The Holiday so far - 17th August 2014

Drip, Drip, Dip

Linnet

As the title suggests, the rain was pouring down at the site where a Pacific Golden Plover had made camp for the past week. The approximately one mile long walk was just not at all appealing. Eventually we broke, the rain gradually died down and we set off on a long trek to find at the end that the bird had flown even further up the reserve. Not giving up, we tried to follow what seemed like an invisible bird. At the top hide a Linnet came into view. Time got the better of us though, we had to leave to carry on our journey to Derby. On the way back to the car we met Peter Moore who was unamused when we told him that the bird had flown off.

Where were the Wheatears?
 

Stonechat

We went out for some fresh air at Durlston to look for Wheatears but didn't manage to see much. Unfortunately folks, I could only manage some juvenile Stonechats and a Greenfinch.

Juvenile Stonechat

 A Stonechat which I manged to catch in mid-hop (not sure that's a word)!

Greenfinch

During Dad's breakfast, a Greenfinch came in on a tree and sat nicely for a while.

Lots of Waders, not just the bird kind

Dunlin

Finally, we found some waders at Ferrybridge. We nearly always get the tide wrong but this time we got it right. Dunlin and Sanderling were on the agenda today.

Not sure that they know where the edge is! 

Some people think that wading around in the middle of the flats is the edge! This is so annoying as the people cannot seem to see the birds as they walk though the previously landed flocks of birds.

Sanderling

The Sanderling, another one of the common waders out on the Ferrybridge mudflats although not many of these birds seen today.