October 2010 trip home

Arrived home on Friday 01 October after an eventful flight. The flight from Abu Dhabi to Amsterdam was fine but the the plane from Amsterdam to Humberside had to return to Amsterdam 20 minutes into the flight due to technical problems. Managed to transfer to the next flight and arrived home about 5 hours late - minus my baggage which subsequently arrived at 02.30 on Saturday morning! Great to be knocked up at that time after such a long journey.

Due to various commitments I've not had much chance to do much birding but I've had some good sightings.

Visited Kendal for a couple of days as soon as I arrived home. There were several goosanders on the River Kent just outside the hotel (photo attached).

A couple of visits to North Duffield Carrs and Bubwith Ings (my local patch) produced nothing out of the ordinary, but I got good views of a couple of kestrels hunting. Disappointingly I dipped on a short eared owl that was reported over the Ings on 3 successive days around 18.00. One bird I didn't miss was one of 2 ospreys which spent the entire period of my trip home at Poolbridge Farm, Crockey Hill, near York (only a few miles from my house), where they spent much time catching fish from the well-stocked fishing lakes. The owner was very helpful to the many birders wishing to get a sight of the birds. Unfortunately I was unable to get a photo opportunity. Great to have them on my doorstep. I know they were still there on Saturday 16th.

Managed a couple of hours only at Far Ings. Was somewhat disappointed at first, it was very quiet. However I was delighted to see my first ever bearded tit - a female which doesn't exhibit the black 'beard'. Hopefully I'll get to see a male on a future visit. A second highlight here was a kingfisher that went out of its way to pose for everyone in front of the hide (as in Clydebirders pic). Guess who didn't have his camera.

I posted a comment about the lack of blackbirds in and around my garden, but there were a great many others in the garden and in the field behind:

Tree sparrows (many)
House sparrows
Starlings
Goldfinches
Chaffinches
Greenfinches
Blue tits
Great tits
Coal tits
Pied wagtails
Robin
Wren
Collared doves
Wood pigeons
Magpies
Carrion crows
Jackdaws
Rooks
Song thrush
Mistle thrush
Pheasants
Red legged partridges (14)
Kestrel
Black headed gulls

Didn't see any long tailed tits in the garden neither - they have been regular vistors in the past.

Looking forward to my next trip home - January 7th - my wife is coming to Abu Dhabi for Christmas.

Attached Thumbnails