It has been an interesting end to the year, with continuing illness, now cleared-up thankfully, with only a little bit of birding squeezed in. Leading a YCN trip around the Lower Derwent Valley on the 13th was great, with a fab bunch of clients, the highlight being a first-winter Little Gull at Bank Island first thing, which is a real rarity in the York area at this time of year. High water levels prevented us doing our usual route, but we adapted and had a good day, with lots of wintering wildfowl, waders etc.
Following a short trip to Athens with the family (Goshawk, Sardinian Warblers, Black Redstarts), we had a good Christmas, and then I have birded every day since returning to York, in preparation for Sunday's Yorkshire Bird Race.
|Red Kite, Caspian Gull, Black-tailed Godwits and Curlews. All Wheldrake Ings, 30-31st Dec 2024.
Imm female Peregrine. A very large bird, heavily streaked underneath - pure Peregrine?The weather is looking ominous but the water levels have fallen in the valley and it is stuffed with birds, including the lingering American Wigeon and Little Gull. The last few days have yielded a fine first-winter Caspian Gull in the Wheldrake roost, an unusual winter-count of 28 Black-tailed Godwits, a fabulous big immature female Peregrine, our old friend D3 the tagged female Marsh Harrier, and lots more besides. It should be a good day, if the weather doesn't have other ideas!
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To all my friends, and readers of this blog, thanks for your support, Happy New Year and I hope 2025 brings you lots of birding and wildlife adventures!
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