Bempton Cliffs 5-5-12

With nice weather forecast it was up early for Jacqui and myself so we could catch the 8.15 train to Bempton,arriving just after 9.00 on the train journey I pointed out a Barn Owl hunting,yay Jacqui's first ever wild Barn Owl which put a smile on her face :)
A short walk up to Bempton Cliffs clocking up Common Whitethroat and the usual farmland birds on the way,this was Jacqui's first visit to Bempton so I knew she was in for a real treat despite the cold wind.
We started our visit off at the feeding station where we watched the Tree Sparrows squabbling over a place on the feeders,The ever hungry Jackdaws mopping up everything in sight reminds me of someone I know Mark Maddox :)
we made our way to the left up to Jubilee Corner the most northern view point and my favourite of them,after a hour or so of attempting flight shots of Guillemots and Razorbills we made our way down to Barlett Nab and Grandstand view points,after spending some time here Jacqui and myself made our way back to the visitor centre for a more than welcomed coffee to warm us up.
We then made our way to the south of the reserve to Staple Newk as everyone knows for the Desert Wheatear which stayed here until early this year,I picked out a lone Shag down on the sea and a couple of Grey Seals,the first Gannet chick had hatched on the 3rd fter a while we made our way up to the New roll up viewpoint stopping off to photograph the Gannets on the cliff tops but with it being busy and the RSPB giving guides we didn't stay here long with the cold setting in once again so we made our way back to the visitor centre for another coffee before making our way back to the station stopping off at the village green and watching the Rea's in the field and the goldfish in the pond.
With Jacqui clocking up 14 lifers in a day I think she enjoyed it,oh I remember the days :)

Far Ings 28-4-12

With deciding on doing my first survey today of the season my alarm was set so that I could get a earlyish start.
I reached FI at about 8.30 taking my normal route starting with Barton reedbed,only stopping at the monolith for a scan to see if there was any waterfowl broods but none present there yet.
I contiued round to Beardie corner where I heard my first Sedge Warbler of the Year .I didn't hang around for Bearded Tit as there as been none reported for a month or so on the reserve now,which is a great shame so I reached Pursuit Pit and yes got my first brood of 7 young Canada Geese.
I walked along the Humber bank to Pursuit pit hide to count the Avocet and picked out a lone Common Sandpiper along with 2 Common Tern on the new raft,also a Reed Warbler could be heard in the reedbed but didn't show itself,after a while 2 Common Swift flew through my first of the year,I carried on along the bank to the old cement works to see if I could find any more migrants tucking themselves away but not a chance,so I continued to Reedy hide on the north of Ness pit with even more Avocet on here I counted these up making the total over 80 birds a great count for the reserve I think.
With my mind set on going to Chowder ness for some waders I continued back along the bank looking for and Wheatears on the wall but things changed when I reached Target pit,the martins and swallows were close in by the hide feeding along the margin,so I though that I may aswell try for some shots so as I lifted the flap up on Target hide the first bird I see was a Red-rumped Swallow but I thought to myself no maybe a House Martin just crossed a Swallow so it looked like it had a rump,so I waited and within a few seconds it came back round and sure enough it was brilliant finding my own Red-rumped Swallow only my second for Britain.
After 10 minutes or so of watching it feed they all disappeared but was soon relocated over at blowells,sorry Andy but the brood count went out the window at this point.
I headed over to try and get some shots and some cracking views with it flying over everybody's head about 10 foot up so big smiles on my face :)
A Lesser Whitethroat could be heard here calling with time pushing along I decided on heading down to the visitor centre for a well deserved drink and kitkat before heading off home.
I finally got home and uploaded my pics when I got another text from Andy Sharp saying a male Ring Ouzel at Far Ings in the field to ness pit,so with my memory card back in the camera this time it was a quick dash on my bike back to Far Ings to get this in the bag which I did and some not bad shots a fantastic day for me with 2 new birds added to my Far Ings list.

Ring Ouzel

Red-rumped Swallow 

Far Ings 18-3-12 (Owl Fest)

With Short-eared & Barn Owl showing on the Humber bank on thursday night seen by the bird study group which I could not attend due to work,this seen myself on the bank on a nice sunny sunday afternoon in the hope of 2 new species for Far Ings for me.On arriving at the Humber bridge I scanned the south towers and spotted a female Peregrine Falcon sat on the tower,so on reaching the visitor centre at the reserve I looked back so I could count it on my list a nice start would I get the other 2 intended new species.I walked up to the Old Cement work scanning the reedbeds along the way for any sign of Owls but a bit early so I had a look around the Cement works and on the Humber but not much about,so I decided to sit where I could watch over Hotel pit for any Bittern flights and keep an eye out for the Owls along the foreshore too.
With no sign of Bitterns and time getting on I walked back towards the visitor centre, just as I reached the back entrance to Reads Hotel I spotted something perched on a branch about 250 yards further on,I lifted my bins and had a look and yes it was a Short-eared Owl on that note I made my way towards it and full of joy and big smiles I got close enough for some record shots and as I did another Shorty appeared from nowhere and they both went up calling after a while and some better shots,I managed to stalk one of the bird which had perched and get some decent photos and as I was looking through them not noticing the bird had flown I stood up and looked down toward Graham Cattley,noticing a Owl flying towards me with only a short time before it disappeared I managed to get 3 shot off and on looking I was surprised to see it was my second target Owl,even bigger smiles now Barn Owl in the bag to and within a 10-20 seconds a second Barn Owl flew by me now i'm thinking wow a great afternoon bagging all the target birds and the bonus of Peregrine,It doesn't happen very often where things go right and to plan but this was just a superb afternoon,as the light was now fading I made my way home phoning Jacqui who had wished me luck to let her know it had gone well who was so happy for me :) Now I'm wondering is that damn Tawny Owl ever going to play ball just keep on trying!!!