Far Ings 10-3-12

With having a chance of getting White fronted Geese on my year list I set off for my local patch,stooping of at the Tawny Owl roost for a search,but yet again it evades me and with Howard Booty already on site and he hadn't seen it either this morning but we had a chat about another site close by,whilst we stood talking a Treecreeper came in and H attempted some photos but no luck as it wouldn't keep still long enough .
I decided on walking the old dam road past the allotments up to the New pits where a skein of geese were in the first field,so I had a scan of them and sure enough the White fronts just at to be the ones furthest away but took a record shot of all 7 anyway ,with them in the bag I made my way to Ness hide where Paul Sutton was already present along with his mate.I only stayed a short while but as I was talking of the adult male Smew being present the previous sunday,he came swimming from behind the reedbed so I called him out to the other people present,with Paul and co having no luck with Bitterns but they did show me photos of the supposed Whinchat that was identified by so called experts but when I looked it was actually a female "Stonechat" still I wouldn't mind it on my Far Ings list.
With nobody having any luck with Bittern I moved on down Hotel track and onto the Humber bank making my way to Barton Reedbed to look for Bearded Tits but no joy only hearing a Water Rail calling.

Far Ings,Read's Island and Worlaby Carrs 3-3-12

With Jacqui heading arriving for a day out birding around my local patches but not before she had a hot cup of tea after a 2 hour drive.First stop was Far Ings to see if we could find any of the Smew and Bitterns.We arrived at Ness but what a miserable day but we didn't care just wanted a Bittern to show but after a couple of hours waiting the only birds of note were a flock of around 200 Dunlin heading east and no sign of any Bittern but we did have a visit from Malcom & Matthew Tarlor who kindly looked at Jacqui's settings for her on her Nikon camera,we decided to move on and have a look on Target pit where 1 of the 2 Smew had been over the previous week but with no sign of the first winter male,typical invite friends over and he moves off :( and so did we to have a look on new pit 5 with mainly Wigeon present we carried on round to have a look on Chowder ness with it being cold we didn't stay for long with a few Redshank mixed in with the Curlew and a few Shelduck present.
we walked the Humber bank and headed for Reedy Hide on the north side of ness pit and waited again for any sign of Bittern but rain had set in,so we were more like just taking shelter and watching the usual winter wildfowl,after a while the rain sort of passed and we made our way to the old cement works to see if any wader were on the foreshore but no not 1,yet again the rain came and that seen us off to the visitor centre for a welcomed coffee and a snack,while we watched over pursuit pit again the rain stopped and we headed back to Ness farm stopping off at Hotel hide on the way.
Next stop was to be Read's Island where Avocet and Bean Geese had been present,on arrival there were a number of Curlew in the next field,with me having a scan through the geese and failed to locate any Bean's with inly Canada & Greylags present maybe they was tucked up on the other side of the island out if the wind,we scanned the island for Avocet and managed to locate some in flight on the opposite side of the island before they settled down again great a new bird for Jacqui.We also managed a pair of Marsh Harriers spooking the Lapwing flock which had a few Dunlin mixed in with them,with not much else on show we then headed for Worlaby for the chance of the Shorties showing.We arrived after a quick stop at the shop in Bonby for some food and drink,a few people already on site we went and had a chat and a bit of banter with Roger Hatcliffe,Dave Alan,Keith Mitchell & Colin Pumfrett always good to catch up with a few comments was made when Dave Newby just ignored us all and sat on his own,so the wait began for the owls but just was not to be at about 4.15pm we headed back to my house for a good warming through and nice coffee before Jacqui set off back home only later to learn the we made the wrong choice in leaving but there's always next time.

Waters Edge Country Park 2-3-12

With the weather being opposite to the forecast I decided on a few hours down at Waters Edge,seen as I have not visited here for a few weeks to see what I could find which was only the usual birds expected to be found here.
With a good look around I decided on just spending time in the sun photographing birds in general and hope to capture something a little bit different.

Wood Pigeon

Common Gull

Tufted Duck

Greylag Goose

Mallard

Canada Goose

Song Thrush

Long tailed Tit

Coot

Far Ings 23-2-12

With some nice light for photography I decided on heading straight to Ness Hide and try for the Bitterns,but with none showing in the channel and only seeing 2 in flight,I then headed for Target hide and try for the Smew with more success which was great and after a chat with Andy Sharpe on the bird group walk on this one pictured below and doing some of my own home work on 1st winter males and then passing a photo onto good friend Dave Hutton and now we have 1 female and 1 first winter male on Far Ings would be nice for the adult Male to come across from the north side of the river Humber now.
also noted
Water Rail
3 Pintail 2m & 1f
the usual winter wildfowl
Golden Plover c40

Tufted Duck

Gadwall

Smew (1st winter male)

Teal

Worlaby Carrs 11-2-12

With my friend Jacqui coming over for the day I had to meet up with her on the North side of the Humber which meant a first for me,in the time I have lived in Barton I had never walked the Humber Bridge so it was nice to do this on a nice fresh morning.
With Jacqui arriving we set off back for my house and a hot coffee before showing her around the Historical Town of Barton and then heading off to Worlaby for the Owls,On arriving we pulled up in front of Dave Alan and we had a chat about what was or wasn't showing but with the cold getting to me it was time to jump back in the car after 5 minutes I spotted a female Hen Harrier flying along the railway line a lifer for Jacqui.After a hour had passed we took a drive to the bottom car park and had a walk around the old barn we could see Yellowhammer & Corn Buntings in the tree tops which was good to see,with a quick peek in the barn to see if the Barn Owl was there but no joy,we took a walk down the otherside when a Woodcock flew over our heads a really welcomed surprise.
We could see a pair of Common Buzzard further down the track when a female Marsh Harrier came flying across the field but once again the cold was setting in we headed back for the car.
Other birds noted
Meadow Pipit
Common Kestrel
Goldfinch
Song Thrush
Fieldfare
Not a bad afternoon's birding had by us both with Jacqui getting a few lifers and myself bagging a couple of yearticks.