Out And About In North Linc's.........

Female Common Darter.

Male Migrant Hawker.

A trip out around a few sites with Dave today saw us enjoying a decent days birding in the local area.We began on the patch at Bonby and walked down to the river seeing a few nice birds along the way,the best of which was the resident Common Crane which was watched feeding in a stubble field just over the river in Appleby Carrs.It again,showed nicely in the early morning sun today and looked like it was feeding on spilt grain from the recent harvesting activities,what a smart bird!.Other birds here included 3 Greenshank,flying up from one of the almost dry pools,a good count of at least 260 Goldfinch and 5 Common Buzzard.Other sightings included a single Water Vole and a single Brown Argus.A stop at South Ferriby en-route to Alkborough Flats,saw us enjoying some nice birds,with the highlight being 3 juv. Hobby watched hunting along the Island and adjacent fields,not sure were these birds originated from,they could be local?,but they gave great views all the same,with one perching on a clod of earth,before carrying on its way.Also here was a single juv. Curlew Sandpiper which was associating with a mixed flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover,only being seen in flight and masses of ducks,waders and gulls flushed by a couple of hunting Marsh Harrier,made for an amazing spectacle!.Our final port of call was the excellent Alkborough Flats and after enjoying a very nice bacon buttie and cuppa,we began our wander around the reserve.Highlights here included 9 Spoonbill(8 on Whitton Sand and 1 on the reserve) all doing what Spoonbills do 90% of the time,sleep and 9 Ruddy Shelduck also on Whitton Sand,with a decent count of 17 Little Egret on the reserve along with at least 10 Ruff,5 Greenshank,1 Green Sand and 9 Pintail.The latter are the first of the autumn i have observed.There were quite a few insects on the wing with the best being a single Wall and 3 species of Dragons,including a female Southern Hawker and several Migrant Hawker.An excellent day out!.