26th February

I was just about to take my eldest to his Saturday job yesterday when I heard the unmistakeable call of Waxwings. Around a dozen birds flew in over the rooftops and dropped into the trees around the small green in Ainderby.  I couldn’t stop to look at them but texted Jim in the village to keep a look out but they had gone by the time I got back.

Along the river yesterday I added Green Sandpiper and (two) Little Egret to my year list. The Oystercatchers here are taking up territories…

A single Grey Wagtail was on vegetation in the river and up to eight Goosander were also seen.

Heavy erosion of the banks here continues and more trees have gone in to the river over the last couple of days…

This morning I walked down Greenhills Lane. The Curlew flock is slowly building up with 26 birds there today although still a long way off the record flock I had of 200 birds a few years ago. Good numbers of winter thrushes are gathering too, with very large flocks of Fieldfares in the muddy open fields along the Lane.

Numbers of Redwings are smaller and, in contrast, they are mainly concentrated up in the paddocks and pasture near the village.

On the flash there were 65 Greylags, 35 Lapwings, two Oystercatchers and four Shelduck…

Also Good numbers of Reed Buntings which have outnumbered the Yellowhammers this winter.

An old ash tree in the Magic Garden has become a regular loafing site for Cormorants now.

This bird is probably of the ‘British’ form (carbo) distinguished by the smaller angle between the back of the orange gular patch and the bill...

Compare the angle with this continental race bird (sinensis) which is almost a right-angle from bill to back of the gular patch