Local patch and beyond.

I stopped going down Farmer's Lane cos the council closed it due to M181 new roundabout, is it now open?

At the Washlands we had Cattle Egret, 8 Great White Egrets, 50+ Little Egrets,  Gargany, Greenshank, Black T Godwits, Ruff, Yellow Legged Gull and about another 50 species

On way to Idle Washlands today we drove down Farmers Lane of Scotter Road just past Asda heading towards Scunthorpe. Might be worth keeping a watch on , we had 3 Buzzard and 1 Kestrel + Brown Hare just driving along. Plenty of pulling off places and looks spot on for Short Eared & Barn Owls.

Enjoyed chat only a wee one with Alan and his missus at Nebraska Wetlands not met them for a long time. Neither had aged and looked the same as they did years ago, it must all the fresh air they get . Just after we departed I got my best sighting of day, a low flying raptor it then landed on one of the electricity pole tops and I took a couple of pics not great due to cloud it was an Hobby could clearly see the red "trousers". Upto a week or so ago I hadn't seen one for years now they are coming like buses lol.
Also captured a Kestrel hovering at the back field on film. Almost all the geese left leaving a dozen or so. Sky high were two dozen gulls mainly Common and a few Black-head. I saw more or less what Alan did so won't repeat them.

Made my way through assorted villages the scenic way until I turned down the road to Blyton Carrs and at the eastern end had a Buzzard on a hay stack and at the western end had one just above the woods. Owlet woods next, the track into car park is abysmal full of 12" pot holes that will take your suspension out in a jiffy, I went in and left forthwith, and parked at the southern extremely rough car area (come on Woodland Trust get them pot holes filled in) and spotted 3 LT Tit flitting back and forth. Made my self a mug of asparagus soup with a brioche roll, lovely, then waited twenty minutes and started preparing a mug of tea = sugar, milk, hot water OH NO where's me tea bags, forgotten the damn things ah well I'll have to go dry   so had a Kellogg's cereal bar.

A bit later went on my way and decided to stop at Laughton Boulders a wee area I like, got there and sod me someone had beaten me to it and there is only parking for one car, ah well carry on quite a few expletives were muttered lol, I'll stop at Tuetoes, I did and nowt there, right on we go. The gritting crews have been doing the trentside roads so 20mph limit if you value your paintwork which I do. As I was approaching Black Bank someone overtook and turned down, I thought what they doing its supposed to be shut so I followed and parked up at the first bridge or as I call it the Water Vole/Stoat bridge for obvious reasons.  I stayed a while and then rang the pet crem to tell them am on way to collect Lala my 22 year 46 weeks old tortoiseshell cat that passed away a week today   As I drove down Sands Lane two Roe Deer popped through the hedge not sure who was more surprised me or them, parked at end of road on my grass area and had two Linnets and a female Yellowhammer. A very good day  was had albeit a very sad end to it but very happy to be reunited with my Lala.

Hope you all enjoy the read and it's a change from me putting names of birds and their numbers down. I've told a story instead.

Kind regards
Max
PS: on info received went on YT and watched a video of the rarity at Blacktoft it was by one of our members Mr S Routledge it was 8 mins long.