Black necked grebes

In over nearly 40 years of birding I’ve only seen a few black necked grebes all in winter plumage 

Today I saw 8 all in breeding plumage stunning birds 

Also 3 Cetti’s warblers and a sand martin 

Great place swillington 

Weekend

 Well after fridays news I went up green withens yesterday morning not a bad visit 

Raven 1

Goosander 3

Tufted duck male

Mallard 6 

Canada goose nc

Reed bunting 1

Wren 3

M pipits nc

Skylark nc

Curlew 1 

Then on to swilly 

Bittern 2 booming 

Black necked grebe 2 displaying

Slavonian grebe 1 

Little egret 1

Cetti’s warbler 3 

The with this morning much the same though 12 twite looking great as usual 

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