Monday 6 February 2012

Three`s a crowd






Proof, if it were needed that we have a good community of birders in the PBC area. On Saturday I received a phone call from Josh Jones to tell me there was a Sanderling present at Tanholt gravel pits, a working quarry close to Peterborough, but I had other commitments that day, so was unable to go and just hoped that it would hang on until Sunday.

Sunday morning dawned and with it 5 inches of snow. Should I go to Tanholt for this lovely wader, not an annual tick on my PBC list by any means? I pondered for a while until Mike Weedon rang me to say there was now a Grey Plover present with the Sanderling. That clinched it, I was soon on the drive, shovel in hand clearing the snow and was at Tanholt within 10 minutes. The birds were distant, but with some careful stalking on my half I was able to get the above `passable` shots. Two more `ticks` on my PBC year list, oh and the third (three`s a crowd) were 7 Dunlin, also present, but too distant for any kind of shot!

My PBC year list is now at a fairly healthy 111 species.

18 comments:

  1. Very good start to the year John, Sanderling on a Gravel pit is a fairly unusual occurence.

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  2. These Sanderling shots are lovely of a delightful, pretty bird.

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  3. The Grey Plover is a grand view, and the Sanderling. Great shots you have taken.

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  4. Hi John..aren't you just loving that snow ..beautiful isn't it ; }
    You rock John with your great list ...hope you get many more! ...
    Grace

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  5. Nice images of the Grey Plover John.
    My last post was all wrong! The first shots of a first winter Kittiwak and then as you correctly say two of an adult Kittiwake.

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  6. Nice ticks, nice photos and, by the sound of it, nice friends too.

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  7. Hi Alan,
    A fairly good start, still a few `easy` birds to get though!
    In our area I have seen Sanderling a couple of times at gravel pits, but also on the Nene Washes. In a land-locked area such as ours we take what we can get! ;)
    J

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  8. Hi cuby poet,
    Thank you very much, too kind!
    J

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  9. Hi Bob,
    Thank you, it was nice to get both of these `in the bag` for the year!
    J

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  10. Hi Grace,
    Thank you, but the snow has nearly all gone now, still quite cold though!
    As for my year list, who knows, I may break the 180 mark this year?! Fingers crossed!
    J

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  11. Thanks Mike,
    Your last post still had some nice shots though!
    J

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  12. Hi John,
    Thank you, you are right about the friends. We all try and help one another to get to see the birds, it`s a shame if someone misses out!
    J

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  13. Wow! What a day you had, John! Well worth braving the snow for I should think. Well done on getting photos too!

    I have never seen a Grey Plover.

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  14. Hi Jan,
    Thank you, although I was only out for about an hour! Couldn`t last any longer in the snow! What a wimp I am! ;)
    J

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  15. Looks as though it was worth turning out in such inclement weather. You have more stamina than I have.

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  16. I don`t know about that John, it was a bit cold, but I wrapped up warm and the birds did make up for it!
    J

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