North Linc's.

A trip out to Barton and my local patch at Worlaby today with Dave got us some good birds through the day,this is what we saw.We started proceedings at Far-Ings in the early morning low cloud and mist,with a nice mix of wildfowl on and over Ness Lake,with the best being a single male Pintail moving west with a flock of Wigeon and a steady procession of Lapwings and Starlings moving west for the first couple of hours after dawn.Also over Ness lake were 2 Marsh Harrier,an adult female and juv./1st winter,the juv looking like it had roosted,appearing out of the main reedbed looking pretty bedraggled,but gave great views in the slowly improving light.After we had looked on the reserve,we walked up to Barton Reedbed to look for the confiding group of Bearded Tit which have been showing well.On the way up to Barton Reedbed we had a male Cetti's Warbler singing in Hawthorns at the edge of the Read's hotel grounds and the Outdoor pursuit pit,but unfortunately we didn't observe it.So onto Barton Reedbed and we got fantastic views of a single male Bearded Tit eating grit off the new path.This is the first time i have observed this behaviour and was fantastic to see,this,one of Britains most beautiful birds feeding out in the open,brilliant stuff!!After our great start to the day,we moved onto Worlaby and decided to walk up to Bonby Carrs.The first sightings of note were 2 Marsh Harrier over the fields towards Elsham,with an additional 2 birds being seen later on and our first pair of Stonechat of the day,with another 8 birds being seen.After a brief altercation with some tresspassing Pheasant shooters,we continued on towards the railway and down towards the river,with us seeing a couple of Merlin chasing each other and a single Kingfisher along the Ancholme here.The next good bird was a single female Peregrine watched perched on the ground,giving good views of this regal looking species,the first i have observed down here for a while.We eventually made it back to the car park area and enjoyed great views of 3 Barn Owl and a single Short-eared Owl.Other sightings observed included 2 flocks of Pink-footed Geese,with 57 moving south and 260 east onto the Wolds,51 Reed Bunting,31 Yellowhammer,100 Fieldfare and 138 Linnet.Insect and Mammal sightings comprised of 7 Painted Lady,Small Tortoiseshell,Red Admiral and a single Peacock which was caught by a male Stonechat!,7 Common Darter,a single male Roe Deer and a superb Fox.A great day out in the unusually mild conditions for the time of year and well worth the effort!!.

Patch Asio...

A visit to the patch for a couple of hours after work today,saw my first Short-eared Owl of the autumn,and my first patch bird since last spring.It gave good but distant views,hunting in the wet pasture field.Also in the same area were 3 cracking Barn Owl's,which gave great views,watched catching several vole's.Other notable sightings included a flock of 207 Pink-footed Geese which flew in from the direction of  Read's Island and headed roughly east towards the Wold's,no doubt to find a Sugar beet field to feed in,a pair of smart Stonechat,60 plus Fieldfare and a single Green Sandpiper which was feeding in the Soak Drain.An enjoyable few hours.

The Big Dip...

A daft decision to twitch the reported Eastern-crowned Warbler in County Durham with two other masochists resulted in us and 300 plus others not seeing the bird.The only birds we managed in the warblers temporary home included a single Tree Pipit and 5 Lesser Redpoll,hardly compensation for not seeing this cracking eastern vagrant!Thankfully there was a good bird seen on the way home and it was a superb drake Blue-winged Teal at Port Clarence Pool near Middlesborough.The bird was watched with large numbers of it's commoner cousins,Wigeon,Teal,Shoveler and Gadwall,feeding most of the time,in typical dabbling duck fashion,with it's head under the water,but occasionly we saw the smart,blue-grey head and white crescents on the face,being very distinctive at long range and making for a very attractive species.This was my first adult drake.Other birds observed in this area included a juv. male Peregrine which spent all of the time we observed it chasing the local corvids,putting on an excellent display of aerobatics with 2 Little Egret being seen also.

Saltfleet again.....

An all day effort at Saltfleet today produced some good birds over the 8 hrs i was there.After arriving at dawn i waited until it was light enough and began looking around the area of conifers at the bottom of sea lane,having a moment of dejavu from my last visit, as i found a male Firecrest feeding in the canopy of the trees giving fairly good views.Also around this area were a few Blackbirds,Song Thrushes and a single Goldcrest.I then walked around all the decent habitat up towards the haven finding several Redwing along the dunes and a couple of Sparrowhawk flew south along with a flock of 8 Little Egret.After arriving at the haven i decided to head out along the developing area of foreshore and dunes seeing a couple of Lapland Bunting,which flew south overhead,my first of the autumn/winter period and i then met up with Geoff Williams who found a cracking Shorelark,my first for several years and we both enjoyed great views of the bird before it eventually flew south.I then met up with Chris,Ian and Tony and we looked around the Toby's Hill reserve nearby,seeing a Chiffchaff and then not 1,but 2 Firecrest which put on a great show,with 1 bird flashing it's gorgeous fiery orange crest as it called,a really stunning species!!Other birds observed around the area were 3 Brambling,a few Siskin,5 Twite,Grey Wagtail and 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker.As if things hadn't been good enough,we then got a phone call saying there was a Pallas's Warbler at Humberston Fitties in a friends garden.We of course had to go and take a look and i eventually found it feeding outside it's chosen garden giving superb views of this stunning siberian visitor,eventually it returned to it's temporary home and we left happy chaps.They really do give Firecrest's a run for their money and take some beating in my opinion.A great end to a pretty good day.

B & Q again....

Another trip to get more supplies for my on-going decorating project,saw 9 Roe Deer on the side of the M181,a Peregrine west over the M181 and a Common Buzzard near to Briggate Lodge roundabout.

The Spurn Area.

A visit today with Dave to this brilliant area to try and get him his first Red-flanked Bluetail,had us working hard for the bird, eventually getting to grips with it,albeit briefly.
 After learning yesterday that 1,possibly 2 Red-flanked Bluetail's had been present at Spurn,we decided to cross that very expensive bridge back into my homeland to try and connect with one of them.On arrival in the car park as it was just beginning to get light,we had a quick cuppa and began with a quick look at the sea until we heard any news either way on the bluetailed beauty.There was a few bits and bobs over the sea with at least 50 Little Gull,a handfull of Gannet's,a few Red-throated Diver and a nice male Red-breasted Merg adding to the day list,we then decided to walk up to the canal area where yesterday's Bluetail had been released.After a timely encounter with our old friend Nige, a radio message came over the CB that Barry Spence had found a Bluetail at the point in exactly the same area there had been one claimed the previous evening.So off we went down to the point,we then spent what seemed an eternity looking around the parade ground to no avail,when another message came over the CB that Lance Degnan had just seen the Bluetail in another area,talk about a wild Bluetail chase and again we didn't see the bird,but thank god for heliogoland traps,as the bird was found in the point heliogoland and we all got brief views of it as it flew about inside the trapping area, i agree,it was not the best of ways to see this gorgeous species,but at least we had seen it at last!!Just as the ringers where getting into postion, the bird somehow escaped,flying out of the mouth of the trap and we didn't see it again,buggar!It later emerged that this bird was trapped early evening and was un-ringed,proving there was 2 birds in the Spurn area yesterday,absolutely amazing stuff!!!Other species seen at the point comprised of mainly birds moving south and included 3 Swallow's,1 Crossbill,several Siskin,a few Brambling,Lesser Whitethroat and a smart 'Monedula' Jackdaw watched feeding around the point buildings and parade ground,this being the Scandinavian race of our native Jackdaw,a smart bird.After all this excitement we went to look for the long staying Barred Warbler at the Warren and where eventually treated to brilliant views of the bird as it fed and preened in an area of Sea Buckthorn and Elders,a nice bird and my first of the autumn.Other birds observed through this hectic day included a Ring Ouzel,Jack Snipe,2 Chiffchaff,Grey Wagtail and 3 Bearded Tit.Non bird sightings today comprised of 9 Roe Deer,Comma,Small Tortoiseshell,Common Darter and Migrant Hawker.An excellent day's birding.

Scunthorpe Roe's...

While out on a shopping trip today to get some decorating equipment with her indoors,we had a group of 6 Roe Deer on a stubble field just as you join the M181 heading towards Scunthorpe.Iam presuming they are the same animals as i have observed in previous years and it made a nice diversion from thoughts of the dreaded D word.

Messingham Sand Quarries.

A lovely morning when we got up today,so after i had dropped Trace off at work,i decided to go and have a walk around Messingham.As i arrived in the car park and left the car,i noticed several butterflies around a solitary Buddleia and there were 3 species present,Comma,Red Admiral and Painted Lady.The Painted Ladies are my latest record for the species.As i carried on my walk through this brilliant reserve,it became apparent there was still quite a few dragonfly's on the wing with me recording a good total of 49 Common Darter and 7 Migrant Hawker by the end of my visit,some of the Darters where paired up and still mating.Other insect's observed where about 30 Gorse-shield Bug's,several Green-shield Bug's,Speckled Wood and a couple more Comma's.I also saw 2 young Pike basking in the warm sun at the edge of one of the lakes,giving great views of this fresh water predator.On the bird front it was a little disappointing to say the least,with the only highlights being a handfull of Siskin and Lesser Redpoll and 7 Common Buzzard over Manton Warren and Twigmoor Woods.An enjoyable few hours at this cracking reserve.

Patch Goodies..

After yesterdays visit to the coast,little did i expect to see one of the same migrant species on my local patch,but i did!.While walking along the road down towards the railway crossing,i was passing a small clump of Elder bushes when i heard a distinctive tacking call and to my amazement a Ring Ouzel shot out from the bottom of the bushes and down the road, dropping into an area of Hawthorns,so i quickly followed and managed to find the Ouzel gorging on Hawthorn berries, giving great views through the scope.It then flew again when i approached too close and joined a mixed flock of thrushes feeding in a nearby hedgerow.This is my first record of this species for the Carrs and a most welcome one too!!.The next goodie was a personal favourite,a superb juv. Hen Harrier watched hunting the rough fields between the carrs and Bonby,giving good,but distant views,hopefully it will stay and winter,as birds have in the last 2 winters now.Other notable bird sightings where 160 Goldfinch,9 Common Buzzard,22 Yellowhammer,male Bullfinch and 5 Redwing.Other sightings of the non-bird kind included 3 Roe Deer,1 Small Copper,1 Red Admiral,Common Darter and Migrant Hawker.A great few hours on the patch and a most worthwhile visit today.

Linc's Coast...

A trip down the Linc's coast today to try and find some migrants coming in with the favourable conditions yesterday and last night,got me some nice birds through the day.I arrived at Saltfleet for dawn and began to look around the usual areas near to where the old amusement arcade used to be,quickly finding a stunning male Firecrest which showed very well in the open for five minutes,a great start!.It was also apparent there had been an overnight arrival of thrushes with me seeing 100 Redwing,24 Song Thrush and 60 Blackbird,with a smart juv. Ring Ouzel arriving in off the sea.Other birds observed over the next few hours between here and Seaview Farm included 3 Brambling,2 Chiffchaff,Peregrine,62 Pink-footed Geese and Siskin.After a phone call from Geoff Williams, i travelled the short distance to Donna Nook and enjoyed cracking views of a Yellow-browed Warbler as i got out of the car!This species is a lovely little bird and is a long way from it's breeding grounds in Siberia and should be on it's way to the species wintering grounds in Eastern Asia.Also observed here where another superb male Firecrest,with probably 2 being seen and showed very well,like the earlier bird at Saltfleet.This species has to be one of the most attractive species to visit our shores,a real cracker!!Also observed here, was a single,late Whimbrel flying south.Non-bird sightings through the day included 12 Small Copper,2 Peacock,2 Red Admiral and a Small White and several Common Darter,with a couple of Migrant Hawker also.A good day's birding.

The Patch again...

A visit for a few hours this aftie after work got me a few sightings of note,the best being a gorgeous Barn Owl hunting along the soak drain just before i left and was no doubt 1 of the 3 i saw at the weekend.Other sightings comprised of 5 Common Buzzard,adult female Marsh Harrier,129 Mallard and a single Chiffchaff.And on the insect front,a single Common Darter.

The Patch...

An early morning visit at dawn today to look for any hunting Owl's revealed 3 Barnies hunting in the now, not so wet pasture field,giving great views as they looked for voles.Nearby,the 5 Green Sand's where again present in the Soak drain along with Common Snipe and a couple of Grey Herons.As it started to get light properly a few flocks of Pink-footed Geese came off the Wold top and in the distance towards South Ferriby several large skeins totalling about 500 birds headed west.I love to hear and see this species,a true reminder that winter and the colder months are on the way.Other species observed where a single Siskin,over west,21 Stock Dove and the usual Common Buzzard's,with 5 being seen in total.Non-bird sighting's included my largest count of Roe Deer on the patch this year,with 8 animals being seen,these comprised of 2 Buck's and 6 Doe's.These are lovely animals and i always take my time to watch them,lets hope we don't get any problems with poaching down here,as in other parts of the County!A much more enjoyable visit compared to yesterdays windswept affair!

Alkborough Flats etc.....

A trip out today to a few sites around North Linc's with Dave, resulted in us seeing a few bits and bobs despite the storm force westerly wind.We started firstly at the excellent wetland reserve at Alkborough flats.The best birds here where my first Pink-footed Geese of the Autumn with a total of 196 birds dodging the local wildfowlers guns!,a nice flock of 15 Little Egret,a feeding flock of smart,winter plumaged Spotted Redshank which totalled 8 birds and a nice group of 57 Ruff,with one really smart white headed male.Also observed here,between the reserve and Trent Falls/Blacktoft Sands,where 5 Pintail and 4 Marsh Harrier.The next site we visited was Far-Ings,where the best bird was a single Bar-tailed Godwit feeding along the shore infront of the reserve,with other birds seen including a single Chiffchaff,57 Shoveler and a smart male Sparrowhawk.The final site we visited was Worlaby Carrs,where by this time the weather had got even more blustery,the best birds observed where a group of 5 Green Sandpipers feeding in the Soak drain,a single Treecreeper and a solitary Swallow.