Rough,Rough and Ruffe

I set off on Sunday morning to the relatively central location of Hornsea Mere in the hope of a photo opportunity of one of the reported grebes (red-necked or slavonian) and then if news broke of something good (Spurn or Flamborough) it would not be much of a distance to view it.

So I arrived at 9.00 at the Mere and it was relatively quiet with a few common ducks and geese and the odd gull.

After a discussion with one of the locals (thanks George) he soon put me on to the red-necked grebe which was almost at the other bank at the far eastern end, and one of the slavonian grebes which wasn't much closer.

Then after further scanning another slav was a bit closer but not enough for a decent shot.

News broke of a rough legged buzzard at Grindale near Bridlington, but I still persevered with the slav.

It went out of view for a while and then I noticed another photographer at the end of Kirkholme point paying particular attention to something close in-it was the slav! only about 15m out it was diving and fishing and stayed close for at least half an hour.

When it was catching sticklebacks it devoured them within seconds of surfacing, however it caught a larger ruffe and this proved a little more tricky and hence a better photo opportunity.

I was happy with my grebe shots so went off to Grindale and spent a lovely mild afternoon watching it hunting (mostly unsuccessfully) over fields near the flying centre, sometimes giving breathtakingly close views.

A most enjoyable day with a couple of nice birds.

Spurn still delivering

I had an impromptu visit to Spurn on Wednesday of this week full of optimism after ideal fall conditions earlier in the week.

The migrants that showed up were pretty predictable with nothing special but I set off early and arrived in the crown and anchor car park before 8am.I was greeted immediately by the sight and sound of lots of gold crests flitting around frantically feeding after their trek over the north sea.

Also there were a few robins and the first decent bird of the day-a yellow browed warbler.A walk along the riverbank towards the canal produced a grey wagtail feeding on the rocks, a brambling and yet more gold crests and robins.

News of the previous days hoopoe crackled over the radio showing near the Riverside Hotel so I made my way along the Humber bank flushing a couple of wheatears along the way.

Unfortunately the hoopoe was feeding directly outside the entrance and wasn't visible until the last minute so was flushed by my presence.

It didn't go far however and eventually showed very well in the garden of cliff farm.

I was surprised by the amount of swallows heading south and whilst not counting them specifically I noted at least 30 flying overhead.

I spent some time with the yellow browed warbler and a very brief long eared owl before having some lunch, then news of a Raddes warbler in Easington came over the airwaves, on arrival it didn't look particularly promising so headed back to the canal zone after a short while.It was here I had nice views of a great grey shrike, short eared owl and a flyby woodcock-cracking stuff!

It was then news of the bird of the day came out-an Isabelline Shrike at Long Bank bridge and it showed quite well albeit it slightly distantly to the quickly amassed crowd.

I had a last unsuccessful look for the raddes warbler on the way home but was more than content on the drive back after yet another fantastic day at Spurn

The Spurn Masked Shrike

I am currently in the middle of a 2 week holiday and have spent most of it observing , photographing and enjoying the wildlife currently on offer at Spurn.

I was there for 7 days on the trot up to last Friday and I thought I would have a break and not go through on Saturday morning, instead catching up on a few jobs.

It was slightly annoying to hear that an Olive Backed Pipit had been found on Saturday morning and then even more annoying to hear that a juvenile wood chat shrike had turned up.

When the shrike had been re-identified to Masked Shrike, I was on my way to Spurn.

First views were distant and partly through a hedge then clearer views albeit further away near the caravan site and also clear views from the river bank and again very distant.

I left just after lunch hopeful that the bird would hang around.

I was back again on the Sunday and had a very enjoyable and relaxed walk round viewing the spectacle of a major twitch that must have involved hundreds of people.

Back again on the Monday I was there at first light and had the rather daunting task of broadcasting the news of its re-appearance as it emerged from its roosting site.It was only 30m away and I got some shots that I was happy with before it resumed its position on the far fence (approximately 300 yards away).

It did come back and fairly close during the afternoon but the heat haze was horrendous making quality photography quite difficult.

Eventually it showed very well in the evening albeit slightly obscured, shooting into the light and then facing almost head on.

Back yet again today but was always distant, will be back again in the morning for another crack!