West Yorks Warbler fest

Rather quiet on the Coast at the moment so me and Mark decided on a day in West Yorks starting at Swillington Ings, we got brief views of yesterdays Ring Ouzel before it was pushed by cyclists, dog walkers etc then took a walk around Lowther Lake where we picked up a good few Warblers including Sedge, Reed, Whitethroat and a very showy Grasshopper Warbler, we carried on to Pit Lane where we added Cetti’s, Lesser Whitethroat and another Gropper eventually working round to the Causeway, a couple of Common Terns were hawking over the main lake and a sick or injured White Fronted Goose was with the Greylags, a Bittern boomed from the Reedbed Lake and at least three Black Necked Grebes were showing well there, a very pleasant morning and early afternoon stroll around this super reserve. After lunch we headed over to Fairburn Ings in search of a Ruddy Shelduck but it wasn’t found, another Cetti’s Warbler sang near Lin Dyke and a Kingfisher was showing from the screen but otherwise it was fairly quiet. On the way home we called in at the Quarry at Tadcaster, several Red Kites were seen as we approached and a Peregrine was flying around but soon disappeared to the back of the Quarry, then it was on to Heslington where Mark had discovered a posing Little Owl yesterday, it was still posing today, also a couple of Buzzards soaring. 

showy Gropper creeping about like a mouse at first

before posing in the hedge

lots of Willow Warblers

and Coot chicks

Lesser Whitethroat

lucky flight shot

distant Common Tern

and not so distant Black Necked Grebe

Fairburn Ducks

first Comma of the year

Kingfisher from the screen but a bit far really

a good end to the day, Little Owl at Heslington