Even the military are interested in this site.

Did not expect much today (shows how much I know)

Started with a nice distant Stonechat and all the usual finches and tits. Then had a look across the valley and observed 300-500 Teal and Wigeon.

Then I was joined by the military.

Down side all the birds in the valley went up!

Plus side it exposed dozens more birds who were obviously hiding in the reeds and surrounding trees and shrubs.

After everything had settled down and spending sometime watching Buzzards soaring across the valley, it became very noticeable that the valley was full of Skylarks at least 20 separate birds were observed.

Came across the remains of what looked like a Snipe (could be wrong) very neat leftovers though.

A nice Kestrel, Little grebe and Pochard were all welcome after the military fly pass,

Then the main event!!!

All the birds in the valley were clearly on edge!
Were the military on their way back?

I observed an amazing site a Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine Falcon and i swear (if i didn't know better) that these two birds were working as a team.

First the Harrier flushed the birds on the water mainly Teal,Wigeon,Snipe and Golden plover and the odd Curlew then the Peregrine would dive bomb the birds,they were absolutely petrified.

This went on for the best part of half an hour before two Chinook helicopters flew low across the valley and at that point both raptors took off down the valley. What a cracking morning.

 Peregrine and Marsh Harrier join forces to find breakfast.

Barn Owls back.

After what seems like a long absence (and me moaning about the shortage of Barn Owls in the valley)

It was nice to get not one but at least 3 separate birds in the last week.

Water levels on the NDC are much lower than you would expect at this time of year but that only means that most of the birds down here are concentrated in a much smaller area.

Still lots of Whoopers, Stone chat, Pintail, Teal and Wigeon, and up to 5 Pochard.Big numbers of Golden plover,Dunlin and Knot also observed, Healthy flock of Lapwing too.

Barn Owl return.

 The Buzzard was after the Stonechat and the corvid was well Just been a pain!!

 Golden Plover murmurations !! is there such a thing?

View from the GS hide.

Back at home.

Had a wander down to the GS hide this morning and met up with a couple of other local birders

Visibility was not great and all the birds were distant. Many more swans than in recent weeks at least 70 birds and the place was awash with waders Dunlin,Golden Plover and Lapwing were by the far the most abundant.

Peregrine was flushing the birds up every now and again and a very pale local Buzzard was also keeping them on their toes.

Managed to get a quick view of a Robin which was frantically defending its territory against what i at first thought was another Robin.

But alas not it was two Stonechats a very nice bonus!!!

 Reed bunting active as were Sparrow Hawks and Kestrels.

Wigeon and Teal were abundant as were a huge flock of Shelduck. Plenty of Snipe among the drainage ditches and Grey Heron patrolling.

Finally as i was about to leave one of the other birders in the hide spotted 4 Black Tailed Godwit in the distance and four Redshank.

Not a bad morning me thinks.

Long time no blog!!!!

Due to work,spending lots of time in the Yorkshire Dales and some other lame excuses I have not posted as often as I would have liked.

Should put that to rights this year and might even include some dales stuff.

Started off the year with some new kit and determined to get more time to go birding.
Had a little trip to Castle Howard and Pocklington.

Thought this was odd could not identify this very hungry bird crammed into this bird table.

Had plenty of tufted,gadwall, goldeneye and all the usual suspects.
Also had this strange Canada- Greylag cross.

Moved onto another area and came across 4-6 Red Kite visibility not great and bitterly cold.

Back to the LDV on Sunday and found my self 4 feet away from a Barn Owl not sure who was the most startled me or the Owl!

By the time I had got out the camera it was well away. (Mental note) get camera out of bag before you go out birding.

Also had loads of Fieldfare, Redwing, Bullfinch, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Dunlin, GSW,
lots of finches and tits.

Spring at last....

Sorry for the delay in posts but things were fairly tame at the beginning of March but they have certainly hotted up!

Just a selection of some of the stuff I managed to capture over the last 5 days.

 Whooppers have now gone but you have to feel sorry for the lone Black swan.

 More on this character later and what he was eyeing up for his teatime treat.

 This must be the most common bird on the patch at the moment!! 

 Taking some time off calling to top up on some insects.

 Egyptian geese still hanging around.

 Done all his mad March stuff so just having a breather.

 Maybe not!

 Now I was wondering why this perch had been put up some say its for Ospreys but know I can see what is really for!!!!

 Kingfisher sitting pretty and had the bonus of both male and female on the patch.

 Just nice to see these Long tailed tits sitting in the spring sun.

 Where as all the water gone on the North Duff Carrs?

 Only in England!!! four seasons in one day!

 Reed buntings in good health and number.

 Had two treecreepers,Siskin and Chiff- Chaff all in the same tree.

 After getting Swallows on the patch (Sunday) it was nice to see these two.

 Nearly got this all white Pheasant!"*

 This is what the Buzzard was after over 100 Reed bunts,Yellowhammers and Corn bunts.

More to come soon.....

Here they come!

A compilation of the last seven days and the birds are arriving in big numbers.

 Still lots of Whoopers around as well as Wigeon and Teal.

 Shelduck numbers good.

 Over 25 Snipe hiding at the foot of the reeds (but have always got one eye out!)

 Nice to see lots of Song Thrush in the valley most i have seen for a long time.

 7 Red Kites performing aerial combats with Buzzards.

 Redshank Raft.

 Lots of Curlew arriving.

 Little grebe's a plenty.

 Gadwal numbers good.

 Herons are also in good number.

 Plenty of Pochard.

and Reed bunts pairing up.

its all getting very interesting.