Seavy Carr</b> (possibly following the line of the Pocklington Canal?)</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0-dENoe3VU-d8G6ol5B1vJZp1W_Sj7xEj2teL26dZ-5wpp3JUAR5O4cUtwTkl14ruXeWioctYGl8oDtf98wlMJ6-fJelKZk_7B3MOwtDerFOF5MuDfKS8fWjl9oNNpCa-lLKi68oucWh/s1328/IMG_9080.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1304" data-original-width="1328" height="629" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0-dENoe3VU-d8G6ol5B1vJZp1W_Sj7xEj2teL26dZ-5wpp3JUAR5O4cUtwTkl14ruXeWioctYGl8oDtf98wlMJ6-fJelKZk_7B3MOwtDerFOF5MuDfKS8fWjl9oNNpCa-lLKi68oucWh/w640-h629/IMG_9080.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hen Harrier, Melbourne / Thornton Ings, 25/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I'm not the only one to have recorded <b>Hen Harriers</b> in the York area recently and there's been way more records in Yorkshire as a whole - this can only be good news for this much persecuted bird😀.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXqNRs6P4Tg2CPlENn_xV832D9OVC_DO4o0KC2zrf9uxNaPczjMe42yEhz32_rGAjGnWBo8s_doV3zUReYL-26bFn9h7XKlxE7yclpfAWJga0mDlA37jMZ8VspGEyAslBlul-33DyTceM/s1519/IMG_8455.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1519" data-original-width="1250" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXqNRs6P4Tg2CPlENn_xV832D9OVC_DO4o0KC2zrf9uxNaPczjMe42yEhz32_rGAjGnWBo8s_doV3zUReYL-26bFn9h7XKlxE7yclpfAWJga0mDlA37jMZ8VspGEyAslBlul-33DyTceM/w329-h400/IMG_8455.JPG" width="329" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Chiffchaff, Bubwith, 06/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Elsewhere in the <b>LDV</b> this early spring I had my first returning <b>Chiffchaff</b> at Bubwith on the 6th, some impressive flocks of <b>Black Tailed Godwit</b> at <b>Wheldrake Ings</b>, drumming <b>Common Snipes</b> over Thornton Ings, a build up of other wading birds such as<b> Oystercatchers, Redshank </b>and <b>Ruff,</b> the usual <b>Marsh Harriers</b> (including several wing tagged birds at Wheldrake, whilst on the duck front, although steadily decreasing in numbers there remain good numbers of <b>Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Goldeneye </b>and <b>Pintail</b> across the floodplains and a drake <b>Scaup</b> at Wheldrake on the 13th was a good find.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEfPE1wd_jLCXA_ORw_-z2d6UWyXTV_0IQBnZlaeIHm372AZuGYPbruIl4QQifSRVI_g4KR_facqeI81e96fPjYibUEuf18R4grWktjfh_Qbw6oJDu7CD_JrOwu6CSn8SISex1lM_OYL6/s2048/IMG_8441.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEfPE1wd_jLCXA_ORw_-z2d6UWyXTV_0IQBnZlaeIHm372AZuGYPbruIl4QQifSRVI_g4KR_facqeI81e96fPjYibUEuf18R4grWktjfh_Qbw6oJDu7CD_JrOwu6CSn8SISex1lM_OYL6/w400-h225/IMG_8441.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pintail & Wigeon, Bubwith, 06/03/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBr5hNtNhKwnY3iZro6JgMILucroMr1PPWweD8DfAaKiBWnDmBt30vQRyyiLHj7skDyuXmLJsBZZ3L5f_3IoqIDnHzGFd83uY5imYM4CpzEbsirrvjRbxQRf4bCEFMJKskVMXYZ7-5bMe/s1562/IMG_8417.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1041" data-original-width="1562" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBr5hNtNhKwnY3iZro6JgMILucroMr1PPWweD8DfAaKiBWnDmBt30vQRyyiLHj7skDyuXmLJsBZZ3L5f_3IoqIDnHzGFd83uY5imYM4CpzEbsirrvjRbxQRf4bCEFMJKskVMXYZ7-5bMe/w400-h266/IMG_8417.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Shoveler, Wheldrake Ings, 02/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGytca_uV8IK-u_4MOF24mb4LTVqfHEqFz8i9Nu2oAoJLhjmnahJzbAFyboBUIF_ohvmoX7iUSwqoVHIJiJmBFaPbZk2ONWJmnODKEpivFh6KxBaq25ssh-O7w8tIRn2by-p7nvAIWYy3/s1760/IMG_8387.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="1760" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGytca_uV8IK-u_4MOF24mb4LTVqfHEqFz8i9Nu2oAoJLhjmnahJzbAFyboBUIF_ohvmoX7iUSwqoVHIJiJmBFaPbZk2ONWJmnODKEpivFh6KxBaq25ssh-O7w8tIRn2by-p7nvAIWYy3/w640-h426/IMG_8387.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wing tagged Marsh Harrier, Wheldrake Ings, 02/03/21</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1EnniNAiOsxd0gZlpU18wDVz5G0XJfB8PwIAwMLjGuZ4mafKcb-aWnelFujspOI06goE1f22Dj3rpKs3TMASF7WqJh4nhTsYuREb8sT4AJazG0XtzBr4S3mbpGjij7FWZf_w0PflpwXO/s1992/IMG_8656.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1328" data-original-width="1992" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1EnniNAiOsxd0gZlpU18wDVz5G0XJfB8PwIAwMLjGuZ4mafKcb-aWnelFujspOI06goE1f22Dj3rpKs3TMASF7WqJh4nhTsYuREb8sT4AJazG0XtzBr4S3mbpGjij7FWZf_w0PflpwXO/w640-h426/IMG_8656.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Oystercatchers, Bank Island, 13/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBnqh_h33tMJ5YMujm9S76ys6NANcd80GJaWjHfDkzc3_xsjZeZf8D3jNS160sfbW0zs9bt8HJqJCspoqubYu-xm4MG3yUDzouXyqqTsAwDFVOsyGyYUSYbKvoeSdKHcFoh6UH1uiArCv/s2048/IMG_8666.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1992" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBnqh_h33tMJ5YMujm9S76ys6NANcd80GJaWjHfDkzc3_xsjZeZf8D3jNS160sfbW0zs9bt8HJqJCspoqubYu-xm4MG3yUDzouXyqqTsAwDFVOsyGyYUSYbKvoeSdKHcFoh6UH1uiArCv/w389-h400/IMG_8666.JPG" width="389" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Drake Goldeneye, Wheldrake Ings, 13/03/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaoSGUDBhnxYaRQdHsTZZnrhs2KPrsfGLVJ1vwfKmPrwZJ3t1HaaLw4Rq7HU8tcjITCkoo7yyM1NjXGa7LL-HQcmWkkmK8iNV101ahqdwOZQ9weHgZGzBZH9N04YDATADdlgCHf0zw5NK/s1071/IMG_8692.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="1071" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaoSGUDBhnxYaRQdHsTZZnrhs2KPrsfGLVJ1vwfKmPrwZJ3t1HaaLw4Rq7HU8tcjITCkoo7yyM1NjXGa7LL-HQcmWkkmK8iNV101ahqdwOZQ9weHgZGzBZH9N04YDATADdlgCHf0zw5NK/w400-h266/IMG_8692.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Drake Scaup, Wheldrake Ings, 13/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmRG5UDL-pQhxxO9DoVkUqfAF7OwMrJvLBDqFMtfpe-cyKgbU1UNQGN1FnRKZVlvU3jM5HfNurOEuMoG_YkFolFXHWxtNJe28iPdWVPIroL3sx8Hd8syVYuInX7vP5XoCrrP588w3l0dM/s1430/IMG_9021b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="1430" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmRG5UDL-pQhxxO9DoVkUqfAF7OwMrJvLBDqFMtfpe-cyKgbU1UNQGN1FnRKZVlvU3jM5HfNurOEuMoG_YkFolFXHWxtNJe28iPdWVPIroL3sx8Hd8syVYuInX7vP5XoCrrP588w3l0dM/w640-h426/IMG_9021b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Drake Goldeneye, Wheldrake Ings, 20/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfUMf-jsEp6rbL1JPF745XIAvap095g58SLGqWnKD8gvVP-nQ82WgPkq8UerWlymim2aRb-2bjgZziQyM0JJg_zh7LBCuwbgmrgRTqfE5gpqjQ3zxb0WiDYGgJ4U3sBCRyuV9pauUMk1J/s1535/IMG_8989.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="1151" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfUMf-jsEp6rbL1JPF745XIAvap095g58SLGqWnKD8gvVP-nQ82WgPkq8UerWlymim2aRb-2bjgZziQyM0JJg_zh7LBCuwbgmrgRTqfE5gpqjQ3zxb0WiDYGgJ4U3sBCRyuV9pauUMk1J/w300-h400/IMG_8989.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Skylark, Wheldrake Ings, 20/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Pretty obvious from the above pic that it was a fine early spring day at <b>Wheldrake</b>, just look at that green sheen and bright golden eye! A day to lift the spirits after a whole winter of 'lockdown' and what better than a singing <b>Skylark</b> to signal better times ahead!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Whilst the <b>Skylark</b> has been immortalised by many writers and poets, and will be forever associated with the joys of spring and new beginnings, the folklore of <b>owls</b> is the complete opposite in that they're often associated with death and dying💀. We're all going to die of course but on such a fine day the sight of this beautiful <b>Barn Owl</b> flying around <b>Bank Island</b> in the middle of the day certainly didn't summon any thoughts of the grim reaper - I felt glad to be alive!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jB_KB4esU43K6YukCczBE89UE4wrev4uN0_tLF4sVrdFpf3R85F0bgMFbZOp_1g1C_9gDarnL9cgAsUKv4Ls5VECWZ91il3lghebsTQLYy48uAVh1qlbRCUOrV2jplnzsYlqj6il98P0/s1789/IMG_8963.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="1789" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jB_KB4esU43K6YukCczBE89UE4wrev4uN0_tLF4sVrdFpf3R85F0bgMFbZOp_1g1C_9gDarnL9cgAsUKv4Ls5VECWZ91il3lghebsTQLYy48uAVh1qlbRCUOrV2jplnzsYlqj6il98P0/w640-h426/IMG_8963.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Barn Owl. Bank Island, 20/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table></span><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_5SbF_SmE0GgUeU_mII-qr8KKq-_T2iPw067tEMIORstJf1kA8fX6nsI8ToLcYP9Iv_3fAeKvnKWAo0ghtyRmPHprewdHVpDDnTsrHNAJKk2_tn5Xyun8Q5khOa91pewikw0Y576apWP/s2048/IMG_8971.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_5SbF_SmE0GgUeU_mII-qr8KKq-_T2iPw067tEMIORstJf1kA8fX6nsI8ToLcYP9Iv_3fAeKvnKWAo0ghtyRmPHprewdHVpDDnTsrHNAJKk2_tn5Xyun8Q5khOa91pewikw0Y576apWP/w640-h426/IMG_8971.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Barn Owl. Bank Island, 20/03/21</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">Thorne Moor</span><span> (4/03/21) - Met up with my pal Mark to investigate canal boats and moorings at Thorne and Rawcliffe Bridge. I'm still interested in the idea and there's plenty of boats for sale but available moorings are like rocking horse shit! Afterwards we went onto <b>Thorne Moor</b> and heard a <b>Common Crane</b>, little else about though apart from 4 <b>Stonechat</b> and 3 distant <b>Marsh Harriers.</b></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMR6kZ3w9n8rbuznvJGk5wvnmgx4EN5p1Rf6ps7xPfBVFWhBJsWqt9Ht-Hp42LvZRDbNNVU-kWRSfQtZpMHWFDrMtaq0BKBR3D2N9-oXXyOiFOpHcZVw9pjhc0xfpLEvJI2yOOPzAgUPsy/s2048/MX2A5210.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMR6kZ3w9n8rbuznvJGk5wvnmgx4EN5p1Rf6ps7xPfBVFWhBJsWqt9Ht-Hp42LvZRDbNNVU-kWRSfQtZpMHWFDrMtaq0BKBR3D2N9-oXXyOiFOpHcZVw9pjhc0xfpLEvJI2yOOPzAgUPsy/w640-h360/MX2A5210.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Thorne Moor, 04/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIa-qH_VeyPmaGylWnz-MozlTWp_gy30o2HCNeHBQUMDv82GbIvVZKcpZkymXCQUtP1VHp83sQWmlXDyUFm-RXFmlI-OiMpBgidnpSyjDvtFFeGH-ehsmXjpNvkWklHrJiGCaHLTfVV2C8/s2048/IMG_8712.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIa-qH_VeyPmaGylWnz-MozlTWp_gy30o2HCNeHBQUMDv82GbIvVZKcpZkymXCQUtP1VHp83sQWmlXDyUFm-RXFmlI-OiMpBgidnpSyjDvtFFeGH-ehsmXjpNvkWklHrJiGCaHLTfVV2C8/w400-h266/IMG_8712.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Headed Gulls, North Cave, 14/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><b>North Cave Wetlands</b> (14/03/21). There's something about this reserve that just gets me into counting mode. Something to do with the layout of the place I think, with each lagoon having its own hide / viewing area, or maybe I'm just a nerd😂. Either way its a very mindful thing to do but have to admit I gave up on trying to estimate <b>Black Headed Gull </b>numbers - there must be a breeding population of 1000+ here and boy are they noisy, entertaining too though!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdooEJEJ5x6iJSbRJxYMKRBe3j6jqGJnmjFBnMY8OxAsRqFe_C-D9rj4TOStiv17rz1MqLPNTnu0Yhte0PaCPhSWcL5MIvnZ-wwVlkdW7xhBMsQSPbI_cb-22dRVmMWZOta5cHHPKsv7I0/s2048/MX2A5241.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdooEJEJ5x6iJSbRJxYMKRBe3j6jqGJnmjFBnMY8OxAsRqFe_C-D9rj4TOStiv17rz1MqLPNTnu0Yhte0PaCPhSWcL5MIvnZ-wwVlkdW7xhBMsQSPbI_cb-22dRVmMWZOta5cHHPKsv7I0/w400-h266/MX2A5241.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>North Cave Wetlands, 14/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table>Most wildfowl numbers had dwindled since my last visit with just <b>c75 Wigeon, c140 Teal, c45 Mallard, c80 Gadwall, c85 Tufted Duck</b> and <b>c45 Shoveler</b>, whilst <b>24 Pochard</b> and <b>44 Shelduck </b>were on the up. <b>9 Oystercatchers, c60 Lapwing, 2 Curlew</b> and <b>3 Redshank</b> accounted for the waders and I also had <b>5 Little Grebes, 4 Great Crested Grebes</b> and single <b>Marsh Harrier, Red Kite</b> and <b>Peregrine</b>. The highlight though was an early <b>Sand Martin</b> over the main lake and a pair of highly entertaining <b>Green Woodpeckers</b> from out of the back of Crossland Hide.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtbiwQdSZtczM5Vu8LCTQYhwth_W4Cm1GVA3VyBZiK3mWVzjQOgJCZcb0lJ61UeHPwBRunZJssrmsIk4P_UXlF_VHopDdtw-n8wCi0tTLCr05V9KYkBGjmDQbl3zA2o6QR5-iLK7Njdw3/s1412/IMG_8769.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1412" data-original-width="1149" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtbiwQdSZtczM5Vu8LCTQYhwth_W4Cm1GVA3VyBZiK3mWVzjQOgJCZcb0lJ61UeHPwBRunZJssrmsIk4P_UXlF_VHopDdtw-n8wCi0tTLCr05V9KYkBGjmDQbl3zA2o6QR5-iLK7Njdw3/w325-h400/IMG_8769.JPG" width="325" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Green Woodpecker, North Cave Wetlands, 14/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table>In my experience <b>Green 'peckers</b> have always been somewhat of a challenge to photograph, so to see a pair of them flitting to and fro from a nearby hedge, feeding on the ground and even taking a drink from the lagoon was a real thrill and with a nice steady base for the camera from the hide I filled my boots and took many shots - here's a selected few of said 'peckers and a few more bird shots from the Cave.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-o1Z9Qov_4bOxVbZIowUeg1KIb7nw1PU1oLSoYq9LmUoRH18Q6ohindm48-fjn-c97sg4sVnnxE8Nta3_iCUNfpxDz47AzQ0rLcMISSU69gkieNe_qH1yVBkU-udlaweCdc340gagj-4/s2048/IMG_8779.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-o1Z9Qov_4bOxVbZIowUeg1KIb7nw1PU1oLSoYq9LmUoRH18Q6ohindm48-fjn-c97sg4sVnnxE8Nta3_iCUNfpxDz47AzQ0rLcMISSU69gkieNe_qH1yVBkU-udlaweCdc340gagj-4/w640-h426/IMG_8779.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Green Woodpecker, North Cave Wetlands, 14/03/21<br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyKnexAIvzFh-UFefijbLMo2o-_t4x37AVvr-uOELJkPMs78a7bfvydluIlPPRSF9mW0LrbmuB2NwxpQanrqgq0HE1NRLFqhwTfeKhhyphenhyphenu7PPovhIbiJHv7X-_H4ZMbgiHwUbQJvT3QYTo/s1172/IMG_8793.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="975" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyKnexAIvzFh-UFefijbLMo2o-_t4x37AVvr-uOELJkPMs78a7bfvydluIlPPRSF9mW0LrbmuB2NwxpQanrqgq0HE1NRLFqhwTfeKhhyphenhyphenu7PPovhIbiJHv7X-_H4ZMbgiHwUbQJvT3QYTo/w532-h640/IMG_8793.JPG" width="532" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Green Woodpecker, North Cave Wetlands, 14/03/21<br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpZw8DtvqaHPoN0OpiYP2JrS5T16VPMBn44hVV4DyICcegrqFp5pO7y919rDYTgg_yX-sO9No2STQzKuy8NMXwQ67rlbf7esN_FnXBSoJ6MrodULVa9dYhWtBSFSs6WXv6yVk2tk4zrjW/s1382/IMG_8828.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="1382" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpZw8DtvqaHPoN0OpiYP2JrS5T16VPMBn44hVV4DyICcegrqFp5pO7y919rDYTgg_yX-sO9No2STQzKuy8NMXwQ67rlbf7esN_FnXBSoJ6MrodULVa9dYhWtBSFSs6WXv6yVk2tk4zrjW/w400-h266/IMG_8828.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Green Woodpecker, North Cave Wetlands, 14/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQNWejqHFUlxuWigN2bTpvn7OZSBFnw63RLtr2qNp_LeSm3-E04DPRP82BSEOjyndisJD12hWzemnH_knHqbPv5HcqKWVQDWUT8Ikwau3RKYWmdHzSif-KYGYqo8IPPmnqwMwpdBXlPra/s2048/IMG_8717.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQNWejqHFUlxuWigN2bTpvn7OZSBFnw63RLtr2qNp_LeSm3-E04DPRP82BSEOjyndisJD12hWzemnH_knHqbPv5HcqKWVQDWUT8Ikwau3RKYWmdHzSif-KYGYqo8IPPmnqwMwpdBXlPra/w400-h266/IMG_8717.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Shelduck, North Cave Wetlands, 14/03/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LTo_bMzcAeUpi3ZBdJZUBzavuDewzoKkNq6Vr3jNXSP_58eX5H90r2B485TcvkqIBzi8dMvues2MFrlBRpqZ9hd8LILxlSBFIA5SjEGRe-Y7D7cd1QcoU_wqCcqyopuKG6_08PwezZ2t/s2048/IMG_8732.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1837" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LTo_bMzcAeUpi3ZBdJZUBzavuDewzoKkNq6Vr3jNXSP_58eX5H90r2B485TcvkqIBzi8dMvues2MFrlBRpqZ9hd8LILxlSBFIA5SjEGRe-Y7D7cd1QcoU_wqCcqyopuKG6_08PwezZ2t/w359-h400/IMG_8732.JPG" width="359" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tree Sparrow, North Cave Wetlands, 14/03/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAKHqHxIYlLHE3QP-9vuXstSZ8o1IVj_HC5zcXW-ft8XrxKn-cccUtL-zSZQMGQ0gP6viNx5-i97SsRpqwActh2jWbk7jrn0G0KFJBH0opGUCStmbojWwY1ab8ITZXBZzxJid1mqOtOA3/s1800/IMG_8721.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAKHqHxIYlLHE3QP-9vuXstSZ8o1IVj_HC5zcXW-ft8XrxKn-cccUtL-zSZQMGQ0gP6viNx5-i97SsRpqwActh2jWbk7jrn0G0KFJBH0opGUCStmbojWwY1ab8ITZXBZzxJid1mqOtOA3/w400-h266/IMG_8721.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pochard, North Cave Wetlands, 14/03/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tfsm1XTxKpi0ZTQYD68c2Yv-GLwfyGe2r2AiiYSsDbi_q2qN6Lp0LECBTVygg0FtCA9CbTuxJqPUKgHx2Sdlg9Gej4ybvCgokfd-XZsYTaxGBIkJIUmnIaeBWBuYx3AoiKBlrDxdfL9r/s2048/IMG_8750.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tfsm1XTxKpi0ZTQYD68c2Yv-GLwfyGe2r2AiiYSsDbi_q2qN6Lp0LECBTVygg0FtCA9CbTuxJqPUKgHx2Sdlg9Gej4ybvCgokfd-XZsYTaxGBIkJIUmnIaeBWBuYx3AoiKBlrDxdfL9r/w640-h426/IMG_8750.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Little Grebe, North Cave Wetlands, 14/03/21</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Hempholme / Tophill Low</b> (17/03/21). Yet another trip down to the canal boat moorings on the River Hull at Hempholme to enquire about moorings but nothing doing so I walked south along the river and ended up skirting the northern edge of <b>Tophill Low </b>nature reserve - closed of course and strictly speaking I shouldn't have been there but couldn't resist a peek over the edge of O reservoir. Some gorgeous looking <b>Goldeneye, Teal </b>and <b>Tufted Ducks, </b>a <b>Brimstone</b> butterfly along with several <b>Tortoiseshells</b>.</div></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgtjgyUwEPktPncRLrYTXTMbyTaonGcYnKYZT6Dmk-r9S4Ztv3-L-RkLxIOVwuke4kFPO1tCFu5ZAZaDofs8vH5wTiWxTUg5ybg4Y0BSy8xFk8sgPS-sW45ieOzaIgtSotNsKR6aYHSHk/s2048/IMG_8901.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="2048" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgtjgyUwEPktPncRLrYTXTMbyTaonGcYnKYZT6Dmk-r9S4Ztv3-L-RkLxIOVwuke4kFPO1tCFu5ZAZaDofs8vH5wTiWxTUg5ybg4Y0BSy8xFk8sgPS-sW45ieOzaIgtSotNsKR6aYHSHk/w640-h378/IMG_8901.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Teal, Tophill Low, 17/03/21</span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrShJN4_qwenNNTZTbfzjk_R3yT0jNwCm4HhRB6pvRI1OxS1MhWNlecYf32KOruWJl2XqdT9CWtf2g2O6FsW5JbPFl9-_LDupScS6pYf4KxTuezSfCIAhm8ZmInrRQ8W_a745e3Zl2SvO/s2048/IMG_8920.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrShJN4_qwenNNTZTbfzjk_R3yT0jNwCm4HhRB6pvRI1OxS1MhWNlecYf32KOruWJl2XqdT9CWtf2g2O6FsW5JbPFl9-_LDupScS6pYf4KxTuezSfCIAhm8ZmInrRQ8W_a745e3Zl2SvO/w400-h266/IMG_8920.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tortoiseshel, Hempholme, 17/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfiVMUXXzC2I-ItQeTMv_fxpKH1PHhyphenhyphennssU5wtLUj2nbNxBYb-53i6WWzC8CtSGxDFeL_63NMxpl1GvejytB6r9e_AJj0XqAhH6UpoNfFQBNt3OhjBI2aseWHYgZyY-d-xIl1Zhi5uwuW/s2048/IMG_8911.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfiVMUXXzC2I-ItQeTMv_fxpKH1PHhyphenhyphennssU5wtLUj2nbNxBYb-53i6WWzC8CtSGxDFeL_63NMxpl1GvejytB6r9e_AJj0XqAhH6UpoNfFQBNt3OhjBI2aseWHYgZyY-d-xIl1Zhi5uwuW/w640-h426/IMG_8911.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pair of Goldeneye, Hempholme 17/03/21</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheeg4RKtLybcLU1XAnorpj4AHwBrkYkM4Jvy139hbReWT99G84nhxfOawmGWdF_c1Xl3MYY9CBiTXZQj5qLpmvEMASibc_w40NJwt6C7BB7BCBHf_G0V2QoRZkcMPuv-Q9CxGii1yPZJYz/s2048/MX2A5271.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheeg4RKtLybcLU1XAnorpj4AHwBrkYkM4Jvy139hbReWT99G84nhxfOawmGWdF_c1Xl3MYY9CBiTXZQj5qLpmvEMASibc_w40NJwt6C7BB7BCBHf_G0V2QoRZkcMPuv-Q9CxGii1yPZJYz/w400-h266/MX2A5271.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Aire & Calder Canal, 19/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Rawcliffe Bridge and Goole Marina </b><b>(</b>19/03/21)<b> - </b>yet another canal boat / moorings fact finding mission. I sussed out the location of Goole marina in preparation for a planned visit to view a converted tug, then walked up and down the Aire & Calder navigation from both Goole and Rawcliffe Bridge.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Along the canal tow / cycle path I had <b>3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Goosanders </b>a couple of singing <b>Cettis Warblers</b> and 2 very distant<b> Common Cranes </b>on Goole Fields.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYPiQmAlpVrO3jnK8pYsk5BeXnIrBjwvBwPxfPMVd77pyHi25zlaeoQkw_RN5Xq-Afw5cYfZ_cjRwkW3y2B0qbrpgs-EtRiX7Lo5lGMDOJDNtnfpFBHl_WpmPRR_P-R-QGctkILq36GWKM/s2048/IMG_8934.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYPiQmAlpVrO3jnK8pYsk5BeXnIrBjwvBwPxfPMVd77pyHi25zlaeoQkw_RN5Xq-Afw5cYfZ_cjRwkW3y2B0qbrpgs-EtRiX7Lo5lGMDOJDNtnfpFBHl_WpmPRR_P-R-QGctkILq36GWKM/w400-h266/IMG_8934.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Marsh Harriers, Aire & Calder Canal, 19/03/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWGtFiyGQgmOxcwlUsAUo42VGlYOJrUPLHUJKxFkWR0YRcv5U86PKmE3vXF_4KNLbx11S82IWKjBrIH1_WCH8ZlFO8w5QSTNPNXVzMNMjMfoeFQmYI27f-KPRCvNsDRQSmQtpqyv30tIw/s1365/IMG_8942.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1365" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWGtFiyGQgmOxcwlUsAUo42VGlYOJrUPLHUJKxFkWR0YRcv5U86PKmE3vXF_4KNLbx11S82IWKjBrIH1_WCH8ZlFO8w5QSTNPNXVzMNMjMfoeFQmYI27f-KPRCvNsDRQSmQtpqyv30tIw/w400-h266/IMG_8942.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Cranes, Goole Fields, 19/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohUBSznS48mcgyYSMKpTGqpbHhTGfYYVqJ_aS7J0KLVeXvVth7ACPP8R4v_MjsctYaqOVow5V2FqOaMl0e0mLDL3FA85kI6vkdHJxXbR0TgHvOp7hmNN3TsBECVh2Rjw0JA53lm3_i_qu/s2048/MX2A5275.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohUBSznS48mcgyYSMKpTGqpbHhTGfYYVqJ_aS7J0KLVeXvVth7ACPP8R4v_MjsctYaqOVow5V2FqOaMl0e0mLDL3FA85kI6vkdHJxXbR0TgHvOp7hmNN3TsBECVh2Rjw0JA53lm3_i_qu/w400-h266/MX2A5275.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Rosedale, 22/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Rosedale</b> (22/03/21) - met up with my pal Rob to see if the <b>Ring Ouzels</b> were back at their breeding grounds near Blakey Ridge. We sadly drew a blank but it was a lovely sunny day and a great walk round Rosedale Head. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Birds were in short supply, plenty of <b>Meadow Pipits</b> though, and with the sun shining, good company, good exercise and the sound of <b>Curlew</b>s and <b>Lapwings</b> in the air, what's not to like😁</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQeXvglMKy5UmVG5gVOu4HyFe9VrkhP24UWZaE43B1gxWzn-DDrGSxA99IaWiBkkQhP62sIINMGKIZhUCPagUMqAHeoNcA4e3hUW0_vijtqkT2RCLmDnchR-8fmEOt3caqrgCffE6X6st/s1526/IMG_9047.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1526" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQeXvglMKy5UmVG5gVOu4HyFe9VrkhP24UWZaE43B1gxWzn-DDrGSxA99IaWiBkkQhP62sIINMGKIZhUCPagUMqAHeoNcA4e3hUW0_vijtqkT2RCLmDnchR-8fmEOt3caqrgCffE6X6st/w400-h266/IMG_9047.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Meadow Pipit, Rosedale, 22/03/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGdkjCgsrAhUpqrjrEZebSzu7k1hlckTjezvdInGx5TEZ18lm4u57K1fgA2-_4Y9cX7D7McSohPRUc08PqB2ptRPDTVsQaO_8nWsMscYHMEbToQ-v7ozXxs7LLYon7HIzlLXnUN3glcoC/s2048/IMG_9042.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGdkjCgsrAhUpqrjrEZebSzu7k1hlckTjezvdInGx5TEZ18lm4u57K1fgA2-_4Y9cX7D7McSohPRUc08PqB2ptRPDTVsQaO_8nWsMscYHMEbToQ-v7ozXxs7LLYon7HIzlLXnUN3glcoC/w640-h426/IMG_9042.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Curlew, Rosedale, 22/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>Alkborough Flats</b> (24/03/21) - a very productive morning and catch up with Mark yielded another 4 bird species to my 2021 yearlist - <b>Bittern (</b>heard booming<b>), Barnacle Goose (2), Bearded Tit (6), Spoonbill (2) </b>and<b> Spotted Redshank (6). </b>I got reasonably lucky with the <b>Bearded Tits</b> - had my eye on a handsome male flitting in and out of the reeds and though not A1 its comfortably my best shot of one. <div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHeU9xhaF0N93cc7_2G_KUUFxYyEXCweJsg-263QKtcyLfvl7HKRQ6snjpEFjB9jJ3IIcs6B1-MW1wu5NeGM2IArJkmW-FtKevrTaYSV9zgEccjF_t6xVYdB4MOiWPzkDM7PWh7PqFY2b/s1534/IMG_9075.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="1096" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHeU9xhaF0N93cc7_2G_KUUFxYyEXCweJsg-263QKtcyLfvl7HKRQ6snjpEFjB9jJ3IIcs6B1-MW1wu5NeGM2IArJkmW-FtKevrTaYSV9zgEccjF_t6xVYdB4MOiWPzkDM7PWh7PqFY2b/w458-h640/IMG_9075.JPG" width="458" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bearded Tit, Alkborough, 24/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table>The <b>Avocets</b> were much easier!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJf7kTMwwHilNClMD4VtrwDWdNQaexYP6IDYI_84MFhvgU9ymNNp5j-BCSNS8rpPOrAiotKbv7iwMag1lNCQYKaTRfQKDeibxglGn_oucxChR52qHdpK8AB00N2-h3b93femXcU-6wATua/s2048/IMG_9069.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJf7kTMwwHilNClMD4VtrwDWdNQaexYP6IDYI_84MFhvgU9ymNNp5j-BCSNS8rpPOrAiotKbv7iwMag1lNCQYKaTRfQKDeibxglGn_oucxChR52qHdpK8AB00N2-h3b93femXcU-6wATua/w640-h360/IMG_9069.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Avocets, Alkborough, 24/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>Hotham Carrs</b> (28/03/21) - having recently followed one of the public footpaths from the Carrs to the <b>Market Weighton Canal</b>, this was the other one (always good to join these walks up😊). A pleasant walk on a dull day across fairly low intensity farmland was quite productive with a small herd of <b>Whooper Swans (6), Oystercatcher, 8 Curlew, Barn Owl, Grey Partridge</b>, lots of finches and <b>Yellowhammer</b>, <b>2 Corn Buntings</b> and I'm 99% sure I flushed a <b>Jack Snipe</b> out of the canal - small, pale, no zigzag flight pattern and it didn't make a noise when it flew off. I'm having it!<div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbHUtYaH1uAOBGuJieu83UShxTxcaY04fSJjH-mLFVSTbH5MzcvIopNBHJrLEviqprftEFkIloplkYA0rsbFVazwqTATifV27xkrWDlkEvvI1GvRBltFUlyENJlDN456Oc7HWP2v6cztl/s1854/IMG_9101.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1854" data-original-width="1854" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbHUtYaH1uAOBGuJieu83UShxTxcaY04fSJjH-mLFVSTbH5MzcvIopNBHJrLEviqprftEFkIloplkYA0rsbFVazwqTATifV27xkrWDlkEvvI1GvRBltFUlyENJlDN456Oc7HWP2v6cztl/w640-h640/IMG_9101.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Corn Bunting, Hotham Carrs, 28/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><b>Askham Bog</b> - from the end of the month I was off furlough and back to work for <b>YWT</b> recruiting at <b>Askham Bog</b> (hurray!). I'm so lucky to not only have a job to return to, but one that I actively enjoy and look forward to - a lot of folk have lost jobs and found it tough during the pandemic, so I'm always mindful of just how lucky I am. </div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLI8p4bGvTNMSBME_oaYdMBM5roa-8VnNYsovk1o6kfjRe6weiFKS99QlGyeDj0OXOQWqFPi7QPKBtKATsBdeE7eCQ1ACWQDqOQ8ShzzSfXuJouFU_go62fBQWff55xAadESGBTwMMy6Cs/s2048/MX2A5282.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLI8p4bGvTNMSBME_oaYdMBM5roa-8VnNYsovk1o6kfjRe6weiFKS99QlGyeDj0OXOQWqFPi7QPKBtKATsBdeE7eCQ1ACWQDqOQ8ShzzSfXuJouFU_go62fBQWff55xAadESGBTwMMy6Cs/w400-h266/MX2A5282.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Back recruiting, Askham Bog, 30/03/21<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPggCvp_y70uct8Zjqb4Of0bFh_r9UALfzK8GohhWn1ELdo_g3rFNZMOLu7KblfAPqmsAU7KLMiDQJrYLSn1w2bW3XlbFoImnhkgybdyH_9DDHcI1nlW1LK7vPOdGFPNYFMFXPB-Gc_mr/s2048/MX2A5289+%25282%2529.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPggCvp_y70uct8Zjqb4Of0bFh_r9UALfzK8GohhWn1ELdo_g3rFNZMOLu7KblfAPqmsAU7KLMiDQJrYLSn1w2bW3XlbFoImnhkgybdyH_9DDHcI1nlW1LK7vPOdGFPNYFMFXPB-Gc_mr/w400-h266/MX2A5289+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Askham Bog, 29/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>It felt so good to get back in the saddle again, the sun shining and plenty of people about to talk to; my usual place by the bridge, part of scenery again! So good I worked all of the available days in March (29th - 31st). I can walk around the reserve at the end of the day when I've packed up but to be honest, most of the best wildlife I've seen there has been from within 50 yards of that stand on the pic. </div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmm9ynklQKa_4woudcdM0MFuG6UI1P2WJj1XOy2JKyxEVmX-995g95_bj-upYvSmXO9tnJxFp02r49QrTOJPJLOxxaGPYB2_Qq8DbBDA02jJDu-0NvBFqi-TjAIgEz5fHW5cj1NTiV9r0F/s2048/IMG_9116.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmm9ynklQKa_4woudcdM0MFuG6UI1P2WJj1XOy2JKyxEVmX-995g95_bj-upYvSmXO9tnJxFp02r49QrTOJPJLOxxaGPYB2_Qq8DbBDA02jJDu-0NvBFqi-TjAIgEz5fHW5cj1NTiV9r0F/w400-h266/IMG_9116.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wren, Askham Bog, 30/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table>The days I was there I had 5 butterfly species - <b>Comma, Tortoiseshell, Brimstone, Orange Tip </b>and<b> Peacock</b>, and although not seen by me there were <b>Smooth Newts</b> rising in the pond and I even managed to see some species of dragonfly larvae moving about in the watery depth of the main dyke. To my mind the numbers of resident birds on the bog seem to be decreasing, imperfectively to the casual visitor perhaps but when you've worked a patch on a regular basis for nine years you notice these things. Just one sighting of a <b>Willow Tit </b>in 3 days ain't good for a place that's supposed to be a stronghold for them. No <b>Marsh Tits</b> and no <b>Great Spotted Woodpecker</b> - not good. Plenty of <b>Wrens</b> still though and a pair of <b>Long Tailed Tits</b> have decided to build a nest less than 6 feet away from where I stand - bugger to get anything like a decent pic because of so many twigs in the way - still trying!</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMj6FZeLZyB96t9NS5MFQUYYRutL7Mquh8ykdiVQ4eX3tMvHoQvQa8SqlTQ8Gp8fHfBGdCaM999E58Z1WB7YIm9fiJCS4bTBO5X-ujxHCzQvPu2T3pHC64V2Q7NshyRChU4OhlkaLzkNSp/s1586/IMG_8884.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="1586" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMj6FZeLZyB96t9NS5MFQUYYRutL7Mquh8ykdiVQ4eX3tMvHoQvQa8SqlTQ8Gp8fHfBGdCaM999E58Z1WB7YIm9fiJCS4bTBO5X-ujxHCzQvPu2T3pHC64V2Q7NshyRChU4OhlkaLzkNSp/w400-h266/IMG_8884.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Frog, Askham Bog, 15/03/21<br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table>A couple of weeks before I returned to work I popped in for a recce and was watching a flock of 20 or so <b>Redpolls</b> by the pond and was suddenly aware of a faint croaking - thankfully it wasn't my last dying breath😁 .. noo, it was <b>Frogs </b>of course🐸. As soon as I investigated further they all scurried off and submerged but I got lucky on one and found tons of frogspawn.</div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIf8Pd8KFi6ZA0s-54HklR00Aq_e95UZS4DdS5pB3bam-zgaeQgn-9cz_2gyFgXVwCoWB8z4tP6aW9VBPtIOCqkLSLk3amZLr2t_FL_Ca7hzP2cnXXGFXBzIP3Gc0nFSLCZtYYsNLJDi6/s2048/IMG_8891.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1258" data-original-width="2048" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIf8Pd8KFi6ZA0s-54HklR00Aq_e95UZS4DdS5pB3bam-zgaeQgn-9cz_2gyFgXVwCoWB8z4tP6aW9VBPtIOCqkLSLk3amZLr2t_FL_Ca7hzP2cnXXGFXBzIP3Gc0nFSLCZtYYsNLJDi6/w640-h394/IMG_8891.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frogspawn, Askham Bog, 15/03/21</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>On the banked sides of the path into <b>Askham Bog</b> there's always a nice display of <b>Lesser Celandines </b>at this time of the year, one of my all time favourite flowers - to me they're the absolute embodiment of spring with their massed ranks of yellow petals all straining to catch the rays of the sun! </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRg2ZOFGRsEEZxSC2GHnqa8AvsU4v5V4ftbJXla_UBz5LbzCgJT9Q5YOmyUUogLN7Yq87nwlAJE92MlWVglWvhwGpedvPpNhiAPjvQ79nKbCyRsD4sguxEhBnVTcKS1pAEUN3xpoSZGHmi/s2048/MX2A5297.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRg2ZOFGRsEEZxSC2GHnqa8AvsU4v5V4ftbJXla_UBz5LbzCgJT9Q5YOmyUUogLN7Yq87nwlAJE92MlWVglWvhwGpedvPpNhiAPjvQ79nKbCyRsD4sguxEhBnVTcKS1pAEUN3xpoSZGHmi/w640-h426/MX2A5297.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lesser Celandines, Askham Bog, 30/03/21<br /><br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71PjiNDKGBaVQYzdPEGWys6VM9Ix44Ci_PBrJuDTIpymKaaTcjYKeXeediTKN_DVgJNdfVVv-ymUWcBK0GevGMuWqBITxrt748CSl6ShCaxfrpbz-KbvRfnUG0n-hp9YtrBCOC2ODQpVQ/s1316/IMG_8567.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1316" data-original-width="1119" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71PjiNDKGBaVQYzdPEGWys6VM9Ix44Ci_PBrJuDTIpymKaaTcjYKeXeediTKN_DVgJNdfVVv-ymUWcBK0GevGMuWqBITxrt748CSl6ShCaxfrpbz-KbvRfnUG0n-hp9YtrBCOC2ODQpVQ/w340-h400/IMG_8567.JPG" width="340" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Buzzard, East Cottingwith, 08/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Off to Wales next month for a week or so, <b>Ynis Hir</b> and then <b>Anglesey</b>, first trip away since <b>Northumberland</b> last November and really looking forward to it. Not sure what I'm up to in terms of bird species for the year, somewhere northwards of 130ish I think but still on it and with new birds arriving daily and another road trip in the offing I fully expect to top 160 by the time I next post! In the meantime here's a few more pics from March.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWZH3Gu10H97aa8JD0JWhcoxUy4pbQejvvqYytr2sj1UWYyYMEqje0ZSsPhapBPBhtJ-3TxABEl_Epp351uQSxs1tO2eGtfUGEyVYTiqOgGIcQ0kO4MLF_q2oU5r_5dVaAPtGWrbxwQu-/s1769/IMG_8553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="1769" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWZH3Gu10H97aa8JD0JWhcoxUy4pbQejvvqYytr2sj1UWYyYMEqje0ZSsPhapBPBhtJ-3TxABEl_Epp351uQSxs1tO2eGtfUGEyVYTiqOgGIcQ0kO4MLF_q2oU5r_5dVaAPtGWrbxwQu-/w400-h266/IMG_8553.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Red Kite,Pocklington Canal, 08/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5JcpsUDrTsvFwsGdknCrsJ2ybYjiO3pcinfegzpjAZ8EPtdZWDq2nQ3yqGjmOtWS3f3l3PuJ4T-kxAjQMuoWiLrOWqAxIuwMfxeSfJtNAbKiqiiZnsKN20ZAygOkc167YwO0MfUeflb0/s2048/IMG_9121.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5JcpsUDrTsvFwsGdknCrsJ2ybYjiO3pcinfegzpjAZ8EPtdZWDq2nQ3yqGjmOtWS3f3l3PuJ4T-kxAjQMuoWiLrOWqAxIuwMfxeSfJtNAbKiqiiZnsKN20ZAygOkc167YwO0MfUeflb0/w400-h400/IMG_9121.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Singing Dunnock, Askham Bog, 30/03/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhER1QDGJLhyc5YM7jBa8l3QNp9kPSrlMjFPIzVyCeHxU9IR8Az8CR5pdEoEeNeW_5iG3qwUyCFfsYjwo-9_2vxEPQkU_nLN59v4m-HMjKvchGK5saaQzXxwf_WBLvCYVxlrplohqUXp2/s2048/IMG_9125.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhER1QDGJLhyc5YM7jBa8l3QNp9kPSrlMjFPIzVyCeHxU9IR8Az8CR5pdEoEeNeW_5iG3qwUyCFfsYjwo-9_2vxEPQkU_nLN59v4m-HMjKvchGK5saaQzXxwf_WBLvCYVxlrplohqUXp2/w400-h266/IMG_9125.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Peacock Butterfly, Askham Bog, 30/03/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYb_Xj-CrR8sb__DDp6HgAhQRBOS_SKeYrj_Eu0ZlRQKdNY_ieBRPTZDXoH9wWKTQIBFWmL-iBaQyZwJmYCsg-mjFt-c9KiAbBPn5WK-1t8YXnFM3qlDb2Y9F6jHY6ialXI7CZktPMB7O/s1496/IMG_9132.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="1496" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYb_Xj-CrR8sb__DDp6HgAhQRBOS_SKeYrj_Eu0ZlRQKdNY_ieBRPTZDXoH9wWKTQIBFWmL-iBaQyZwJmYCsg-mjFt-c9KiAbBPn5WK-1t8YXnFM3qlDb2Y9F6jHY6ialXI7CZktPMB7O/w400-h400/IMG_9132.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Treecreeper, Askham Bog, 31/03/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNL6ArmbrE3FC8DLNnEJuyV-tly_EgidpLlw5Vqd_2JxAwm5RkFS4aZZyLdj3f1FArlfiBPSuieLHLxWjZ2s3-HG0U5IwJmoRG0GwcuYmSoys0ijblwPutviF6VeRpPBiKQN5Wau8b91k0/s2048/MX2A5215.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNL6ArmbrE3FC8DLNnEJuyV-tly_EgidpLlw5Vqd_2JxAwm5RkFS4aZZyLdj3f1FArlfiBPSuieLHLxWjZ2s3-HG0U5IwJmoRG0GwcuYmSoys0ijblwPutviF6VeRpPBiKQN5Wau8b91k0/w400-h225/MX2A5215.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bubwith Church, 06/03/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzKgMEvTDxkvNNgNfN4kYxjvmk8ZQBNzB_eh29rXwRnm91fVwioP_jLbmCpDDAp-SvsVaKfZzkgMSimHJiQQgXytBDQVd1ID5-YTvvKEwrZWpD-0jalSFkzEoOECOE6CXs33SjJkO24u8/s2048/MX2A5243.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzKgMEvTDxkvNNgNfN4kYxjvmk8ZQBNzB_eh29rXwRnm91fVwioP_jLbmCpDDAp-SvsVaKfZzkgMSimHJiQQgXytBDQVd1ID5-YTvvKEwrZWpD-0jalSFkzEoOECOE6CXs33SjJkO24u8/w400-h266/MX2A5243.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Coltsfoot, North Cave Wetlands, 14/03/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864162408204773585.post-12585381805778466012021-02-28T00:10:00.002+00:002021-03-31T18:38:51.060+01:00Slavonian Grebe, Smew and Velvet Scoter on the same day, a freezing cold snap and then the promise of Spring.<p><b><u></u></b></p><p>I'm out of the Pocklington area, sold my house there (just felt too hemmed in living in a mid terrace house), and temporarily moved back to York with a view to buying something a bit more rural, even considering buying a canal boat🚤</p><p>February was a total mixed bag weatherwise - the floods persisted until the end of the month and a cold snap with much snow and ice adding to already high water levels when it all thawed, and then some clear skies and warmth at the end of the month brought more than a hint of the spring to come🌸. Here's my February round up then.</p><b><u>Lower Derwent Valley / Pocklington Canal </u></b>- 5 visits throughout the month. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKBcjwJGmhS-odqc6dBaWf7Nd61I1KtQ60wkAGn9qmhnfaLbbEkgNFd_Js1yfVHzAquSAukQvBUa0J95hp0CzaobK6GUI1mA9WnfUF8bahY9iAlDCab4i56oq62sg0JTK6-Ev8ioxUzh6/s2048/MX2A5102.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKBcjwJGmhS-odqc6dBaWf7Nd61I1KtQ60wkAGn9qmhnfaLbbEkgNFd_Js1yfVHzAquSAukQvBUa0J95hp0CzaobK6GUI1mA9WnfUF8bahY9iAlDCab4i56oq62sg0JTK6-Ev8ioxUzh6/w400-h226/MX2A5102.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>With the floodwaters not properly receding until the latter half of the month, when at least the first hide at <b><a href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/wheldrake-ings-nature-reserve" target="_blank">Wheldrake Ings </a></b>was accessible, viewing was once again largely restricted to the edges of the valley but there was good viewing to be had with a <b>Slavonian Grebe</b> at <b>Bank Island</b> and 4 very distant <b>Smew</b> on the 21st from the <b>Thorganby</b> viewing area.</p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyIpqzPv1IiYrnKAL3ypIyyshRRHbHpiHQdXfAuyqdg8Qib3KZqJ8kcrqVWCr7nbJ3DTFeLYhkFxPSq_GEUfAsq4rmu_rcjVJNGcmQ9N6gBoZA_nL9OfCz4XJGC9H5a0pwu5xlDT6wmC_/s1286/IMG_8217.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1286" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyIpqzPv1IiYrnKAL3ypIyyshRRHbHpiHQdXfAuyqdg8Qib3KZqJ8kcrqVWCr7nbJ3DTFeLYhkFxPSq_GEUfAsq4rmu_rcjVJNGcmQ9N6gBoZA_nL9OfCz4XJGC9H5a0pwu5xlDT6wmC_/w640-h426/IMG_8217.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Slavonian Grebe, Bank Island, 17/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Elsewhere a big flock of 177 <b>Whooper Swans</b> contained 2 <b>Berwicks Swans</b> and an escaped <b>Black Swan</b> in the fields around <b>North Duffield</b> - can't count the Black but the Berwicks were new for the year as were a flock of 37 <b>Corn Buntings</b> into roost at <b>Thornton Ings</b> on the 3rd. A cold snap early in the month lasted for a fortnight and brought plenty of snow and icy conditions. <b>Snowdrops</b> were joined by <b>Lesser Celandines </b>when the land thawed out and the floodwaters receded.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJ5yztvhuusHRYa2MKywjibzFeTWa-riWu_55A4tDPcuDRm2T3ltRODl_eojeNKkEj8MdSSn1j3fe_UpKl8A8WWcZsWDQ1n4-o8p_9PUFxRi37CX9mIBwwnCGGEF1uBnYCAUkcsXqRkNL/s2048/IMG_8044.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1039" data-original-width="2048" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJ5yztvhuusHRYa2MKywjibzFeTWa-riWu_55A4tDPcuDRm2T3ltRODl_eojeNKkEj8MdSSn1j3fe_UpKl8A8WWcZsWDQ1n4-o8p_9PUFxRi37CX9mIBwwnCGGEF1uBnYCAUkcsXqRkNL/w640-h324/IMG_8044.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Whooper Swans (plus a single Black Swan), North Duffield, 01/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWxYWYfhwOE8V4ctTMBZByOnk0CGhR2n7nOt1N28d8vztSxwW0m1bLIklV-9kkRdKIc6FhNjkJDnEDf3x5LPwZT9dezcg2HPaTE1tYwDNWbN8SV8871_vDmH7ESj_zvMJoWOPajSAcKZ8/s2048/IMG_8048.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWxYWYfhwOE8V4ctTMBZByOnk0CGhR2n7nOt1N28d8vztSxwW0m1bLIklV-9kkRdKIc6FhNjkJDnEDf3x5LPwZT9dezcg2HPaTE1tYwDNWbN8SV8871_vDmH7ESj_zvMJoWOPajSAcKZ8/w640-h426/IMG_8048.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Whooper, Berwick & Mute Swans, </b><b>North Duffield, 01/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKECqqzxtu-IwscDfjNud4a69qe3efGX9MmiJpO8wusW1QjEOTqXwEjh8S1n9BrcgvJzg5XSeuWESUbSKYAEnwMRQM_WyVLewYuXhydxqpfysN6BpbDlQb0RFPXSXpH4AGGs4xfvKj-j5/s2048/MX2A5022.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKECqqzxtu-IwscDfjNud4a69qe3efGX9MmiJpO8wusW1QjEOTqXwEjh8S1n9BrcgvJzg5XSeuWESUbSKYAEnwMRQM_WyVLewYuXhydxqpfysN6BpbDlQb0RFPXSXpH4AGGs4xfvKj-j5/w400-h266/MX2A5022.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Snowy Pocklington Canal, 08/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwyU0b2diWba2ekNVCP8KxbNl0-P3nRPp0cd0HnZHzOeRpebrflOErINzML-dcPdPBX23lsN7lPXQ1ih5LdCJ912tmh3SpvCja17Wm1eWBNXwlYNsXGBOashvUMraqGDXiUuTs6VtOzS4/s2048/MX2A5097.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1775" data-original-width="2048" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwyU0b2diWba2ekNVCP8KxbNl0-P3nRPp0cd0HnZHzOeRpebrflOErINzML-dcPdPBX23lsN7lPXQ1ih5LdCJ912tmh3SpvCja17Wm1eWBNXwlYNsXGBOashvUMraqGDXiUuTs6VtOzS4/w400-h346/MX2A5097.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lesser Celandines, Wheldrake Ings, 21/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><b><u><a href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/askham-bog-nature-reserve" target="_blank">Askham Bog</a> </u></b>(09/02/21) - popped in hoping to get a <b>Willow Tit </b>but nothing doing but worth going just to see the landscape with all the recent floodwater iced over. Never seen it like before and neither have I ever seen a skating <b>Grey Squirrel</b>!</p><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZcQPfo5FVDibpNYilqIYeu1F7mrpphRj5_h-RQUdKBtTL4GUJTL7HQVCP6EaNtBUmkAucrHqxBM6SfnG0Exj0Gb6rQej9Jc_arq6unsACTewo_QL3_ZgfIobNHzBKdJFZ4FXiWc5iQ3c/s2048/IMG_8059.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZcQPfo5FVDibpNYilqIYeu1F7mrpphRj5_h-RQUdKBtTL4GUJTL7HQVCP6EaNtBUmkAucrHqxBM6SfnG0Exj0Gb6rQej9Jc_arq6unsACTewo_QL3_ZgfIobNHzBKdJFZ4FXiWc5iQ3c/w400-h266/IMG_8059.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Grey Squirrel, Askham Bog, 09/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><b><u>Clifton Ings</u></b> (12/02/21) - there was a reported <b>Iceland Gull</b> here the previous day but no sign of it when I was there. Best birds were a passing flock of <b>Goosanders</b>. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEias1zmBuGcYVnTVYszY_enNrUr_UG557INiafFL3BYMGFShEj1PcRBaJMbfT55X35eK_bFqrhIWfDsaS5FBeEmfeUSWXcEJZYo5bOhNhjz26bLEbunghnzoBZwV7l3SUPwgAsDntJRpYwL/s2048/IMG_8064.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEias1zmBuGcYVnTVYszY_enNrUr_UG557INiafFL3BYMGFShEj1PcRBaJMbfT55X35eK_bFqrhIWfDsaS5FBeEmfeUSWXcEJZYo5bOhNhjz26bLEbunghnzoBZwV7l3SUPwgAsDntJRpYwL/w640-h426/IMG_8064.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Goosanders, Clifton Ings, York, 12/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSD-kdIpw3aWlZqt1-wM_XZRqipAsJLoKe-QjsT7iLb4ot2UmT_F8rGL5FoZ205TvaQb4sLB4YmDcAFl5YJavpOPOHIo7-UlQMpWaAyh4Hrn4yDFcDrQQI-udK5GT3TVe7-aEF8g-4Crus/s2048/MX2A5052.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSD-kdIpw3aWlZqt1-wM_XZRqipAsJLoKe-QjsT7iLb4ot2UmT_F8rGL5FoZ205TvaQb4sLB4YmDcAFl5YJavpOPOHIo7-UlQMpWaAyh4Hrn4yDFcDrQQI-udK5GT3TVe7-aEF8g-4Crus/w400-h225/MX2A5052.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wykeham Raptor viewpoint before the mist cleared, 15/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-weight: 700;">Wykeham</span> (15/02/21) - managed to see a single <b>Goshawk </b>after a heavy mist cleared to blue skies. It was flying straight towards me but a way off when it went into a loopy dive (bit of early display?) then sadly lost it once the camera was raised. It was another new bird for the year but not the views I was after!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9LEdVcwZTHBhhOmNBvHbX9VZGF3a9dNwHz6M5UysA64TfPcCAcG2z9lFv_cAy-LwVl69YK2ipe4ZeXJPCF8-iiILjcwjhpRN3S6YyitYk_OrZhgxzKKLa4Vu0iPRb-Ba4DSK_DR1WO08/s2048/MX2A5064.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9LEdVcwZTHBhhOmNBvHbX9VZGF3a9dNwHz6M5UysA64TfPcCAcG2z9lFv_cAy-LwVl69YK2ipe4ZeXJPCF8-iiILjcwjhpRN3S6YyitYk_OrZhgxzKKLa4Vu0iPRb-Ba4DSK_DR1WO08/w400-h266/MX2A5064.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ashberry, 16/02/21<br /><br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><u>Ashberry & Rievaulx Abbey </u></b>(16/02/21) - Not much around apart from a drumming <b>Great Spotted Woodpecker</b>, 3 Nuthatch, 2 <b>Sparrowhawks a</b>nd a few <b>Winter Aconites</b> poking through the undergrowth. Later I entertained myself with trying to get some moody pics of the abbey.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1gmdpSf76UhFgN-uFrsgfS63wgAmOcyrq6E3gpeFD7qqw1Wo2xlfR8Ms-6br5zZYo2tfw1R58orH1glk2miMJydMlynWjXzqZNwV5QdNECtltvZWDHJx2UTdXqQ0y9sAUJ3gGknxHgPQ/s2048/MX2A5069.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1751" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1gmdpSf76UhFgN-uFrsgfS63wgAmOcyrq6E3gpeFD7qqw1Wo2xlfR8Ms-6br5zZYo2tfw1R58orH1glk2miMJydMlynWjXzqZNwV5QdNECtltvZWDHJx2UTdXqQ0y9sAUJ3gGknxHgPQ/w548-h640/MX2A5069.JPG" width="548" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Winter Aconite, Ashberry, 16/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5gNAA1NaG2dZghbr_fMVplXQrD0bPqAm_NcRas7cHg0eZ94C3kPjAChrwIHocnJgXYfkUk7yZ4DR_nVzGt_4axRzP18FyC56xvkqctyPPAfvbWVw4OwWovWvGdTFLSTCr5H3lnmaLwZh/s2048/MX2A5083.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5gNAA1NaG2dZghbr_fMVplXQrD0bPqAm_NcRas7cHg0eZ94C3kPjAChrwIHocnJgXYfkUk7yZ4DR_nVzGt_4axRzP18FyC56xvkqctyPPAfvbWVw4OwWovWvGdTFLSTCr5H3lnmaLwZh/w640-h426/MX2A5083.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Rievaulx Abbey, 16/02/21</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-weight: 700;">Strensall Common </span>(19/02/21) - flushed 4 <b>Common Snipe</b>, saw 1 <b>Stonechat</b> and heard a <b>Green Woodpecker</b> but not a lot else. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9Lc_ujKznB3-39d8Gqz52fRR4iq0VKOo78yQkkeDIBnI-gIdPGEVwUH5pTGSOQ3CJ0yO_LGbsSgaM3iOwVXszKouM4-y0_loKVeD8iuswUtfa0yq69QWrK0nNXTy_2jly3EKIPmn09Mo/s2048/MX2A5087.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9Lc_ujKznB3-39d8Gqz52fRR4iq0VKOo78yQkkeDIBnI-gIdPGEVwUH5pTGSOQ3CJ0yO_LGbsSgaM3iOwVXszKouM4-y0_loKVeD8iuswUtfa0yq69QWrK0nNXTy_2jly3EKIPmn09Mo/w640-h360/MX2A5087.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Strensall Common, 19/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><b><u>Acaster South Ings</u></b> (21/02/21) - a great bird for the York area, a 1st winter male <b>Velvet Scoter</b> on the River Ouse. First spotted around the 12th the bird had disappeared the next day when I went down, so it was pleasing to hear that it had reappeared. Lord knows how or why it 's ended up here and a very unexpected addition to the year list.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnf1n5x8gtR6KXdUAxYiXb1NbKE3_LF24qHYwa_3Fx7EDIEXgKmyLvFmVB9MyKdl4itRmNpT-_SaFcN8AH9c4I0kJoD8YLl4RtrWiZ5eusoMH95dmV79w6-7-K_Ot4qBqJMHTh0QaIO1V/s1866/IMG_8130.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="1866" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnf1n5x8gtR6KXdUAxYiXb1NbKE3_LF24qHYwa_3Fx7EDIEXgKmyLvFmVB9MyKdl4itRmNpT-_SaFcN8AH9c4I0kJoD8YLl4RtrWiZ5eusoMH95dmV79w6-7-K_Ot4qBqJMHTh0QaIO1V/w640-h426/IMG_8130.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Velvet Scoter, River Ouse at Acaster South Ings, 21/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><b><u>Pulfin Bog</u></b> (22/02/21) - walked down to the reserve with Rob but there was no access because of flooding but the <b>Eske Lake</b> and surrounding floodwaters were viewable and there looked to be hundreds if not thousands of wildfowl, but all too distant and neither of us had a scope. We walked down as far as <b>Leven Carrs</b> and the start of the canal there. A single <b>Goldeneye</b>, a <b>Barn Owl</b> and 22 <b>Redshank</b> were the meagre birding highlights but the weather was great.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-8kfJ2hCMmh2O5A-nLDzNuLqym0bZBo9wzEg7CCFi0_-kPnGaC5W-7waPNV0AZKbluCcXvAJcurLsIdtsjE2OLtIU1Np2KRlPpJ0GyCgTkQTXCJHDeZAzzT4lOMb3QwAMIOypMkFEYbs/s2048/MX2A5107.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-8kfJ2hCMmh2O5A-nLDzNuLqym0bZBo9wzEg7CCFi0_-kPnGaC5W-7waPNV0AZKbluCcXvAJcurLsIdtsjE2OLtIU1Np2KRlPpJ0GyCgTkQTXCJHDeZAzzT4lOMb3QwAMIOypMkFEYbs/w640-h360/MX2A5107.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Looking over Arram Carrs towards Watton, from Pulfin Bog, 22/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Earlier on the same day I managed to get some reasonable pics of the <b>Goosanders </b>at the back of my mother's house. Up to 18 have been present there all winter.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9SaCbrFHXPLzS41Dv-3IGmwjE08W1y8lEyHff9edLjMpsKxyjBXgoMFudinKent_Eq9LSKabkr33tfrU3w8tZ2MAmL6O729mHe37lgnL-viPYaEq0y49r117C6xX4BmK0akyX7T5m6cs/s2527/IMG_8273.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="2527" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9SaCbrFHXPLzS41Dv-3IGmwjE08W1y8lEyHff9edLjMpsKxyjBXgoMFudinKent_Eq9LSKabkr33tfrU3w8tZ2MAmL6O729mHe37lgnL-viPYaEq0y49r117C6xX4BmK0akyX7T5m6cs/w640-h316/IMG_8273.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Goosanders, Elmfield Terr. Brick Pond, 22/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><b><u><a href="http://northcavewetlands.com/" target="_blank">North Cave Wetlands</a></u></b> (23/02/21) - a poor weather day, at least there were less people there😀 but very poor light that resulted in such grainy pictures I deleted them all! A noticeable drop off in wildfowl numbers with only <b>140 Wigeon, c210 Teal, c60 Gadwall, c70 Mallard, c80 Tufted Duck, 13 Pochard, 15 Shoveler </b>and<b> 17 Shelduck</b>. Gloomy though it was, there was a hint of spring with <b>13</b> <b>Oystercatchers</b>, my first returning from the coast, heading for the dales I should think but quite a few breed here in the lowlands.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Oulston Reservoir</u></b> (25/02/21) - a brief walk around this favourite haunt of mine when I don't feel up for a full tramp around Yearsley Moor. A <b>Kingfisher </b>and a couple of relatively confiding <b>Goosanders</b> being the birding highlights and with some full on sunshine the abundant <b>Snowdrops</b> around on the roadside verges were most dazzling😎.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTTJ_1uPGQAFo2KZhCoAyTXpXKlC5WXAEDgenIC10Hqf48a8vFwRIMbnmrNLEhUviQ31B5adqMgsy9KvlIRAeRLvQx-Rbsgp4Cpwik7bm3RJ1MQJnox7NdhlPBEr5T5eIFI_Zx66V9PPe/s1680/IMG_8303.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="1680" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTTJ_1uPGQAFo2KZhCoAyTXpXKlC5WXAEDgenIC10Hqf48a8vFwRIMbnmrNLEhUviQ31B5adqMgsy9KvlIRAeRLvQx-Rbsgp4Cpwik7bm3RJ1MQJnox7NdhlPBEr5T5eIFI_Zx66V9PPe/w640-h426/IMG_8303.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Goosanders, Oulston Reservoir, 25/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOqF943CvkP6ETUgs4uxADS1L7JO_doavrt1dfDkJHHNkqLUX6GBU1bgEwLD_cZNowv-DHKi6WVZmrWW3IxSnUIp0zTJS1VcaNJV_FCmTSJZOargFxp-gZjt-AOzv4Xazy2rbVr418OdM/s2048/IMG_8306.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOqF943CvkP6ETUgs4uxADS1L7JO_doavrt1dfDkJHHNkqLUX6GBU1bgEwLD_cZNowv-DHKi6WVZmrWW3IxSnUIp0zTJS1VcaNJV_FCmTSJZOargFxp-gZjt-AOzv4Xazy2rbVr418OdM/w640-h360/IMG_8306.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Snowdrops, near Oulston Reservoir, 25/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM0DJxoiTtheyJKj22-D1Jil8ObJc2daIxChkb_DLLApCqOmeO4iBdSq8tUVulCVVJbxvi5BP_Ce_vKP9ZzpAVrbGgBWPfFflEDabXxRjX3MuG7Mx0TQOQV9iipaMBJ-N2mABSQDZYkME/s2048/MX2A5116.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM0DJxoiTtheyJKj22-D1Jil8ObJc2daIxChkb_DLLApCqOmeO4iBdSq8tUVulCVVJbxvi5BP_Ce_vKP9ZzpAVrbGgBWPfFflEDabXxRjX3MuG7Mx0TQOQV9iipaMBJ-N2mABSQDZYkME/w400-h266/MX2A5116.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><b><u>Huttons Bank Wood</u></b> (27/02/21) - Circular walk around this wood that lies on the other side of the A64 from Castle Howard and on the other side of the River Derwent from YWT reserve Jeffry Bog. First time I'd done the walk and it was a delight on another sunny day.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Got my first <b>Marsh Tits</b> of the year and my earliest ever flowering <b>Primroses</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wjxS9A7dw5R-5xwwx4zwHIrzajQlt5EI8rkWnaTwuqN3xt2AbOw-QQz5AhyphenhyphentQe78tzwFz-VwAPp6AdvC8xDXKc1_m_7cWGwtIHpwVfkMD5gdYCvPfG7TWlqdyQFgnimL_1JwBqXI9FFt/s2048/IMG_8318.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="2048" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wjxS9A7dw5R-5xwwx4zwHIrzajQlt5EI8rkWnaTwuqN3xt2AbOw-QQz5AhyphenhyphentQe78tzwFz-VwAPp6AdvC8xDXKc1_m_7cWGwtIHpwVfkMD5gdYCvPfG7TWlqdyQFgnimL_1JwBqXI9FFt/w640-h390/IMG_8318.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Primroses, Huttons Bank Wood, 26/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Later, on the edge of Low Hutton village, I saw what on first sight appeared to be an <b>Otter</b> swimming down the River Derwent, but a later inspection of my pics revealed it to be a <b>Mink </b>(its got a pink nose and lacks the more rounded / less vicious face of an otter - is pc to say that these days or might I be vicariously insulting some Mink appreciation society😂). They are vicious mind!</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgbqvqxWHRpZjMiUBWQiNdZSj__lwMqO6Le2Q2lrF2DPSRwUE0Fl3eOjvlgTigxEmOrl8o3AV4GzFwgmTFhb79pUDpHMLvCIC38kERUKL3QDEOOJupHimni3ZCGPWWT1rrZKkuMU_tnH_/s1715/IMG_8333.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1715" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgbqvqxWHRpZjMiUBWQiNdZSj__lwMqO6Le2Q2lrF2DPSRwUE0Fl3eOjvlgTigxEmOrl8o3AV4GzFwgmTFhb79pUDpHMLvCIC38kERUKL3QDEOOJupHimni3ZCGPWWT1rrZKkuMU_tnH_/w640-h426/IMG_8333.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mink, River Derwent, 26/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u>Hempholme</u></b> (28/02/21) - trip out to follow up on some enquiries about a possible mooring for a liveaboard canal boat - you only live once and its a dream I've had for a while. Its a great spot, perhaps a bit 'out on a limb'? I'm looking into it all and have a few other moorings in mind a bit more central Yorkshire.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBpDWYN1toICa3cu7ufNC4czZ7KFHx3P0TaTXST7WcZSo_o7MZPpdHXatxBGCixz7Yx0tF2UnahNggm_cxIDU4hUJ73YBwjOrvQ_UkEjZAmFW1woMbN27dkNG4AqfdS5DAbqldoDhRPd4/s2048/MX2A5119.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBpDWYN1toICa3cu7ufNC4czZ7KFHx3P0TaTXST7WcZSo_o7MZPpdHXatxBGCixz7Yx0tF2UnahNggm_cxIDU4hUJ73YBwjOrvQ_UkEjZAmFW1woMbN27dkNG4AqfdS5DAbqldoDhRPd4/w400-h266/MX2A5119.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Canal boats at Hempholme, 28/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some great wide, big sky vistas to be around there though, and plenty of wildlife with the added bonus of having <b><a href="https://www.yorkshirewater.com/things-to-do/tophill-low-nature-reserve" target="_blank">Tophill Low</a></b> nature reserve literally on the doorstep😀</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4EbXF2H3v4c3HmdHJh9qjnh4AMTqfRKYcE0mPzy7I074KBp0E3kMAyJ97eXIc65hTr8DPQAJjMtZy4rH5_HEU4FLj5aR9LN-hbdvKyTd8T2wHnErIyR1v2rXvCMzMq2Uh09bR3d5qWVn/s2048/MX2A5132.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4EbXF2H3v4c3HmdHJh9qjnh4AMTqfRKYcE0mPzy7I074KBp0E3kMAyJ97eXIc65hTr8DPQAJjMtZy4rH5_HEU4FLj5aR9LN-hbdvKyTd8T2wHnErIyR1v2rXvCMzMq2Uh09bR3d5qWVn/w640-h426/MX2A5132.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>River Hull at Hempholme, 28/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0egmJazH69wEGqlVDRoNs0wWmBnMa13VDfqxwZSWP9qCSSrJE_4rd0LpS_BUHV-hNtqXzbt2p8kp0gDlpeEhoMl50zMacVwbhb45In-29W9_4NUWEe7XPJSqsQGEsp8ZE-cgHl8MLU_2/s2048/MX2A5135.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0egmJazH69wEGqlVDRoNs0wWmBnMa13VDfqxwZSWP9qCSSrJE_4rd0LpS_BUHV-hNtqXzbt2p8kp0gDlpeEhoMl50zMacVwbhb45In-29W9_4NUWEe7XPJSqsQGEsp8ZE-cgHl8MLU_2/w640-h360/MX2A5135.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>River Hull & Frodingham Beck junction at Hempholme, 28/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjjQMJ8mKEsNq5F5ZuboABnX7XHVuayLsnXPyY-6VH81Cu5XocGRzk4iQOvgIcjBdh4SWLo_16Gb1LfGIHtyVojOLxmNsRkNscxKvvcv1WlgeAPfJ1t3UTcsMR9D2kq0W51uziX8vgCWG/s2048/IMG_8359b.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjjQMJ8mKEsNq5F5ZuboABnX7XHVuayLsnXPyY-6VH81Cu5XocGRzk4iQOvgIcjBdh4SWLo_16Gb1LfGIHtyVojOLxmNsRkNscxKvvcv1WlgeAPfJ1t3UTcsMR9D2kq0W51uziX8vgCWG/w400-h266/IMG_8359b.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Little Egrets, </b><b>Hempholme, 28/02/21<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnZJjDysTh2iXMqgNcy4igNxIW0Gn8n8da7X-Ieuw5wzN1IbMOrJgoZ_Fr0I_2UBN4CWC1oF7vtu6AB20GGSC2Xymg9a1t0K_t6I6XjaIlNO-_cS8ZlTnFX6B-HOIMFV5jhaib2uhaSGX/s2048/IMG_8361.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnZJjDysTh2iXMqgNcy4igNxIW0Gn8n8da7X-Ieuw5wzN1IbMOrJgoZ_Fr0I_2UBN4CWC1oF7vtu6AB20GGSC2Xymg9a1t0K_t6I6XjaIlNO-_cS8ZlTnFX6B-HOIMFV5jhaib2uhaSGX/w400-h266/IMG_8361.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lapwings, </b><b>Hempholme, 28/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPqzm03jVt2H6T6wLia8-cwtPO88wcM_4s4IObTYUbSMcpxe_BJOqdgydJMLsN-keL0bvnkRxm1XYfn2s53Yf4X1xF2-1HlDPvwVdCH9nZCsETx_oXoAekQ8ZDv67EytrfqZPfA9j8Rp_/s2048/MX2A5129.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPqzm03jVt2H6T6wLia8-cwtPO88wcM_4s4IObTYUbSMcpxe_BJOqdgydJMLsN-keL0bvnkRxm1XYfn2s53Yf4X1xF2-1HlDPvwVdCH9nZCsETx_oXoAekQ8ZDv67EytrfqZPfA9j8Rp_/w400-h266/MX2A5129.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Small Tortoiseshell, Hempholme, 28/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the way home I stopped in Brandsburton and couldn't resist stopping for these gorgeous spring Crocus bursting out in spring colour on the green. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6wlYRAF0aJilsO_9ruQIqns8YzEQP6iMEpBpT8atOHS6SkUKbY9mEA06bUKpq3uXDQVuKu2XK8Sla9MdUFWFQb8IKbk_qTT5LlIY2Lw4IOqs8XsAzun5RNvZTIp29B6pXYCYHmolxFRx/s2048/MX2A5138.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6wlYRAF0aJilsO_9ruQIqns8YzEQP6iMEpBpT8atOHS6SkUKbY9mEA06bUKpq3uXDQVuKu2XK8Sla9MdUFWFQb8IKbk_qTT5LlIY2Lw4IOqs8XsAzun5RNvZTIp29B6pXYCYHmolxFRx/w640-h426/MX2A5138.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Crocus, Brandsburton, 28/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8l756Jj0_Vx-2RnsMJO55xRhGHL1d8M-TYIxn_J7a1BOx8xxS6SCQoLy6TpNLU9F-otv3XjXuHrojQ92GmeBPj18xVQabKs4pFu2n-e0HQG2ltGVj_HnxE8TAcaPf7ZJ3ruyXnpRhnTz/s2048/MX2A5139.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8l756Jj0_Vx-2RnsMJO55xRhGHL1d8M-TYIxn_J7a1BOx8xxS6SCQoLy6TpNLU9F-otv3XjXuHrojQ92GmeBPj18xVQabKs4pFu2n-e0HQG2ltGVj_HnxE8TAcaPf7ZJ3ruyXnpRhnTz/w640-h426/MX2A5139.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Crocus, Brandsburton, 28/02/21</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">10 new bird species added to my year list during the month taking me up to 117. Bring on March!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />BagginsTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02245870159697860847noreply@blogger.com0