YWT Potteric Carr :: 10 July 2022

My usual weekend birding companion Kevin Heath had been fortunate enough to get down to see a black-winged stilt at Theale in April and so on this Sunday morning he decided not to join me as I headed for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's Potteric Carr to add this species - I didn't blame him as he had been all over Cambridgeshire and Norfolk the previous day for white stork, bee-eaters and white-rumped sandpiper.

I arose early and set out arriving early in Doncaster - a schoolboy error though in not checking the opening time! - this resulted in breakfast at MacDonalds, filling the car with fuel and a chat with Kev and his wife Karen to pass the time. Fortunately, the gates opened a little earlier than advertised and I joined a handful of people awaiting access through the Visitor's Centre.

Potteric Carr is a remnant of the vast fenland that once stretched all the way across the Humber basin to the coast and is where a pair of black-winged stilts have decided to breed - reportedly four young successfully fledged. It is a good choice of site as it is a mosaic of habitats from reedbeds to winding woodland trails, and networks of ponds. I got instructions of where to aim for from the staff and was off.

I stopped at a new hide that overlooks the pool where the stilts reside and found two chaps already in residence – there must be another way in for members. Far out in front a single adult stilt was feeding, wading slowly across the shallows - life tick - I took some record shots but decided to have a look from the other hide and decide which had better views. I relocated and on arrival found that the bird I'd been watching had decided to retreat to dry land and go to sleep on the bank. Oystercatchers, grey herons and egrets flew around as did black-headed gulls (always noisy at this time of year). I waited.

The gulls and herons did us a favour, eventually the flushing the two adult BW stilts into the air to chase these intruders, landing some distance away and returning to their position out of view. It wasn't too long though until I turned lucky and an adult dropped in to feed in front of the hide and within reach of the camera, giving good views.

The birds were now a bit more visible and eventually I was able to see three of the four juveniles over the top of the reeds on the island between us. A bit of a challenge but I managed a record shot. Over to my left an adult chased some lapwings and dropped onto a small island.

I'd been watching for over an hour and numbers of people started to arrive at the hide and so I decamped and left space for others to view from the front - a rather nice sign said I should do as much. On my phone a message arrived from Kev to say that two Temminck's stints had been spotted about 30 minutes from where I was - Edderthorpe Flash RSPB (Dearne Valley) two on mud in front of bench and to be viewed from the disused railway line on the north side - it would be another lifer for me. I returned to the car along the reserve paths (a good 20 minute’s walk), programmed the satnav and set off. It took about 25 minutes to get there, and I pulled into a layby where a number of cars were parked up - a good sign I was in the right place.

I jumped out the car, grabbed my bins and camera, and searched for a gap in the hedge that would lead down onto the disused railway line. I started off left and saw two birders coming the other way - they confirmed I was in the right place and that the birds were still present. I joined the half dozen people there and was pointed where I should look. I wondered whether to go back and get my scope as the birds were on a distant island but one of the birders said not to bother and offered to let me view through his scope. The birds were distant but visible. Despite the heat haze and distant I decided on an attempted record shot - partially successful.

I noted the avocet and other birds on the water but with the heat haze and distance there was little point in staying very long - the birds seemed settled on their island and even if they moved, I would still be miles away. I left and made it home for a late lunch and in time to watch the Men’s Singles Final at Wimbledon.