July 2021 archive

We went back up to Burton Mere Wetlands to try – again! – to see the Long-billed Dowitcher that had been around since the 25th but when we got there, there were no reports of it to be seen anywhere so we had a look at the scrape and walked down to the barn. It was a case of the usual suspects, however, and not that many of them. We were reluctant to walk all the way down to the Border Hide if there were no reports of it having been seen. THe site was quite busy so there were lots of people looking for it. In the end, we didn’t get to see it so we were very disappointed but at least we got a year tick out of our visit.

We went up to Burton Mere Wetlands in the hope of seeing the Long-billed Dowitcher which had arrived and settled among the Black-tailed Godwits, sometimes showing on the main scrape and sometimes at the Border Hide. We went to both and, as it transipred, it failed to show up. We were very disappointed with the small consolation prize of seeing some Common Snipe. Otherwise the site, in general, was pretty quiet.

We arrived at St Aiden’s around 10:30am and enquired about the possibility of seeing Black-necked Grebes which are supposed to breed here and we got some advice as to out best plan. This involved taking the red path as far as the smaller track that crosses it (dotted line on the map) where we should turned right and walk to the end where we could turn right again which took us back on our parth back to the reception area. We couldn’t get a paper maps so we had to wing it with a phone photo of the map on the noticeboard. We were told our chosen route could probably be done in 45 minutes which suited us because we were still a bit exhausted from our visit to Fairburn Ings followed but a scorching day out on the cliffs. If only!

When we go to RSPB Bempton Cliffs with the birding group, we usually spend the first day at RSPB Blacktoft Sands and then go to the North Cave Wetlands reserve, staying the evening at the Travelodge at South Cave. On our own, however, we decided to try something different so instead of Blacktoft Sands we went to RSPB Fairburn Ings before going on to the North Cave Wetlands reserve. That night, instead of the Travelodge we stayed at The Green Dragon in Welton.

The first birding outing of the month was to Burton Mere Wetlands. There had been reports of a female Garganey and several Spotted Redshanks. It was a warm and humid day but it was good to get out and we managed to get two good year ticks.