Old Moor RSPB

Yep, I went back for the little bittern. It showed so well on the Sunday that I figured it may be worth another go. I figured wrong! The bird was only seen at around 7 in the morning and not after until early evening. This was some consolation, as it means I did not miss it as I had done before. I waited 3 hours at the watchpoint before deciding enough was enough and going to look at something else. Namely this was due to the weather, which had deteriorated somewhat.

There was a bonus species however, in that an American Wigeon was also on site, so after I had given up on the bittern I went to go and have a look at that, which was on Wath Ings. Sadly it was right at the back, but no matter, as it was possibly the most awful looking bird I have ever seen. It was obviously still in eclipse somewhat and it meant it was rather drab and all its colours had merged together. It was not the most inspring bird to look at. Because of the distance I could only grab record shots of what is only my second ever of this species, but I think they say enough.

-American Wigeon

The real star and consolation of the day was a superb Green Sandpiper feeding just outside the hide. Granted the sun was not out so it was not spangling, but it was so close with pristine plumage, it looked the bomb. I digiscoped a few shots of it, and they are some of the best shots I have ever managed of this species. It really did make up for the lack of little bittern and rather uninspiring wigeon.

-Green Sandpiper

In the end I stayed until half 2 in the afternoon when I finally called it a day. I spent the rest of the time in the Wader Scrape Hide, where there were a few nice juvenile Avocets and a Common Sandpiper. A nice days birding, if not lacking a little bittern.

Species List:

Old Moor RSPB: Kingfisher, Reed Warbler, Magpie, Coot, Great-Crested Grebe, Reed Bunting, Canada Goose, Swift, Sand Martin, Black-Headed Gull, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon, Kestrel, Mallard, Carrion Crow, Little Grebe, Bittern, Stock Dove, Grey Heron, Common Tern, Tufted Duck, Lapwing, American Wigeon, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Graylag Goose, Feral Pigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Pied Wagtail, Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Jackdaw, Avocet, Wigeon, Shoveler, Starling, Common Sandpiper, Bullfinch, Collard Dove, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch,

Fourth Duck lifer in a week: Normanton twitching American Wigeon

Well, another days birding, and another duck twitch it seems. This time though, with the bird being local, its hardly a trek and more like a birding day out. I set off for first light with the American Wigeon thats been around a small lake in the middle of a field in Normanton just north of Wakefield, in my mind.

I was pretty confident I would get it and so it turned out, though the glare was horrific from where I was watching from and I had to move my view several times before I managed to get a really good view of the bird, but thankfully it played ball wonderfully and I got some smashing views of another vagrant duck!

Among the wigeon you could pick out more subtle details in colour and patterning besides the obvious difference with the head colour. It was very happy grazing with the European wigeon, though I happen to think the former look a bit better.

The bird was close, but not as close as I would have liked for my DSLR, so it was back to that digiscoping practice from yesterday that I managed to get some actually quite good record shots of the bird. It was difficult sometimes as the wind was blowing an absolute gale, but I am very happy with what I managed. 

-American Wigeon

There were a couple of other bits and pieces too, such as good numbers of Redwings and the usual winter wildfowl. I also took one of the university camcorders with me to see what it could do and managed a bit of footage but the bird was a long way away. Anyway, it gives a different perspective on the bird.

-American Wigeon

I headed back to the station after 2 hours, when I decided to go home on account that the wind was freezing me to bits and I did not fancy taking it on again at a different site. My mind was made up when I got a text from a course-mate saying my lab had been moved from Tuesday to Monday, so I had to get back for that, and quick! I did make it easily though, good thing I had not gone far!

Species List:

Normanton Lake: Redwing, Wren, Robin, Dunnock, Magpie, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Lapwing, Wigeon, Teal, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Herring Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Common Gull, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Starling, Chaffinch, Pied Wagtail,