Industrial-strength Lapwings

Going back a couple of weeks, I arrived at my usual survey spot along the riverside track at North Killingholme on the Southern bank of the Humber, driving (thankfully) slowly as I caught sight of several fluffballs disappearing into the grassy verge.....

Stopping the car, I was soon confronted by four (very) young Lapwing chicks, a noisily attendant mother and a fairly close-by father, on the track in front of me. The problem was, to one side was a steep ditch, and to the other, a metre-high wall cutting off access to the saltmarsh, all the way along the track.....

So I figured the best bet was to try and slowly shepherd them along the track and into the only wider opening (a disused industrial field) a little further along. Before I could do so, however, I heard engines behind me - very rare along the (private) track, where I usually encounter no other vehicles all day.

With particularly bad timing*, two tractors and a pick up truck approached behind me - EA vehicles, there to mow the entire banks, including the areas where the Lapwings were - and there began what turned out to be much of the day spent as a personal security detail for this special young family.

The EA work continued at distance, dog walkers were repelled with sign language, and periodically I tried to usher the chicks onto the safety of the open area; but every time I thought I'd succeeded, mom called them back along the track, seemingly unable to work out why they couldn't get through a concrete wall and onto the saltmarsh...

Aside from that, one of the chicks was particularly unruly, and one many occasions ran straight towards me, viewing my legs, and car, as the perfect safe haven.

Long story (and day) short: they were all present and correct, and as close to the open area as I could get them, when I had to leave late in the day - here's hoping their luck continued beyond.

(*Actually, very good timing - if I'd arrived minutes later, it would likely have been a very different ending....)

Fundraising for Leeds Swifts - less than two weeks to go......

18km training run yesterday, incorporating the city walls here in York.... 

Time flies when you're trying to get in shape for a half-marathon, and here we are, less than a fortnight away....

So, a quick update. Fundraising is going great, and after just a week, we surpassed my target of £1000; as of this afternoon (Monday 8th) we're over £1600 - a reflection of the wonderful folk who've contributed (that's you), and the absolute angels who voluntarily run Leeds Swifts, a more-than-worthy cause.  DONATE HERE!

Training? So far, so good. I started significantly later than my last (first) half-marathon two years ago, and I was in better nick back then, but I'm clocking the kilometres, building up my stamina and I'm roughly on track - an 18km run  yesterday (my longest since, well, the aforementioned half-marathon), and while I'm seriously wiped out, I can still just about move. Just.

Swift nest boxes installed by Leeds Swifts - with their appreciative occupants!

As it stands, we've made to cover almost two years of Swift rehab costs - almost! - but we're a few hundred quid short....

Any chance you could spare a few quid? The next time you look up at these magical birds, you'll have a warm feeling of connection and satisfaction, I promise....! DONATE HERE

Cairn Gorm - School of Birding, May '26

We were hoping - with varying degrees of realism, according to the ever-changing mountain forecast - to make it up the funicular railway and onto the near-summit at some point during the week, but expectations were low... 

 

.... but finally we saw a break, and to everyone's joy (guides included) we found ourselves hiking up beyond the restaurant and along the snowy tracks.

We didn't go far, and didn't need to; being just below the summit on the northern side gave us some protection from a south-westerly wind, and we were very fortunate to have periods of brightness between cloud banks (and no rainstorms, which passed us by on both sides).

 

What about our targets? We'd tempered expectations, and would take anything we got. Ptarmigan would be great result; Dotterel even more so, with none yet reported and snow cover potentially displacing them. Mountain Hares, Ring Ouzel and Snow Bunting were all also possible, but we didn't want to be too greedy....

Long story short, we effectively cleaned up. Mountain Hares first, followed by Ptarmigan, and then the undisputed stars of the show - four Dotterel, which we watched for an extended period as the fed on a stony plateau, getting closer and closer to us as we lapped them up. I've seen plenty of Dotterel in plenty of places, but this is the first time i've seen them in their wild, evocative breeding habitat - breathtaking.

A brief burst of Snow Bunting song as we watched them was as good as it got for that species (can't win 'em all, eh), but with a cracking male Ring Ouzel and more Ptarmigan from the viewing areas by the restaurant, it was a very happy group that descended on the railway back to the car park. What a day!

School of Birding, Module Two, Class Three - May '26

Alright, catching up time.... May was, as ever, super busy (not entirely sure where it went, to be honest) but after guiding at Spurn and then Flamborough earlier in the month, I was Scotland-bound once again by mid-month, for our tenth (!) School of Birding.

Slavonian Grebe

Or more accurately, our eleventh (if we include our School Trip to the Outer Hebrides in May last year), and our third Module Two. Simon and I were very much looking forward to this one, for several reasons: not least because we knew the whole gang well, and the fact that it was our first in May meant a significantly different suite of species would hopefully be on offer.

Pied Flycatcher

And what a week we had, with a truly fabulous team. The learning sessions were great, which focused on patch birding, songs and calls, finding rare birds, purposeful birding and more; our time in the field, meanwhile, was rich and varied and (and generally blessed with good weather).

Glaucous Gull (above), Willow Warbler (below)

Highlights? Where do you start? Beautiful breeding plumage Slavonian Grebes glistening in the sunshine, even more beautiful breeding-plumage Black-throated Divers performing fabulously (and delivering much high drama for us, all of which thankfully ended well), Crested Tits feeding young in the nest....

Pied Flycatchers (below) and Tree Pipits (above) singing and attending their nests, a very special Osprey nest with lots of close-up activity, summer-plumage divers, waders and ducks on the coast....

..... point-blank Dippers, Red-breasted Mergansers and Goosanders, a cracking surprise Glaucous Gull (at Spey Bay), fantastic views of Crossbills, plus Peregrines, Merlins, Goshawks, Golden Eagles, huge Sand Martin colonies...

... and an unforgettable session at the summit of Cairn Gorm, as described in the next post. I'm sure I've forgotten more highlights, but it was one of those weeks when they just kept on coming - and we couldn't have shared it all with a better bunch.

We're fully booked for 2026, but 2027 dates are now available and selling fast - click here for details!

Half-Marathon for Leeds Swifts - help!

Alright folks, I need your help. I've decided to run the East Yorkshire Half-marathon, to raise funds for the wonderful people at Leeds Swifts (more on them below). I've left it late - it's exactly four weeks til Race Day - but let's see if we can make some serious brass for a fantastic cause that I'm guessing, and hoping, is close to many of our hearts. 

 (Can't be arsed to read on? No problem - just give me your money by clicking HERE!)

If you've been lucky enough to have Swifts arrive back over your neighbourhood in the last week or two, you'll know how special it feels - the quintessential sight, sound and spectacle of the British summer. You'll also very likely know how badly they're faring. 

Over the past 20 years our Swift population in the UK has fallen dramatically by nearly 70% in cities, mainly through loss of nest sites in buildings due to modern methods and renovations.

But there is hope out there; lots of it, in fact, thanks to a network of dedicated Swift Groups around the country - not least the fantastic team at Leeds Swifts. So - any chance you can spare some virtual loose change? Here's what you'll pay for.... 

DONATE HERE

Their work includes expanding existing Swift colonies across the city by installing Swift nest boxes and Swift call systems on a range of homes and buildings across the city. This year, Leeds Swifts are focusing on installing boxes with calls and nest cameras at Schools. 

Every year, from April to September, Leeds Swifts run a 24/7 Swift Sanctuary to look after injured and grounded Swifts (as well as House Martins and Swallows). These birds need specialist and dedicated care, which cannot be provided without the kind and generous donations from Swift supporters.

Last year, 121 birds (81 Swifts, 23 House Martins and 17 Swallows) found their way to the Swift Sanctuary. 92 of these were able to be saved and released, eventually to start their long journey to Africa. 

Running a Swift Sanctuary is rewarding but demanding. It costs around £1,000 each year - about £12 per week per Swift. This is where the majority of Leeds Swifts fund-raising efforts are focussed. Costs include food for the birds (crickets, wax moth and bee drone larvae and flies), heating, washing and cleaning and transport costs for collecting injured Swifts from across our area.

I'm not a distance runner, and have only run one Half-marathon before, a little over two years ago (when I was in better nick, and did more preparation..). So I'm going to need the inspiration, and guilt, of your support to get me into training and over the line in four week's time. 

How about it? ;-) Donate HERE! 

Eyemouth, 23rd May '26

Peregrine (above), female Stonechat feeding young (below)

It wasn't all about the Honey-buzzard... prior to that, I enjoyed a very peaceful session with multitudes of breeding warblers, hirundines, Swifts, seabirds, and a great show from hunting Peregrines around (and beneath) me.

Sedge Warblers