Well … Cape Verde looks a long way back in the rear view mirror now!! Always feel a bit flat when I come back from holiday … especially with regards to the weather however, for February not to bad at all at least the sun is out- and most importantly its dry and not siling it down!!!
16th:From our Local What’s App group I learnt that the overwintering Rough Legged Buzzard was still present. So todayI had an early afternoon run up to Northdale Moor to se whether it was still present .. yes it was but I didn’t see it!! Apparently it had been showing quite well over the last couple of days .. but today No!! However, it was nice to see a local Goshawk and Red Kite… and the good news doesn’t end there… two Raven were very busy too. What a great call they have … a deep ‘Kronk’ echoing over the moor!!
17th: saw me visiting Northdale again…. same result no show from the RLB .. I’m starting to get a sense of deja-vu here from times past; have I missed a great local patch tick ???? Anyways, as compensation I had a phone call from my birding mate Graham about Bean Geese over at Low Marishes …. so keeping within the speed limits I headed east!! Arriving at Marishes about half an hour later full of nervous hope … YESSS !!! About 7 of these Siberian visitors were feeding in a flooded field along Marishes road, another great patch record for the winter ….a great find by Graham!! Was my luck changing … in retrospect… a definite yes!!
19th Feb: So it was to be my third trip up to Northdale to see if I could locate these wintering Rough Legged Buzzards … so got all set up and YESSS !! Within 5 minutes an RLB showed really well with the white rump and pale head showing well in the winter sunshine and then another bird showed but this time more distant .. brilliant stuff two birds in less than 20 minutes!!! Went home feeling very pleased … and as I was parking my car up I heard a call, and another, only one bird can make that call… Peregrine!!! Where was it.. I searched frantically and in fact there were two birds circling directly over my house ….. numerous expletives followed !!! No chance to get my camera … just enjoy the moment!! The Birding Gods are certainly with me at the moment… not that I’m complaining!!
25th:For the past few days I had heard that a Barn Owl was showing particularly up on one of the moor roads near Rosedale..So today, following on from that information I decided to have a look for the Barn Owl … unfortunately no luck ..but just as I packed up .. with camera and telescope in the boot .. what should fly past but a Merlin !! Flying like an Exocet across the moorland where I had just been scanning … no photos but a great view.
26th: Saw me over at Castle Howard after reports of a Long tailed Duck being seen on the Main Lake.. Another new patch bird in the offing … But after extensive searching no luck this time!!What made it made it more galling but that night it was again reported on Bird Guides …. the bloody thing must have been wearing Camo’ gear !!! And due to family commitments I can’t go tomorrow!!!
28th: Brilliant news ……It’s still there !!!!!! So, had another try for Long tailed Duck at Castle Howard; this time… GOT IT !!! Great views too !!! What a great two weeks !!! The weather pretty mild too …Is Spring on its way …. hopefully some more good birds in March: fingers crossed!!
