Rough Justice

Shortly after last September's East Yorks break, Max received a letter from the Humberside Constabulary, informing him he'd been caught breaking a speed limit by a radar device. And no, it wasn't a twitching-related incident (honest guv!), I have to say Max is the safest driver I know and I was incredulous at this news.

As a legacy of this we found ourselves in East Yorks again this weekend, for Max to attend a so-called 'Speed Seminar' as punishment. We snagged a cheap stay at the salubrious location of the Hull Ibis Hotel and scheduled some birding around Max 'doing bird'.

A stroll around Bridlington Harbour yesterday morning, our target bird was Purple Sandpiper but we wasn't expecting c53 of them huddled on the ledges of the sea wall. I think they are really charismatic little things, one of my favourite waders.

Plenty more wader year ticks were on offer as the tide was in; Oystercatcher, Redshank, Turnstone, Dunlin and Sanderling. Seawatching only produced 2 flocks of c20 Common Scoter and a few Cormorant. There were Meadow Pipits about and a plastic Barnacle Goose.

We then headed to the Reed Hotel on the Lincs side of the Humber, where Max's correctional course was being held. Luckily for me, the hotel was located within Far Ings NR, owned by Lincs WT, so I wandered round there whilst he attended the seminar.

It was a bit quiet there and I didn't grip Max off too badly, only adding two more year ticks, namely Marsh Harrier (male) and two Tree Sparrows. Other stuff of note was Willow Tit, Goosander, Goldeneye and Sparrowhawk.

Today, a visit to Millington Pastures, our target bird, the wintering Rough Legged Buzzard. If we got it, this would be lifer 250 and the first of 2009 -no pressure then. This is a rural hilly location with cavernous valleys, good for a variety of raptors and a Hawfinch has also been seen here of late.

On the way we had four Corn Buntings at Pocklington. Despite some excellent gen from Darrell and the folks from the Yorks BF thread we dipped RLB. We got up to the tops of the hills with some stunning panaramic views and we trawled the valleys checking every Buzzard in sight, but no joy.

Birds noted 3 Red Kites, 2 Sparrowhawk, several Kestrels and Buzzards, Grey Partridge, RL Partridge, Yellowhammer, Linnet, tons of Rooks, a Hare and down on the pond, a Water Rail, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail, but not the Hawfinch. The day was disappointing because of the dip, but on the brightside, four more year ticks were added, a good long walk was had and it was a pleasure as always to see Kites in the air.