It seems like a long while ago that we had a trip out together, but after a bit of shall we shan?t we, a decision was made to go out together on Sunday. Last trip out was the 15th March for the Black throated Thrush in Grimsby!
We all met in Newhey and planned to head into Yorkshire to go and see the Spoonbills at Fairburn RSPB reserve that had again had decent breeding success on the reserve. We left at a reasonable 8am with four of us in my car and headed across the Pennines, the weather was a little showery, but we only had to shelter once all day. First stop was North Cave, but after only managing a Blackcap and a Common Tern we decided to head over to Faxfleet. Upon arrival the normal birdsong was missing now that most of the serious breeding had taken place, only a Cettis Warbler and good numbers of Reed Bunting were seen. We again moved on.
At Fairburn reserve nothing much was open, so after listening to a very noisy Garden Warbler we headed up to the higher ground to take a look at the herons, egrets and Spoonbills that breed in The Moat area. The long walk up the hill was made a little more difficult with the very strong wind that was blowing us about. Good views of the birds were enjoyed and as we walked back the sun came out and a few butterflies were seen: - Marbled White, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and Small Skippers.
After a checking the rare bird alert system we decided that a trip up to Nosterfield NR, north of Ripon, was possible to see a first summer Lesser Yellowlegs that has been present since early June. As we set off north the heavens opened and we questioned the situation, but we battled through it and within five or so miles the sun was out again! The bird had been reported on the main lake, so as we parked very near to the viewing screen and a quick search was made. The power of the wind made it very difficult to ?pin the bird down? a brief flight view was all we got. So a different vantage point was checked out, again no hides being open meant we had to try to see the bird through a screen that had been designed for six feet plus people! Steve wandered back down to the main lake and unfortunately, stood a bit too close to a hysterical woman who reminded him of the ?two metre rule? We joined him as the Lesser Yellowlegs was showing really well and giving great views as it actively fed along the shoreline. Time for home after a nice return to some form of normality.
