Blackstone Edge Reservoir & Whiteholme Reservoir

   The Sanderlings that had been present had moved on by yesterday morning, but there continues to be some excellent wader action on the exposed shoreline, especially at Blackstone Edge. Yesterday there were seven Ringed Plover, but this had increased to 13 this morning. Dunlin numbers remained steadier, with six on both mornings. Yesterday also had an Oystercatcher, which had moved on by this morning. 

  Whiteholme, by contrast, has struggled for waders, although it is not a surprise given the more limited shoreline. A single Dunlin and a single Ringed Plover have been present on both days, otherwise just the usual species present.

  

  I tried to turn one of the Dunlins on Blackstone Edge into the arctica subspecies as opposed to the local common schinzii. The overall colouration was paler than the other birds, with a distinct short bill, but the complete black belly eventually made me leave it unclaimed. The suspect Dunlin is the individual photographed at the bottom here. Paying attention to Dunlin subspecies is something I need to try and do more often, given that there are three potential candidates, and it is extremely rare for me to find myself overwhelmed by birds when checking these sites! 

-Ringed Plover

-Dunlin

 

Whiteholme Birding; updates from the week 04th - 06th September

  The rainier conditions this week has seen us return to Whiteholme for some birding. Initially, this was simply so we could go somewhere that the birding would not be so affected by the weather, but as it happened the birds were good to us and so we kept going throughout the week. In total we made three visits to the reservoir on consecutive days and on each day the birding was brilliant with good numbers of waders.

• The rarest visitors of the week were a pair of Ruff that we found on our first visit on the 04^th. They were not super confiding but a new island that has emerged in the Northeast of the reservoir has proved popular with wader throughout the week, and we were able to get good views of them as they fed here. The birds remained present until the 06^th, which was our last visit of the week. This is a Halifax tick for me, and certainly helped pay off the effort of visiting this site. 

• A message from JJL reporting big numbers of waders during the afternoon of the 05^th, including some Sanderling, was all the motivation we needed to find ourselves heading back up to Whiteholme for our second day. John was not wrong, as the wader numbers were really quite impressive, and lurking among them were no less than five pristine juvenile Sanderlings. The juveniles of this species are some of my favourite waders, so this was well appreciated. The birds kept their distance at all times, so no close photos, but when they flew as a flock it was like being back on the Humber. Nice one John.

• As mentioned, there were good numbers of waders present on the 05^th, but there were also good numbers before and after this date. The two species involved were Common Ringed Plover and Dunlin. On the 04^th there was a small group of four Ringos and seven Dunlin, but the numbers really peaked on the 05^th with no less than 13 Ringed Plover and 10 Dunlin. The following day the Ringed Plover total remained the same but the Dunlin count almost halved with just six remaining. Crucially however, we noticed that one of these Dunlin had a yellow Darvic ring, as well as another ring that, after talking with PC, is probably a standard metal ring stained by the peat. Frustratingly we could get close enough to read the code, so the bird's story will remain a mystery. 

• Also on the 04^th was a nice group of six Common Snipe feeding on the edge of the reservoir, the first time I have seen them doing this here. The following day there were two snipe on the edge of the pools on the northeast side of the reservoir, presumably birds settling in to their winter quarters. 

Although Waders form most of the billing for this site, they are not the only points of interest and this there were a few migrant birds also at the site. 

• There have been really good numbers of Wheatears feeding on the rocks and shoreline of the reservoir. We estimated at least 10 on the 04^th, which was our only morning visit of the week, with the other afternoon visits providing six and eight respectively. Its always good to see these handsome birds before they leave.

• On the 04^th there were four Stonechat feeding with the Wheatears on the reservoir dam wall, including two very dapper males. Strangely we did not see any on either of the other days we visited, but they could have only been passage migrants quickly on their way after a quick stop. 

• There was no visible passage as such, but on the 04^th two Sand Martin flew to the east, and on the 05^th a Swift flew high south, which will almost certainly be my last Swift in the UK this year.  

-Ruff

-Common Snipe

-Sanderling with Dunlin & Ringed Plover

-Dunlin carrying a Darvic ring

-Wader flock

-Northern Wheatear

-Stonechat

Species List:
Whiteholme Reservoir:  Eurasian Teal, Red Grouse, Common Swift, Common Ringed Plover, Ruff, Sanderling, Dunlin, Common Snipe, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Wren, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, 

Spurn Day 16

 Once more the day started off with thick fog, and sleep. When I awoke the situation was improving for once or at least on the weather front. I had slept through the wader roost, but since I could hardly have seen them anyways it seems little loss. There was no sign of the curlew sand from the last few days, probably skulking in the fog until it cleared, then headed off to the Humber to feed.

The usual cast were all present, but I learned today that the Sandwich Terns on the pond are actually from a population in Holland. The things that ringing can teach you.

There was good movement of Little Gull all morning, with 6 birds moving at 8.45 but peaking to at least 11 by 9.30. Many of these were adults but there were a couple of first years around, one of which stayed all day. They are lovely birds Little Gulls, wholly underappreciated.

-Little Gull

I actually did not spend much time at the hide today, as a long haul shopping trip was required mid-day. I just worry about the amount of bother the terns were getting from the public, as there seemed to be an excess of blatantly ignorant people around, who simply ignored your requests to tell them to move.

The only thing bothering the colony besides the people was a Juvenile Greater Black-Backed Gull, with which the terns were fine if the gull sat next to them, but if it was in flight was a cause to rise and call and mob the bird. The GBBG must have been very confused. The only other predator was an Arctic Skua out to sea, but it did not approach the colony, probably as a consequence of the horse riders along the shore. I grabbed a few truly awful record shots, but they will do.

-Arctic Skua

The real fun of today occurred when Paul and Tim came up to the colony to do some ringing of the young terns. Our systematic searches failed to find any on the shoreline or in Area B, where we expected but in area A we found 3, one of which was old enough to ring. I was allowed to hold the bird too, a real honour, while it was photographed.

Since we had got a fairly poor turnout from the terns, not unsurprising given most were now juveniles, Paul decided to try and ring some Ringed Plover. These chicks were well on their feet and present slightly more of a challenge than the terns, which were very docile. There were 3 Ringed Plover chicks, so that was one each. I swear mine was the liveliest, as it darted around, Zig Zagging all over the place and going under frustrating fences. I eventually got it after about a minuet of chasing, involving dives and near misses, and despair. Once in the hand though they were very docile and easy to deal with. Tim rung them and then we let them go. It was one of the most fun things I have done since I got here, and that is saying something.

-Ringed Plover

I had intended to stay a little longer today, as compensation for the extended break, but at 5.00 the sea fret made a return and within 5 mins it had gone from decent visibility to hardly being able to see anything. As a result I decided to call it quits there, since there seemed little point in staying.

So despite it being quiet overall it was one of the most enjoyable days I have had and the chasing of the ringed plovers was something I will never forget.

The Daily Oystercatcher

Another fairly standard day for the Oyks, with much feeding and wing stretching going on. Once more the birds tended to stay in pairs, although one chick was left to wander on its own for a bit when its adult decided to go for a kip on one of the crab pots. Of course, as the chicks are unable to fly, the adults went bezerk when we were rounding up the plovers for ringing, but they tended to stay away despite the adults obvious frustration.

Species List:

Beacon Pools: Grey Plover, Little Tern, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Little Egret, Swallow, Woodpigeon, Greater Black-Backed Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Cormorant, Skylark, Mute Swan, Gannet, Little Gull, Swift, Mallard, Sanderling, whimbrel, Arctic Skua, Pheasant, Sand Martin, Redshank, Grey Seal, Brown Hare

Spurn Day 15

Well today I got very familiar with fog. I arrived on site at 5.00 to a blanket of fog. You could sort of make out some mass of waders on the ponds edge but that was about all. As a result I slept off the first few hours, finally waking for good at around 9.00, to still thick fog. The conditions did not improve much over the day and as a result birding today was very quiet.

Once I had awoken I set about seeing what was about. Given the fog counting terns would be a waste of time, as half of them I would not be able to see. I set about scanning the shoreline, and the first bird I came across, the very first bird, was the adult Curlew Sandpiper that has graced me with its presence for the last 3 days. Since today had the makings of a quiet day I decided to go down to try and grab some photos of it. It flew off before I even got close, but moved round to behind the hide to join a small flock of Dunlin. Now these Dunlin behind the hide were a very approachable lot yesterday, and so I hoped that it would remain the same with the addition of Curlew Sandpiper to their ranks.

It was indeed the case, and I spent most of the morning getting great views of the Curlew Sand as it went about feeding among the dunlins. In addition, I also got some great shots of the bird to add to my gallery that I have built up over the past few days. These are without doubt the best of those I have got so far.

-Curlew Sandpiper

There was not much happening otherwise, though the Curlew Sand did grace me with its presence for the whole day, even when the tide was well and truly out. I tried to do a tern count from Long Bank and got most of them I think, but there were areas that were just too foggy to work out, and that made it very difficult.

On my tern counting trip I flushed a Common Sandpiper from the bank, not especially common here, so I tried to grab a few shots of it as it was on the bank. However it saw me before I spotted it and flew off round and presumably over the bank as I never re-found it. However I managed a flight shot, which tells you all you need to know.

-Common Sandpiper

The morning passed and afternoon came on, just as quiet as the morning had been. There was only one assault on my terns during the whole day, from a Herring Gull, but they soon saw that off. Other highlights from the tern area were small numbers of Little Gull of a variety of ages which came and went during the day, always nice to see.

The best pics I got from the afternoon were of birds that came close during a Curlew Sand photography session, namely Ringed Plover and Little Tern. The terns were fishing quite close to the area, while the Ringed Plovers were just doing what the always do.

-Little Tern

-Ringed Plover

And that really sums it up. I left early there was so little going on and headed back to the warren to sort out some food. All in all a decent day by average standards, but the high calibre of days recently has made it feel a little quiet.

The Daily Oystercatcher

But at least these birds kept busy. Always running around and feeding, whilst pestering their parents for more food. Once more the chicks tended to have an adult each whilst going round in pairs. The parent also left the chicks alone at times today, and indication of how well their developing. The chicks also showed a lot of wing stretching, revealing that their feathers are becoming more and more developed daily. They are growing up fast.

Species List:

Beacon Ponds: Little Tern, Sandwich Tern, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Little Egret, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Dunlin, Little Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Arctic Tern, Common Tern, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Herring Gull, Great Black-Backed Gull, Skylark, Swallow, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Starling, Sand Martin, Curlew Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Small Skipper, Wall Brown, Red Admiral, Ruddy Darter,

Orgreave Lakes

Today was a day that I had intended to spend in the flat saying farewell to the last guys still around, but at 12.00 I decided that since it was such a nice day, birdwatching seemed like the only really sensible option, so off I popped to Orgreave, possibly for the last time this semester.

I arrived on site in glorious weather. I really wanted hobby today, a species I have only seen once before. I therefore spent a lot of time with eyes to the sky. My first bird was a large soaring bird that turned out to be a very large gull, so presumably Greater Black-Backed. There were also numerous swifts, again skimming the water and other hirundines in smaller numbers, though I got exception views of Sand Martin as they flew over the causeway between the lakes.

The first thing I stopped for a photo of was not a bird, but a dragonfly. When I spotted it landed I identified it as a Black-Tailed Skimmer, but then there was another, a juvenile too. I was pleased to have found these two, my first of the year, but was unable to get very close.

-Black-Tailed Skimmers

I positioned myself on the western side of the causeway to set up and see what dropped in. There were not many people about, but those that were seemed hell bent of ignoring all the signs that said 'please don't walk here, nesting birds' so that there was turned very mobile.

That being Little Ringed Plover, Redshank and Pied Wagtails. The LRP I was unable to re-located for photos, as I think it headed up the bank where I had seen one before. There was also one on the island in the center of the small lake as well, which I was able to track down. I spent some time watching the swifts, but was unable to find any hobbys among them.

The real highlight from this position was a small family of Great-Crested Grebes on the lake. There was an adult and 2 chicks, the adult was feeding the chicks and they were quite close to the bank so I was able to get some good views.

I decided to move off, but in hindsight chose a terrible time as a couple with a dog had decided to walk along the side of the lake rather than on a path. I was very tempted to make some sarcastic comment, but the confrontational side of me is very small so I unfortunately I kept quiet.

On the bird front there was a Redshank calling from the mound, where it was calling from last time too, so they probably have a nest in there. 

-Redshank

On the waterside, when I finally overtook the morons, I found a pair of ringed plover chicks, they were well grown so obviously managed to survive the perils of the site. I was able to approach them, as they did not seem to mind me watching from the bank. What they did mind was the dog, but since they were grown they had no issue in moving off and flew away to a different part of the lake.

-Juvenile Ringed Plovers

I continued round having finally got rid of the morons, but did not have many additions. Those that I had included Stock Dove and Grey Heron. 

I decided to head off after a bit. I kept my eyes on the sky and spotted a small speck in the distance, which was moving erratically and seemed to have a pale colour, but it kept moving away and when I say in the distance I mean really far away. I thought hobby, but I guess its another that just got away.

But it convinced me to stick around to see if it would come to hunt the swifts that had gathered in great numbers above. Despite my vigil and constant swift checking I was unable to find it among the birds around.

But I did find another year tick in the form of Brown Hawker which seems extremely early to me for this species. As usual with hawker dragonflies I was unable to get a photo as it started to hunt the pathway. But either way I was pleased to have found it, my first proper large dragonfly of the year.

Species List:

Orgreave Lakes: Starling, Dunnock, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Black-Headed Gull, Blackbird, Mallard, Mute Swan, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail, Grey Heron, Lapwing, Tufted Duck, Coot, Great-Crested Grebe, Meadow Pipit, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Greater Black-Backed Gull, Common Redshank, Reed Bunting, Stock Dove, Skylark, House Martin, Little-Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Sand Martin, Willow Warbler, Swallow, Canada Goose, Graylag Goose, Swift, Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Large White, Common Blue Damselfly, Black-Tailed Skimmer, Brown Hawker 

Orgreave Lakes twitching Little Stint

 After yesterdays excursions which resulted in me achieving very little revision today was meant to be a productive day, and it was, but for the wrong reasons. Yesterday I had considered missed the G.W Egret and going for a pair of little stints at Orgreave, since it was closer. No matter, I went for the egret and was justly rewarded for my decision.

However, after my first period of revision it came up on birdguides that the stints were there again. I looked at my revision notes, looked at the weather (Appalling) and decided to just go for it. It took long enough to get there, and the weather only continued to get worse. In fact during the walk round I got more wet that I can ever really recall, even my underwear was soaked.

And it looked like it was not going to be my day, with no sign of them with any of the plovers I found, or with the Redshanks, or with the Lapwing. There were simply incredible views of all 3 hirundine species and of swifts, the latter of which were even skimming the surface of the lakes. I was surprised they were out in such force given the weather was so poor, but they gave me something on the walk round.

But round the far side of the lake I spotted 2 small brown waders with a Ringed Plover on the bank. I had a look and they seemed good but they were a way away, so I approached, only to find that they had gone while I was approaching. The mix of emotions I experienced at that moment was incredible. I resigned myself to the fact that it was going to be one of those days.

But fortunately they had not gone far, and around the headland I stumbled across them again and was able to view them and get some reasonable record shots. Having never seen a stint before I was initially dubious of my identification despite the fact that they seemed good, but another birder came soon looking for the gargany (Which I did not see) and he confirmed it for me.

In the weather as such and the fact that I do not have the worlds greatest scope I was unable to really appreciate all the intricate beauty of their plumage, but certain features I could make out, such as the white stripes on the back. Unfortunatly, as they had shown earlier, they were very mobile, and the view of them only lasted around 10 mins before they decided to move off onto the far side of the lake. It was probably a good thing, as it was already 2.00 and I did need to get back to work.

So that is my 11th lifer of the year, and the second of the weekend, what an incredible year its been. I tried to get some record shots but was not overly successful, but follows are my attempts:

-2 Little Stints and Ringed Plover

But like I say, my photos are not great, so here is someone else photo from the day before, of the same bird's, showing in more detail the plumage.

-Little Stint and Ringed Plover (Not my photo)

The rain did stop in the end, while I was at the bus stop, but since I had got my bird it did not really matter. It was well worth it in the end and I am well happy. So the day list, not that I really kept one.

Species List

Orgreave Lakes: Swift, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Black-Headed Gull, Mallard, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Woodpigeon, Goldfinch, Cormorant, Tufted Duck, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Meadow Pipit, Herring Gull, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Skylark, House Martin, Sand Martin, Swallow, Ringed Plover, Canada Goose, Graylag Goose, Little Stint,

Orgreave Lakes

I got back to the flat at 3 that this afternoon, maybe intending to take the afternoon lightly, work on my essay kind of thing. When I checked birdguides every single site I have ever visited while at uni had seen arctic terns go through, including Orgreave. Their terns were at 7.00 in the morning though. However since I had time I decided to go for it, just in case.

They were not there. The highlights for my trip were Ringed Plover on the near shoreline which was lovely to see, but the real highlight was the sheer number of hirundines that were all over the lake, of all 3 species. Whats more is that they were coming very close, so I got incredible views.

-Ringed Plover

-Hirundines

I would like to say they were ample compensation for missing out on the terns but it did not feel like that at the time. I seemed to be destined to miss out on this influx...

Species List:

Orgreave Lakes: Linnet, Skylark, Woodpigeon, Sand Martin, House Martin, Swallow, Canada Goose, Graylag Goose, Mallard, Jay, Great Crested Grebe, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Wheatear, Gadwall, Pied Wagtail, Coot, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Tufted Duck, Meadow Pipit, Carrion Crow, Mute Swan,

Orgreave Lakes

I decided that after my lecture today I would go to Orgreave Lakes to see what all the fuss was about. Orgreave, for anyone who does not know won the inland patchwork challenge last year and has been described as one of the best new nature reserves, though it is in fact a development site, so I dunno how long its going to remain  like this.

Its convenient to get to, only one 40 min bus journey and then your there, hence why I had enough time after lectures. The weather was fluctuating but for the whole time I was there it held out and was a rather nice day. As soon as I arrived I spotted my first year-tick of the day-Skylark, singing up very high, hence it took a few moments to locate but I managed it.

I followed the path round the two lakes and found more and more skylarks and meadow pipits too, all in good numbers. The real birds I wanted to see were ringed plover and so I was checking all the shorelines. There were Cormorants, mallards, gulls, coots, moorhens, Canada geese and mute swans, as well as Gadwall. I made my way round to the second lake following a small group of Mipits and managed to track down some skylarks that were less flighty

-Skylark

The second lake was bigger but still had a good variety of wildfowl on offer, including tufted duck and goosander. There was quite a big goosander flock and they drifted in quite close so I was able to get a record shot.

-Goosander

I followed the path but it lingered nearer the river now rather than the ponds, there was less here, but still stuff to be had. The highlight was a pair of teal, as well as gadwall and mallards.

I reached the point at which the lakes stopped but the site carried on, and as I had never been before I decided to carry on going up the river. I did not get very far, but on that bit of the walk I spotted lapwings on the far fields and there were a lot off bumble-bees next to the path. But the highlight of this part of the walk as that 3 hirundines flew over me. They were not swallows and seemed quite dark so I reckon house martin, though only sand martins were recorded from the site today. Either way its my first Hirundines of the year so that was very exciting.

I then turned back and continued walking around the lakes. I continued to scout the shores and eventually got lucky when I spotted a small brown bird feeding on the water edge. I got closer and was please to find that it was a ringed plover, no less than the bird I had wanted. However, there was a twist in the tail because as I approached I began to realise that this was not actually a ringed plover but a little ringed plover, a species I am very unfamiliar with. I only realised what it was a few mins before it took off. They had not been recorded at the site yet this year, so I wondered if I was the one that had found the first, but when I got home I found that somebody had been earlier and found them first. I say them because they spotted 2, whereas I only found the one.

-Little Ringed Plover

I continued on the way round and added to my list oystercatcher, wigeon and actual ringed plover. I found a pair of ringed plovers on the far side of the first lake, so that was nice, actually finding the birds I had wanted to see. This time there was no doubt, the orange on the bill was unmistakable through the bins. They were quite flighty and there was a dog running around so I was unable to get particularly close. But either way I managed a record shot.

-Ringed Plover

I decided to wander back so that I was not late for football, and I had seen the site and wandered round. I was well impressed, even as I was leaving I spotted another teal on the river which was quite close, or at least close enough for me to get a record shot.

-Common Teal

I was almost out when I decided to check out a marshy area for jack snipe. I found none but did flush a female reed  bunting which was nice, another species for the day. But that was not the highlight, as I also found my first identifiable butterfly of the year; small tortoiseshell. I realise now though that I had the wrong lens on as I had been photographing birds, and so was unable to get a great shot of it, either way I still managed a shot to record this, my second butterfly of the year.

-Small Tortoiseshell

And that was that. I was pretty impressed with the site and will defiantly be coming back multiple times due to the ease of getting there. And I had recorded 4 year ticks for the day, bringing me to the bumper score of 88!