Birdblog Maps

Jims new look website for the birdblog maps - a great resource - wherever you go, check this out first for the gen on the ground.

p.s. the swallow has pitched up at Hornsea with a mate too late for me to take a look. Again.

The Swine

Have spent far too much time at Swine Moor today for relatively little return. Watched it between 6 & 8 and later between half 10 and half 12. No sign of the Red-rumped Swallow sadly but saw plenty of birds and got soggy.

The first visit saw relively few hirundines with a dozen Swallows and a couple of Sand Martins tazzing about over the river. In the reedbed adjacent to the river 3 Sedge Warblers sang intermittantly. Out on the moor itself a trio of Wheatears were a pleasant surprise. 65 Golden Plover in breeding finery were very nice dropping in although one with partial albinism in the wings made me exceited for a few moments. A couple of Ruff bobbed about and the Wood Sandpiper was still tolling about with a few Redshank. A murmuration of alba and flava wags were pleasant enough. It was cool and overcast and not much was doing so I pushed off to uni.

After picking up Wii Fit I returned to lots of Hirundines batting about. They seemed to be pouring through - not a promising sign. At anyone time 50 Barn Swallows, 15 House Martins and 10 Sand Martins zipped round. No Red-rumped Swallow in with them no matter how hard I tried. What did appear very briefly was a fly through of 4 Swifts. Sweet. Its definitely summer now.

Of course I had a bash on Wii Fit when I got back and now ache significantly.

Diligence fails to pay

For a change I was dead diligent today, writing 1,000 words toward the old dissertation (due in friday) eshewing lesser glories such as birding. Sadly my choice bit me on the bum. I considered a quick call in at Swine Moor at lunchtime but rejected this idea in order to get cracking with my work. The county is positively crawling with Red-rumped Swallows at the moment so it was obvious that one would pitch up due to my decision. Oh and the motor failed the MOT. Not too badly thankfully. First thing tomorrow Swine Moor here I come. And then picking up our Wii Fit. Wooo!

Batting Tick

First game of cricket this season today - a 20 over friendly against Fridaythorpe. We batted first, with myself in at number 5. We managed a very respectable 141 with a 30 not out a nice start for me. They were shot out for 26 in 11 overs which sums up the quality. A very nice batting tick for me came in the shape of a Yellow Wagtail that landed at Long Off as I advanced to 5 with a lofted cover drive.

After hours

After finishing at uni at 12 I shuffled off birding down Spurn way. A grub round Sammy's Point was unproductive but I perservered and the first decent birds of the day came in the form of a dozen Black-tailed Godwit whizzing south offshore of the holiday camp. I moved up Beacon Lane to Beacon Ponds where 3 rather stunning Bar-tailed Godwits in varied plumages pottered about at the edge of the pond. One fully plumaged bird was breath taking and Im pretty sure was a plumage tick. I came back down Beacon Lane only to hear a din created by 4 Magpies. No bird of prey but then something large shot out of the back of a bush - a Cuckoo, a year tick and no calling involved. Further pottering produced nothing of note except the rather sickening Coot parenting behaviour where they pick on a youngster and try and kill it. Very hard to watch as the young coot kept coming back to its 'loving' parent. Time was passing so I decided to move onto Swinemoor prior to heading home. Here I bumped into one of the Flamboro birders (im sorry I didnt get your name!). The Wood Sandpiper was soon seen as were plenty of Whimbrel. We both picked up a Whimbrel flying across the meadows but when it seemed to land lost it. Several Yellow Wags beetled about and then another year tick - a Sedge Warbler burst into song at our feet. Final bird was an LRP on one of the flashes. As im at work tonight I shot off to get home, 4 year ticks (3 self found) better off.

Further Dipping

Had another bash at the Little Bunting this afternoon (I know morning would have been better but I was sleeping after a night shift), entirely unsuccessful as i'm sure the title indicated. I deserved it - I went round the golf course - I scoped all the quiet corners. I didnt even get any decent compensation birds - it was a bollocks afternoon with a chilly wind late on. Highlights run like this - flyover Yellow Wagtail, 3 White Wagtails, 5-6 Pink Feet on north Marsh, a Grey Partridge in the gorse field by the lighthouse and 4 Wheatears. 4! Anyway to brighten the mood here are 2 terrible Wheatear photos - one digibinned one digiscraped. I even managed to dip the female Ring Ouzel in the gorse field. Score.

Dip

There was a Little Bunting at Flamboro today. I dipped it hideously but did find a White Wag, Tree Pipit and little else. Bums.