Winter waders

I set off for Spurn this morning for an outside chance of a male hen harrier.The day got off to a good start with a single waxwing perched at the top of a tree in Thorngumbald.
When I got to Spurn I noticed the massive amount of waders feeding in the flooded fields so using the car as a hide I stayed with them for a couple of hours.
Nothing unusual but the curlew,snipe,lapwing,redshank,dunlin,golden plover, oystercatcher, ringed plover and godwits made for some good photographic opportunities. I didn't actually get down to Spurn but called in via Sunk Island on the way home. A single pheasant in a snowy field was nice along with a mixed flock of thrushes including blackbird, fieldfare and redwing and finally a small flock of twite on the roadside.
The conditions are making things difficult for the birds and it looks set to get cold again next week.

Winter Bites!

The recent weather has hit hard and last week I only managed a trip to East Park, most of the wildfowl had disappeared and only common birds were present.
I had a trip up to Flamborough and Barmston today. Neither place held anything special the highlights being a nice barn owl at Flamborough and grey plover and purple sandpiper at Barmston.

Lincs Rough Leg

I managed at last to catch up with a rough legged buzzard yesterday. I went across the bridge for the relatively long staying bird at South Ferriby.
It was out of view at first but soon took up its customary perch on the fence line at the west end of the cement works. It was quite distant but showed very well and caught a vole whilst I was there (and another chap said he saw it catch another 4 after I'd left) so if there is plenty of foood around it might stay for a while.
After that I went on to Worlaby it was absolutely freezing I didn't see any close up short eared owls (although expectation levels were high) but true to form as a rattor hotspot I had distant views of hen harrier, buzzard, sparrowhawk, kestrel plus a couple of SEO's anfd a fly-by barn owl.
Definitely will be back this winter but calmer days would be best.