Sunday 10 December 2023
December Snake
Sunday 5 November 2023
Glossy Patch
The Deeping Lakes Glossy Ibis showed well, first thing this morning. I also had my first Cattle Egret of the year on the reserve, which was great after missing the flock of five last weekend.
When this bird first arrived, it fed along the Welland, towards Crowland but once the lower banks of the Welland flooded a few weeks ago, it started feeding on the reserve. The Welland is once again in flood and was very obliging in the morning sun.
Saturday 28 October 2023
Thursday 26 October 2023
Veery revisited
One of the highlights of the trip and my fourth American thrush this side of the Atlantic.
Monday 23 October 2023
To the point...
Walked to the Spurn Point with Hugh Wright on Thursday. In the morning, there was plenty of Thurshes and Brambling piling in off the sea and we had a Black Redstart Ring Ouzel among other common migrants on the 'mainland'.
On the walk down it was clear there were more Thrushes, Goldcrests and Robins down towards the Point and we had a cracking male Black Redstart as well as another female/1st winter type. A Short-eared Owl fresh in and a Merlin ploughing a migrant Song Thrush into a wire fence (and to it's death!) kept things interesting until we found this Yellow-browed Warbler.
It was a very obliging, fearless bird and even stopped and preened in front of me at one point. Although perhaps not the rarest bird, it felt like a great reward among the mass of common migrants which included other scarcer migrants such as Barred Warbler and Mealy Redpoll.
Wednesday 18 October 2023
Glossy Ibis find
Yesterday morning, a pre-work visit to the patch was rewarded with a fly over Rock Pipit, the obliging Bittern and this Glossy Ibis flying out of roost with six Little Egrets. Yesterday evening, Mike Weedon watch the Ibis return to Deeping Lakes and this morning a group of us watch it leave once again, heading north along the Welland.
Josh Jones relocated it near Crowland Water tower and it attracted a steady stream of admirers. Just the third record for Deeping Lakes (fly through in December 2020 and the first, a long stayer, in December 2013/January 2014).
Sunday 15 October 2023
Orcas from Sumburgh head
After watching the Orcas in the Mousa Sound, we watched them heading directly towards Sumburgh head so that's where we headed. I quickly picked up the pod in the scope, miles away. They were still heading our way but entered each bay, presumably looking for Seals.
Quite a crowd gathered by the time they got to us. We were afforded wonderful views as they approached. They then suddenly all dived and appeared beyond the point we were all gathered on. We left them to continue round the headland, completely thrilled with experiencing such a fantastic encounter with one of my favourite animals.
Thursday 12 October 2023
Tree Pipit
Wester Quarff Barred
Wednesday 11 October 2023
Confiding Citrine Wagtail
I have never known such a confiding Wagtail. It might be just grey, white and black but this Citrine Wagtail is a real beauty. It was completely fearless and would approach down to a few feet in a Lerwick garden last week. What a stunner!
Monday 9 October 2023
More ORCA!
Friday 6 October 2023
More Veery
Another visit on Monday for the Veery was even better in terms of how few people there were. However the bird stuck to the undergrowth but in a way, that was a nicer habitat to take photos in. I will post more later of course....