A Mixed Bag

I managed a trip down to the Humber Estuary on Sunday morning,got there for first light and saw 3 barn owls and 2 short eared owls hunting.
No sign of any rptors but plenty of waders and ducks along with close views of hare and roe deer.
i didn't stay too long as the light was pretty poor and it had started to rain
My next port of call was North Frodingham for the re-appearance of the Bewick swans, from there I went over to Barmston in the hope of the ecently reported glaucous gull.
there was no sign whilst i was there butI did manage to see a purple sandpiper, flyover snow bunting and quite a few common waders.
I was quite pleased with my shots of the sanderling, quite obliging at high tide but almost impossible to photograph as they ran about o the sand exposed by the receeding tide.
Might go back again for these in better light.

Out and About in East Yorkshire

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.

Too Cold For Birding!!!!!

I had a ride out into east Yorkshire this afternoon with my 11 year old daughter, we went up to see the Bewick swans at Frodingham and fortunately we could see them from the car.

I managed a few record shots as the snow was coming down but it was far too cold to hang about!

We then had a drive down to Tophill Low to have alook at the feeding station, it was quite full but in the hour we were there we saw a brambling 2 woodcocks a water rail and had some great views of a sparrowhawk.

well worth the trip, I'm looking forward to getting out and about in some decent weather.

the glaucous gull and green winged teal would have been nice but .... maybe on a nicer day.