Herrieven Highland Tour

Day 1 - Brough to Aviemore

Leaving Brough just after 9, we headed North towards our first target bird in Cumbria. Arriving at 11.30, we immediately saw the bird before we'd even stopped the car, albeit distantly. Feeding along side the stone walls we had 4 Black Grouse (161), far easier than I'd expected them to be at this time of the day. Driving a little further on, we then found another 3 feeding much closer to the road.

 Male Black Grouse

Continuing along the road and looking further back into the same field we found a total of 12 males altogether. Surprise of the day then came when a Hooded Crow (162), flew over the field being mobbed by the nesting waders, totally unexpected and one we thought we'd have to wait until Scotland for.

By now it was time to make tracks for Aviemore and we headed towards the M6 getting a couple of roadside Red Grouse (163), on the way.

We arrived in Aviemore just before 6pm and checked into our accommodation for the next few days. We then headed out hoping to make the best of the last couple of hours of daylight. The rain didn't help but we struck lucky with a fabulous pair of Black throated Diver (164), at a nearby loch. Also seen here were Goosander, Goldeneye, breeding Redwing and Mistle Thrush.

Pair of Black throated Diver (honestly!!)

All in all a fabulous start to our trip, let's hope the weather holds off for the next few days. 

A Lot To Catch Up On

With next weeks trip to Scotland rapidly approaching, I thought I'd better catch up on a few bits and pieces I've seen over the last few weeks.

Monday 18th April
Finally connected with 2 Corn Buntings on the way to North Cave, having managed to miss them everywhere else!!

Tuesday 19th April

Had my first, if a little brief, visit to Welton Waters today and was amazed how many birds were about, it had warmed up quite a lot so had probbaly helped. My only year tick of the afternoon was Whitethroat, but had my best ever views of 3+ Cetti's Warbler plus Marsh Harrier and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Cetti's Warbler (Listen until the end)

Friday 22nd April

With a few possible year ticks at Tophill, I headed up for a few hours. The first hide delivered  in the form of a Common Sandpiper, which was apparently the first of the year for the site, so was nice. Into South Marsh East Hide for the next, which had reportedly been elsuive. First bird in front of the hide, with the naked eye was the hoped for Red Crested Pochard!!

Drake Red Crested Pochard (unfortunately spent most of the time asleep!)

Next up was a bird that I'd been struggling with this year, having failed several times at North Cave, but finally caught up with Lesser Whitethroat. Again there were plenty of Cetti's Warblers, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs but didn't have time to try for the elusive Garganey at Hempholme.

Monday 25th April

The second Garden Mega of the year and again while I was putting the rubbish out...

Male Blackcap

Despite the awful weather yet again, I decided to go to North Cave and was rewarded with my first Reed Warbler of the year along with a patch tick in the form of Pink Footed Goose on Island Lake.

Pink Footed Goose

Despite the worsening weather conditions, I also managed another Lesser Whitethroat as well as a pair of Blackcap.

Tuesday 26th April

Having been gripped off by the stunning photos of the confiding Kentish Plover in Manchester yesterday, I decided to have a go for it once the kids had been picked up from school. Driving through heavy rain, snow showers, debris strewn across the motorway and football traffic, I thought it wasn't going to be my night and even more so when I arrived at Audenshaw Reservoir, to find the gate locked!!! Fortunately a couple of locals showed me the loose bars on the 6ft fence and I was able to squeeze through, ssshhhhh!!! The bird could be seen almost immediately but I was hoping for better views so joined the small crowd on the opposite bank. 

The twitch

My view

Male Kentish Plover, my first for 20 years and only my third ever

Friday 29th April

With several good birds on offer at North Cave yesterday, I had hoped some of them might have stuck around until today but with atrocious weather, I felt somewhat lucky to see my first Common Tern of the year on Main lake, along with a Common Sandpiper. Moving up to Crosslands hide, there were several Lesser Black backed Gulls along with, rather surprisingly, my first Knot for the reserve, a bit of a surprise!

Knot

British Year List: 159

Yorkshire Year List: 153

North Cave Year List: 95

Back To Blackoft!!

Tuesday 12th April

Surprise of the day when I had my first ever Chiffchaff in the garden, unfortunately it was only seen briefly but nevertheless a great record. After finishing some work off, I headed to North Cave, the East path seemed to be crawling with birds, several Blackcap, Willow Warblers and lots of calling Chiffchaffs. Viewing from Crosslands hide, there was a Little Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin.

It was there, honestly!! Must start keeping a pair of bins more handy

Friday 15th April

Having sorted a few bits at home first thing, I decided to head out in search of a few year ticks. With news of a few Sedge Warblers and Lesser Whitethroats at North Cave, I was tempted but with the possibility of a few extra waders at Blacktoft, I headed along the M62. Just before turning off towards Goole, I noticed a huge black bird above the motorway, a Raven!!

Carrying on towards Blacktoft, my first Swallows of the year were seen in Swinefleet, Arriving at the reserve, there were several Sedge Warblers as well as a few calling Cetti's Warblers. I then went in all of the hides but it was soon apparent that wader numbers were very low partly due to the weeks high tide, there was also no sign of the  pair of Garganey. Other birds seen included the large Black tailed Godwit flock, a small flock of Avocets and a booming Bittern. Also seen was several Marsh Harriers visiting their nests and one fantastic food pass.

Having decided to cut my losses, I headed back to North Cave in the hope of having time to connect with the 3 year ticks present. Arriving a short while later, I was immediately greeted with my first House Martin of the year as I got out of the car. With no sign of the Lesser Whitethroat around the South hide, I walked down the West path towards the North field. Having missed them on Tuesday, it was nice to catch up with the 5+ White Wagtails and in amongst them were 2 Yellow Wagtails.

Yellow Wagtail

Also in the same field was a very distant Wheatear, a great day all round!

British Year List: 151

Yorkshire Year List: 146

North Cave Year List: 86

North Cave Life List: 118

Scoter and A Few Seabirds

Saturday 26th March

With all of the recent sightings of inland Common Scoter, it came as no surprise when one was found on the Main Lake at North Cave. After a quick detour on the way home from Toby's football session, we were once again on site, viewing a new site and year tick.

Common Scoter - South Hide, Main Lake

We then headed over to the Crosslands hide, where there was now several "newly arrived" Sand Martins hawking over the pools., The Black tailed Godwit was also still present and the Avocet numbers had increased to 20+ birds.

Thursday 31st March

With the Easter holidays upon us, I knew birding would be extremely limited. My only opportunity came with a picnic trip to RSPB Bempton. Having read on their blog the night before, I wasn't expecting too much as it had said that the majority of the puffins had left the cliffs a few days before and were yet to return, great!!! Fortunately, I needn't have worried. Getting out of the car on arrival, I immediately saw my first Gannets of the year gliding along the clifftop. After a quick picnic lunch by the newly, vastly improved visitor centre, we headed down to the viewpoints. 

 Looking down to the sea way below, there were large numbers of Puffin in amongst the Razorbills and Guillemots resting on the water. Amy and Toby were beginning to doubt my i.d skills so had to do a bit of emergency reading up!!

As if they'd doubt their Daddy's ability to pick out a year tick or two!!

Scanning the cliffs from the large wooden viewpoints, we managed to pick out several nesting Puffins and some quite convincing looking Rock Doves. Not really sure what to make of these, quite a few genuine looking birds with pure white rumps but also quite a few that didn't look so good. There seems to be a fair few ticking these as Feral/Rock Doves on BUBO, but as I waited for my first as a lifer, on Shetland, I think I'll wait for one on my trip to Mull in early May. 

Amy hogging the scope from Toby!!

Feral/Rock Dove??

Kittiwake, Guillemot, Puffin and Feral/Rock Dove

Heading back towards the car, I finally had my first Meadow Pipits of the year. Next up was a trip to Flamborough for an......................................

Once again, the kids had done me proud and had put up with me trying to keep the 2016 list ticking along!!

Finally, a photo taken last year at Bempton by a really good friend of mine, Norfolk based photographer, Stuart Butcher

Take a look at some of his stunning images at: Stuart Butcher Photography

Friday 8th March

Off out for tea with the kids tonight and, as I'm sure Liz and any other birders partner would tell you, I'm always birding, no matter when and where. This time it paid off again with a pre-roost small flock of Whimbrel heading north over the A63 near Welton!!

British Year List: 142

Yorkshire Year List: 137

North Cave Year List: 76

North Cave Life List: 114

Potteric Carr.........again!!!

Tuesday 15th March

A quick trip to North Cave and a walk round the perimeter path, gave me my first Ringed Plover of the year as well as a Herring Gull being mobbed on Island Lake.

Wednesday 16th March

With a few reports of Lesser spotted Woodpeckers being seen in Yorkshire over the last weekend, including one again at Potteric Carr, I decided to have another trip to search for one. My plan was to head to Studley Royal Deer Park where one had been reported on Saturday, this was scuppered with the Potteric Carr again being seen by those looking for the Firecrest in Black Carr Woods on Tuesday.

After sorting the kids for school, I headed down the motorway and was soon on site. Reports were that the bird had been seen up near the visitor centre on Saturday, with a finch flock, strange behaviour in itself, then following the tit flock through Black Carr Woods on Tuesday. I headed straight down to the wood but after searching for a while, all I had found was my first Chiff-chaff of the year. Several Cetti's Warblers were heard calling along the path to Piper Marsh and Turret Hide as well as a showy Willow Tit. Crossing over Mother drain, I had a Kingfisher fly up and over the bridge. Next stop was West Hide, where after scanning the vast reedbeds, I had a Bittern flapping up and over the reed fringe and onto the next scrape. I carried on along to the Turret Hide where the same(?) bird was heard booming several times in the same area. I spent the rest of the afternoon back in Black Carr Woods hoping that the woodpecker would put in an appearance but it was again very quiet with just a couple of Goldcrests and another Chiff-chaff.

Friday 18th March

Surprise of the week was a Yorkshire Lifer in the form of a couple of Egyptian Geese, seen from the M62 on the way to Howden.

Yorkshire Life List: 278
British Year List: 135
Yorkshire Year List: 130
North Cave Year List: 72

North Cave and Blacktoft

Thursday 10th March
With news coming through of the reappearance of a Kittiwake at North Cave Wetlands, I made a slight detour on the way home from our weekly swim. Unfortunately, Toby had forgotten his Mothercare bins, so it was up to me to relocate it with nobody else in the hide. The adult Med Gull was also still present.

Kittiwake

Mediterranean Gull

Friday 11th March

With the Hen Harriers regularly being seen at Blacktoft, I thought, I'd get my first crack at the species this year. First stop was Ousefleet hide for any waders. Since my visit last week, a flock of up to 100 Black tailed Godwits had returned.

Black tailed Godwits

Walking down towards Singleton hide, a Cetti's Warbler was heard calling from the reedbed, which was new for my Yorkshire life list. In the hide, there was no sign of any of the previous nights 3 Hen Harriers but a Short eared Owl was a bonus for the year.

Yorkshire Life List: 277

British Year List: 132

Yorkshire Year List: 126

North Cave Year List: 70

Out and About

Half term meant little birding other than on day trips out but managed the regular Grey Wagtail at Welton duck pond while feeding the ducks.

A flyover Yellowhammer on a trip to Rand Farm in Lincolnshire was a welcome bonus.

Next up was an afternoon drive to Spurn for the lingering Tundra Bean Goose in the Triangle. Also managed Knot, Golden Plover, Whooper Swans for the year as well as Dunlin, Pink Footed Goose, Little Egret and Brent Goose for the Yorkshire Year list.

 Tundra Bean Goose (right) and Pink footed Goose

Tuesday 23rd February
With the kids back at school, I took a trip up to Scalby Mills as the American Wigeon had returned from Castle Howard, the second I've seen at this site. On the way down to Wykeham, I stopped off at Hackness and had a drake Mandarin on the lake. Up at Wykeham a pair of Goshawks displayed in the cold afternoon sunshine. Heading home I stopped off at Wykeham Fishing Lakes where a single Barnacle Goose was amongst the goose flock.

American Wigeon

Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint

Friday 26th February
Today was a trip up to the Lower Derwent Valley, a place I hadn't visited before but was really impressed by the amount of birds about. Three new year ticks included Skylark at Bubwith Ings, 4 White fronted Geese at Ellerton Ings and a single Scaup at Aughton from the churchyard.

Monday 29th February
With the relocation of the Long-eared Owl at Blacktoft RSPB, I had a quick drive out, close views were had as it roosted in the bushes to Ousefleet Hide.

Long-eared Owl

Very little else on the reserve as yet but a single brief Bearded Tit out in the reedbed kept the yearlist moving along.

Tuesday 1st March

Today saw another new site for me, Potteric Carr. A great place with so much fantastic habitat spread over a huge area. The main target of the day was Bittern but despite spending a couple of hours in Piper Marsh hide, there was no sign, although a squeaking Water Rail was some compensation. Stonechat was seen flycatching out in the reedbed from Beeston hide, Willow Tit from Willow hide and a Kingfisher along Mother drain

Monday 7th March

No sign of the previous days Kittiwake at North Cave but a Green Woodpecker and the first returning Avocets of the year were nice, also seen was the drake Mandarin which was new for me for the reserve and a Mediterranean Gull was seen from South hide.

Tuesday 8th March

Today saw the longest "twitch" of the year so far for a year tick, Long-billed Dowitcher at Egleton Nature Reserve at Rutland Water, Leics.

 Long-billed Dowtcher

Heading round to the North Arm, I soon managed to pick out the wintering mixture of grebes, Slavonian, Red necked and 3 Black necked. Also seen were 2 Red Kites driving between the reserve and the A1.

British Year List: 128

Yorkshire Year List: 122

North Cave Year List: 69