Went to Blacktoft Sands RSPB with Ricky on Friday morning with the hope of seeing Common Crane [although not officially announced very likely a family that bred across the Trent at Alkborough Flats] however they hadn’t been seen since Wednesday but we headed to Singleton Hide anyway. Had my first “hung up” Migrant Hawker this year, on the way, despite seeing large numbers recently including in KGV Rec, Cottingham when walking the dog. Also several Ruddy Darters.
Migrant Hawker-Blacktoft Sands RSPB
Also a few butterflies.
♂︎.Common Blue Butterfly-Blacktoft Sands RSPB
Not surprisingly with the current drought water levels were low but did mean good edges from Singleton Hide where we has several distant Bearded Tit.
Bearded Tit from Singleton Hide, Blacktoft Sands RSPB
Also saw two Water Rail. The only waders present were a few Greenshank.
Greenshank from Singleton Hide, Blacktoft Sands RSPB
Moving to the next hide we had a few Little Egret as well as Snipe.
Little Egret and Snipe, Blacktoft Sands RSPB
The next few hides were even drier but Marshland was wetter with plenty of waders.
The Marshland Scrape-Blacktoft Sands RSPB
Seemed mainly Black-tailed Godwits but a closer look identified several Spotted Redshank.
All pale types except but one black adult.
Also a few Common Redshank.
A small number of Ruff.
And a few Green Sandpiper, Snipe and Dunlin.
Green Sandpiper Snipe
A Marsh Harrier flew over scattering the waders but bringing some closer to the hide.
Marsh Harrier from marshland Hide-Blacktoft Sands RSPB
After lunch we returned to Singleton Hide where we able to show others the Bearded Tits. Also added Yellow Wagtail. A single Spotted Redshank and Green Sandpiper had moved onto the scrape. Otherwise spent the time catching up with Stav who I hadn’t seen for a good while.
A Spotted Crake had been found at North Cave Wetlands YWT late morning on Island Lake. We had considered going for our third time this week but I had previously seen one there so might have a look next week if it stays around when the hide might be less busy. Did have a look at the stubble fields nearby on the way out as Crane had been seen in the area earlier this year.
Due to early lockdown and later self restriction this year has been, with the exception of local “green” birding, my worst year since I started birding although I did manage to see a few good birds with the help of a small number of friends, making this year not a total wide out with one lifer [plus an “armchair” tick-Ross’s Goose] and three Yorkshire ticks as well as a new butterfly and several new moths. Hopefully worldwide and personally things will improve in 2022.
January Start the year with my reliable Cottingham Little Owl at Burn Park Farm
February The possible Siberian Chiffchaff at Haltemprice Farm, Willerby. Thanks to Roy Lyon as mine just weren’t good enough. Looked good but never called for us although the finder reported hearing a good call and I heard what I thought was a Bullfinch on site before I knew the bird was present. See below for a full account.
March No contest this month with, a now rare, Hawfinch in Cottingham at Eppleworth Road Cemetery. Unfortunately this bird caused me some grief with the conflicting issues of respect for the finders wishes and the concern over large numbers of birder, particularly those trying for the best picture, in an active graveyard particularly in the times of Covid 19, against informing those who I believed had the right to see it. Doesn’t help when people who tried to reduce the “publicity” of this bird were spotted on site.
April A low flying Red Kite over the centre on Cottingham on the 2nd is this months pick.
May With the demise of my Nikon P520, for a few weeks I was only taking pictures of moths with my Canon IXUS 130 compact and this month was cool with few moth trapped and a Scalloped Hazel [a pretty regular moth] was the best of them.
June Again a moth but at least Pale Prominent trapped on the 10th was a new one followed by a 2nd on the 18th August.
July First of the good birds and my first time out further than I could walk with Oriental Turtle Dove seen on 3rd in Easington (East Yorkshire] being a Yorkshire tick for most. The picture is again thanks to Roy Lyon.
August Added another new bird for my Yorkshire List with a first record of the extreme rarity, White-tailed Lapwing at Blacktoft Sands RSPB which I eventually saw on the 29th thanks to Ricky Fisher. This time my own photograph with my new Nikon P1000. See the full account below.
September Another Blacktoft Sands RSPB bird with Bluethroat taken on the 19th when I went for a second view of the W-T.Plover with John Hirschfield. See the full account below [Blacktoft Sands RSPB and North Cave Wetlands YWT].
October This is a really awful picture but Long-toed Stint on Astley Lake at Swillington Ings on the 9th was my only lifer of 2021. Also little else to compete with it? We choice to view from below the old private hide instead of going to the RSPB reserve which would have involved a long walk and potentially giving closer but limited viewing due to the crowds present. It is in there somewhere but very hard to make out!
November This month I go for Stonechat at Haltemprice Farm, Willerby on the 6th. Photographed this species at this site on countless occasions but somehow despite the distance and obstructing vegetation this one helped by a quantum improvement in camera is one of my best. See the full account below.
December I end the year with a perennial favourite, drake Smew, this one at Tophill Low NR on Watton NR on the 21st. Full account below.
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My second viewing of the White-tailed Lapwing as well as a Bluethroat and my only 2021 visited to North Wetlands YWT.
19/9/21 I was contacted by JH early morning. He was coming out of isolation and wanted to know if I fancied coming with him to Blacktoft Sands RSPB for the White-tailed Lapwing. I hadn’t seen John for nearly a year and there was the bonus of a Bluethroat so said yes. I’ve not seen Bluethroat in the UK since July 2002, a summering White-spotted form also at Blacktoft Sands, although saw Red-spotted form in Finland in 2006. The location and timing made we wonder if the current one had also over summered, if not on site maybe nearby.
Anyway reaching the reserve mid morning went straight to Townshend Hide. The Lapwing wasn’t initially on view but quickly learnt it was only visible from the righthand side of the hide as it was other wise obscured behind an island. Had a quick view and got some pictures but as it was fairly distant and not doing so much got out of the way for anyone who hadn’t seen it.
White-tailed Lapwing-Blacktoft Sand RSPB from Townshend Hide.
Grey HeronShovelerRuff
Next went to Marshland Hide. The Bluethroat was being pretty elusive and the hide was busy with little concern for Covid 19 but eventually got sat down which made trying to locate it less daunting. It was right at the back of the lagoon usually hidden in the reeds. The presence of Meadow Pipit and Reed Bunting didn’t help but eventually got a brief view then shortly after saw it enough to fire off a single shot which although small was identifiable.
BluethroatWater Rail
Moved on to Xerox Hide. Unlike my earlier visit [see here] we had so far seen very few waders but did have a good few Ruff here. The weather forecast was for heavy rain and as we walked back to the car it finally arrived.
However at our next site, North Cave Wetlands YWT, the rain held off. Started at Crosslands Hide. The water level was fairly high, the islands were grassed over and no waders were present just mainly Teal, Shoveler and Little Grebe.
Little GrebeBlack-headed Gull
On Main Lake there was more wildfowl including several Wigeon.
Tufted Duck
WigeonPochard
Mute Swan
Finally went to Turret Hide via East Hide were there were several Ruff, three Black-tailed Godwit and a few Snipe. Also picked up a Hobby over Far Lake then flying over Island Lake.
Snipe on Island Lake
Black-tailed Godwit on Island Lake
Teal on Island Lake
Lapwing on Island Lake
Ruff on Island Lake
Green Sandpiper on Island Lake
Getting home took the dog out but quickly the heavy rain caught us up but had a Grey Heron flying over Coop car park as we rushed home. However although both soaked we were out again shortly and it stay dry for the rest of the evening.
Postscript
The White-tailed Lapwing was still present on the 16th December but not on the 19th, however it turned up in Lincolnshire at East Halton Skitter on the 31st and present until 7th March then was relocated at Frampton RSPB on the 9th. After going missing all week the White-winged Lapwing made itself available to Norfolk listers turning up at Ken Hill, Snettisham on the 9th April. Interesting that it seems to be migrating south east so interesting to see where it ends up. I have seen some discussion about its origin but not aware of any in captivity in Europe.. The Bluethroat was last reported on the 20th September.
An adult White-tailed Lapwing was found by the assistant warden at Blacktoft Sands RSPB early morning 26th September. A first for Yorkshire as well as being a ultra rarity in the Uk with only seven previous, the last one a brief sighting on 2nd June in Kent at Stodmarsh NNR, with the last twitch-able one a shade over 10 years ago at various southern sites in 2010 before settling in at Dungeness (Kent) for 11 days in mid-July. I saw the 2007 bird at Caerlaverock WWT then Leighton Moss RSPB. Unfortunately my regular lift was unavailable that morning then failed to pick me up due to some confusion on Friday morning. Saturday afternoon whilst walking Wilbur on Willerby Carrs I was mulling the idea of getting the train to Goole then cycling the rest of the way when a friend who I hadn’t bothered as I didn’t think he was into in major twitching rang and offered to take me on Sunday. Had a quick look at the scrub behind Haltemprice Farm in the hope of Whinchat. No sign but later learnt one had been seen in the area.
Anyway the Lapwing was again reported early Sunday morning and was on the way with RF mid morning. Getting there it was still from Marshland Hide and got straight in and even sat down recalling my last visit nearly 2 years ago for the Little Crake from the same hide but that time because I was one of the first there [rather than a “johnny come lately”. Was pretty close in the near left corner although the light could have been better.
White-tailed Lapwing
Did occasionally get behind a small island when it was replaced by a Water Rail.
Water Rail
Other waders included Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Snipe and Ruff but no sign of any Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint.
Ruff, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit.
I suspect Alkborough Flats is attracting waders that otherwise would be at Blacktoft Sands RSPB although as yet [afternoon 15/9] to attract the W-T.Lapwing. However the long staying Glossy Ibis went the other way on the 13th before leaving mid afternoon 14th, presumably back to Alkborough Flats. Eventually the W-T.Lapwing flew across to roost with the Lapwings which at least gives us a flight view but was then distant and usually asleep so were happy to leave to make room for others.
White-tailed Lapwing with Lapwing
Visited all the hides except Ousefleet and added Green Sandpiper and two distant Spotted Redshank as well as wildfowl including recently arrived Wigeon and a single Pintail.
Surprisingly few Little Egret [seen more just walking the dogs around farmland in Cottingham].
Little Egret
As it was cool only had a few insects.
I’ve posted a video of the White-tailed Lapwing on Twitter
Erich's birding and biking blog 