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.
Very good start to the year John, Sanderling on a Gravel pit is a fairly unusual occurence.
ReplyDeleteThese Sanderling shots are lovely of a delightful, pretty bird.
ReplyDeleteThe Grey Plover is a grand view, and the Sanderling. Great shots you have taken.
ReplyDeleteHi John..aren't you just loving that snow ..beautiful isn't it ; }
ReplyDeleteYou rock John with your great list ...hope you get many more! ...
Grace
Very nice ticks John.
ReplyDeleteNice images of the Grey Plover John.
ReplyDeleteMy last post was all wrong! The first shots of a first winter Kittiwak and then as you correctly say two of an adult Kittiwake.
Nice ticks, nice photos and, by the sound of it, nice friends too.
ReplyDeleteHi Alan,
ReplyDeleteA 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
Hi cuby poet,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, too kind!
J
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteThank you, it was nice to get both of these `in the bag` for the year!
J
Hi Grace,
ReplyDeleteThank 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
Thanks Roy,
ReplyDeleteJ
Thanks Mike,
ReplyDeleteYour last post still had some nice shots though!
J
Hi John,
ReplyDeleteThank 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
Wow! What a day you had, John! Well worth braving the snow for I should think. Well done on getting photos too!
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a Grey Plover.
Hi Jan,
ReplyDeleteThank you, although I was only out for about an hour! Couldn`t last any longer in the snow! What a wimp I am! ;)
J
Looks as though it was worth turning out in such inclement weather. You have more stamina than I have.
ReplyDeleteI don`t know about that John, it was a bit cold, but I wrapped up warm and the birds did make up for it!
ReplyDeleteJ