A Glossy Ibis had been frequenting Rutland Water for some days before I managed to get to see it on the 29th August. It took some finding and I eventually re-located it in front of the visitors centre, as it took to the air from behind reed beds across the far side. I also found […]
On Thursday 26th August 2021 an adult White-tailed Lapwing (Plover) was discovered by the assistant warden at the RSPB reserve at Blacktoft Sands in Yorkshire. This was the 8th record for Britain and a first record for Yorkshire of this species which breeds in southern Russia and west to Iraq and Iran. The Iraq and
During late June 2021, the RSPB reserve at Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire was graced by the arrival of an adult Black-browed Albatross. Most likely to be the bird that very briefly visited the same site, around the same time last year (2020). I had never seen this species in Britain before and managed to see
The RSPB reserve at Bempton Cliffs on the Yorkshire coast is a real sea bird city. However, by late July, Early August the majority of the auks (Puffins, Razorbills and Guillemots) have left their colonies, leaving just Gannets, Kittiwakes and a few Fulmars behind. This year has seen a new visitor to the sea bird
An American Elegant Tern was discovered at the tern colony at Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey during early July 2021. I had seen Elegant Tern before, at Church Norton, Pagham Harbour, West Sussex, back in June 2017. Views were very distant and brief, as the bird kept disappearing into thick vegetation. However, this bird was much more
A few photos of local birds around Staunton Harold and Willington Gravel Pits. Common Sandpiper; Common Tern; female Mallard & Duckling; Great White Egret & Little Egret; Reed Warbler; Common Sandpiper; Common Tern; Grey Heron & Little Egret.
“At length did cross an albatross, Through the fog it came; As if had been a Christian soul, We hailed it in God’s name” (16) A few words from the Ancient Mariner kind of summed up the experience of seeing a Black-browed Albatross sweeping across the cliffs at RSPB Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire on
On the 6th June some stunning flowers at Staunton Harold – Ragged Robin; Southern Marsh-orchid; Common Spotted Orchid; Bush Vetch, Lesser Stitchwort and Common Vetch. Bird wise in recent days been very quiet. A Red Kite flew over the reservoir on 11th June and there was an obvious westerly movement of Common Swift with 40
