I haven't been on any serious trips just lately but I managed to get out and about this weekend.
First call was welton Water, I got there for about 8.00 and the car thermometer said
-3 but it felt colder with the windchill.I was looking for the reported smew on the fishing ponds, the ponds not suprisingly were frozen over all bar a small area in the middle which was full of mallard,gadwall,wigeon and tufted duck.
The bigger watersports pond was frozen around the edges but clear of ice in the middle.
It was here that the smew was displaying with a small flock of goldeneye.
i had a quick walk on the river bank in the feint hope of a bearded tit, no sign unfortunately but there was quite a bit of wildfowl on the humber along with a few common waders.
from here I went to Allerthorpe Woods, only took about half an hour.
totally different weather here another degree colder and a light snow shower.It did however make for great phto conditions.
There were hundreds of common birds around the feeder station at the car park but unfortunalely no sign of any bramblings.
I did get rewarded with a nice barn owl huntig over the small meadow opposite the car park.
On Sunday I had the chance to go to Tophill Low for a couple of hours, first stop was 'O' reservoir for the smew, no sign but plenty of wildfowl.I did spot a rather nice flock of siskins on the way down.
I went back to the visitor centre for the last hour and was pleasantly suprised by the amount of birds around.
Firstly close views of feeding goldfinch on teasel, next water rail and brambling at the feeder station finishing of with redwing and grey wagtail at the car park.
Glad to get back out in some decent weather.
