Heslington Tillmire

Eight of us took part in the walk on the Tillmire yesterday [26th April] evening; a bit cold, but lovely light.

After the prolonged period without much rain, the Tillmire is very dry for the time of the year, and wader numbers are well down.

The best birds were:
Barn owl: one hunting and showing well
Lapwing: About 7 birds on the Tillmire itself, and about another 7-8 on spring cereal fields just to the east
Curlew: a displaying pair
Redshank: just one solitary bird
Little egret: 1 further along the same dyke as the Redshank
Snipe: 3
Shoveler: a male on the central pond – the first I have ever seen here
Meadow pipit: at least 12
Skylark: 3 singing males
Yellowhammer: 2 males
Wheatear: 1m, 1f on spring cereal fields just to east
And remarkably one field just to east with no less than 11 hares in it.

For those who were with us I took £16 round to Jan’s this morning for use of the church car park.

John