August, let's try again

So anyway what was I saying? Ah yes, my August visit.

Saturday 22nd August

Two visits to Kelk Lake. Once in the morning and then at dusk to attempt to count gulls moving to roost in the bay. 2 Mute Swan, 22 Mallard, 1 Red-legged Partridge (calling at dusk), 2 Little Grebe, 1 Cormorant (SW), 1 Grey Heron, 3 Common Buzzard, 5 Coot, 3 Green Sandpiper (at dusk, flying over), 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Tawny Owl seen well sitting in one of the Ash trees, 1 Kingfisher, 8 Yellow Wagtail (on the raft at dusk - a record count here, see also below), 1 Reed Warbler, 500+ Corvids gathering around Little Kelk Farm pre-roost. 15 Mistle Thrush flying from Lingholmes on my way back at dusk was a decent local count, but to be expected at this time of year.

The gull roost flight was very disappointing - in better years there would be a few thousand flying through by late August. Today only 400+. Peak movements occur during the peak ploughing period, and it is late this year, almost none so far, so I guess that's the explanation. The only big gulls of the weekend were 3 Lesser Black-backed and 24 Herring Gulls (mostly flying SW).

Harpham and Lowthorpe late morning. 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Swift with the local hurindines, 1 Kingfisher near Lowthorpe Bridge was the first I've seen there for a while, 1 Grey Wagtail at New Road, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, a family of Long-tailed Tit, 18 Linnet.

In the afternoon I visited Gembling and Brigham Quarry. For once Gembling was well worth the ride out with some real goodies. 1 Gadwall, 8 Teal, 26 Mallard, 1 Shoveler (eclipse drake), 1 Kestrel, juvenile Peregrine, 2 Ruff, 3 Common Snipe, 1 Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Common Whitethroat, 21 Goldfinch.

Further on at Brigham Quarry - 1 Mute Swan, 3 Pochard, 3 Tufted Duck, 9 Little Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 11 Coot, around 700 Common Gulls in two nearby fields.

One the way back 3 Golden Plover flew east over Kelk and 7 Yellow Wagtail were near Barf Hill. Together with the 8 at Kelk Lake later on this is the largest day count for the area.

Biggest surprise of the day was actually right at the beginning. Shortly after leaving the house in the morning I picked up a Hobby whizzing about over Kelk Beck. I was able to watch it for several minutes - itself unusual - including some acrobatics with a Kestrel for comparison (they are sooo different when seen together). Then it moved off toward north at which point another one appeared with it. And then another one. And, whoa, a fourth one. All together. Wow. Alas they were a bit distant to age but a sensible assumption would be this was one-two adults plus two-three juveniles. The timing is about right for young to have recently fledged and they would still be dependent on the adults suggesting they won't have come far. Interestingly both the earlier sightings this year were in the same area. Strong evidence for local breeding.

Sunday 23rd August

A much quieter day not helped by a strong breeze. Along Kelk Beck to Cattleholmes in the morning were 1 Mute Swan, 5 Teal, 60+ Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Little Grebe, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 1 Hobby (same place as yesterday but only a more typical glimpse this time), 5 Coot, 3 Swift flying south, 5+ Sand Martin, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Yellowhammer, 1 Reed Bunting.

Just a couple of hours spare after lunch filled with a gentle stroll around Harpham. Little to add to yesterday except 2 Goldcret and 26 Linnet along Station Road. Not for the first time this year the best bird of the weekend was practically the last to be seen - namely the Osprey in April. Today it was the single male Quail flushed from the path between Harpham and Lingholmes. For a split second it looked like a wader rising up out of the wheat but once I'd woke up it was blindingly obvious, and nothing at all like the 'baby Partridge' phantom quail novice birders can get fooled by. Only my second 'sighting' of a bird in the area - I was, still am, chuffed to bits!

With this, the Ruff and Greenshank my year list moves up to 104, plus two other species seen by others gives 106 recorded. Slightly down on the two previous years but the 110 goal still looks do-able.

On the butterfly front - no new species but plenty of Small Tortoiseshells, many Whites, 8+ Peackock, 8+ Speckled Wood, 5 Painted Lady and 15+ Wall. A few dragonflies included 5+ Migrant Hawker, 4 Common Darter and 1 probable Ruddy Darter (see pic in previous post).