Just back from a jaunt round England starting in Bolton, and then visiting Northumberland and South Yorkshire. Before setting off we had a badger in the garden so here is a link to the trailcam footage. If someone can tell me why I can't get the video showing on the page I would be grateful. I have tried uploading from computer and from YouTube, neither works.
Bolton added a great white egret at Elton Reservoir to the year list and a willow tit at the PenningtonFlash feeders. It managed not to add stock dove as well and I have no idea why!! A walk around Druridge Bay in Northumberland added a red-throated diver and a flock of 16 or so snow buntings, while Old Moor RSPB reserve in Yorkshire turned up a marsh harrier and a red-legged partridge as well as another great white egret. All in all a nice trip with a couple of days birding squeezed in despite wet weather and shortening days.
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| Elton egret |
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| Elton egret |
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| Old Moor shovelers |
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| Old Moor teal |
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| Old Moor gadwall |
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| Old Moor marsh harrier in the reeds!! |
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| Old Moor egret |
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| Old Moor red-legged partridge |
I had a frustrating experience in Northumberland while visiting family in a little village called Matfen. It is a lovely little place with a village green which has a small stream flowing through it. There is also a pub, church and nice stone cottages. I checked the river out and lo and behold there is a dipper giving good views from the bridge. The gear was in the boot so I set up and then discovered the camera batteries were dead!!I tried phone scoping but as you can see it was not awfully successful - record shots!!
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| Phone shot of the dipper |
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| Who would have expected a dipper on this river, I certainly didn't. |
I came back to a quiet WOW, but the grey wagtail posed nicely on the tern planks and the Kinnegar little gull was still around. I actually recorded 44 species but that included 19 at Kinnegar, so WOW only managed 25. The good news is that the feeders are up so tits and finches make the list.
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| Grey wagtail |
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| Grey wagtail |
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| Shelduck (+ teal) |
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| Little gull |
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| Little gull |
The next task is to put up the garden feeders but it is still very mild and there are few birds about. The hedgehog has gone into hibernation as the food hasn't been touched for a couple of weeks. It must be the daylight which triggers this it is certainly not the temperature? I have not been back to thee coastal path since we got back, hopefully this week.
2021
146: Jack snipe
147: Great white egret
148: Red-throated diver
149: Snow bunting
150: Red-legged partridge
151: Marsh harrier
152: Willow tit
153: Little gull
NDCP
69: Razorbill
WOW
83: Grey wagtail
84: Song thrush
85: Little gull
