Fairburn Ings

On the 23rd October we joined the Bedford RSPB Local Group visit to Fairburn Ings in Yorkshire. Travelling along the A1 we had views of at least 5 Red Kites and a few Buzzards. We arrived just before 10am and our first interesting birds were Tree Sparrows, a party of at least 20 were close to the visitor centre making the most of the feeders. Then someone spotted a Willow Tit and all eyes were trained on the feeders! It was a very active bird but we all had good views, eventually. At the feeder on the other side of the path a pair of Bullfinches were feeding. The male was a bit of a poser!

Tree Sparrows

Willow Tit

    

       Bullfinch

We enjoyed a walk along the Riverside spotting flighty groups of Long-tailed Tit, Siskins and a small number of Bullfinches. There were several waterbirds on the lagoon including Goldeneye, Black Swans and 2 newly arrived Whooper Swans amongst the usual species.

After lunch we went to the Lin Dike car park and had views of Snipe and Curlew flying in to join the Pintails and other birds on the shallow pools. We also went looking for Long-eared Owl that had been seen earlier in the day but with no luck.