Local Patch & Beyond 2022.

wrote:

We drove round BB on Saturday but it was very quiet.We are going to start filling the feeding station there in November after we return from Norfolk at end of month. If it was like last year it will be well worth sitting in car and watching. Costs us a fortune !!

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All the time I've gone to BB have always enjoyed winter time at feeding station, no leaves to obstruct views and birds galore sometimes getting 20+ species at FS and surrounding area without leaving car, obviously get out to stretch legs and make sure bum doesn't go to sleep. Last time I saw a Willow Tit was there few year back.  Do you remember the Rat who had half tail missing and walked with a limp it was so funny watching it.  Sometimes have spent five hours just sat watching and drinking me tea etc great stuff!   I'll help out with feeding and take some feeders.  

Am hoping to do something similar at Trippling Hows and another place when have done a recce.  

 

We drove round BB on Saturday but it was very quiet.We are going to start filling the feeding station there in November after we return from Norfolk at end of month. If it was like last year it will be well worth sitting in car and watching. Costs us a fortune !!

Farmers Lane - Brumby Common West: 15.00 - 16.15 

Kestrel - 2
Yellowhammer - 2
Goldfinch - 2
Stonechat
Marsh Harrier
Chaffinch - 3
Linnet - 22
Wood Pigeon - 60
Crow - 40
Pheasant - 2
I entered the lane from Scotter Road as usual and it wasn't till I was almost at the Burringham end that notices were up saying 'Road Closed' so had to double back , I wasn't on my own a few did, pity there wasn't a sign up on entering the Land unless someone threw it in ditch.

Black Bank:  16.30 - 18.30

Pied Wagtail - 6
Great Tit - 2
Blue Tit
Kestrel
Grey Heron
LBB Gull - 6
Black-headed Gull - 5
Linnet - 27
Grey Partridge - 16
The last mentioned not seen any as I remember in many years so enjoyed at seeing the family group.
At BB filled the single feeder with SFH despite it having been wrecked by the GS also spread some seed and suet pellets on ground. The tits were at it.

Regards

John  

Am now of the opinion that staying local and within ten miles of my home is proving effective (seeing what Alan gets at M.S.Q. proves my point) certainly this year.  I have sometimes gone a bit farther like Bonby but what I saw there I can see on my patch so waste of petrol and time going. Parking opposite Read's Island was on way home and brilliant!  

In the past would drive to east coast starting at Horseshoe Pt and making my way to Rimac and seeing good sightings or going into Yorkshire (Wolds, Moors etc) and odd times seeing Goshawk and the like but more often than not seeing very little, complete waste of time and money!  I can't do that any more and don't want to!  Am no expert but staying on ones own patch we get to know it like back of our hand. Some of the members although I don't follow them every day I do most days such as AS & SR both who put sightings on twitter (see it on here) and the latter I read his blog.

I know most of the regular contributors seem to stay within their own patch (not knowing where most live but out that way) and get damn good sightings as I do and Alan. Am limited to seeing what I can see from car or just outside, don't want be in pain while enjoying my hobby. Maybe one day will get a buggy lol. But prefer to do things my way. Today (Oct 3rd) was a good day as follows in report.

Regards

John 

Sept 22nd:  Near Beltoft were 3 Buzzard all up above trees.

Visited sites not been to lately, started at Worlaby, much has changed sadly, I have been since the SEO disappeared. Now its mainly pigs loads of sty's and farmer growing turf, one good thing where pigs are its now like set-a-aside.  Only went as far as the first ditch after that the road became two, and pot-holed to hell and rough, after seeing Two Yellowhammer and a Buzzard decided to leave and won't be going again only stayed ten mins.!

Next Bonby at least it hasn't changed. Had Grey Heron side of ditch, Two Kestrel opposite ends of a field, 40 Linnet and One Buzzard. Stayed 45 mins.

Then went to park in A1077 lay-by opposite Reed's Island, at the time didn't realise it would be my best day out in years to see a spectacle I've only seen on Tv. Thankfully there wasn't as much traffic as sometimes.

This part is long-winded because I want to re-read it many times in the future. Arrived at 14.45 and I've never seen in my seven decades almost no water on my side of Humber, there was a 2' wide stream and rest were mudflats.
Sightings on and above:  Spotted Redshank - 2,  Mallard - 90,  Black-tailed Godwit - 3,  Avocet - 1,  Redshank - 4,  Teal - 20,  Buzzard - 2,  Black-head Gull - 1,  Ringed Plover - 18.

The Pink-feet started coming over at 15:00 and were non-stop till 16:45 I felt in seventh heaven having never seen this spectacle in my life, only seen a few hundred in past.  The geese were going past northern side of the bridge to half way along island and over my way managed a few videos and pics, I hadn't time to eat or drink in case I missed them.  I counted skeins (groups) as follows 119, 92, 57, 72, 71, 14, 52, 28, 60, 60, 60, 80, 3, 400, 370, 320, 100, 18, 27 and 88 which equals 2,091!!!! Most of members will have seen this spectacle but I hadn't and did text two birding mates to say how much I was enjoying the day. My backside was numb when I got home lol.

Kind regards

John aka Max