Late BBS survey at Boston Spa today, 5.00am start. The River Wharfe was the colour of a hot chocolate drink, plenty of water coming through following the storm on Monday night.
There were fewer yellowhammers than earlier in the year, but I was suprised to still have singing chiffchaff and willow warbler in the area. A solitary skylark was also singing, whilst the wren population seems to have grown, I counted at least 12 singing birds as well as a handful of alarm calls in other locations.
Once again the best birds were just outside the survey square, I found a small colony of tree sparrows south of the river, at least 20 birds in the garden of one the large houses, and also saw a kingfisher literally a couple of feet the wrong side of the line.
This afternoon had a walk along the Strid looking for pied and spotted flycatchers, manged to see the latter but had only a couple of calls from pied fly. The spotted fly nesting on the shop alarm was a delight, I counted 3 chicks almost fully fledged and a obliging parent bird who did not seem to mind the people walking just inches below the nest. The people seemed to be oblivious to the bird also!
Best birds were a group of young great tits harassing one of the parent birds for food. Watched them for several minutes going round in circes begging food from the parent.
Did have a raptor moving up the valley, high and fast but as I was under the trees, I had only a brief glimpse, maybe less than 30 seconds, all I can say is... it was bigger by far than the carrion crows mobbing it, very dark, and the wingbeats were very deep and methodical. Wings were broad but there didn't seem to be any 'fingers', tail was about the same length as the depth of the wings.
you haven't put me off I am trying to find some good areas in the beverley area as I live just outside Beverley, do you have any suggestions on some good areas to try
