Bonby Carrs.....Sunday 21st September 2014.

After yesterdays excitement it was back to local birding today and a walk down the Carrs at Bonby.As i parked up at my usual spot beside the soak drain it was soon apparent how cold it was,or should i say how cold it fealt after the recent 17 degrees every day,several layers later and off i went,nice and warm now.As i reached the first of the hedgerows bordering the pastures it soon became noticeable that there were quite a few Buntings and Finches present.And i managed to count at least 30 Reed Bunting and 35 Yellowhammer,along with a good sized count of Linnets numbering about 350 in two flocks.A few Goldfinch were along the hedges as well and several Skylark and Mipits on the fields and a large flock of 400 plus Starling were plundering the Elder berry bushes noisily by the River.The Old River Ancholme has been dredged now and there was a Juv. Greenshank enjoying the newly created feeding habitat,this being the only wader seen apart from a few flocks of Golden Plover and Lapwing passing overhead.In Appleby Carrs on the opposite bank of the river a couple of Jays were seen flying from bush to bush no doubt in search of food as so often happens with this species at this time of year and a couple of Yellow Wagtail flew by overhead.Raptors were pretty thin on the ground today and i only managed 3 Common Buzzard and 6 Kestrel to add to the notebook.A few Hirundines were still remaining and included at least 15 Swallow,it won't be long before they have all left for Africa.Wildfowl are beginning to make an appearance and i logged my first local Pinkfeet of the autumn period as 7 birds flew south.An unusual sight of a flock of 20 Mute Swans flew in from a southerly direction and landed on the river.All the birds were adults and constituted the largest flock of Mutes i have seen down here,a bit of a bizarre record for the time of year.So a very pleasant walk this morning was had and i returned home after another enjoyable visit.

Misty start.

The soak drain looking towards Worlaby Carrs.

Nosey local.

Reed Bunting.

Part of the Starling flock at the River.

Thirteen of the twenty Mute Swans.

South bound Pinkfeet.