Soil Hill; Week 28th June - 04th July

 Soil Hill
  This week has seen rather limited visits to Soil Hill due to twitching rare seabirds and visiting Spurn for birthdays. However, that does not mean that there has been nothing of note. As is typical during this time of year, juveniles of nearby breeders disperse onto the Hill providing some variety in the species composition. This week saw the first juvenile Great-spotted Woodpecker of the year flew north on the 29^th, and there has been at least one juvenile Coal Tit present on and off throughout the week. On the 01^st a juvenile Stonechat was again present, but this time at the bottom of the North Slope.
  Otherwise the locals have continued their busy feeding their fledglings or nestlings. Whitethroat and Willow Warbler juveniles are now in abundance, as are both Great and Blue Tits. The Mistle Thrush have continued to run a busy feeding schedule and hopefully it will soon be time for the large creches to start congregating on the wires. At least two juvenile Pied Wagtails are providing entertainment on Taylor Lane and juvenile Corvids can be found in all the fields. 

-Coal Tit

-Blue Tit

-Great-spotted Woodpecker

Species List:
Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Common Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Swift, Common Moorhen, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Little Owl, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, European Stonechat, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Common Reed Bunting,

Potteric Carr YWT

Back in Sheffield to move stuff over to the new house gave me the chance to try and pick up some more year-ticks in the South Yorkshire area. I analysed the sightings and the possibilities were between a pair of spoonbills at Fairburn or green sandpiper at Potteric Carr. Having thought about it I decided Potteric was probably better as it cheaper and the bird seemed more likely.

I made my way over late morning on a really lovely day, looking forward to seeing what was on the site. I arrived in good time so had plenty of time to try and see something on the site. I headed down the main way through the reserve same as before to make my way up to the West Scrape where the green sands had been reported over the last few days. On the way up I picked up good numbers of insects including damselflies and brown butterflies: Ringlet and Speckled Wood.

Near the end of the road I picked up Banded Demoiselle which was looking lovely in the sunshine. However, there was a female and a male, but the female was much harder to track down and was not as easy to get a photo of.

-Banded Demoiselle

While I was trying to get some shots of the demoiselle I flushed a Southern Hawker, an adult male which actually spent a lot of time landed, so I was able to get some photos of an adult Southern Hawker landed, which had been eluding me. I was initially reluctant to try and get close, but soon I was able to get great views and photos of it.

-Southern Hawker

I moved onto the Piper Marsh Hide which is where the Kingfishers were, but there was nothing there except for a Pochard. I waited about 5 mins, but just as I was setting off the Kingfisher flew past the hide, but it did not stick around so I was unable to get any photos or anything.

I moved onto the West Scrape Hide where the green sand was meant to be. I moved in, possibly there being the most birds there I can ever remember being there, so things were looking up. The majority of birds were Black-Headed Gulls and Lapwings. I waited about 5 mins before the bird of the hour appeared on the near mudflat. Thrilled would not cover it, it was such a good view. And as a result I decided to watch the bird, which turned out to be a big mistake as the bird did not stick around. As soon as I raised my camera to take some photos the bird flew off. I grabbed one photo, and its out of focus, but the view I got of the bird flying off was very striking, clearly distinguishing it from common sand by its bright white rump.

-Green Sandpiper

I waited around for the bird to return, but it took significantly longer than I had anticipated. I ended up waiting a whole 2 and a half hours. And in that time I only managed another minuet with the bird, and again I decided to watch the bird rather than photograph it. And so for the moment my record shot remained the one poor quality photo.

There were a couple of other birders there, milling in and out. The original birders mentioned that there was a pair of Godwit around, which we identified from his photos as Black-Tailed. We also found a few Wigeon, and a juvenile Little-Ringed Plover, which had been around for some time and a Marsh Harrier and Buzzard, which frequently sent the gulls up. After a bit the Godwits re-appeared, though we don't really know how they appeared from, as they somehow moved from one side of the lake to the other without flying.

-Black-Tailed Godwit

-Little-Ringed Plover

After 2 and a half hours I decided enough was enough and that the bird was probably lost. I had seen it, got great views and the only thing that was missing was some good photos, but it just did not seem like it was going to show again.

I carried on round, not picking up many birds but I got great views of insects. The undoubted highlight was a Devil's Coach-Horse Beetle, a lifer for me. However, as I found frequently through the day, the wrong lens was on the camera and despite my attempts to keep the beetle occupied by keeping it on the path while I changed the lens, by the time I had managed to change the beetle had scurried under the grass and I was unable to re-locate.

I also picked up Emperor Dragonfly, Four-Spot Chaser and Black-Tailed Skimmer. There was also Ringlet butterfly in large numbers. However, that was the good side. On the bad side there was a Wasp, which decided to randomly sink its stinger into me, although having analysed the mark I think it may be a bite mark rather than a sting mark. I also accumulated about 20 mosquito bites, along my legs over the course of night.

In the main Duchess Hide there was not much happening, so after a short while I continued along the path, but I decided to return to the West Scrape Hide to try and see if the Green Sand had returned. Along the way back I picked up Red Admiral Butterfly, the positive, and Mink along the top of a drain, the negative.

-Red Admiral

Back in the West Scrape Hide I decided I would wait a little while, about 10 mins and see what happened. As it turned out, going back was a wise decision as the bird was showing again. As soon as I wandered into the hide it was on the near shore, but once more I had the wrong lens on. I grabbed a few shots with the 300 before trying to change, during which time the bird decided again to move out of sight. Brilliant!

I waited a little longer, but not too much, but it proved worthwhile as the bird did make another appearance, looking mighty fine, though initially behind the reeds, but soon it was out in the open enough to grab some decent record shots finally, so that I would not be left with a terrible gap in my collection.

-Green Sandpiper

While I had waited the Godwits that were still around had taken flight and given good views as they circled around the lake. They did not stay airbourn for long, but I got great views of the wing pattern, proving beyond doubt that they were Black-Tailed.

-Black-Tailed Godwit

After the green sand had gone I decided to head back, as it could be quite a walk back. Along the wooded edge of the main marsh I found quite a surprise species when I spotted a Willow Tit among a mixed tit flock. I was unable to get any photos, nor was the view particularly good but there was no mistaking the identity of the bird, a really nice surprise to have found.

I decided to call in at the Willow Pool Hide to see if there was anything on the feeders there, the initial willow tit putting me in the mood for more. However the feeders were dead, probably due to the presence of a pair of grey squirrels that were making the most of the bird food on offer. However, the limited birdlife did not seem interested in the seed put down, the only bird being a young Blue Tit that was pulling the seeds off a bulrush, slowly making its way round the head, leaving it bald. It was a great stand to get some photos from, and the positioning of the bird was not bad either.

-Blue Tit

Finally I had in mind to check the Loversall field to see what was about on there. In the past there were good numbers of Dragonflies on there, and I had in mind to try and track some down. On the way there I got a nice surprise when I spotted the tail of a Grass Snake disappear into the undergrowth, a poor and brief but very nice view.

The ponds were quite quiet, lots of Blue Damselflies but not much besides. There was one Four-Spot Chaser on the pond, which kept landing on a stick obviously left for it, but highly inaccessible without crashing through the poolside vegetation. 

It was here that I stumble across my first Emerald Damselfly of the year, resting deep in some sedge, making it difficult to photograph, but not impossible so I was able to grab some record shots of the individual. It made a nice addition to the days list. 

-Common Emerald Damselfly

And that was the last action of what was a very rewarding and productive day spent out in the sun. As I type this up this evening I am now nursing a very sore leg from all my insect related injuries sustained from today. But was it worth it? I would say so...

Species List:
Potteric Carr YWT: Starling, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Blackcap, Great Tit, Robin, Black-Headed Gull, Wren, Mallard, Jackdaw, Mute Swan, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Coal Tit, Treecreeper, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Collard Dove, Lapwing, Long-Tailed Tit, Moorhen, Coot, Little Grebe, Great-Crested Grebe, Song Thrush, Jay, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Common Teal, Pochard, Shoveler, Gadwall, Kingfisher, Reed Bunting, Wigeon, Willow Tit, Chiffchaff, Little-Ringed Plover, Sand Martin, Willow Warbler, Canada Goose, Graylag Goose, Little Egret, Black-Tailed Godwit, Marsh Harrier, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Swift, Green Sandpiper, Common Blue-Tailed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Common Emerald Damselfly, Banded Demoiselle, Black-Tailed Skimmer, Four-Spot Chaser, Emperor Dragonfly, Southern Hawker, Common Darter, Speckled Wood, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Large White, Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Rabbit, Grey Squirrel, Grass Snake, 

Yorkshire Dales Holiday Day 3

The Big Garden Birdwatch

Its that time of year again, and this year was a good year for the big garden birdwatch. Chilling from 10.07 to 11.07 with Andy Murry unfortunatly getting beat in the background, I was able to enjoy our birds. The only major downside was the weather; Cloudy, Too sunny, Rainy, Sleety, Dry, Calm, Windy, you name it we had it.

The Birds:
Blackbird: 3-we had four different individuals, two males, two females, one with a white patch on her wing, but sadly we only had three at a time in the garden
Blue Tit: 1
Coal Tit: 2-Something of a novalty, we don't get them often, and this week has been the first time ever we have had two at once
Dunnock: 2
Great Tit: 1
House Sparrow: 20
Robin: 1
Starling: 3
Woodpigeon: 2-This was unexpected to say the least, as we havent had one of these for some time, so to have two randomly pop in on the BGB day was a surprise, obviously after the limelight.

So we had a good representation of our garden birds, with the exception of collard doves, missing out on their chance of fame for the second year running. Our local sparrowhawk male flew overhead as well, but sadly your not allowed to count it.

Recently

Its been quiet recently due to exam commitments. However, as I have walked to and from school I have spotted quite a few birds displaying nesting habits, as well as finding around 6 nests of various species, inlcuding starling, collard dove and Blue tit. I can clearly see the collard dove nest and watch them easily. Theyare awkwardly perched between a satellite dish and a wall, which makes me wonder if the house owener might push them off. Lets hope not.
  Helping with Ogden Watch Group on saturday, at Cunnery wood, I managed to spot a jay flying between the trees there, as well as there being plenty of bluebells to admire.
  Over the house yesterday we had a pair of kestrels, we think displaying, though when I caught up with them they had moved on a bit. We also had a mining bee, resting on the driveway. I only know it is a mining bee because I have seen one identical to this is the lake district, but it would be nice if it set up home in our garden somewhere.

lakeland day 2

Today dawned overcast but it was still pleasantly warm and dry at least. We decided to go for a walk to "aira force" which was apparently a big waterfall. As soon as we arrived we heard a cuckoo, which would be my first, so whilst my family went to have a coffee I wandered on to have a look for the cuckoo.
It didn't show, and it must have run away when i arrived where it was often seen (according to the warden who we spoke to). so I wandered down to the river to have a look there. I should explain that this was a shallow rocky river and that there was deciduous forest on either side. The warden also said "Name a bird and we will have it!". I though that was a bit optimistic considering that there are 10,000 different types of bird in the world.
Down by the river there was a bridge and from it I spotted a grey wagtail and so i decided to follow what looked like a path alongside the river. Although the "path" became distinctively less path like the further you went along it, until it disappeared all together. the wagtail had also disappeared leaving me in the on the edge of a river, with steep banks on either side. I decided to have a peek under some rocks because i know that native crayfish live in the lake district and that this might be where they live. I lifted up a promising rock and a young brown trout swam out.

Further on I decided that enough was enough and that i was going to have to climb the bank and get back on an actual path. I realised that I was at the top of the Field where the cuckoo apparently likes to sit, although it had probably flown away by now because I had not heard it since I arrived.
However a few minuets later my parents and brother appeared from round the corner so I joined them as we carried on towards the waterfall. When we got there (it was just around the corner) It was pretty spectacular, but what impressed me the most was that the bridge over the top of it was actually a traditional stone bridge and not a horrible metal modern one.

At the top there was a small area of birch woodland and in it there were a number of wild flowers like the dog violets and wood anemones. back at the river I spotted a dipper and followed it up although it eventually eluded me by moving to far up river, although I caught it as it was joined by its partner. I walked along the top of the valley where there was also some open woodland and on top of a Birch tree I spotted a willow warbler, which so far had been one of the most common birds all holiday.

Just a bit further down the track i spotted a chaffinch that had been collecting sheep's wool from the barbed wire and it looked rather comical, like the bird had a beard

further in the woods i spotted some more of the dog violets which seem to spring up everywhere, so i took some more photos of them, just for good measure.

And there were a blue tits and great tits and chaffinch's in the woods, adding to the wonderful noise of the woods. This blue tit was up to some stereotypical blue tit antics on this birch tree.

Near the end of the walk I heard a strange bird call which i did not recognise, not that, that is of any major incidence, but I managed to find the birds and took some quick photos. From the photos, I had a look to try and work out what it was, it appeared to be a stonechat so I moved to try and get a better view, but in doing so I spooked it because i trod on a twig or something that went snap and frightened it away. Back at the car I had another look at the photos to see if it rang any bells. It jumped straight out at me, It was a redstart! I don't know how I had not realised it, but now I felt a bit bad, Had I recognised it on site,i would have been able to appreciate it but no. Never mind, it is still a great bird to see.

I had to loiter around the car for a while because I had gone a different way to my mum and dad so I couldn't get into the car. When the eventually arrived they said that I should have a look at the cafe because There were some very tame chaffinchs there. As I walked over to it I spotted a bird doing a funny flight and call. I immediately wondered if it was a tree pipit because of photos I have seen of tree pipits doing this kind of flight but i couldn't be sure because of their identicalness with mipits and my poor identification of bird calls.

When I got back i realised my hunch was right because it flew from tree to tree rather than from ground to ground like a mipit. So there we have it a new tick for the holiday, which is a rare occurrence in lakeland. On the note of the chaffinches that lived there, I saw none because there were some kids with their dog being a pain, but never mind! Photos were running a bit low anyway. Back at the campsite I went for a walk along the lane because I had time to spare. I spotted a rook at the top of one of the decorative trees in the campsite and went to take some photos of it. It was quite obliging with the photos and so i managed to get some of the shots I wanted.

A bit further down the lane i found an entire rookery which had about 30 nests in it with rooks constantly coming in and out. This allowed me to get some acceptable shots of rooks in flight, although the light was annoying because of the lack of it due to the overcast weather.

A really good day, in terms of lake land, for birds and with a new bird in the bag its looking up for the holiday.