Sunday 6 May 2012

Floods in the valley

Quick look down the valley this evening on the off chance the Hes East Red-rumped Swallow had done a U-turn and gone to Wheldrake. The site is very wet but is accessible, with wellies, though to get to Pool Hide would require wading through deep water - we didn't bother. I'm not sure what effect the deep water will have on the grassland at this time of year, but it will certainly have been disasterous to many nesting birds.
Two drake Garganeys on the floods, plus 67 Tufted Ducks and a single drake Pochard. Stacks of hirundines over the water which I grilled but without success. On to Thorganby where another drake Garganey was present, plus an impressive 207 Tufted Ducks and equally impressive 79 Shelducks. A Barn Owl finished things off nicely.
Earlier, a first visit to YWT Garbutt Wood north of York, revealed 3 Garden Warblers, 2 Tree Pipits and a single singing Redstart.

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