The joys of early spring vismig

Chaffinches

I don't get the chance to vismig as much as I used to (or as much as I'd like!), and so when I do, I try and appreciate it as much as possible; not difficult when birds are on the move, and happily, this morning was a case in point.

Bar-tailed Godwit

No great variety or standout scarcities / notables, but just a very pleasant couple of hours from dawn enjoying (mainly) finch migration in action. The moderate south-westerly pushed the flow of the birds to the seaward side of the clifftop at my usual vantage point at Muston Sands, Filey, with the majority of birds ducking and diving as they approached from the north and bulleted south.

Skylark (above and below)

Chaffinches were very much the species of the day, with 319 in total (including some flocks over the beach and beyond); Siskins, Meadow Pipits, Greenfinches, Skylarks, Starlings, Linnets, Reed and (three) Corn Buntings, alba Wagtails and Tree Sparrows were some of the species that made up the numbers to varying degrees, all enjoyed in relatively mild and bright conditions.

Chaffinch

Meadow Pipit

Starlings

Yep, more chaffinches

Bar-tailed Godwit

... and a Red Kite heading west on today's survey's, near Paull on the Humber

School of Birding - second class dismissed!

"I didn't want the week to end! It has encouraged me to go out more and make the time for birding. So, thank you both so much for sharing your enthusiasm and knowledge" Debbie Redmond 

 A quick one from our second School of Birding - based at the Grant Arms Hotel in the Scottish Highlands - which took place last month, with a class full of fine folk, great birding in a wonderful part of the world, and plenty of snow for the perfect wintry backdrop to our days in the field....

(Upcoming dates available - see here)
 

"We were lucky to have two such experienced and knowledgeable birders with so much enthusiasm for their subject." Jo Rooney 

 As with our inaugural School in November (see here), we were blessed with eager, passionate clients/students/graduates/guests, and our week-long combination of indoor interactive lectures and in-the-field application - as well as exquisite, waistline-challenging three-course dinners, way too many single malts to choose from, and a generally fine all-round craic - was a pleasure to deliver.

It seems we've hit upon something that everybody genuinely loves and benefits from, creating an environment and schedule that makes learning lots of fun, within a group dynamic that is supportive and full of enthusiasm. 

"Thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable week of birding. It was a wonderful way to spend a cold winter’s week and although my waistline increased this was more than offset by a lower pulse rate, blood pressure, screen time and stress level!" Sarah Chaudhri

"You were both exceptional - informative, attentive & responsive to & tolerant of my expectations. Your styles & knowledge seemed complimentary to each other. I thoroughly enjoyed my week & would happily join in the next 'grade'. Birding is far more integrated into my life" - Janet Townsend

Big thanks once again to our partners at Zeiss Birding, who supplied a full range of top-level optics for all our guests to enjoy - from binoculars and 'scopes to state-of-the-art thermal imaging devices (the latter particularly popular, and invaluable for picking out Mountain Hares on snowy hillsides....) 

"It was great having the opportunity to try such lovely equipment. I have told so many people about the thermal scopes and the mountain hares!" Jo

Long-tailed Duck (above) and Glaucous Gull (below) Burghead

"Highlights were many - White-tailed eagle, Black Grouse lek, Long-tailed Ducks, Mountain Hares, Merlin, Glaucous and Iceland Gulls, Crossbills, Crested Tits, and many others!" Sarah Chaudhri

"You both had a wonderful repartee, good humour and camarardarie, I won't forget the acting out of the Lek and the entertaining daily reports!!" Janet Townsend

(Upcoming dates available - see here)

Iceland Gull, Lossiemouth

Dunlins (and more) on the Humber

A few photos from the last couple of days surveying down on the north bank of the Humber - mostly of an accommodating Dunlin flock catching the light with the Humber bridge in the background, but also of a flock of (162) Avocet swimming in tight formation out on the water, waiting for the tide to ebb and the fresh, snack-loaded mud to become exposed.

And a bonus Sanderling, because every sanderling is a bonus.

Stubble in Paradise

Lapland Bunting 

After a morning Parkrun at Wykeham Lakes (personal best, injured knee, Marsh Tit singing), with the sun shining and the wind light I couldn't resist hobbling up to the northern stubbles to check on the passerine flocks. Fair to say, it was good value, once again....

With another Water Pipit or Shore Lark in mind, I spent a lot of time pinning down and going through the well scattered, often flighty flocks - no dice on the aforementioned unfortunately but excellent numbers of Skylarks (245), Linnets (280), Tree Sparrows (31), Rock Pipits (18), Yellowhammers (48), Reed Buntings (45), plus two Corn Buntings (lower two photos), a single Snow Bunting (no sign of a flock today) and at least seven of these little wonders.

More often than not, they're pretty jumpy and up with the (Sky) larks before you can get anywhere near them, but occasionally, you bump into a bird which just doesn't give a flying one, this individual being a wonderful case in point - it let me sit right next to it as it fed avidly, completely unfazed by my presence. What a joy.

Plenty of other stuff to enjoy, too - hundreds of Pink-feet on the move, two Long-tailed Ducks in the bay, lots of auks and Fulmars, a Little Egret south... a fine few hours on the doorstep patch, and the first in some time.

Running for Raptor Rescue and Rehab!

Donate here: Running for Raptor Rescue and Rehab 

So, here we are again, me asking for your hand-earned brass, via a physical target for my creaking body and mind to aim for; and you asking "What is it this time?"..... Well, it's a half-marathon (my first, and, most likely last!), and it's a brilliant cause, and one that is particularly resonant and vital in these increasingly raptor persecution-infested times - Jean Thorpe Wildlife Rescue.

Here in Yorkshire, Jean is a hero to many (including me), and a saviour of our wild birds in desperate need of rehabilitation. She voluntarily gives everything to nurse an ever-increasing cast of injured raptors and other wildlife, often victims of persecution and cruelty, back to the wild. She's been doing it for years, tirelessy and skillfully rehabilitating (and campaigning), devoted to her cause, a total inspiration. But it's all voluntary, and she needs funds to continue her great work.

So, after a break in fundraising last year, for 2024, it's for Jean; well, for the next few weeks anyway - until I (hopefully) crawl over the line of the East Yorkshire Half Marathon on 28th April, my birthday. Any contribution will help save our beleaguered birds of prey - thank you for anything! It takes less than a minute to make a contribution, HERE.

Update - the Just Giving page has been live for less than 48 hours, and incredibly, already sits at £1650 (the initial target was £1000).... how far can we push it for Jean and the birds?

Long-tailed Ducks, Burghead, Feb '24

I've just returned from our second School of Birding in the Highlands, which was a great success and pleasure - but despite being in the field enjoying a wonderful array of wildlife all day, every day up there, the focus is on our team and the camera very rarely makes it out of the bag. However, with these beauties ridiculously close and in lovely light during our session around Burghead harbour, I had to fire off a few shots.....

... we also had them full-on displaying, which included all manner of comedy muppet noises and some very sharp moves.

(More of the trip to follow shortly)