Anglo Norsk scores on the doors

As we enter thr last and sometimes most rewarding last quarter I am still maintaining my lead with 241 but Ticker is putting up a very spirited performance and may well crack the magic 200 for Norway with his current score been 198.

Bishop Monkton "Brucie Bonus"

I felt like some fresh air this afternoon after spending most of last night puking, so feeling a lot better and after much prompting from Kes we went for a walk round our patch at Bishop Monkton. On the way into the village where Mr Winkups boys were busy ploughing and sowing there was an amazing gathering of Common Gulls with 2352 counted along with 17 Lesser Black-backed and 9 Herring Gulls. There was also 29 Lapwing here but despite a good scan there was no Wheatear.

Onto Wetherhills Pond where there was a sizable flock of Lapwings 1057 counted, mixed in with these were two Golden Plovers and the bonus of a Dotterel which is the second record for the area and a very nice bird, alas with no telescopic lense there is no picture. In the afternoon sunshine it was easy to see why the old name for Lapwing was Green Plover, they looked magnificent.

Holidays Over

Well thats me back from my autumn migration watch in Norway. Whilst away I have recieved notification that my camera and lense will be replaced so I hope to be able to bring you some more enlightening illustrations soon. Main highlight was a Lesser White-fronted Goose that appeared to a luck few (me been one) which was not only a Norwegian tick but a lifer to boot. Whoopie, I also got three more Norsk ticks Water Rail, Pomerine Skua and Black-tailed Godwit.

I will bring more news when I get my notebook sorted and the pictures sorted.

Morning Ringing

Light winds at 04:30 prompted an early rise and the opening of nets at our site near Ripon. The wind picked up at about 10 but by then we had caught about 50 birds the bulk of which were Goldfinches but singles of Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler added some interest as did an adult male Whitethroat which gave Aidan a good mental workout and highlighted the finer points of a bird in this plumage. The main harbinger of autumn was also starting to put in an appearance with eight Blackcaps also caught.

Overhead there was a trickle of vis.mig with three Tree Pipits, two Yellow Wagtails, 21 Sand Martins and a Grey Wagtail all flying south. Other birds of interest included a single Buzzard and four Cormorants. The Green Sandpiper was still on show at WHP and a female Sparrow Hawk was a nice sight as it was harrassed by the local Swallows at Ivy House Farm.

A few butterflies showed in sheltered spots with Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Large White and Small Tortoiseshell all seen.

Disaster at Scarborough

Hi and sorry for the lack of news lately, I have been working away but the main reason for my lack of post is that I am in mourning over the death of my trusty D90. Excellent camera it may be but it and the 300mm that were attached at the time did not survive the fall over the cliff at Long Nab, Burniston. I am gutted, even more so by the fact that my Fruit and Nut was pulverised and impregnated with glass. Typically for me a mishap has occured just before I go on holiday.

Pre roost Hirundines

A quick stroll round Wetherhills Pond tonight revealed a nice Green Sandpiper and a couple of Sedge Warblers whilst over head about 400 Swallows were performing their pre roost flypast.

Butterflies and a nice surprise

The sunny weather on Sunday prompted me to take a stroll round looking for Butterflies. There were lots of Peacocks, Large White and Green-veined Whites on the wing. I also managed Comma, Small Copper, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell and a few Gatekeepers.

Peacock

Small Tortoiseshell

Gatekeeper

The nice surprise was waiting at WHP when I got back to the van with three Green Sandpipers feeding on the expose mud, this is the largest number I have seen grounded in the BM area. There was also a nice selection of Sedge, Reed and Willow Warblers here and the Coot and Moorhen families have turned into rowdy teenagers causing havoc scrapping and chasing each other about.

Juv Moorhen

Green Sandpiper

BONJOUR

A fine morning with overcast skies and no wind were conducive to some ringing at Bishop Monkton. On the first net round a very pleasant surprise was a Sedge Warbler wearing a french ring. Hopefully if I live to be 117 I might find out when and where it was ringed.

The Ring

The bird