Pink-feet at Bonby and Beardies at Alkborough.

Another day of good weather was forecast today so I set out early planning to go to Bonby Carrs, an area of farmland and water meadows in the Ancholme valley between the spring line villages on the scarp slope of the Wolds and the river.  There had been a sharp frost and skies were clear as I turned off the motorway onto Elsham Wold.  The temperature was 2C but as I descended into the valley it plummeted to -1C with some mist - a classic high pressure temperature inversion.  As I approached Bonby village a large skein of pink-footed geese flew over; a stirring sight.  When I reached the end of Carr Lane I could see the huge flock of pink feet feeding across the far side of the water meadow.  Sadly too far for respectable photography.  It was a huge flock though 1000+ at least.  I could hear a constant chattering from the geese, especially when groups periodically took to the air.  They sounded like the yelping of hounds and I was reminded of the wild hunt of Herne the Hunter chasing down 'the dark' in Susan Cooper's wonderful book The Dark is Rising.  With nothing else to see on the carrs apart from a couple of buzzards which were again too far away for photography, I decided to head off to Alkborough Flats to see if the bearded tits were playing.

Things were looking more optimistic when I parked up at Alkborough as I could see a group of bird watchers/photographers who obviously had their sights on the beardies.  I was delighted that a flock of approximately twenty soon arrived and provided challenging photography as they fed on reed seeds, clinging to the stems of the reeds which then swayed from side to side.  Isolating birds for the reeds was difficult and they were also somewhat against the light.  After a while I went off to chase up some reported stonechats and to have some lunch.  I then returned to the fray to find that the birds had moved to the other side of the path and were perfectly lit.  Although I have seen and  photographed bearded tits before I have never had such prolonged and close contact.  It was a real privilege.

Although my main focus was on the bearded tits there were other birds about.  Skeins of geese periodically flew across and the call of curlew rang across the marsh as the flew over the reeds.  A heron flew over and and an egret lifted off the lagoon.  From the hide I saw mallard and teal quite close and a group of whooper swans were on the far side of the lagoon.  There were teal and shelduck and I could hear the magical whistling of wigeon from another, nearby, lagoon.
To view large, please click on an image.

Julian's Bower with the flats behind.

Alkborough Flats

Bearded Tit, male

Bearded Tit, male

Bearded Tit, male

Bearded Tit, male

Bearded Tit, female

Bearded Tit, male

Bearded Tit, male

Bearded Tit, female

Bearded Tit, male

Bearded Tit, male

Bearded Tit, male

Bearded Tit, male

Bearded Tit, male

Bearded Tit, female

Reed Bunting

Stonechat, female

Stonechat, male

Stonechat, male

A Walk at Alkborough Flats.

I had long wanted to visit Alkborough flats.  Like Donna Nook, the water authority have breached the river bank (in 2006) in a managed realignment scheme at the confluence of the Rivers (Trent Falls)  where the Trent and the Ouse join to form the Humber Estuary.  The breach allows water to reclain the land in times of flooding.  The project created 2 square km of new intertidal habitat in the inner part of the Humber Estuary.  The area has been managed to provide reedbeds, lagoons and grazing areas.  The wetland attracts thousands of wintering waterbirds including significant numbers of golden plover, lapwing, ruff, black-tailed godwit, curlew, redshank, avocet, shelduck, teal and wigeon.  Other frequent sightings include marsh harrier, little egret, spoonbill, bearded tit and otter.

I had hoped for a bright day and when Brian and I turned up and looked from the top of the cliff out over the reserve, the light was superb.  By the time we had parked, however it had clouded over and the weather became increasingly gloomy, eventually

turning to heavy rain by midday.  As it was largely a walking and exploratory visit we decided on a 3 mile round walk finishing via the large reed beds and hide.  What I should have take more notice of were the notices warning of flooded paths.  I have neglected to take wellies and the results can be see in a photograph further down.  On our way out towards the river back we had excellent views of a huge murmyration of a mixed flock of lapwings and golden plover over towards Blacktof Sands RSPB reserve.  Water fowl were plentiful with curlew and redshank calling as well.  We had good views of mute swans, shelduck, mallard. pochard. pintail, wigeon and teal.  Despite the poor weather we had excellent views of a pair of marsh harriers, the male's cream head showing clearly.  A little egret lifted off from the lagoon near the hide and we saw wren and reed bunting.  Sadly we weren't lucky enough to find the bearded tits but I have now located where people are taking photographs so perhaps next time.