Drab Ibis

Yesterday I nipped out to Swithland Res. for a long overdue County Tick ....

I've never once made an effort to see any of the Glossy Ibis that have popped up in the County over the last few years since the first in 2011. It's not like I've seen lots of them in UK, just a couple. Ultimately, I think that despite the esoteric name, quite often they look unicolorous and skanky and I just don't feel compelled to go and see one. I only went for this one as the site was likely to be easier work than lugging a scope around the northern Soar Valley or - worse - going to Rutland Water.

But it wasn't a case of just rocking up and looking at it; it had been in view but got flushed by a fisherman's bait boat just before I arrived mid-morning. Eventually it popped back up but in the SE corner of the Northern section where viewing is a bit more limited. And, as usual, watching anything at Swithland Res. from Kinchley Lane or the dam means that the subject is often more backlit. I got good views with bins and scope, just failed to get any frame-filling nice shots that I had hoped for.

Aside from the Ibis, the shoreline was almost literally awash with egrets. Amongst the numerous Little Egrets and Grey Herons there were at least four Great White Egrets. Still can't get used to how quickly they've established in the County to the point that seeing one at any of the reservoirs or large water bodies is almost expected. I also stopped and looked at a couple of Scaup on the Southern section before heading home.

I've hardly used the P950 since the spring. When I looked at the SD card from the camera, I found a few photos from the short break up on the Cumbrian coast in August that I'd completely forgotten about.

Kestrel - St Bees Head

Great Black-backed Gull - Whitehaven harbour

Cormorant - Whitehaven harbour

Also on the card were some snaps of a Pheasant that popped up in the garden a couple of times in early Autumn. It had a damaged leg and walked with a hobble but flew perfectly okay when it saw the cat ....

Ross's

Nipped over to Birstall Meadows and WCPS after work in the vain hope that the deteriorating weather late afternoon would drop in a wader or two. No such luck. Only birds of note at Birstall were 3 Little Egrets milling about in the far corner, and the only waders here (and at WCPS) were Lapwings.

Almost immediately when I pulled up at WCPS it pissed down. I waited in the car for the squall to pass, and emerged to that distinct 'it's just rained heavily on dry tarmac covered in goose shit' smell. Talking of goose shit, almost immediately in front of me was this pile ....

Sporting a plain gold band on right leg, therefore clearly married

Mid November in Norfolk, in a shitty field with Pink-feet, and this is of course an immediately tickable wild Ross's. Probably.

Nothing else of real interest; a few Swallows over the water, a distant Common Tern, and a few gulls. I'm not a Larophile - I'd quite happily lump them into just four species: Small, Medium, Big and Ugly. As a good example, this brute got caught on the sensor - a transitional first-summer into second-winter Great Black-backed? I would not be surprised to find I'm wrong!

Birders - Birds

Photographing stuff in the garden on Wednesday, out mothing Wednesday night and out with the family all day yesterday, getting home well after dark. So - loads to catch up on over the next few days/posts.

Today though I was at the Bird Fair all day. Good to meet and chat with Gary 'Newton Beadnell Birding Stringer' Woodburn and Iain 'Druridge Pools' Robson, and a number of Leics. faces, like Colin Towe, Mark Andrews, Graham Finch and Mark Rossell (apologies to those I missed etc etc). Mainly though, the crack centered around the beer tent with a number of Birdfair Bitters downed in the company of John 'Drunkbirder Freebie Blagging Media Whore' Hague, Andy 'Llama' Mackay and Dave 'Teaboy' Gray. Lots of obtuse conversation about non-birdy stuff, sniping about wildlife cameramen who make you feel queasy when on the wrong side of the lens, and mainly lots of laughs. A good 3 hours whiled away around a plastic table.

I did spend a bit of time in the various marquees, and spent some money on non beer/birding items. Finally got around to getting a couple of books that have been notable ommissions from my pathetically small library - British Hoverflies by Stubbs and Dragnoflies of Britain and Europe by Dijkstra/Lewington. The BWP stand is showing the new Lewington micro book as due for publication in early 2012 - looking forward to that one.

Felt obliged to look at some birds before heading home, so dropped into Eyebrook Res for a quick look. Loads of mud. And water. A quick scan with bins revealed lots of Ringed Plovers, a few juv Ruffs and the odd Dunlin. Also loads of Lapwings. Got the scope out and confirmed that the bins were right and couldn't see anything more exciting and gave up quickly. Lazy bastard. Everything too far to photograph as usual.

So in lieu of any decent photos from today, but to maintain the unfamiliar birdyness of this post, here are some photos and vidclips from our grand day out at Scarborough yesterday.

A classic natural Kittiwake colony

Greedy fat bastard

juv Herring Gull

Herring Gulls

Great Black-backed Gull

Turnstone