No beardies but birds a plenty at Alkborough Flats

Despite the freezing fog, I headed for Alkborough this morning, hoping to add some waders and possibly Bearded Tits to #my200birdyear list. The fog was extremely thick at Hull and I was wondering if I would be able to see anything. Fortunately, the sun was breaking the blanket of fog over the Humber and on arrival it was just misty and soon the sun shone over the frosty reeds. I parked at car park at the bottom of the hill and headed for the central hide.

 There were a couple of birdwatchers already in the hide. I didn't have to wait long for a Water Rail, and then another one! The first one gave great views (top shot). Two Cetti's Warblers called and chased across the opening in front of the hide. A group of Snipe fed on the edge of the reeds. This is one of the best hides I know, there is always something going on, and the morning light is fantastic. A large flock of lapwing were a bit on edge. A crow calling sent them whirling around. Then there were several, at least three Marsh Harriers quartering and occasionally settling on the dead trees. Six spotted Redshank fed frantically on the shallows.

 After a long while I decided to try the river hide, although I was told there were only 'geese'. I'm glad I went as, although the hide was a bit disappointing, the largest flock of Barnacle Geese I've ever seen were feeding on a field nearby. I approached on the river bank path, just enough to get some shots, but as soon as they started looking nervous, turned around.

 I made another stop in the central hide for lunch, and after watching three Pintail and a Common Gull playing with a stick. In the afternoon I went to the tower hide. A Kingfisher was on the pool by the car park, and then flew to the reed bed. The final highlight was a Stonechat by a flooded field just as I was arriving back at the car.

 This is my first visit to this site with no Bearded Tits, and it's too early for another of the site's special birds, Spoonbills, so I will have to come back later in the year.

A view of the reserve near the car park. 

A large flock of Reed Buntings feed on the frosty seedheads of sea aster. 

Little Egret

Snipe.

Black-tailed Godwit and Lapwing.

Roosting Lapwings

Spotted redshank foraging.

Lapwing and Golden Plover.

A wading Carrion Crow.

Reed Bunting.

Barnacle Geese.

Barnacle geese in the distance.

Pintail.

Snipe.

Marsh Harrier.

Marsh Harrier.

Marsh Harrier.

Curlew and reflections from the tower hide.

Stonechat.

Rufford Country Park woodland birds

A farther than usual trip today to Nottinghamshire, in the hope to seeing some British Hawfinches. We got to Rufford Country Park at 8:45, and before closing the car doors we had spotted a couple of chunky birds atop the trees, which turned to be Hawfinches. It was dark, damp and foggy, not a great day for photography. Apparently the Hawfinches roost in this area, before dispersing, therefore the early start. A Nuthatch called from the lime avenue, and soon we watched a couple of Treecreepers and a Goldcrest. More Hawfinches fed on buds high up on the trees, where they were in the company of Greenfinches and Goldfinches. We could occasionally hear their soft whistles and 'tic' calls reminiscent of the robin's.

A first record shot shows how dark it was.

The lime avenue

Hawfinch feeding on buds.

Four out of the six.

 The birds remained atop the trees near the car park, flying between them occasionally, until they dispersed. One of them came to the ground and fed on lime seeds for a while, showing how well their colours blend with fallen leaves. My clip is better than my photos.

After that we went around the park, stopping at the feeders, where a Stock Dove fed amongst Woodpigeons. In the lake a few Goosanders were amongst usual suspects. Before leaving we had another hawfinch sighting, and with the light brigter, I got slightly better shots (top), despite the bird being perched almost at the top of the tallest tree in the area. Two other woodland birds of note was a pair of Marsh Tits by the lake and two Jays.

Stock Dove

Long-tailed tits.

Fungus on birch.

One of two Marsh Tits. This one had been feeding on a a burdock seedhead it had pulled from the dry plant.

Coming for sunflower hearts.

Lake view.

CanadaxGreylag hybrid goose.

Grey Squirrel

Cedar of Lebanon cones.

Mistle thrush.

Jay

South Landing and Bridlington Harbour

I had a quick hour at South Landing as it was a bit quiet and the tide quite high, so I couldn't walk along the shore much. It was sunny and sheltered, very pleasant at the landing, however, the winter storm a couple of weeks ago have made it more difficult to walk east from the landing, as there are many loose boulders, and there wasn't exposed rock, so I couldn't pay a visit to the Fulmar pairs. I had a Curlew and a Oystercatcher, and a small flock of Ringed Plovers with a Purple Sandpiper. Three Stock Doves seem to be in disagreement about a territory. Unfortunately I had to miss on the chance to see a Woodcock, as I met the old couple that live nearby and know where they all are as I was leaving. Apparently only one has been seen near the bottom of the gully.
 I moved onto Bridlington Harbour, and then to South Beach. The best was a group of Sanderling (7) and Turnstones which scavenged on discarded cod (top shot). Quite a few Purple Sandpipers about too.

Curlew

Ringed Plovers

Ringed Plover

Cormorant in summer plumage

Bridlington Harbour

Great Black-backed gull

A pair of Herring Gulls at the end of the long call.

Purple Sandpipers roosting on North beach wall.

Purple Sandpiper in action.

Herring Gull

A large group of Redshank with Dunlin roost during the high tide outside the harbour wall.

Sculpture of sawing girl with the Flamborough Headland on the distance.

An information panel of the Bridlington Maritime trail.

The resident Barnacle Goose.

Common Gull on S Beach.

Turnstone feeding on cod remains.

The carcass is taken over by a young Great black back gull and attending Black-headed gull.

Sanderling on the run.

another sanderling on the run.

Bridlington from the S beach.

Cormorants on post.