Fri 30th Oct - Afternoon - Fieldfare

Meadow Pipit - Manor Farm - 30/10/09
14:00 > 16:00
Sunny periods, broken cloud, southerly breeze at times, otherwise calm. 15C

First visit in three weeks due to holidays and illness.
Water levels highest yet. Good complex developing in The Dip of pools, channels and scrapes, but will anything be tempted in?

At least three Green Sandpipers on site, all flighty. Only other waders a small group of thirty or so Lapwing which headed west early on. An assortment of gulls in the dip numbering around 100. Mostly, as always, Black Headed Gulls but Common Gull numbers are increasing with around a dozen or so present. Only other species noted were two Lesser Black Backed Gull and a single Herring Gull.

Two Little Egrets, at the usual pool, were sighted.

Quiet along the river but a single Kingfisher foraged along the pebble beach area banking. A winter first returnee in a single Fieldfare, mobbed by Jackdaws for its efforts, whilst Redwing numbers start to increase with around forty on the main slope and in the hedgerow to the south of it.

And as the sun started to disappear a single rather dark Meadow Pipit (unless you know different) see above.

One notable aspect was the number of Pied Wagtails now on site, across the mudflats and Dip there must be no less that fifty or more birds present now and maybe the odd White Wagtail or two still remains in the area (see 2nd Oct posting) but no confirmation. Also looks like it has been another good year for Green Woodpecker in the valley again, good numbers in all the usual fields.

Finally on the insect front in a last glimpse of summer a single Peacock butterfly floated through.

Weds 7th Oct - Evening - Redwings & Golden Plover

Brief visit before heading south to sunnier climes.

Water levels up once more.
Highlights were first Redwings, a group of three in the top field.
Also a single Golden Plover spotted when the Lapwing flock (40+) took to flight.
Elsewhere, two Green Sandpipers, a single Common Snipe, a pair of Little Egrets and a Common Buzzard over were the only other birds of note.

Fri 2nd Oct - Afternoon - White Wagtails

15:00 > 17:00
Cloudy, dull, W breeze at times, cool. 14C

Another mostly uneventful visit though water level in The Dip highest yet. Looking good for attracting anything passing, but will it pass?
Highlight was a pair (at least) of White Wagtail in The Dip in amongst the multitude of Pieds, there must have been 50+, that have invaded the site. A pair of Mistle Thrush also dropped in for a drink and a bathe before the Jackdaws saw them off.
A couple of Common Snipe flitted about and a Green Sandpiper seen briefly.
Three Little Egrets sat by their usual pool out on the mud.
A handful of Teal were dotted about the various pools while the now daily seen Sparrowhawk did its everything skywards trick.
Along the Ouse, just a family group of Mute Swan and a couple of late Dragonflies.

Addition:
I forgot, in amongst the Black Headed Gulls in The Dip were a pair of Common Gull.

Links:
White Wagtail - Birdguides

Weds 30th Sept - Evening - GBB

17:45 > 18:30
Setting sun, brozen cloud, N breeze at first then calm. 16C.

Water level higher again in The Dip but nothing really of note just Jackdaws, Crows and Black Headed Gulls along with the odd Pied Wagtail in the area. A single Lesser Black Backed Gull sat amongst the BHG's while low and over but not landing was a returning Great Black Backed Gull.

Two Little Egrets out on the mud and a Green Sandpiper in flight from the High Pool down towards the river were the only other birds worth mentioning.

Tues 29th Sept - Evening - Water up...

17:00 > 17:30
Broken cloud, then warm sunny spell, NW wind, 19C.

After a brief visit on Monday (28th) where the water level was again pumped low and I saw nothing but a pair of Little Egrets across the site I was suprised to return today and find the water in The Dip at around its highest level yet.

Still not much of interest though. A Common Snipe over a single Green Sandpiper and the usual 50 or so BHG's and 30 Lapwing in the Dip. A pair of Teal were also in the vicinity.

Three Little Egrets fought for the best roost on the clay islands on what's left of the main body of water. The old wader pool now resembles nothing more that a largish puddle, we need rain and lots of it.

Two further Green Sandpipers were found on the High Pool south of the farm buildings.

On the canal section in the morning a single Kingfisher.

Fri 25th Sept - Afternoon - A mixed bag...

Reed Bunting - River Ouse - Manor Farm - 25th Sept 09
14:00 > 17:00
Breaking cloud to sunny warm periods, NW breeze. 17C

Again not much movement migration wise.
Three Little Egrets in the main area of the site plus a fourth on the river.
Corvids dominated the Dip, mostly Jackdaws but a smattering of Carrion Crow and Magpie while a single Jay to the east of site completed the 'common' set.
Also common the three most common birds of prey on site today in Kestrel, mobbed by around 20 Jackdaws, a female Sparrowhawk making a couple of low sorties along the Dip shoreline sending everthing skywards and a Common Buzzard over.
Gull numbers built during the afternoon with a max of around 250. As always mostly BHG's but a single Common Gull was spotted in the Dip.
Wader wise singles of Common Snipe and Green Sandpiper and circa thirty Lapwing dotted around the site, but a late afternoon flock over heading north must have been at least ten times that amount.
A pair of Teal were in the Dip and a lone Wigeon on the old Wader Pool.
Along the river, much quieter than of late, apart from the aforementioned Little Egret, a couple of Grey Heron and a party of Mute Swan, a female Reed Bunting (see above) was just about the only other bird seen.

Links:
Reed Bunting - Birdguides
Reed Bunting - BTO
Reed Bunting - Avibirds
Reed Bunting - RSPB
Reed Bunting - Wiki

Thursday 24th Sept - Lunchtime - Zzzzzzzzzzz

12:15 > 12:45
Warm sunshine, NW breeze gaining strength at times. 18C.

Good news, the water in The Dip is even higher, better views, more shoreline.
Bad news, not a lot about still.

After an abortive visit at first light when fog filled the valley I was hoping for better things as it burnt off during the morning, but no.

Just a single Little Egret and a pair of Teal of interest. Some gulls about, all BHG's as far as I could tell but maybe only 50 at most with the same number of Lapwing.

On the butterfly front a couple of late Painted Lady flitted about the farm buildings.

Fingers, and everything else, crossed for tomorrow.

Weds 23rd Sept 09 - Quietness continues...

17:00 > 17:30
Cloudy, calm. 17C

Still quiet at the Farm. Water level in Gravel Dip up another couple of inches but nothing seen of interest except a single Common Snipe and Teal in this area. Two Little Egrets out on the mud. Oddly enough not a single gull of any description on the site today.
On the top field a party of six Mistle Thrush were joined by three Green Woodpeckers.
And thats your lot!

Tues 22nd Sept 09 - Evening - No change

17:00 > 17:30
Hazy sunshine, clouding over, W breeze. 18C

Brief visit, just singles of Green Sandpiper, Little Egret and Snipe in Gravel Dip.

Tues 22nd Sept 09 - Lunchtime - Still quiet...

13:00 > 13:45
Cloudy, SW wind. 17C

Still quiet on the whole. The Dip now back to previous high water levels, no working in area. In this area, pair of Teal, two Green Sandpipers and a Common Snipe.
In Egret corner a single Little Egret.
In top field by approach road a pair of Green Woodpecker and a single Greater Spotted Woodpecker.

Tues 22nd Sept 09 - Early Morning - More Snipe

6:45 > 7:00am
Sunny, westerly breeze, 10C

Brief visit.
Water level up again overnight, i'm guessing it backfills from the river. Quiet.
Forty or so Canada Geese up on the hill while three Kestrel hunted along the ridge.
Just five gulls out on the mud, all Black Headers and nothing but a solitary Magpie by the Wader Pool.
Several Pied Wagtails flitting about the Dip whilst highlight was four Common Snipe along the waters edge at the back pool here.

Monday 21st Sept 09 - Afternoon - Missed waders...

16:00 > 17:00
Cloudy breaking to hazy sunshine, SW breeze. 17C

A day of unfortunates.
Unfortunately the water level in Gravel Dip has been lowered a foot or so today to carry on with extraction. Not as much 'shoreline' to view as last week but still a variety of pools and omelettes and eggs comes to mind, the end should well justify the means.

The second unfortunate was when something spooked the 100 or so gulls (all BHG's bar two LBB's) out on the mud and as they circled (never to return) a group of six small waders (Dunlin sized) joined them then spilit, did a couple of high circuits over the site then headed east. And even more unfortunately I never got anywhere near a good ID on them.

Elsewhere very quiet, in fact on the Wader Pool and the High Pool behind the farm nothing at all. A single Common Snipe upped and headed west, two Little Egrets were present and a lone Green Sandpiper in the Dip. Just three Lapwing andCormorant and Kestrel over.

And yes a very common bird but there was a Greenfinch out on the gravel, another to tick off the MF list.

Fri 18th Sept 09 - Afternoon/Evening - Grey Wagtail

Grey Wagtail - River Ouse, Manor Farm - Sept 09
14:30 > 18:30
On arrival 20C, warm sunshine, fleeting cloud, SE breeze.

A warm autumnal day yet better than most we've seen this summer.

In the new area, henceforth know as 'The Gravel Dip' the water has been raised by about another foot or so. Instead of destroying any habitat, due to the way that the area has been dug, more pools and shoreline have been created. There are at least thre Common Snipe now in this area with a couple of Green Sandpiper, in the hedgerow alongside a single Linnet whilst the Goldfinch charms dip in and out of this area again attracting one of the resident pair of Kestrel.

Out on the mud around 250 Lapwing, with another hunrded or so on the ploughed field north of the river. Also around 70 Black Headed Gulls dozed out on the mud whilst around half that number were on the backwater in Gravel Dip along with a single Lesser Black Backed Gull.

On the old Wader Pool to the east two Teal and a single Wigeon remain alongside another Green Sandpiper. Also out on the mud in their usual corner were five Little Egrets a record for the site. Unfortunately these were flushed by two trespassers (not birders) but three reloacted to the Dip.

A trip along the River Ouse saw a returning female Grey Wagtail (see pics below) and the welcome sight of the Kingfisher once more, now surely resident in this stretch of the Ouse once again.

Viewing Gravel Dip from the north side, from over 'Front Brook' a gradual build up of Pied Wagtails, over 20 birds, were noted, favouring the sun facing gravel hills to burrow in to make use of the warm sand. Given this was the area where White Wagtails were viewed most often earlier in the year a place to be watched.

Returning to the southside of the Dip along the canal both Green and Greater Spotted Woodpecker were noted and unfortunately in the top SW corner of the ridge several rabbits with progressive myxomatosis.

During the afternoon a steady progression of small to medium size parties of Swallow, Housemartin and Sandmartin passed through.

As the sun started to set gulls numbers increased, mostly again BHG's but in the last fall around 30 Lesser Black Backed Gulls including a handful of juveniles and a couple of Herring Gulls.

As the light faded a Hobby flew over the valley while the last bird of the day was another lone Green Sandpiper on the High Pool south of the farm buildings alongside half a dozen Mallard and the Moorhen family.

On the insect front Dragonflies abound but they are on next years list for deciphering. Several Butterflies still about enjoying the September sun, more Commas than usual an odd Peacock and a smattering of both Large and Small White but for the first time in a while in appropriate weather not a single Painted Lady.

Pics, click to enlarge.

Little Egret - Gravel Dip, Manor Farm - Sept 09Dragonfly - Manor Farm - Sept 09
Common Snipe - Gravel Dip, Manor Farm - Sept 09
Grey Wagtail - River Ouse, Manor Farm - Sept 09
Grey Wagtail - River Ouse, Manor Farm - Sept 09
Grey Wagtail - River Ouse, Manor Farm - Sept 09
Grey Wagtail - River Ouse, Manor Farm - Sept 09

Links:
Grey Wagtail - Birdguides
Grey Wagtail - BTO
Grey Wagtail - Avibirds
Grey Wagtail - Wiki
Grey Wagtail - RSPB

Small White - UK Butterflies
Small White - Butterfly Conservation

Weds 16th Sept - Evening - Snipe still...

17:00 > 17:30
Cloud clearing to sunny spells strong blustery E wind. 16C

A brief visit. As yesterday still quite a flock of Housemartins around the approach road while around a dozen Swallows hunted over the top field.

On the solitary pool south of the farm buildings a lone Green Sandpiper.

On the newly cleared area a Common Snipe took to flight, quite probly yesterdays bird while a second Green Sandpiper was in the backwaters.

On the old wader pit to the west eight Teal remain while Little Egret count was up to four, a group of three and a single by the smaller pools.

Tues 15th Sept - Afternoon - Common Snipe

Snipe - Manor Farm - November 08
16:50 > 17:30
Cloudy, dull, E/NE wind, strong gusts. 15C

A blustery dull afternoon at the Farm.
Along the entrance road a flock of thirty or so Housemartins and a couple of Swallows hunted insects low through the trees.

Down on the workings itself it was hard to get a tag on anything much at all from the hill with wind fully in your face but gulls were gradually arriving in numbers whilst in the hillocks n hollows Pied Wagtails and Goldfinches flitting about while Jackdaws, Magpies and Common Crows along with a couple of Stock Doves tried to find the best shelter from the wind.

Along at the fastly drying out wader pool around a dozen Teal and a single Wigeon kept themselves to themselves while two Little Egrets held close into the banking.

Along the ridge, while Rooks and Jackdaws and the odd gull wheeled overhead absolutely nothing at all could be found on the ground or in the bushes and trees but then at this point the wind is probably the strongest.

The highlight of the day though was as I was I leaving, a Common Snipe, my first of the autumn dropping into the boggy area in the bottom of south central field then over the fence into the workings.

At the pool to the south of the farm building a juvenile Green Woodpecker rounded off the visit.

Common Snipe - Birdguides
Common Snipe - BTO
Common Snipe - RSPB
Common Snipe - RSPB
Common Snipe - Wiki

Fri Sept 11th 09 - Afternoon - Mini Migrantfest!

14:00 > 16:30
Sunny, broken cloud, brisk E breeze at times, 17C.

An intersting day at the site. When I arrived gravel extraction was still taking place in the new area so I took the canal route to the riverside walk.

The reedbeds and bushes along the river were alive with the more common warblers both adult and juvenile and Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat and a confused Wren or two and a flock of Long Tailed Tits. There are a few breeding pairs of Sedge and Reed along this strtch but nothing like the numbers encountered today, so assuming passage birds mostly. (See pics below taken today)

By the time I arrived at the northern side of the new area work had finished for the day and the promise the area has shown was already reaping the benefits. A slightly washed out Northern Wheatear was already prominent on one of the gravel piles, quickly to be joined by five Yellow Wagtails including a very pale almost white individual. Minutes later three Meadow Pipits landed on the flatter area to the south. By the time I left this area was littered with, mostly more common, smaller birds, well worth a look for anyone passing though.

On the water in this area there was a gradual influx of gulls mostly BHG's but several juvenile Herring/LBBs also. A single Green Sandpiper pottered about.

Out on the mud to the west around 300 Lapwing mixed with around the same number of gulls, again mostly Black Headed Gulls while three Little Egrets in their usual corner completed the day.

Links:
Meadow Pipit - Birdguides
Meadow Pipit - BTO
Meadow Pipit - Avibirds
Meadow Pipit - RSPB
Meadow Pipit - Wiki

Pics, click to enlarge.
Sedge Warbler - Manor Farm - 11th Sept 09

Reed Warbler - Manor Farm - 11th Sept 09

Chiffchaff - Manor Farm - 11th Sept 09

Juvenile Reed Warbler (?) - Manor Farm - 11th Sept 09

Manor Farm Sunrise - 11th Sept 09

Pictures taken this morning. Click to enlarge.

Friday 11th Sept - Early AM - Teal

6:00 > 6:30am
Still, mist in the valley, sunrise. Temp 7C

Beautiful morning in the valley, sunrise over low mist (photos later).
Due to that mist nothing to be seen on valley floor but on the Back Pool (south of the farm buildings were three Teal, 22 'wild' Mallard and a lone Green Sandpiper.

Links:
Teal - Birdguides
Teal - BTO
Teal - Avibirds
Teal - RSPB
Common Teal - Wiki

Thurs 10th Sept - Evening - Common Sandpiper

17:45 > 18:00
Sunny, brisk E breeze. 18C

Brief visit.
Water levels now increased in new area, looking very good.
Common Sandpiper along with two Green Sandpipers in the pools and channels here.
Nothing at all on the old wader pool to the west of site which is now gradually drying out, seems the new area 'arrived' just in time, now all it needs is a name.
Hobby over was only other bird of note.

Weds 8th Sept 09 - Evening - Common Redstarts

16:30 > 17:30
Sunny, warm, fresh NE breeze. 20C

The water level was lowered slightly by an inch or two in the new area to aid working but the area was still filling up with birds, mostly gulls, almost exclusively BHG's, after work for the day had finished. The Green Sandpiper pair were also back in the pools here. Parties of Pied Wagtails and Goldfinches also flitted about the gravel attracting the attention of a passing Sparrowhawk and not to be outdone a Kestrel soon followed in, both failed to catch anything.

Out on the mud a lone Little Egret rested, whilst on the water itself yesterdays Shoveler pair remained.

Along Back Brook a juvenile Kingfisher was a pleasant suprise. Kingfishers were numerous in this area not so long ago, a daily tick, but this is the first i've seen in a while.

And just when i'm thinking all the action is confined to the waterside areas the highlight is on top of the hill. A pair of Common Redstarts, a male and female, along the ridge path leading from the farm buildings to the canal. The male was still in pristine plumage and quite active while the female just took and odd dart between path, fencing and bushes. A first for the site for me.

Common Redstart - Birdguides
Common Redstart - BTO
Common Redstart - Avibirds
Common Redstart - RSPB
Common Redstart - Wiki