18th:
I had another quick look at Ferrybridge in the morning, but there was virtually nothing there of any note.
After work I headed for the Bill to see if I could add to the impressive morning tally of Balearic Shearwater, which could obviously not tell the difference between here and the Med. On arrival there was a bird on the sea, and I watched it for some time diving for food. They stayed under for much longer than I expected! Later on another bird flew by, but the only other notable sighting was a flock of 11 Common Scoter.
Whilst I was here I also checked the Obs moth trap, but there was only one notable, but that was a lifer of this Ruddy Carpet. Shame it's a dull example.
19th:
The early-morning look at Ferrybridge yet again produced little.
The same as yesterday for the afternoon, as I watched from the Bill. No more Balearic Shearwaters were forthcoming, but a little flurry mid-session produced 12 Manx Shearwater, 4 'Commic' Tern, and 2 Dunlin, all east. On the way back to the Obs, I saw a juvenile Wheatear, dodging the tourists in the Bill quarry. A locally-bred bird?
Just by the Obs quarry, I was watching a bush that was full of birds, Whitethroat, Greenfinch, and House Sparrow. I then noticed the Sparrow looking up. If a bird is looking up, you need to as well, as it often means it's keeping an eye on a raptor! A couple of looks around, and I eventually found a Peregrine stooping in towards the Crown Estate Field. It must have it's eye on something I thought. I was rather surprised to find the object of it's attention was a juvenile Cuckoo which escaped to safety in the Obs front garden! I'm not sure whether it was just mobbing the Cuckoo in a 'must-mob-any-raptor' (they resemble raptors anyway) mentality, or if it was after a meal. They definitely prey on Cuckoos on occasion. Either way, it was a weird string of events that turned a Sparrow looking up, into a sighting of a Cuckoo!
I noticed the place was starting to look really parched. This view of the Bill Common.
20th:
The only birding done today was in the early morning, when before work, I popped into Lodmoor, largely to see some old friends from Surrey, who were of course there to see the Sandpiper.
I found them no problem, and we set about looking for the little scamp. Almost the first bird I saw was the Radipole Red-crested Pochard flying in from that direction, circling, before returning. I didn't expect that! On the scrapes by the viewing shelter was a few Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, and lots of Shelduck.
Mark Leitch eventually found the White-rumped Sandpiper on the western scrape with Dunlin, so we all headed round there. While we were there getting great views, a flock of four Crossbill flew over heading east. Also here was three summer-plumaged Black-tailed Godwit, and a Little Ringed Plover. Great to see the Tice's Team again!
21st:
I headed out bright and early down to the Bill, stopping off at the Obs. There was a nice selection of moths in the trap including a Pinion-streaked Snout, and a Magpie, which I haven't seen in a long time.
This pale form of Clouded Brindle.
And even a Green-veined White butterfly! I knew butterflies occassionally appeared in moth traps, but this was the first time I'd seen it.
A subsequent walk down the east cliffs produced little interest, except this smart white-form of Greater Knapweed.
Looks like there is some rain in the forecast for the next few days. Yay!
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