5th: The numbers of Waxwings have steadily increased all week- todays count was 42 which has been great to see. Also they have stayed pretty much stayed in the same area as quite a few people from outside of town have been to see them i.e. birders from Bradford, Leeds, Thirsk and even as far afield as Bury, Greater Manchester. However photographing them has been a challenge due to the rain and heavy cloud… but today was the best light we have had all week but would they feed on the Hawthorn berries … No was the answer well they did for a short while … but unfortunately the local Sparrowhawk made them extremely skittish … so a few attempted flight shots were made as they swirled round their favourite bushes. After watching the Waxwings I moved onto Low Marishes after hearing reports that localised flooding was attracting good numbers of birds. I drove the road from the junction of the A170 – to the Allerston junction and the bird numbers were nothing short of spectacular – especially after the bridge crosses Thornton Beck; with at least 2000 Lapwing, similar numbers of Starling if not more, 6 Redshank, 10 Golden Plover, 1 skein of Pinkfeet c.50 birds , also a big flock of Greylag 30 birds feeding in one flooded field, 100s of Blackheaded, Herring and Common Gull, 5 individual sightings of Buzzard, hundreds of winter thrushes namely Fieldfare and Redwing passing over, lots of Skylark too and 3 species of duck; Mallard, Wigeon and Teal. This area of my local patch is stunning in the Autumn and Winter attracting geese, swans, ducks and wader species such as Lapwing and Golden Plover … and with these high numbers of birds the area can attract Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and on occasions Peregrine too!! Amazing to think that this area is only a 15 minute journey from home and on the local patch!!
