With little of interest locally, aside from the Richard’s pipit near Milton Keynes, Kev @kev07713 and I considered a longer trip, possibly to Abberton Reservoir. Instead though, we decided to head to Winteringham in North Lincolnshire for the Eastern yellow wagtail, which would be a lifer for both of us.
Since the bird was typically reported from mid-morning onwards, there was no need for a particularly early start so I picked up Kev at 6:00 am, and we made our way north stopping just outside Lincoln for breakfast. While eating, we received an update on BirdGuides confirming the wagtail had already been spotted, earlier than on previous days but reassuring to know it was still present. We set off, hopeful of adding the bird to our lists.
The Eastern yellow wagtail is a rare visitor to the UK, with only a handful of confirmed sightings, breeding as it does in temperate Asia and typically migrating to Southeast Asia during the winter months; individuals when observed in the UK, are often during migration periods.
Identification can be challenging due to its similarity to the Western yellow wagtail, a regular summer migrant in the UK, with key distinguishing features including differences in plumage and vocalisations. The Eastern species often exhibits a distinctive head pattern and lacks the bright yellow underparts seen in its western cousin - additionally, its call is described as a high-pitched, piercing note.
Notable records in the UK include a sighting in Suffolk in November 2019, where an individual was identified at Corporation Marshes in Walberswick with another occurring on the Isles of Scilly, marking Britain's first-ever spring record of this species.
There were clear instructions on where to park to ensure the farm at the end of the lane had unrestricted access for work vehicles. However, on arrival, we noticed some people had parked in the prohibited area but fortunately, they were well out of the way of any passing machinery, so it wouldn't be an issue.
We parked across the road from the junction, adding an extra walk of under 100 meters. After changing our shoes, we set off down the lane and soon met a couple coming the other way. They informed us that the bird hadn’t been seen since the update before 8:00 am.
Apparently, the farmer had recently ploughed muck into the soil to aid decomposition and enrich the land. This had been done just days before our target bird was first spotted, drawing in large numbers of pied wagtails - and, of course, the Eastern yellow wagtail.
We waited for an hour, confident we would eventually see it. Over at Ogg Farm, a poultry facility housing around 40,000 birds, we could see small flocks of pied wagtails, though those flying through our area arrived only in singles. Reports indicated that our bird had been associating with a flock of about 15 pied wagtails. As we scanned the landscape, I spotted a couple of hares in the far distance, moving along the field margins.
Suddenly, a call went up - someone had spotted the wagtail flock gathering along the margin of the main ploughed field, and our bird was among them. Yes! We quickly got on the scopes, and I then managed to snap a couple of record shots.
Having spotted the bird along the field margin, we hoped for a closer view - ideally, if it relocated to the ploughed field, especially on the Composition Lane side. We moved slightly up the slope and waited, watching as the wagtail flew back over the farm.
Our patience paid off within five minutes when the bird returned, offering us some good views. It moved locations a few more times, disappearing for about half an hour at one point. However, before we left, we were fortunate enough to see it at least three more times.
While waiting for the wagtail’s final return, the man beside us, accompanied by his wife, spotted a white or albino 'brown' hare bounding in from the right at a distance. It dashed through a small flock of curlews before disappearing into a gully just before the hedge line. A few minutes later, it reappeared, running left to right before vanishing from view.
Albino brown hares are rare in the UK, their striking white fur, pink eyes, and pale skin the result of a genetic mutation that prevents melanin production; their lack of natural camouflage makes them particularly vulnerable to predators. More commonly, leucistic hares are seen - these have a partial loss of pigmentation, often appearing pale or patchy while retaining some normal colouration, including dark eyes rather than pink. Looking back at my photos, though not entirely conclusive, it appeared this hare’s eyes were dark, suggesting it may have been leucistic rather than a true albino.
Having seen the wagtail multiple times, there was little reason to stay longer, so we headed back to the car for a coffee before making our way home. On the way, we stopped at Hollowell Reservoir, hoping to spot some regularly reported jack snipe.
Upon arrival, we spoke with a birder who confirmed he had seen a couple earlier, but despite our efforts, we were unable to relocate them, managing only to find a single common snipe. A song thrush sang from a nearby hedgerow, but we never quite managed to pick it out.
Out on the water, a gathering of gulls included a notable proportion of common gulls. I also saw my first reed bunting of the year in a tree on the water's edge.
A couple of cormorants perched onto some posts poking just a little above the water, one perched with its wings outstretched, a behaviour that serves multiple purposes. Unlike many other waterbirds, their feathers are not fully waterproof, which helps them dive more efficiently by reducing buoyancy. However, this also means they need to dry their feathers after extended periods in the water. The outstretched wings may also help regulate body temperature and aid digestion after feeding.
Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis is a subspecies of cormorant that is (circa 10%) smaller than the nominate race (species carbo carbo) and can be identified by the shape of its gular patch, which has a rear border that drops vertically from the gape to the throat; the gular patch is often orange-tinted. They have arrived from continental Europe and have led to an increase of inland cormorant nesting colonies. One of the birds perched was a member of this species and looked stunning.
After more than an hour we remained empty-handed and called it a day, heading home.
Year list: 126.
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