Alkborough trip

Despite the cold wind, nine members left York for North Lincolnshire on Sunday 12th. Our first stop was overlooking Read’s Island where the numerous waders featured active flocks of Golden Plover and Dunlin with some Bar-tailed Godwit. Several skeins of Pink-footed geese flew over, some fairly low, and in the distance we could see what must have been thousands of them over the Wolds. A couple of Whooper Swans passed by and a Marsh Harrier was hunting over the island.

We then moved on to Alkborough Flats where the wind kept many passerines quiet, though a pair of Stonechats were sitting on wires. A Water Rail briefly showed itself but the highlights were the waders: two Little Stints, a Spotted Redshank, several Black-tailed Godwits in addition to the commoner Dunlin and Redshank on the pools. Hundreds of Lapwings and Golden Plover settled in the fields and then were disturbed by Marsh Harriers giving us a spectacular show. We were also treated to a Woodcock flying low past us. Before dusk and as the rain moved in, we moved on to Far Ings where a Slavonian Grebe was a fine bird to end the day.

Rob Chapman