5 Grebes in One Weekend

The weekend didn't start off that well.

I went through to Spurn on Friday afternoon in the hope of seeing some migrants.To cut a long story short the best bird was a swallow and there were hardly any migrants about. So I thought I'd head for Waters Edge in the hope of a recently reported Slavonian Grebe. Upon arrival it was showing quite well and I soon had some decent shots. It kept doing a circuit of the pit that it was on and every now and then it would come very close.The best bit was saved until last-as the sun was going down the grebe went alongside some reeds in calm water this provided an extremely photogenic setting, but on its way back it came within 4 feet of the bank and I could see it chasing food under the water-fantastic!

There was also a pair of displaying great crested grebes and a little grebe.

Then today I set off in the hope of another 2 species of grebe. I've beenmeaning to go to hatfield Moor for the red-necked grebe for a couple of years and today was the day.Also there had been some black-necked grebes reported recently and these were my first quarry. The mist had hardly left Boston Lake when I arrived and I had distant views of the BNG but it was staying out of range.

Then on to 10 acre lake. The walk up was not that exciting-yellowhammer, loads of chiff-chaff and willow warbler and a good sprinkling of blackcaps. As soon as i got to the end of the lake I could hear the red-necked grebe calling and I had some decent views of it fishing and nest building.

I then got myself camped out and waited. It took a while but eventually he swam past twice and I was lucky enough to get some great views.

Then back to Boston lake to see if the BNG had come any closer-I was in luck it came within 10m of the hide albeit in bad light.

All in all it was a great day with loads of wildlife including adders, grass snakes brimstone butterflies and numerous other stuff-it is a great place.

Spurn Bluethroat

I popped to Spurn this afternoon for the white spotted bluethroat.i didn't hold out much hope as usually they are very elusive at Spurn and seem to disappear soon after being reported.

This one today was slightly more obliging-it spent most of the time in the bottom of the ditch showing only occasionally. it popped up to the small bush along the ditch only once while I was there but it was here that it gave its best views.

As the afternoon went on it got duller and made viewing all the more difficult.

Still it was very nice to see and apparently Spurns first white spotted bird since the sixties.

What next?

Spring is here

I had a cracking day out in the sunshine yesterday-nothing major but a nice sprinkling of early summer migrants and a close encounter with some obliging sanderlings.

The day started in glorious sunlight at Welton Waters-I went back in the hope of some better shots of the red breasted mergansers but unfortunately they were gone-however I did manage to get a nice shot of a chiff chaff along with sightings of marsh tit, brambling and goldeneye along with common birds in full song.

I then went to Barton for the black redstart but that didn't show but a quick visit to Far Ings yielded a pair of displaying great crested grebes-nice.

It was then on to Spurn for the afternoon-first bird was a distant med gull off the blue bell then on to the point for a black redstart-it was feeding around the gardens of the lifeboat cottages and then along the sea wall. At times it was quite obliging also there was a single mistle thrush that was very wary.

Finally as the tide flooded I had a close encounter with a small flock of anderling-bythis time the sun had gone and it was time for home.

fair weather in the next couple of weeks might entice a firecrest into the area...