it was confirmed this morn by PS I wadered through the
scrap photos from yesterday and came up with these
2 together. Also a closer look at last nights blog they
are different birds in the photos.
Courtesy of a call from Keith Moir.
left Big Bertha 600mm at home to save hugging it
around Ringby.
1700 hrs and up to Ringby in full winter waterproofs in heavy rain then drizzle with fog banks coming and going.
The area was alive with birds in the low cloud with several Linnets and Whitethroats along the steel railings. The Wagtail field was very hard to bird in the conditions and around 50 Meadow Pipits in amongst was a distraction.
Swarms on Midges were over the muddy field attracting around 30 Swallows which were yet another distraction.
Pied Wagtail numbers were up to around 60 and in 1 hours search and scan I only got 2 short sightings of a Yellow Wag.
As I was thinking of leaving I got a phone call from Keith Moir reporting a drake Common Scoter on Oxenhope res. This was a " must go for bird " so a quick call to Lynda to get an hours extension then a dash from Ringby Top to the car on Swalesmoor and head for Oxenhope. The race was on, that was until I got to Keelham and a massive traffic jam with road works and 4 way temporary lights at the cross roads so a quick 3 point turn and back over Soil Hill to Keighley Rd.
Despite all this I arrived at the gate to the reservoir at 1815 hrs, just 15 minutes from Keiths call.
A quick word with Keith who was just leaving who informed me that the Scoter was at the Windy Corner end which was ideal for photos and easy access.
Once up the banking I peered carefully over the wall so not to flush it but to my despair , nothing. My immediate thoughts were Oh no, its gone, and then a scan with the bins found a black dot in the centre of the res right on to the south near the hide. No turning back now so a dash along the banking to get as near as possible, which wasnt very near to get a few record shots. The drake Scoter had part of a white neck collar probably making it a sub adult.
So just in the nick of time I finally got my July Common Scoter thanks to KM for his quick call to me. Thats the third bird dash I,ve had in a week now, look out Lee Evans.
BS