Friday, 29 September 2023

Ringstone Reservoir / Bradshaw Fields Afternoon and Evening

We had a visit to make to Greetland this a.m. and I took the opportunity to check out Ringstone Reservoir above Barkisland.

It was very , very windy here with dark clouds but I dodged the rain.

The reservoir is very, very full with little shoreline.

Just 8 Black-headed Gulls were out in the middle with a few Mallard seen later.

A large Buzzard sized Raptor high over head that I was unable to ID

A small flock of Starlings with C30 Lapwing were hunkered down in the usual field and also there c40 Golden Plover  real bonus birds for me.

Golden Plover is a yearly tick for me - would you believe it?

A further 10 Lapwing flew over the water a tad later.

Also a few Meadow Pipit and 2 Reed Buntings fighting the wind ( there were probably more).

Bradshaw Fields:

After lunch I had a walk up the local fields and also after tea I just squeezed a walk in before dark.

This aft. again the wind was very strong but it had calmed down by evening.

Afternoon:

A few Meadow Pipit flushed together with a larger bird.

The larger bird was a Wheatear , when I got the bins on it.

A really good bird for here - result.

Other birds:-

C50 Gulls resting in the lower fields, included 5 Herring Gull.

6 or so Meadow Pipit.

2 Stock Dove.

Kestrel.

Evening:

A Sparrowhawk zoomed past and landed in the approaching gloom on a distant brown gate.

A Green Woodpecker called.

A Wheatear was in more or less the same place as this aft, presumably the same bird.

4 Mistle Thrush on lines.

Large Gulls were high going wnw.

A Kestrel was high overhead and, it was nearly dark as I walked down the lane, and a second Kestrel landed on a nearby wall - the darkness hindered the photography alas.

A Peregrine Falcon was seen on our travels this morning.

An enjoyable day's birding today with some good birds seen.


Large Unid'd Raptor.










Reed Bunting in the windy tree .. but not for long alas.

Bradshaw Fields:-
Afternoon:


Kestrel (Probably)










Evening:



Probably the earlier Wheatear in the gloom.
And it escaped the Sparrowhawk.




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