Sorry I've been away for a day or two - had to pick up Mrs D from Stansted Airport today.
Decided to make a road trip of it, and drove down through Lincolnshire yesterday, with just Brian Setzer (the rocking-est cat in the galaxy - just listen to "Guitar Slinger"!) for company,
Getting down to Nocton, a few mile south of Lincoln late morning.
No sign of the Black Kite for two hours, but did have Turtle Dove, plenty of Yellowhammer, 2 Marsh Harriers and other farmland stuff - RL Partridges etc.
Then the long staying Black Kite flew in to perch on a telegraph pole and dry its wings after heavy rain, shame the heat haze was by now totally liquid, or I'd have got some reasonable pics.
It took flight after about 20 minutes, circling off to the east - in very moulty condition now, but good scope views all the same.
Two Kite species in two days in the UK - none too shabby.
Headed south yesterday afternoon, pulling into Digby Fen just as the heavens opened - no sign of the Montagu's Harriers that nested there this year, but there were Yellow Wags, House Sparrows and hordes of hirundines, oh, and more Marsh Harriers.
Kept pushing south as the rain got heavier, and ended up staying last night in St Ives near Huntingdon.
Lots of Adnams Ale.
Oh dear.
Did you know that brewers used to be called "Mopsey Trundlers" down there?
No, neither did I.
This morning, I nipped down the road to Earith in Cambs to see the Squacco Heron (it would have been rude not to).
Cracking Hobby over the road as I tootled along (this time with The Pogues trying to keep me sane (they failed).
Good views of the Squacco, but no chance of a decent pic, as the lake and lily pads it favoured were covered by overhanging branches.
Green Woodpecker yaffling away there, and Common Terns, GC Grebes, Migrant Hawkers etc.
Then on to Stansted to pick up the missus and home.
Time for bed, but what have I missed up here?
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....
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Derek Williams wrote...
Latest from Haskayne and nearby, August 12th-17th:
132 Mallard; fem Shoveler, Downholland Brook; 4 Little Owl; juv Marsh Harrier; 2 Buzzard; 23 Pied Wagtail; 17 Swifts; Oystercatcher; Curlew; juv Yellow Wagtail; Sparrowhawk; 15 Mistle Thrushes.
Five visits to Altcar Withins had Red Kite three times - gamekeeper said it had been present since August 10th, plus Raven; Sparrowhawk; Buzzard; 3-5 (inc 2 juv) Marsh Harrier; Peregrine; Snipe, Curlew, 2 BLack Tailed Godwit and 17 Pied Wagtail.
Posted by: Derek Williams | August 21, 2007 8:26 AM