Where Are Those Waxwings?

After a week of great birding it seemed really churlish to still be moaning that I hadn't seen a Waxwing.

We'd spent the weekend at the Normanton Park Hotel on the banks of Rutland Water. The hotel gets very mixed reviews on Tripadvisor but that's probably because most of the year it hosts weddings and therefore is very busy and, I imagine, very noisy. We managed to hit it on a very quiet weekend, with a lot of cancellations because of the snow, so it was peaceful and ideally placed for what we wanted to do. The staff were helpful and friendly, the food was good and our room looked out over the water, so we couldn't ask for anything more. This gives you an idea of the atmosphere :

There's another view of the church on my Twitpic page - the link is on the right of this blog. We spent two days on the reserve and whilst I didn't add to my year list, we thoroughly enjoyed the walks and the birding. The best bird of the weekend was a Sparrowhawk from Crake Hide, which perched and preened in front of us.

Then the week just got better and better. Even though I kept dipping on the Hen Harrier at Astley, I got the Water Pipit at Lemonroyd Filter Beds on Tuesday, thanks to Rob Leighton. No pictures of my own, but here's one of Dave Hunton's :

On Wednesday I got great views of Long-eared Owls :

Later in the afternoon I went for a walk down the River Aire with Rob and Alan Robertshaw, where we spotted my first Smew :

Not a great picture, as the light was really going, but there it is, nevertheless. As I say, it seemed churlish to moan about no Waxwings. 

Then, on Friday, we decided to go into Leeds to finish off the Christmas shopping. We went to the German Market for "spicy-sausage-inna-bun" and dunkel, then hit the shops. As we were about to come home, I thought I'd just take a look at Woodhouse Square.  We'd seen Waxwings there during an irruption in 2005 and we were close by.  Our luck was in :

A small flock of twenty or so were flying between the trees in the Square itself and bushes in the grounds of the LGI.  Magic!!

So with less than three weeks to go, I am at 176 on my year list. (BUBO shows 175 as it won't let me count Ruddy Shelduck).  I'm aiming for 180.  Now, where is that Hen Harrier?

Black-throated Diver

St Aidans comes up trumps again.  Smashing views all the week of a Black-throated Diver.  Managed to get a photo this time.  Nothing startling, as at distance, but at least it shows what I saw.

A lifer for me, taking me to 173 for this year (172 on BUBO).  Still waiting for Waxwing!!

A Very Good Week, but.....

Three lifers this week!  First winter Iceland and Glaucous Gulls on Monday at Astley Lake and a female Long-tailed Duck on Wednesday at Pugneys.  No pictures though.  The Gulls were just too far away and the Long-tailed was diving frequently.


That takes me to 171 on Bubo, but 172 on Bird Journal, as their BOU list allows Ruddy Shelduck.  So only 9 (or 8) left to get my target of 180 for the year.  Modest, but achievable.


Must do better with the photos next time!

Kestrel. Astley Lake, West Yorkshire

Double Rainbow Over Astley Lake

Fairburn Ings - Lin Dyke Hide

Haven't blogged for a long time - not been too well.  Birding has been a real help though, relaxation, exercise and something to occupy my mind.
.
Anyway, the doc says I should do as much birding as I can, as it's good for me, so no arguments there.
Short one to start back.  Despite being soaked by rain on both walk to and walk from the hide it was a great session.
.
Highlight of the day - Wood Sand!  Too far away for anything other than record shots, but here they are :
.

Sunday 16 May 2010 - Potteric Carr

Even though the forecast was for rain, we thought we'd chance a quick visit to Potteric Carr on Sunday. We had been visiting the parents and it was only a quick hop down the M18. It was well worth the chance, as the sun shone for most of the day and we really enjoyed the ramble round the reserve. We knew about the Iberian Chiffchaff and thought it might be busy, but as it is such a large reserve any crowds were swallowed easily. The only heaving mass was around the wandering warblers haunt. The rest of the reserve was as peaceful as usual.

.

Except for the gulls, of course. This was a particularly vocal one
.

My first Damsel Fly of the year was a sheer fluke. Basking in the sun, sheltered by a window in a hide, it was so simple to get up close and really appreciate the delicate detail.

.

Unfortunately nothing else was so obliging. A very nice Redshank would not stand still, so this was the best I could do.
.

And the Canada Geese just about showed off their brood.

.

No year ticks so stubbornly stuck on 107. Roll on Mull - that'll give me a boost!