Scotland - October 2021

 Jayne and I were in Scotland last week, where we added a few birds to the "year list" and had another couple of possibles.

We were based in North Berwick, where we added the first new bird, Eider Duck. Several birds were seen on a daily basis in and around the harbour and beaches. Other birds seen here were: Black-headed, Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls, Pink-footed Goose (flying over), Pied Wagtail, Rock Pipit, Starling, Nuthatch, Redshank, Turnstone, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Red-throated Diver, Shag, Cormorant and Purple Sandpiper.

Roosting Redshank, Turnstone and Oystercatcher

Whilst there, we also had a trip to Aberlady Bay and Gullane Bents where we added Wigeon, Teal, Little Egret, Common Scoter, Grey Plover and Black-tailed Godwit.

A trip to Musselburgh Lagoons gave us Velvet Scoter, hundreds of Curlew and Oystercatcher, Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot, Lapwing, Redshank and Dunlin. In addition we had a possible American Wigeon (or hybrid) and a probable fly-by male Surf Scoter (all black body, with white on the head).

American Wigeon

Year List update:

175 - Eider Duck

176 - Grey Plover 

177 - Velvet Scoter 

178 - Knot 

179 - Common Scoter

Derbyshire Snow Bunting - 9th October 2021

 Last Saturday, Jayne and I popped across to Carsington Water to see if we could see the Snow Bunting that had been reported. We found it, feeding on the weeds on the dam wall and performed beautifully for us. A great "Derbyshire tick".

Snow Bunting

Whilst there, we also had two flocks of Pink-footed Geese fly overhead (13 and a group of c40), which, amazingly, were a "Year tick".

Year List update:

173 - Pink-footed Goose

174 - Snow Bunting

Linacre WeBS - 9th October 2021

 Last week was the WeBS count at Linacre. I was on site for two hours, in grey, overcast conditions with frequent drizzle - lovely!! 

The first hour and a half was pretty slow with the following recorded: Mallard (92), Moorhen (8, 5 adults and 3 juveniles), Coot (6), Grey Wagtail (5), Great-crested Grebe (6, 2 adults and 4 juveniles), Mandarin (9!!!!!- very low for this time of the year, where are they all???), Black-headed Gull (7) and Tufted Duck (24).

Just as I was heading back to the car, I took another look over the middle reservoir and spotted..... 6 Shoveler (1male and 5 females - my first Linacre record, the first since 2015, and only the second record that I'm aware of!!), 1 male Wigeon (2nd record of the year) and 1 female-type Teal (the first record since 2018). Presumably, they were flying over and got brought down by the rain and drizzle. What a way to end a WeBS count!!

Shoveler (1male and 1female)

Scarborough, Saltburn and Whitby

 This weekend, Jayne and I had a couple of days on the East Coast. We stayed in Scarborough, and saw Herring, Black-headed and Great Black-backed Gulls. There were also several Terns around, including this one (below), which I presume is either Common or Arctic.

"Commic" Tern

There were also many Razorbills and Guillemots very close in, including 18 in Scarborough Harbour this morning. An adult Kittiwake was also seen, as were 5 Red-throated Divers (3 from Saltburn Pier and 2 in Scarborough South Bay.

Razorbill

Guillemot

Waders seen were: Redshank, Oystercatcher, Turnstone and Curlew.

Year List update:

171 - Hobby (seen at school!! on 6th September)

172 - Red-throated Diver

Linacre WeBS and Ringing- 11th and 12th September 2021

 On the weekend of 11th and 12th I was down at Linacre to carry out the month's WeBS walk and have a ringing session with Sorby Breck Ringing Group.

The WeBS count recorded the following results: Mallard (88), Mandarin Duck (91), Tufted Duck (17), Moorhen (18; 12 adults and 6 juveniles), Coot (7), Grey Wagtail (5), Grey Heron (2), Great-crested Grebe (5; 2 adults and 3 juveniles - two broods), Cormorant (1) and Black-headed Gull (1). Chiffchaff was also heard (wheeting), and c.20 House Martins were over the top reservoir.

The ringing session, on the 12th, resulted in 26 birds of 8 species, and included our first Jay and Treecreeper of the year (both juveniles), along with 4 juvenile Chiffchaffs, 11 Blue Tits (10 new and 1 retrap - the retrap having been ringed in box 23a on 3/6/21 by me), 5 Great Tits (3 new and 2 retraps- both trapped earlier in the year at Linacre), 1 juvenile Goldcrest, 2 juvenile Robins, and 1 juvenile Blackbird.

White-tailed Lapwing

Last month (31st) I went across to RSPB Blacktoft Sands to see my fourth "lifer" of the year, a White-tailed Lapwing. It gave great views from Xerox Hide, and I managed some nice photos. A lovely bird!

White-tailed Plover

Whilst there, I also managed to add a couple more "year ticks", Water Rail and Great (White) Egret.

The last new addition, Whinchat, was seen on Big Moor, Derbyshire, on 1st September.

Year List update:
167 - White-tailed Lapwing
168 - Water Rail
169 - Great White Egret
170 - Whinchat

Linacre Butterflies and Dragonflies - 5th September 2021

 After a very cloudy, overcast August, with very few periods of sunshine, and lower than average temperatures, it was lovely to be down at Linacre this afternoon enjoying some bright sunshine and 23 degrees of heat!!

As always, the sun brought out the butterflies and I managed to record 2 Red Admirals, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Peacock, 6 Speckled Woods, 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Wall Brown (male), 1 Comma, 1 Purple Hairstreak and a very tatty looking Common Blue Butterfly.

As well as the butterflies, I also managed to find 1 Common Darter, 1 Migrant Hawker and 4 Brown Hawkers, including a very obliging individual.

Brown Hawker

Birdwise, it was quite quiet, but I did record 13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (12 adults and 1 juvenile), 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 House Martins, Swallows (heard, but not seen) and 1 singing Chiffchaff.