Saturday 11 January 2014

Saturday 11th January

A wade through the floods first thing was well worth it with the water covered in birds. The Aythya flock continues to grow with 76 Tufties, 15 Pochard and at least one Goldeneye. The Goosander flock remains static at 21 but Shoveler numbers have grown by a massive 25% to four. Across the river c200 Teal were on Naburn Ings and a Nuthatch and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were in the tall trees.

Later on I checked out Wheldrake Ings which was reasonably flooded and covered in a carpet of Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Shoveler and Mallard. Highlights were a smart first winter Mediterranean Gull, a spectacularly stooping tiercel Peregrine, 7 Pinkfeet, 8 Shelduck, a displaying drake Goldeneye,  3 Ruff, 10 Dunlin and not forgetting a Willow Tit by the bailey bridge.  Very few large gulls came in to roost but probably 5k Black-heads.

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