January 2019

I’ve been on one or two trips this year so far doing a mixture of birding and photography.

My first trip out was a New Years Day visit to North Cave Wetlands. I only had an hour to blow the cobwebs away but 44 species was a nice start to the year.

Next a trip to South Holderness . I started off around Kilnsea and Easington and made my way to Stoney Creek. I hoped for the green winged teal and shorelark but had no joy with either. The wildfowl were nice to see as was a close up hare doing his best to avoid a dip on a chilly day. I did manage white fronted goose and whooper swan as small consolation. Then went on to Stoney Creek. I only had a very brief visit but still managed a cracking male hen harrier, twite and kingfisher as well as a lovely flock of yellowhammers and corn buntings.

A fishing trip in between birding yielded a nice red-throated diver and a red kite over the A1079 was a highlight whilst travelling to work.

The Big Garden Birdwatch produced a total of 13 species, the highlight being our resident blackcap feeding on mahonia flowers.

Another trip to South Holderness started at Welwick and produced another fine male hen harrier, marsh harrier, kestrel,buzzard and sparrowhawk as well as a few common waders and wildfowl.

Another try for the shorelarks at Easington proved successful to see them in nice light was an added bonus. I had a look on KIlnsea wetlands and Beacon Ponds but no sign of the green winged teal but a hunting peregrine falcon was nice.

Hare at Kilnsea Wetlands

Hare at Kilnsea Wetlands

Hare at Kilnsea Wetlands

Hare at Kilnsea Wetlands

Hare at Kilnsea Wetlands

Hare at Kilnsea Wetlands

Lapwing at KIlnsea Wetlands

Wigeon at Kilnsea Wetlands

Hen Harrier at Stoney Creek

Hen Harrier at Stoney Creek

Hen Harrier at Stoney Creek

Hen Harrier at Stoney Creek

Hen Harrier at Welwick

Hen Harrier at Welwick

Marsh Harrier at Welwick

Hen Harrier at Welwick

Shore Lark at Easington Lagoons

Shore Lark at Easington Lagoons

Shore Lark at Easington Lagoons

Shore Lark at Easington Lagoons

Black-Tailed Godwit at Kilnsea Wetlands

Redshank at Kilnsea Wetlands

Peregrine Falcon at Beacon Ponds

Peregrine Falcon at Beacon Ponds

Teal at Beacon Ponds

Teal at Beacon Ponds

Aviemore

I have just got back from a few days in Aviemore which was fantastic.

We were hoping for some snow and whilst there was some on the tops the white stuff remained elusive.

We had a walk around Rothiemurchus Forest on the first day. It was quite wild and windy with lots of rain but exhilerating to be out in such a wild place with wild weather. Our wet gear did us proud!

On the second day we went up to the Cairngorms and again warm clothing was the order of the day the scenery even more spectacular.

For the third day I booked a half day session photographing crested tits with local guide and ace photographer Neil McIntyre. He took me to a wonderful spot in the middle of the forest where the crested tits came to within 3 feet!

The light wasnt great but I was very pleased with these shots all taken at 1/5000 again the D810 does the business in low light conditions.

Nest year I might be a bit more adventurous and head out on the hills for Ptarmigan or mountain hare.

Last Few days of Autumn

I’ve managed a couple of trips out to Spurn over the last couple of weekends.

The weather could not have been more contrasting, last week it was glorious sunshine in light winds and today it was an easterly wind and almost constant rain. Both days produced the goods though.

Last Saturday the light was great for photography and all of the action was around the canal scrape area.

The black redstart was the star of the show showing well in the new visitor car park accompanied by a couple of stonechats.

There was nothing ultra rare but very nice all the same.

Today was a different affair, the wind was blowing off the sea bringing a mixture of drizzle or moderate rain, greta to be out in getting plenty of fresh air.

A walk along the breach proved fruitless apart from some close eiders flying north. Kilnsea Wetland and Beacon Ponds was equally disappointing. I headed towards Sammy’s Point to check out the Richard’s Pipit but before I got chance to look for it a shout came over the radio that a possible Humes Warbler was in the Crown and Anchor car park. It showed as soon as I got there but was very flighty and the light was poor for photography.

Another bird added to the list.

Spurn just keeps on giving and despite the lateness in the year and pretty grim weather it produced yet another star bird reinforcing its position as the premier birding site in the Uk.