Mediterranean Diet

First blog post for a while, mostly down to a hard drive failure but hopefully normal service can now be resumed.
Despite about 70% of Castle Lake suffering from a covering of ice this morning and accompanying light snow flurries a decent selection of birds were on offer, highlight was this adult Mediterranean Gull.

Others of interest included 2 Oystercatcher, 4 Pintail, 5 Shelduck, 67 Curlew and 300 Lapwing.
The River Stell produced flybys from Kingfisher and Green Sandpiper while a massive flock of c600 Golden Plover graced the A1 Flashes.

One of the two Oystercatcher present this morning, my first of the year.

The four Pintail together.

Thursday 12th January 2012

Highlights from this afternoon;

Castle Lake;
6 Shelduck, 7 Pochard, GC Grebe, 70 Golden Plover, 7 Redshank, Green Sandpiper, 3 Short-eared Owl.
 
Low Hardwick;
5 Common Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 2 Short-eared Owl.

Grey Heron enjoying a snack at Low Hardwick this afternoon.

GCG Back Already

Highlights from today;

Castle Lake;
Great Crested Grebe, 5 Shelduck, 2 Pochard, 10 Grey Partridge, Green Sandpiper, 2 Short-eared Owl.

Low Hardwick;
4 Short-eared Owl, Skylark over, 2 Willow Tit, 9 Lesser Redpoll.

The first returning Great Crested Grebe back on Castle Lake today.

Two of the ten Grey Partridge near the hide.  

Monday 2nd January 2012

Thanks to John Olley for today's sightings;

Castle Lake and surrounds
Green Sandpiper flew in, 17 Curlew, 7 Redshank, 5 Shelduck, 8 Shoveler, 200 Teal, 3 Pintail, 100 Wigeon, 2 Kestrel, 44 Stock Dove and Grey wagtail.

Low Hardwick
3 Short Eared Owls, Buzzard, 4 Kestrel 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Goosander over.

Stell-Mainsforth
Little Egret

The First Of The First

The plan today was to spend an hour in the hide then have a good walk around hoping to get the new year list off to a solid start but the weather had other ideas and it wasn't until late morning that the rain relented by which time I'd seen everything the hide had to offer.
I didn't need to head over to Low Hardwick as the Short-eared Owl's today were happily hunting the south-east corner of Castle Lake, three together at one stage.
The set-aside between Island Farm and Alan's Pool is still home to a 600 strong mixed flock including 400 Goldfinch, various numbers of Greenfinch, Tree Sparrow, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, 19 Corn Bunting and at least 1 (!) Linnet.

A few pictures from today;

One of the two pair of Shelduck that have already returned to Castle Lake.

Three Pintail present today including this drake.

Great Black-backed Gull's still dropping in occasionally.

Some of the Corn Bunting in their favourite tree.

Couldn't resist another Short-eared Owl photo.

2011 - A Birding Year To Remember

Well that's another year gone but what a great one it was for birds around Bishop Middleham, by my reckoning at least 151 different species were recorded of which I managed to connect with 136. There were also some very important breeding records.
I hope, in future blog posts, to expand in detail on some of the more memorable birds that have graced the area in 2011.
As a taster here's a list of just some of those birds that have grabbed my attention during the last 12 months.

Whooper Swan, Bewick's Swan, White-fronted Goose, Bean Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Barnacle Goose, Pintail, Garganey, Scaup, Goosander, Ruddy Duck, Quail, Black-necked Grebe, Gannet, Bittern, Little Egret, Spoonbill, Osprey, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Rough-legged Buzzard, Hobby, Peregrine, Water Rail, Little Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Knot, Curlew Sandpiper, Temminck's Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Woodcock, Ruff, Pectoral Sandpiper, Mediterranean Gull, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Black Tern, Cuckoo, Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl, Little Owl, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Yellow Wagtail, Blue-headed Wagtail, Redstart, Wheatear, Whinchat, Grasshopper Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Grey Shrike, Brambling, Crossbill and Corn Bunting.

Phew! What a great list and after careful consideration my bird of the year for 2011 was the Rough-legged Buzzard, a species I might have to wait years before I see one again.

Many thanks to everyone who's read the blog during the year and I especially want to say thank you to all the birders who have contributed to it.
All The Best For 2012.

Bits 'n Pieces

A few observations from todays long walk around the patch.

Shelduck  Two pair already back on Castle Lake (wasn't expecting them until early February)

Pintail   A pair on Castle Lake

Roe Deer  Single at Low Hardwick this morning (pictured below)

Geese sp   44 went over high north-west late morning