Chesterfield

You know whats coming. 

As soon as the news of a Crag Martin in Chesterfield broke on the Sunday I was off like a shot, but due to public transport the bird left for its second and final time 5 minuets before I arrived on site. I was pretty gutted but waited 3 hours til dark to see if it would roost. It did not, and I considered that that then...

Until this morning, when I awoke to see it had been seen again, despite not being seen to roost. I waited for a second news update and then went again. This time though I was in luck, and as soon as I rounded the corner to the famous crooked spire I could see the bird. Sadly the weather and light were appalling, but when the bird flew with the church spire behind it you could make out the features on it and when it banked the tail 'windows' showed up very nicely, a real stunner. 

I tried to get some photos but the bird was just moving too fast and the light was not helpful. The situation took a turn for the worse after nearly 400 photos when my camera viewfinder blacked out. I thought I had broken it, but as I found out when I got home I just flicked a switch by accident, It was a bummer though, as the light did improve as the morning wore on.  

-Crooked Spire of Chesterfield

-Crag Martin

It spent most of its time whizzing round the spire at some speed. On two occasions it did land briefly, but briefly would be putting it mildly as it was not long at all. It dissapeared for an hour between 12 and 1, but it came back better than before, flying low over our heads, and giving pretty sweet views through the bins. 

-Crag Martin

What a day it was, and over the course of the day I got to bump into a few NGB and a few of the Spurn birders which was a nice addition, especially yesterday when I thought I missed it. Shout-out to Clive who gave me a lift back to Sheffield after. What a super day

I thought I had made it back for my lectures, but as it turned out I had got the times wrong and ended up missing them anyway, so compensated by spending the rest of the day in Library trying to finish my essay for Wednesdays deadline. The things we do for birds...

Species List:

Chesterfield: Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Crag Martin, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Herring Gull, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Sparrowhawk, Long-tailed Tit