The highlights were:
Peregrine Falcons - a big one sat on the deck at Wheldrake Ings, huge bird! Then had two males fighting with each other today - very vocal, very aggressive and into a headwind of 30mph! They were properly trying to kill each other! Very impressive to watch.
Pink-footed Goose - a flock of 105 flew south near my house this morning, struggling into the very strong headwind. 55 of them (the sensible ones) gave up and went back north.
Kingfisher - one heard only flying south along the River Derwent behind Tower Hide, with another later seen flying north over the Bailey Bridge heading towards Bank Island - a nice view.
Crossbill sp. - one seen and heard flying west over Skipwith Common - strange call... don't think it was Common...
A few Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Jays, Fieldfare, Redwing, Great Spotted Woodpecker. Lots of small passerines blowing around in the wind, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Siskin, Redpoll, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Willow Tit, Treecreeper, Yellowhammers. Just lots of nice farmland/woodland birds and a few waders (Green Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Golden Plover, Lapwing and Redshank) and ducks.
Unfortunately no sign of the Firecrest that was present at Skipwith last weekend.
There was also a lot of mammals around this weekend: Fox, Hare, Hebridean Sheep, Longhorn Cattle, Exmoor Ponies, Squirrel though looks like we just missed the Leopard that had the sheep below.
Leopards Lunch
Male Bullfinch - almost in focus!
Fox after just waking up in the reedbed
Long-tailed Tit interested in the pishing
Long-tailed Tit interested in the pishing
Close Sparrowhawk
Late last week had an impressive day including 2 Goshawk and Hen Harrier amongst a host on interesting birds. Also had 10 Whooper Swans flying southeast over the Designer Outlet on the edge of York in the dark, picked out by Tim as they called and seen in the car park lights! Also a few Siskin and Redpoll flying over.
Distant Goshawk
Distant Goshawk
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