March 2010 - Hatfield Moor

Friday 19th: The day started with bright sunshine and the early Spring warmth could be felt in the air. By lunchtime the weather had started to turn. This was readily noticeable at Hatfield Moor as the breeze off the lake became colder. Gradually the clouds started to form. But this didn't distract me too much as I hiked around a small area of the moor. Plenty of fling things such as Oystercatchers, Mallards, Canada Geese, aeroplanes and various Passerines.......oops, did I say aeroplanes? Well, yes, Finningley airport is just three short miles away to the south and the planes fly low over the moor on their approach.

As you can see in the above photo, two of the five Oystercatchers were caught in flight. These estuary birds are normally quite placid creatures but today there was a great amount of screeching and sqwarkings are the five quarrelled. This resulted in three of them flying away. During my hike around the lake I counted two pairs, both nesting, but the fifth was nowhere to be seen.

Reed Buntings and Chaffinches were seen was a hide overlooking a bird table and a couple of feeders. A Robin and Dunnock along with the proverbial Wren were noticed ti the wooded area. Adders can be found here on the moor and there are a couple of signs that warn visitors. It's too early in the season and still too cold yet to see these wonderful creatures. I have yet to see one in the wild but hope to this year.

I had to pass through a field where there was a Conservation project in progress. A field full of Sheep....more precisely...RAMS! Well they were giving me the evil-eye so I decided to walk away and closer to the lake shore. Unfortunately. I found myself on the wrong side of the fence and had to walk around by the shore back to the car.



On the way I came across a freshwater mussel shell, one of many littering the lake shore. Now this was a surprise to me as I didn't know that mussels frequented freshwater lakes. But yes they do and here in the UK, the Swan Mussel (Anodonta cygnea)is abundant. Apparently one can tell its age by counting the rings on the shell just like on tree trunks. One ring for each year of growth. Swan Mussels can live for between 10 to 40 years. Now what drags it up from the bottom of the lake, opens the hinged shell and removes/eats the mussel then deposits the empty shell on the shore is anyone's guess.

Comments please?

May 2009 - Of Linnets, Damselflies and Starlings!

Sunday 24th, two Damselflies visited our garden pond at lunchtime today. The weather was sunny and warm and this is the first occurrence of these summer beasties this year, that we are witnessed in the garden. The photos show a Common Blue (male Damselfly and a Large Red (male) Damselfly.

Later in the afternoon, I visited Wroot to see what bird life could be seen in the wide-open spaces of the countryside. Some glorious views of Reed Buntings and lots of Swallows were seen. But one particular showing of a Reed Warbler seen in full song through my scope was outstanding! Unfortunately I have no photos of this .

Going onto Hatfield Moor, I was treated to fantastic views of a pair of Linnets! Both male and female showed very well, being very accommodating on a nearby Birch. The birds stand-out very nicely against the blue sky. On the video, you may just hear the call of a distant Cuckoo. That bird was continually calling over a 30 minute period but too far away from me to go and search. Maybe next time.

It's that time of year when the newly-fledged Starlings descend onto all the feeders. This year there doesn't seem to be as many as in previous years but there are still quite a few that have made our garden their feeding station. The species is on the RED LIST OF CONSERVATION CONCERN and all efforts, even in a small way such as providing food should be made.

May 2009 - Potteric Carr & Hatfield Moor

Sunday 3rd, I went over to Potteric Carr hoping to see a veritable smorgasboard of bird life! Though it was a rasonably sunny and warm day, ther was a very blustary wind. Well, for only the second time of visiting the nature reserve, There were very few birds! The usual Black-Headed Gulls were out colonising Huxter Well but there was a very distinct lack of waders on the Well. Ringed Plover, Avocets and Redshank with Sand Martins and Swifts were there and usual suspects...but all-in-all, not much. Speaking to another Birder there and he reckoned that the strong winds would be a factor. But I did get a good showing of a Kingfisher (2 minute video will follow) and a Jay. Other than that....nothing!

So I dashed over to Hatfiled Moors to take-in the last 3 hours. Not much there either as it was still quite breezy! Though ther were alot of Swallows and Sand Martins buzzing about! On the water there was virtually nothing except for a solitary Oystercatcher and lapwing along with half-a-dozen Coots!

APRIL 2009 - Hatfield Moor

Easter Bank Holiday Monday and a first visit to Hatfield Moor. A warm day and I took all of my clobber! Scope, bins and cameras weighed me down! I was kitted out for an expedition rather than a stroll through the Moor! Starting over at Ten Acre Lake where it was very quiet. Just a handful of birds. I was told that a Red-Necked Grebe had been seen there in the morning. I and another went in search of it....nothing! Though I did see a Little Grebe on the lake. Maybe this was a mis-identification, who knows? after an hour of wandering about and Avocet flying over and several Canada Geese, we called time. I drove round to the south-end of the Moor, my new acquaintance going home minus the prized photo of the Red-Necked Grebe!



Down at the south-end, it was more promising. Water Fowl on the lake, Pied-Flycatchers on the ground and Chiffchaffs in the trees. I strode-out on my todd. This being a new area, I had only the vaguest of maps on the main noticeboard to guide me! The signs proclaiming: "BEWARE OF ADDERS" didn't help! I had heard from a couple that they were particularly "active this morning!" Fortunately it was getting cooler so the chance of stumbling across one was diminishing all the time. A shame really as I have never seen one and a photo would be something else!



Many Great Tits, Reed Buntings and Chaffinches were seen from a hide overlooking a lake surrounded by moorland. A couple of Great-Crested and a lone Little Grebe were on the lake with the ever-present Coots. Another Avocet flew over. But the highlight of the day was the close encounter with a pair of Skylarks. I have not seen Skylarks for a long long time and to see a pair together was something else! Well... I'm calling calling them Skylarks. They didn't appear to take to flight like Skylarks, and they looked slightly 'dumpier' than the slimmer Skylark. The chap near me was talking Woodlarks, but I'm not so sure. For now, I'll call them Skylarks!