Birdin' Cheesedale 6/3/10.

A lack of transport this mornin' meant a spot of catchin' up on the old Cheesedale World Series List was called for. A quick pre-breakfast check of Blake Hall Fishery before i lost the motor put me right back in the race with Mad Malc'. Two year ticks as soon as i pulled up! Two Oyst's feedin' in a roadside field among the local Canadas with a single Curlew , not bad eh?





Down on the bottom pool an immature male Goosander was among the Mallards. This is a crackin' little pool right behind some cottages. It regularly holds one or two Wigeon in winter despite bein' so close to the cottages. Last year it held a Eurasian White-fronted Goose for a while with the Can's. It's also thee place to look for Wheatears, Whinchats and Stonechats in the Cheesedale recordin' area. Ten or fifteen years ago Yellow Wag's were regular as well.





After handin' over the motor to "she who must be obeyed", only jokin' Jan,' i managed to cadge a lift up to Croxden with our Alex' who was on her way to feed Harvey the Horse. As usual there was naff all on offer at "Poxey" but i did pick up a Green Nut Nibbler for the old list as it flew low over the recently felled area that looks perfect for one particular species that will remain nameless. Also around the quarry were a flyover Curlew(2nd of the mornin') the now resident Shelduck, and the regular Tawny Owl pair sittin' side by side, in the fifth tree from the right of the last one.





Mid afternoon texts from RP about Jack Snipe being flushed by maraudin' sheep on the Weavers and two female Scaup at Rocester only helped to rub in the fact that i should be out birdin' rather than playing the glamorous assistant to the worlds slowest Plumber!!!!





By half four it was obvious the best i could hope for was a quick tour of a few Cheesedale hot spots to see if i could pick up anymore local year ticks. Hales Hall pool was first stop and produced a smart Great-crested Grebe among the local Mallards. After that a quick tour of reported Barn Owl sites produced absolutely ZIPPO! A flyover Woodcock at Woodhead looked to be havin' trouble flyin' as it flew in front of the car, perhaps it was the copy of Razzle tucked under it's wing causing a few problems eh?







Off to the pub now to see me little brother who's up from Cambridgecestershire, might try the odd sherbet or several while i'm there. Better go steady though, RP's pickin' me up at seven in the mornin' for a change of scenery.





That's all folks