Strange day

 My father in law passed away yesterday of COVID he was a great man so full of life always happy never a bad word about anyone 

 

Swilly again

 What a place 

I’ve been coming here occasionally for over 25 years 

It’s got to be one of the best sites in yorkshire 

Anyway 

This morning 

6 Cetti’s warblers inc 3 seen 

Slavonian Grebe 1

Bittern 1 booming 

Plus loads of the usual birds 

Swillington

 Apart from work not really been anyway so a 25 minute drive 

Nice spot but always busy but big enough to get space 

The shocking thing is when I started birding in 85 Cetti’s warbler was a really rare bird had to go to Norfolk to see them, now there 20 miles away! 

Heard 5 today also a very nice Slavonian grebe 

Got a new camera so nice to try it out 

Freezing

well first visit of the year and minus 2 the whole moor was covered in frost it was that cold even breathing hurt!! a dipper in the south drain was not unusual. the usual crows loafing around 16 twite by the pumphouse 40 pink feets went west 3 herring gulls flew east then went south then a peregrine flew fast towards the m62 with another coming in from the north 2 peregrines not bad, 6 wood pigeons headed over the m62 5 went into the plantation at the junction the other either brave or mad carried on, the 2 peregrines together now went high then suddenly headed straight for the wood pigeon, the one i presume was a first year bird just went ballistic like a rocket the speed was incredible that pigeon never stood a chance the peregrine just smashed into its back i even said "ouch" great sight

Lockdown

Well my mental health is struggling the black dog always wants to walk! I give it stroke and send it packing I want a yellow lab,wife,camper-van, freedom
A bad nights sleep meant I was up the with at 0530, even in the gloomy dawn you can still make out the wheatears
A swallow went east and pheasant on the east dam was 110 for the list very little else of note apart from 2 ravens and a male blackbird

Take care keep safe

Classic visit

Well did a hours work painting,dropped off some firewood at the wife's keeping our distance and a quick visit saw the bear aka Jessie
So straight up the with

Parked up a tatty marsh harrier went low north 2nd record brilliant, 6 wheatears in the drain plus the usual m pipits and skylarks
No sign of yesterday's greylags but 2 teal and a pair of tufted ducks!!! 2nd record 6 dunlin including some in stunning plumage 8 common sandpipers and 4 curlew
The reed buntings added some real class to the moors the males look amazingly smart now
A pair of wheatears by the pump house and a buzzard drifted west not bothered by the crows

Isolation

After 4 weeks of no visits I decided to head up green withens my reasons were
I live alone
The drive is quick on the motorway 15 minutes
The walk is long

Was it worth it? YES

I checked all the main areas

Red grouse 2
Meadow pipit
Skylark
Wren
Pied wagtail
Canada goose
Greylag 2
Mallard 7
C crow 6
Lbb gull 5 west
Wheatear 6
Stonechat 1 male
Reed bunting 3
Twite 1
Goldfinch 1
Dunlin 5
Little ringed plover 2
Curlew 6
Common sandpiper 8
Snipe 1
Golden plover 1
Oystercatcher 1

Because it's so quiet I was finally able to check the plantation at the motorway junction
Willow warbler 1
Blackbird 1
Fieldfare 1

I don't think I've ever seen a fieldfare so late
Great visit