Wheldrake Ings & North Duffield Carrs

A first visit in a while to the Lower Derwent Valley today - in fact someone even had time to build a new monastery(!) since I was last there. The birding is never spectacular but it's a lovely walk and there's always a surprise or two in store.

It's been 7 or 8 years (?) since I found the reserve's first Little Egret but they've been more or less annual since then and indeed two were present distantly from Swantail Hide this morning.

Eight warbler species were recorded with Lesser Whitethroat and Reed Warbler being the scarcest. This Sedge Warbler decided to take a break from running errands for it's demanding offspring and basked briefly in the glorious sunshine.

Reed Buntings are one of the most numerous species at this large wetland reserve and singing males can be encountered every few yards atop bushes or reed stems.

The biggest surprise today was a roosting Tawny Owl by Garganey Hide at the nearby North Duffield Carrs reserve. The bird flushed from very close to the main path and gave a couple of good fly-by views before relocating out of sight - but it was all over so quickly that my camera never reached my eye!

Dotterels

After an absence of two years a trip of five Dotterels appeared in the sheep fields above Blackmoorfoot Reservoir this week. These attractive waders are on their way north to breed on the mountain plateaux of Scotland and are breaking the journey at this traditional staging post in sunny Huddersfield.


The birds rarely strayed far from each other this morning but kept their distance from the handful of Golden Plover, whilst doing their best to avoid being trampled on by curious lambs!


Other migrants on show included a dozen or more Northern Wheatears though, with the exception of this handsome male, views were generally distant.

Norfolk Weekend

Despite some glorious weather this Spring's pilgrimage to Norfolk was a little short on avian highlights. The lack of Nightingales, Dartford Warblers and Cranes was lamentable though distant views of Golden Oriole, Garganey and an abundance of Marsh Harriers and Hobbys was some recompense.


Steady streams of screeching Sandwich Terns against the perfect sky at Titchwell RSPB got the holiday off to a great start.


Avocets monopolised the wader scrapes at Titchwell and Cley with only the odd Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit getting a look in.


The perfect lines of Black Poplar trees at Lakenheath RSPB Reserve are home to a small population of Golden Orioles. Despite their bright colour the birds are incredibly difficult to see as they whistle their melancholy song from beneath the canopy. Don't study the photo for too long - I'm pretty sure there isn't one present!


A couple of commoner species to finish in the shape of a very confiding Lapwing and a drake Gadwall at Cley NWT.

Reed Bunting

Plenty of Spring arrivals at Potteric Carr YWT this morning including Garganey and Lesser Whitethroat though obviously not this Reed Bunting!

The only place to get pictures today was at the feeding station and the only bird there not to feature for a while was the bunting. Next week it's back to good old Bretton where the first Garden Warblers will be tuning up - thank the Lord!

Willow Warblers

Meltham Cop was alive with newly arrived Willow Warblers this morning. Their sleepy, wistful song eminated from every hawthorn thicket between Blackmoorfoot Reservoir and the gorse-clad hill, brightening a miserable start to the weekend.


Numerous pairs of Linnets were setting up home on the Cop slopes but unfortunately no sign of the normally reliable Stonechats today. Also absent was the hoped-for first Cuckoo of the season. With such a healthy population of Meadow Pipits in the area the parasitic birds are often to be seen and heard from mid-April onwards here.

Lesser Spot

Even getting just a glimpse of our smallest and rarest woodpecker is a real thrill, so having the opportunity to watch one at the nest-hole this morning was quite magical. Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers go unnoticed for much of the year but for a few weeks each Spring the birds make themselves easier to catch up with by frequently drumming and calling.


Setting up home in a dying Willow at a disused picnic site the pair were taking turns excavating their nest chamber just twelve feet from the ground - though the female (pictured) seemed to be doing the lion's share of the work!

To avoid disturbance this photograph was obtained from quite a distance with the aid of a friend's long lens and has been cropped considerably.

Black Grouse

A Black Grouse reintroduction scheme on the South Yorkshire/Derbyshire border five years ago has produced positive results with breeding birds now being regularly seen near the Strines reservoir. A morning visit is necessary to witness the lek though we weren't early enough to see the real action - just the last couple of grouse recovering from their exertions in the cover of a pine plantation.

A nearby wintering Great Grey Shrike swelled the number of birders at the site whilst recently returned Ring Ouzels provided additional interest. The watery sunshine this morning wasn't enough to bring the few remaining Goshawks out from nearby coniferous plantations though and we had to be content with a couple of the more numerous Sparrowhawks.

Chiffchaff at Bretton

This Chiffchaff was taking a break from nest-building at Bretton this morning. The birds have been back for nearly three weeks now and whilst the first Blackcaps and Garden Warblers are only just finding their feet, these migration torch-bearers will be egg-laying any time.

I spent two hours following a couple of dueling male Blackcaps around the park but to no avail. The birds will be much more cooperative once territories have been established in a week or two. On the plus side I clocked my first Buzzard at Bretton this year showing distantly but well over Seven Acre Plantation north of Middle Park.