Hello, Old Friend

I have really missed Wheldrake Ings. It is only seven miles away, but just felt too far to go during lockdown. Since restrictions eased a bit last Wednesday, I have visited Wheldrake Ings twice.It is lovely to be back, like reaquainting with an old friend.

Reed Bunting

Today, I went for a walk along the Derwent with the family. The ings is a riot of green; the floods have mostly gone, though the snaking necks of Mute Swans arc out of the grassland, reminding us of the water still present. The songs of summer migrants are a constant, with Willow, Garden, Sedge and Reed Warblers vying for the airwaves with Whitethroats and Blackcaps. Swifts carve the skies, often in pairs, presumably performing their aerial courtships. Yellow flag provides golden splashes among the reed sweetgrass. Two Whimbrel on Wednesday night maybe the only ones I will see here this spring as the roost will be at an end round about now.

Swifts

 Little Egret

Swallow

Lockdown Birding: Slight ease

A week ago, the PM announced a very slight easing of Lockdown restrictions, so driving to a place to take exercise is now permitted. Also, you can take as much exercise as you wish. Nevertheless, I feel the right thing to do is to keep things local still. I visited Wheldrake for the first time on Wednesday evening. It was pretty quiet, though two Whimbrel were a joy to see, presumably among the last of the spring passage. A Cuckoo was calling along the river on the way back, which is always great, especially given their decline.

Today, I rose early, and headed to Strensall Common to check the sheep. All fine, in spite of them being given the run around by two off-the-lead dogs ("sorry, we didn't realise; our dogs won't chase them"). Depressing stuff.

My spirits were lifted by a pair of super-active Spotted Flycatchers nearby. The male was courting the female actively, singing his head off, with his rather weak two note squeak. She seemed quite impressed nevertheless, allowing him to mate with her. These are really special birds now, having disappeared from many former haunts in the York area over the last decade or so. I mostly see them in the uplands or on the coast during migration, so to see them close to home is a real treat. They may not look too flashy, but they have an endearing character of their own and they are complete ninjas when it comes to plucking a passing insect deftly from the air, with an audible snap of the bill! They moved around rapidly through the canopy, never resting for long. I did get a quick chance to take a photo or two, of one of them.

Before Lockdown: Great Reed Warbler, Sammy's Point, 5th May 1990

Great Reed Warbler, Wintersett, June 2019

Thirty years ago today, I headed out to Spurn on the York Ornithological Club's May field trip. Leaving York Piccadilly at 6am, we headed east, buzzing with anticipation as to what the day may bring. With favourable weather conditions in the preceding days, we were hopeful for a few migrants and we weren't to be disappointed.

Starting at the Warren, we were soon enjoying a selection of common warblers, including Lesser Whitethroats and a Garden Warbler. Nearby, both Sedge and Reed Warblers sang from the canal. In the Triangle, male and female Redstarts hunted from the barbed wire fences; dropping into the grass after an insect with a flash of their fiery tails, before zipping back up, tails a-quiver. This was spring birding at its best!

Male Redstart, Spurn, May 2012

 
A little further on, a female Ring Ouzel was seen briefly - nice - before we turned our attention to the mudflats of the Humber. The tide was on the way in, pushing Brent Geese and flocks of waders close to the edge of the saltmarsh, allowing good views through the scope.  Resplendent rust-red Bar-tailed Godwits looked stunning as they strolled through the wet mud. Small flocks of Whimbrel rested on the saltmarsh, with others flying past. I counted about 50. Large numbers of Dunlin and Golden Plover were still present pausing for a feed before their long journey north to breed. After a while, we decided to head down to the point to look for more migrants. In the middle of the day this was a bit lack lustre, though a reasonably early Spotted Flycatcher was nice, plus Cuckoo, Wheatears and a late Fieldfare. A female Whinchat was at Chalk Bank on the way back.

Whimbrel at Sammy's Point, May 2012

We were told that Beacon Ponds would be worth a look now the tide was in, so we headed there next while some of the group headed to Sammy's Point. A Little Stint was pick of the bunch. I hadn't seen many spring Little Stints by then, so this was an interesting and educational bird. A raucous gang of Sandwich Terns rested on a shingle island and six Little Terns zipped about. My first Swifts of the year cruised low over the Long Bank, snatching St Mark's Flies.

Shortly, news came through that Andy Booth and Nigel Stewart had found a Great Reed Warbler at Sammy's!!! Panic! We tumbled back into the car and shot straight there. We arrived on site and I dived out of the car. With youth on my side (I was only 15 at the time), I ran down the track as fast I could to the small huddle of birders in the distance. The bird had been heard singing from the dyke near the paddocks and Andy and Nigel had had brief but good views. I set my scope up just in time as the large brown warbler suddenly hopped up into some dead Hogweed and posed beautifully. Excited gasps and 'oohs' and 'aahs' came from the assembled group of birders and as our friends arrived, we got them straight on the chunky Acro through our scopes. Smiles all round and many pats on the back for Andy and Nigel! A fantastic end to a super day at Spurn and one that always stands out in my mind as a classic spring birding day.

Cuckoo, Sammy's Point, May 2012

It turns out that this was only the third record of Great Reed Warbler in the Spurn area, following birds in 1977 and the year before, 1989. According to Andy Roadhouse's 'The Birds of Spurn' there has been only one subsequent record, at the point in May 2006, so it still remains a genuinely rare bird there. Interestingly, the entry in this book for the 1990 bird has the incorrect discovery date as the 6th May. The Wintersett bird I saw last year is the first GRW I have seen in Yorkshire since the Sammy's bird. I have seen several in the UK in between, but the 1990 bird is the most clearly etched in my memory.

Lockdown Birding: Dawn Chorus Day

After a bit too much gin, my attempt to rise for Dawn Chorus Day was hampered, with a Robin singing at 04:20 my first bird of the day heard through the open window, from the comfort of bed...

Finally crawled out at 06:00 and headed to Strensall Common as it was my turn to check the YWT sheep. All 45 were present and correct. The common was alive with the sound of Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. I did a loop of the site and counted 25 singing Willow Warblers, male and female Cuckoos, three Woodlarks, three Tree Pipits, Green Woodpecker, a pair of Stonechats and two singing Garden Warblers. Two of the Woodlarks showed really well, feeding unconcernedly at close range.

 

 

A little later, one of the Woodlarks flew past me calling.

  

 

Tree Pipits were again much in evidence, singing from the tops of the birches, or in parachuting flight.

Lockdown Birding: Tilmire

Cycled four miles to the Tilmire SSSI and had a walk round in the morning sunshine. A Roebuck peered at me from a wheat field.

No sign of yesterday's Osprey, but plenty of migrants about including Common Terns over Poole Bridge fishing lakes, several Swifts, a Wheatear in the field on the east side. Also, a pair of Stonechats. Lots of other cool stuff around, including lots of Green Longhorns (moths) dancing on the edge of Oak and Ash trees, Orange-tips and plenty of spring flowers.

Green Longhorns dancing.


This afternoon, I have done a fair bit of Skywatching from the house. I have seen a smart Hobby a couple of times, plus Swifts, House Martins and Swallows. No Ospreys for me yet!

Hobby with Sparrowhawk

Stereo Grasshopper Warblers

Some of our Hebs on South Pasture

Almost a year ago, Team Dirty Habicht strained our collective ears for the faint clicking reel of a Grasshopper Warbler in the scrubby grassland at Staveley YWT Nature Reserve. That was the final destination during our Yorkshire Big Day, where we managed to beat the previous record. Sadly, that evening we didn't hear a 'Gropper', nor a Water Rail, two species I knew should be present.

 Gropper from Bishopthorpe a couple of years ago.

Today, however, I had driven over to Staveley to help catch up the 99 Hebridean Sheep to give them a foot bath, to help protect against ailments like foot rot. Before we got started I had time for a little walk around and heard not one, but three Grasshopper Warblers! In the dragonfly pond area, I had two reeling simultaneously from either side of me - Groppers in stereo- one of which showed well sitting in a leafless bush for a minute or so, with another by the first hide, where a Cetti's Warbler sang its explosive song.

All in all, I recorded ten species of warbler during my short walk: Cetti's, Grasshopper, Reed, Sedge, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. Cool! Also noted were five noisy Common Terns and c100 Sand Martins feeding over the lagoons.

Two Groppers, giving it loads!

Cowslips were flowering across the reserve

Along with plenty of Red Campion.

Lockdown Birding: All change

All change, weather-wise, with cloudy skies and rain overnight; the early dog walk by the river felt fresher. A few new migrants had arrived, with two Lesser Whitethroats rattling unseen in the depths of hedges, plus a confident Whitethroat songflighting from the top sprig of a Hawthorn. The Little Owl was in his usual Ash tree and delicate Cuckoo-flowers dappled the riverside grass. More rain is forecast from mid-week, which will bring relief to many.

Lockdown Birding: 'And it was all yellow...'

There can't be many more stonking spring migrants than a glowing Yellow Wagtail! It is bonkers to think this might have been picking insects off Hippo poo in West Africa only a few weeks ago, and now this individual is wagging about in a sheep pasture in North Yorkshire. For a bird that weighs less than one AA battery (no, really! 18g YW versus 21g AA battery) it's migratory feat is really impressive; it has travelled thousands of miles, faced various dangers and arrived here like a sunbeam to brighten up even the dullest of spring afternoons.

No sign of the Bolton Percy Ring Ouzel this afternoon, nor any Wheatears at Colton, but enjoyed my cycle round the local area. A couple of pairs of Grey Partridges were noted, along with four Corn Buntings near Acaster Church and 30 Fieldfares in the large Ash on Church Ings.  Saw some Yellow Archangel flowering on a verge in the Bluebell Wood.

Lockdown Birding: Dawn on the heath

 When the Gorse flowers, it's kissing season! Fortunately, it flowers most months!

One of the few field tasks we have continued at YWT during lockdown has been checking our livestock to make sure they are healthy and happy. I am on the rota for checking the sheep at Strensall Common, so this morning I got to go out to count the sheep. Counting sheep is a challenge, not least because it can send you to sleep, but also because they can be surprisingly hard to find among the undulating heather and bracken-clad heath, interspersed with stands of Silver Birch. Nevertheless, I savoured the exeprience this morning, enjoying the tranquility of the early morning heath.

34 Hebridean Sheep and one Charollais cross. All present and correct.


My First Cuckoo of the year was calling to the south and at least two Tree Pipits were singing away from the tops of the birches, looking striking in the early morning sun. Garden Warblers chattered away in the scrub with many Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps for accompaniment.

Nice views of one of the freshly arrived Tree Pipits, showing nice strong bill, bold head pattern and underparts with heavy black streaking on the buffy breast, contrasting with white belly with fine pencil-thin streaks. Quite different and striking compared with the nearby Meadow Pipits.

Lockdown Birding: RED-RUMPED SWALLOW!!!!!!!!

Saturday morning. The weather had changed to a slight murk with a light easterly. The kind of conditions that would send me scurrying to Wheldrake Ings or maybe Flamborough Head, full of anticipation for some top spring birding. But not this year. The current reality is that I, like everybody else, is birding close to home due to Lockdown restrictions. Several York birders had jammed in on some quality spring migrants over the past few weeks; Ring Ouzel, Redstart, Osprey, even a White-tailed Eagle (!), but I had had to make do with some quality Wheatears, Yellow Wags and Little Owls. Nothing to set the pulse racing too much, but enjoyable nonetheless.

I decided to cycle out to the south of the village to check some fields and rough grassland for migrants. Maybe a Ring Ouzel or a Whinchat would turn up. Fingers crossed. I checked the pea field just south of Bishopthorope: no Dotterels, but an Oystercatcher was nice. Just down the road two Swallows sat on the wires and I stopped underneath and took a pic with my phone. Gorgeous birds.

A little further on and I noticed a bunch of hirundines flying low over the camping field and ditch next to the road. There was a few House Martins among them, so I stopped for a look. Several were sitting on the telegraph wires including some martins, so I got my scope out for a look. Then, a Red-rumped Swallow flew low over the grass right in front of me, showing off a shiny blue back, peachy collar and orangey rump. WHAAATTT????!!!!!

Surely not, this is Acaster Malbis, not Flamborough! It banked round and I saw the peachy underparts, pale throat and 'stuck on' long black tail. Holy Crap! A massive adrenaline surge nearly knocked me off my feet and a thousand thoughts rushed through my head - could I release the news? Would I be in trouble for encouraging a twitch? What if it flew off without me managing to get a pic? Anyway, I could see that some of the flock were still sitting on the wires, so I rapidly set my scope up on them in the hope it would land. About forty Swallows, House and Sand Martins lined the wires. The Red-rump continued to cruise around low over the turf in front of me - was this really happening? I was shaking and my head was spinning. Calm down, lad!

I put the news out locally and Chris Gomersall who lives nearby said he was on his way. I tried to get a handheld phone video of it - my only option unless it decided to land on the wires. I didn't know whether the phone with its tiny zoom would pick it up, but it did:

Apologies for the commentary - given to myself!

Here is a grab from that clip.

After a few minutes and to my delight, the bird then settled on the wires and I managed a first bit of phonescoped video. Relief! What a stunner! It had really long tail streamers, so presumably a male. Within moments, Chris arrived and to my relief the bird was still sitting on the wire allowing Chris to get straight on it. Boom!

The bird preened frequently, between bouts of feeding, where it did a low circuit of the camping field, the nearby sheep field and the ditch. Keeping our social distance (!) we moved to a better position where we could get closer views when it came back to perch.

The last time it perched, it sat further along the wires with the trees behind, giving us more colour. Superb!

This was the last time it settled. On taking flight, the flock of c40 hirundines gained some height over the Ship Inn car park. The RRS was easy to pick out, with more languid flight and big long forked tail. It glided round in lazy circles among the more frenetic martins. Chris drew my attention to a Common Swift that had joined the throng, my first of the year! A Sparrowhawk cruised through a few minutes later - perhaps why they were nervous. All of a sudden, about 10.40am, the flock disappeared, leaving no trace of the Red-rump or any of its gang. I didn't see it again.

Red-rumped Swallow is a bird I have always looked for in April in flocks of hirundines but never found. To find one anywhere would be a treat but within a mile of my house is just amazing and feels like a dream. In any other circumstances, I would be elsewhere, but this just shows what local patching can deliver.

...

A message I never thought I would see. Red-rumped Swallow, Bishopthorpe. Absolute #LockdownBirding scenes!

If accepted by the YNU, this will be the fourth record for the York recording area, the last being one seen briefly by Andy Walker at Heslington East in May 2013 - see here.

The previous accepted records are:

• Wheldrake Ings, 3rd May 2010
• Naburn Sewage Works, 16-17th May 1979

A bird at Healaugh on 7th May 1974 was just outside the York recording area.

....

In other news, besides the RRS and Swift, I had ten House Martins, ten Sand Martins, 20 Swallows, three Yellow Wagtails, c50 Fieldfares and several Whitethroats. Local birding ain't too bad!

Lockdown Birding: Look more closely

This week has been about looking more closely, either in my garden at the emerging life in the pond, or on my morning dog walk, or whilst cycling round the local area.

The Little Owls are still showing well by the river, but you could easily walk past without noticing one of the little characters. Both Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats have arrived during the week and numbers of Willow Warblers have increased. Good numbers of Swallows and Sand Martins are over the river, but still only one or two House Martins over the estate and no sign of a Swift yet.

Down at Colton, a seemingly barren arable field fizzed with birds on closer inspection. One White Wagtail was among half a dozen gloriously bright Yellow Wagtails, and a dozen dashing Pied Wagtails. Nearby, a smart Wheatear hopped about, showing well in the evening sunshine. Nearby, a male Stonechat fed by dropping down into a sheep pasture from a barbed wire fence. It is always worth looking a bit more closely.

On the way back, I drank in the tranquility of the sun's failing rays shining through a local Bluebell wood. How many of these things would I have seen if I wasn't restricted to the local area?

Please leave me alone!

Now is the season for baby birds to be bouncing out of their nests into our back gardens.

I am frequently asked for advice on what to do with the baby Blackbird/Song Thrush/Robin/House Sparrow that has been found by a well-meaning friend or member of the public.

My answer is always the same: If it is not in immediate danger, please leave it alone! 

Unless next door's cat, your dog, or a passing car is about to take it out, then it is more than capable of survival, and the best chance it's got is if it is left alone and supported by its parents.

This is also true of Tawny Owl chicks. These adventurous little cuties are starting to climb out of their nest holes now and explore the branches nearby. This can lead to tumbles on to the floor. Usually, they survive the fall and are capable of clambering back up the tree trunk to safety. So again, please leave them alone unless they are in peril.

If a bird is in danger, just move it a short way to cover, scare away the local prowling moggy and then step back. This will give the youngster the best chance of survival. Thank you!

Lockdown Birding: Hanging in there

So, birding these days consists of what I can see in my small back garden, from my office window - which is actually my son's bedroom window! - on a short pre-breakfast dog walk by the River Ouse at Bishopthorpe and then once or twice a week, a cycle ride over to Acaster Airfield. In addition, I keep an eye out when doing essential work for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust which is limited currently to checking livestock at a couple of sites, to make sure they are safe and healthy. I am sad not to be able to see how birds are responding to the habitat creation works we have done at a number of our sites over the winter. Hopefully we will get a pleasant surprise when we can go back out later on.

I miss visiting Wheldrake Ings particularly as April is one of the best months for the site. However, the anticipation of what I might see when I finally return keeps me going.

Meanwhile, I have been immersing myself in the local birds and wildlife, enjoying every new spring migrant as it arrives (Whitethroat this morning for instance) or first sighting of a butterfly, bee or moth for the year, and getting to know my immediate area much better. I have discovered a regular spot for Little Owls and I see them most mornings now. A real treat. I haven't yet jammed in on a Ring Ouzel or Redstart, but there is still time and this northeasterly wind holds promise.

Curlew- a pair is present just south of Bishopthorpe. Their evocative bubbling calls are a joy to hear first thing in a morning.


Today, between bouts of poring through the scarce bird records for the York area bird report 2019, I am skywatching from Sol's bedroom window. So far, 17 Fieldfares have flown east - maybe the last I will see this spring? - a few local Buzzards and Sparrowhawks have been circling around and a Tree Sparrow has flown west. No Osprey yet, but I will keep up my vigil. Stay safe everybody, and enjoy your local wildlife. Don't worry about what you are missing and enjoy getting a bit closer to the common stuff.