Sunday
22nd January Pine Bunting Twitch
For
the first time for a long time, a car full of Birding Clams go carbon
twitching for a rarity, namely the male Pine Bunting at Dunnington
near York.
Jason
Oliver, Tony Barter, Martin Smith and myself go through the dark
early morning hours by car along motorways and country lanes until
the village is reached. There are already around one hundred other
birders gathered trying to see the elusive rare bird.
For
a couple of hours there is no sign as Yellowhammers and Tree Sparrows
come out of a discarded wheat field to sit in adjacent trees. Time
for a chat with other birders, including Paul French and Lee Evans.
Jack,
Jason's young son, is getting cold. It is still frosty and Jason
takes Jack back to the car to warm up. Ten minutes later the Pine
Bunting shows up near the top of a sycamore tree. It doesn't stay for
long though and is soon back amongst the corn.
Three
Clams have seen the bird, a new bird, a lifer, for Martin.
We
all leave to go to a field north of Scarborough to find some reported
Shorelarks. A Barn Owl is hunting along the field edge as we walk
around the perimeter. Jason finds the larks. Another good bird to see
and this time we all get views, Jack included.
Time
to head for home, a day of camaraderie, laddish banter and great
birds.
