Far Ings Study Group - Bird Race

Enjoyed a bird race today at Far Ings. The forecasters got it totally wrong yet again! It rained quite a lot, sometimes very heavy but we had a few breaks. We had a couple of coffee breaks and at lunchtime enjoyed some hot soup and crusty bread! When we left the group had managed a total of 82 species, Rich and I personally managed a list of 68 species which wasnt bad considering the dire weather.

No more patch birding for me for the next week as Im off to London tomorrow then fly out to Hungary on Tuesday. I shall have internet access from my hotel so will try to update daily!

South Ferriby 24-9-11

We decided on a nice walk today as the weather favourable, I also needed a break from packing and cleaning in readiness for my trip to Hungary next week! After taking a short bus ride we set off from South Ferriby and walked the Viking Way back to Barton on Humber. We sat in the sunshine for a few mins with a coffee out of the flask and watched our first Pink Footed Geese of the autumn which had gathered on the sandbanks of the Humber at low tide. Magical to see and hear these lovely little geese :) A few Wigeon flew up and down the river and c150 Avocet were also present.
Continuing our walk we didnt really see much else, the hedgerows and fields were very quiet. A couple of Comma butterflies and Migrant Hawker dragonflies were on the wing. Arriving eventually at Chowder Ness we rested a while with a coffee and a couple of biscuits, but again very quiet there. A Snipe was watched weaving about in the rocky areas, a few Shelduck fed on the muddy areas and a few Golden Plover were seen too. A solitary Oystercatcher put in a appearance too. We left Chowder Ness and walked down the Humber bank picking up a Bar Tailed Godwit hanging out with 3 Redshank near to the old cement works. Reaching the Far Ings NNR visitor centre we had a cold drink then headed back through Barton Reed Bed and made our way home. A nice walk with picturesque scenery :)

Chowder Ness

Distant shot of Pinks

Tomorrow we have to be up bright and early, we have a dawn to dusk bird race tomorrow at Far Ings, beginning at 7am. Will need to set the alarm!

Winteringham Haven 1-9-11

We decided that a change is as good as a rest so hopped on a bus to Winteringham then walked a 3 mile circuit down past the Yacht Club and along the Humber bank. On the whole, it was pretty quiet but we did have nice views of Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Yellow and Pied Wagtail, Linnets and such. Not many great photo opportunites as most were seen at distance but I got a few record shots for this blog! Some of the fields had a few roaming Pheasants and Red Legged Partridge.
About 4 seperate flocks of Barnacle Geese flew up the Humber, and one field nearby held c150 Golden Plover which were flushed by a Marsh Harrier and disappeared from view. We also noted a good number of Small Tortoiseshell butterflies on the wing.
On returning to the village, we enjoyed a pint at the local watering hole, the Bay Horse before catching the bus back to Barton. A nice change of scenery, a good long walk (with a few coffee breaks - via the flask!) and some nice warm, if mainly cloudy, weather.

Barnacle Geese

Pheasant

Wood Pigeon

Yellow Wagtail

Once back home we sat out in the garden with a cuppa and had 2 Sparrowhawks over plus a lone Swift and a sprinkling of House Martins.