Hatfield Moor

Today was the first of my two days off work.

After my first proper session at my new gym* I moved on the short distance to Hatfield Moor, to see what treasures this relatively new reserve holds in the... erm... depths of winter.

As I arrived, a butterfly flew across the track in front of me. I know winter butterflies are not unknown, but I think that was a January first for me!

On pulling into the car park, the first obvious bird was a Moorhen mooching around in the short grass whilst three Pied Wagtails and a Meadow Pipit were chattering close to the Boston Park hide.

I decided to take a look over the pool from the hide.

It was warm enough to sit in the hide in my T-shirt, but the sun was both bright and low, and made viewing a bit tricky.

Even so, I was quickly able to make out plenty of Coots and Black-headed Gulls, and a single Canada Goose.

A few Tufted Ducks were have seriously bad hair days, and the duck count was completed by some Pochard.

On the far bank a couple of Oystercatchers were feeding, and I caught sight of a Little Grebe just before it dived.

It never obviously resurfaced, but whilst I was scanning the water I saw a couple of Great Crested Grebes making pairing moves... seems love is already in the air!

A Carrion Crow flying over was just about it for the pool so I decided to move on and see what was singing in the trees.

It didn't take long to come across the first of the Long-tailed Tits, although they wouldn't keep still for long and it took a while to get a good views.

In the meanwhile, a Robin was singing lustily from a perch in the same trees. When I finally took the time out give (I guess) him a look, he turned out to be a beauty. At the moment the Robins I am seeing all have this wonderful tomato-soup coloured breast shining brightly.

In the undergrowth, a Dunnock scurried out, and quickly retreated, and Great Tits were doing their squeaky gate impersonations all around.

A Magpie and an Woodpigeon were the next flyovers, as I made my way along one of the rides towards the peat moor/workings. I heard the first of the day's Green Woodpeckers, although I never did actually see one, and Blackbirds were busy rushing around the lowest branches.

As I turned a corner, I got a sort but unmistakeable view of a flying Kingfisher. Kingfishers are another of my "good day" birds. They are certainly pleasing to look at for long durations when perched, but if anything they are better in flight - although repeated flights to and from a fixed perched are certainly better than seeing then shoot of into the distance!

Even so, a short glimpse of electric blue as it rose and turned away were fine enough.

I hung around in the hope it would return, but unfortunately, no. But whilst waiting, I was able to enjoy watching a rather noisy Marsh Tit feeding on the bullrushes. There were a fair few Marsh Tits around, in fact.

The next port of call was a bench by the peat, but once again this desolate stretch of land rewarded little in birds... just a few Carrion Crows. The sit down was welcome though!

After about twenty minutes, I moved on, and sood ided a Coal Tit in amongst a small flock of Blue Tits.

I made my way towords the Redbridge hide, upsetting a few Wrens on the way, it seems.

En route, on another pond I was able to add Wigeon and Herring Gull, the latter being somewhat of the bully towards the Black-headed Gulls, although, apat from Mallard, the view from the hide yielded nought.

Anyway, time to make my way back to the car, by a slightly different route.

I picked more of many of the same, but was able to add a female Reed Bunting and a couple of distant Mute Swans, which, if my counting has served me well, was 30 species for the day.

*Yes... those of you who have seen me... imagine how I'd look if I didn't work out!!!

Potteric Carr

I wasn't planning on blogging yesterday's trip to Potteric Carr, partly because it was "only" an opportunity for a stroll, and also because, with a couple of days off work, tomorrow and Tuesday, I am expecting to go there again for some "proper" birding, and I don't want to repeat myself too much.

But the presence of one of Potteric's specialities means I feel compelled, in case I miss out next time.

So, as a bit of brain-relaxation after four months of especially intense work, my good lady suggested a walk there with my daughter, picking up a bite of lunch on arrival, and popping over for coffee and cake at Thornton's at the end.

It's five months since my last visit, and Sedum House (the new function centre) is fully open... very posh! So having figured out how to get in, the three of us made our way to the cafe at the Field Centre.

There was nothing on the feeders at that time, but three Jackdaws were strutting close by.

A Magpie flew across the path ahead of us, and a couple of Goldfinches were flitting in the trees.
As we made our way past the site of the old (no longer present) Decoy Hide, were heard and saw a few Blue Tits and partnyorsha caught sight of a Robin.

Walking along the path beside the railway lines, we saw the first of five or six Bullfinches.

Bullfinches are one of my favorite birds, because they are a bit unusual. They're by no means particularly rare, and I would probably see them just about every day at Potteric, but they are certainly more elusive than most other finches. As a kid, they were amongst the group of birds I never thought I'd see... so a Bullfinch day is always a good day!

My daughter, who had actually spotted (although not ided) the first Bullfinch, spotted a rabbit, and whilst I was looking at that through my trusty, but aged binocs, I saw the head and neck of a reclusive Pheasant in the shrubbery.

Great Tits were also in the trees, and we could now see onto the first pool from the path. The light was a little difficult, but we could easily make out Coot, Wigeon and Mute Swan, and a Grey Heron was perched at the edge of the reeds.

My daughter again got her spotting eyes working and found and ided some Long-tailed Tits.

We arrived at the cafe as a noisy Blackbird charged through the undergrowth!

After relieving the cafe of two bacon butties and bowl of vegetable soup, we continued our stroll. As time wasn't on our side, but equally as we didn't want to rush round at a sprint, we decided just to take a walk up to Piper Marsh hide, call in at the new Hawthorn Hide, and then retrace our steps back to the car (and on to Thornton's!)

We got excellent views of a Treecreeper, and then saw a Moorhen on one of the ditches.

A Carrion Crow (or six) flew over, and we had many more encounters with previously mentioned woodland birdies.

We arrived at Piper Marsh hide, which, not surprisingly at this time of year, was quite full. The Marsh itself brought us Mallard, Gadwall, Black-headed Gull, Shelduck and Shoveler, but best of all, and many thanks to the kind birder who had his scope fixed on the skulking star, we were able to get long distance, highly-camouflaged, but nonetheless unmistakable views of one of the site's Bitterns.

We spent about ten minutes in the hide (fly-by-nights, eh?) before we had to move on.

As I mentioned, we called in at the Hawthorn Hide, and spent perhaps twenty minutes or so watch the wheeling flocks of Lapwings and another wader. Someone who briefly entered the hide ided them as Dunlin, but although I'm rubbish at waders, and therefore perhaps not qualified to argue... I don't think he was right. We figured they were winter-plumaged Golden Plover, but not enough to claim such or type them in red!

(Edit 29/01/07: After some checking of various books and reconsideration, I am happy to now type Golden Plover in red. In comparison to the size of the Starlings and the Lapwings, they were just smaller than the Lapwings and way bigger than the Starlings, so Dunlin is certainly out. Short of being a flock of 100 or so American variants, I'm now convinced they were our very own Golden Plovers.)

There were a few other birds on and around the water, including three Greylag Geese. A couple of Skeins of other geese flew over, but I couldn't id them.

Also, in the wader flocks, there was a smattering of Starlings.

May daughter spotted a squirrel, along with more Blackbirds and Robins, before adding to the list with Dunnock.

It was then time to make our way back to the car, with no more additions until we reached the exit, and noticed a Chaffinch or two in with the Goldfinches.

The final bird of the day, was the Lakeside Village speciality bird... Pied Wagtail.

All that was left to do was coffee and cake!