December can and does deliver surprises in more ways than one!! On Friday 2nd of December my birding mate Alf and I decided on a birding trip to Bempton, as there was chance of some Short-eared Owls and Snow Buntings – unfortunately we saw neither … but an even bigger surprise was waiting !! After a good walk along the sea-cliffs where we had prolonged views of distant Peregrines we decided to go back to the Visitor Centre for a hot coffee as it was getting pretty cold!! As we headed back, we met one of the wardens and a call came through that a Ring Ouzel had been seen!!! We dutifully followed the warden to the spot where the bird had been seen …. No luck!!! Not another dip!! So we headed back to the visitor centre for that long awaited coffee. As we headed back along the path, I suddenly saw a ‘male Blackbird’ on the cliff path …. surely not ….and there only 30 yards away was a stunning Ring Ouzel with a beautiful white gorget shining in the weak afternoon sun … the bird of the day. We spent about quarter of an hour watching the bird as it fed along the cliff path, a great end to the day!!
The next day, Saturday 3rd December saw us back on the coast again looking for Snow Buntings this time at Filey Brigg. You can’t say we are not keen!! Unfortunately, despite a good search along Carr Naze we could not find any. At this point a line in Tubthumping … came back to me …. ‘ I get knocked down, but I get up again’ Such is the fickle nature of Birding!!!! But a Rock Pipit flushed from some long grass by passing walkers did a couple of circuits and returned near to the area where it had been flushed from, consequently it gave some great views as it fed quite happily in the short grass. What a great bonus!!! Although I had seen Rock Pipit many times previously, this was the first time I had photographed one, so it was a new bird for my photo list!!
For me, Birding in Winter can be symbolised by one iconic bird … Smew. There is something magical about these beautiful ducks … especially the males with their pure white plumages and black masks. They just look like cracked porcelain. The males or White Nuns as they are fondly known are one of the most sought after winter ducks. Sad to say, the last time I saw a wild male Smew was nearly 25 years ago!!! I have seen a number of Red Heads or female Smew on various occasions over the last 25 years … but finding male Smew, has always proven really difficult. Anyway given the history I have had trying to find this duck, you can imagine my surprise when a male was reported from Top Hill reserve which is only an hours drive from Pickering … The Twitch was on!!! We arrived at a very damp and cold Tophill Low, would the bird still be there!! After a very anxious search Alf and I eventually found the Smew right at the back of the D reservoir swimming near back the wall …it could not be more distant from the hide if it had tried!! No chance at all of a photograph. Still, it was great to see and a 25 year jinx had been broken.
As the weather got colder and more easterly winds became the norm from the 6th December onwards, as if by magic Waxwing numbers increased; with a number of flocks recorded in the North East near Middlesborough. Fortunately, birds had also been seen at several sites in Scarborough with 12 birds seen feeding regularly in Mountain Ash trees near Halfords on Seamer road. On Saturday morning 1oth December, after a quick parcel collection at Argos I drove down to where the Waxwings had been feeding …. my luck was not holding – they had gone …..Apparently a Sparrowhawk had spooked them earlier on in the morning and they had fled!! Well you can’t blame the urge of self preservation from kicking in. Indeed, whilst I was waiting for the Waxwings to return, the same Sparrowhawk apparently returned for another go at the birds feeding on the berries …. Another miss – but the startled birds did not return for another 20 minutes or so. When the Blackbirds did return they were joined by a pristine Fieldfare … normally Fieldfares are very flighty and nervous and you can’t get near them, but I suppose hunger overrode those feelings of nervousness and the bird gave some cracking views.
The following week I took a trip down to Somerset and Berkshire to see family. Whilst in Somerset, I looked at the local Twitter feed and was surprised to see a Black Throated Diver being reported on a small lake in Burnham- On- Sea. The next day I took trip to see the Diver, but unfortunately a Mute Swan was being aggressive towards the Diver and it had flown off early morning – and was not see again that day….. Just my luck. However, there was some compensation … A Female Mandarin Duck had joined the local Mallard Flock. First Mandarin of the year …as the old saying goes what ‘You Lose on the Roundabouts, You Gain on the Swings.’
Over in Berkshire the Red Kites were stunning as usual, considering Kites were regarded as on the edge of extinction in the U.K. just over 40 years ago. Now, they are a regular sight in many counties across the U.K. A brilliant success for Nature Conservation!!
