Tuesday 19 June 2018

A Warmer Week

Tuesday morning began with drizzle so Oakhill proved out of the question, so we went to Blacktoft Sands.  Apparently, shortly after I passed North Cave on the A63 a trailer lorry decided to shed its load of a digger.  This meant that 5 people from Cottingham, the Avenues, and Winestead got help up with out moving for more than 40 minutes, so had to give up and either go somewhere else or return home.  This is happening too often at the moment.  Do these idiots get fined for their incompetence?  Meanwhile, the couple from near Cobey Hill were also delayed by an accident below Holme-on-Spalding Moor.  At least half of the class were able to attend, so had good views of a Cetti's Warbler, a Reed Warbler, and the closest view of a male Marsh Harrier at Blacktoft that we've ever had.  Bearded Tits were heard and a pair were seen briefly flying across in front of singleton hide.  
Male Marsh Harrier
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 Reed Warbler
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 Togetherness is... a Pair of Magpies
 Magpies
 Swallow
 Yellowhammer
 Red Admiral
On Wednesday the forecast was a fine day on the East coast at Kilnsea.  It turned out to be rather sultry and even airless at times, quite a change from what has been a cool and misty time on the coast for the last 6 weeks.  Both groups saw a distant Garganey in eclipse.  The morning group had a Hobby and a Red Kite, but after lunch we saw our very first Yellow-legged Gull - ooh very exciting!  We came cross our first Painted Lady of the year, plus a Large Skipper and both sessions saw a very smart Small Heath.  We did a lot of walking, but I'm sure everyone who participated will sleep well.  
Yellow Wagtail
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Yellow Wagtail (c) 2018 Maggie Bruce
Immature Pied Wagtail
 Sandwich Terns
 Sandwich Tern
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Sandwich Tern (c) 2018 Maggie Bruce
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Record shot of Hobby (c) 2018 Maggie Bruce
Skylark
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 Having a dustbath
Red Kite
 Yellow-legged Gull
 Common Whitethroat
 Painted Lady
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 Peacock 
 Small Heath
 Black-tailed Skipper
Some of the morning group stayed on in the Kilnsea area.  They went to the canal zone, but I have no recored of what they found there, so I guess it was pretty quiet.  Then they went on to Sammy's Point and found some Whimbrel. 
Whimbrel (c) 2018 Tony Robinson
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 Roe Deer (c) 2018 Maggie Bruce
Thursday's near gale force winds meant that we had to ditch the plan to visit Skerne Wetlands, and pop in to Tophill Low instead.  Although the wind was definitely a handicap, the morning group managed to locate 42 bird species just in the south part of the reserve.  Photo opportunities for birds were quite slim on the ground, but there were plenty of others wildlife to seen.  
Little Ringed Plover
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 Reed Warbler
 Common Tern
 Broad-Bodied Chaser
 Black-tailed Skimmer
 4-Spotted Chaser
 Damselflies
 Buck Roe Deer
 Chewing the Cud
 Rear View
Marsh Frog (c) 2018 Dick Watson
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 Shrew
 Bee Orchid
Bee Orchid (c) 2018 Dick Watson

 Stinkhorn 
On Friday we were able to go to Flamborough, as the strong winds had subsided.  Most things were on the usual supermarket shelves.  What was different this time, is that we managed to locate an immature Rock Pipit as well as an adult.  Here, this bird is shown to contrast with the usual Meadow Pipits. 
Male Linnet (c) 2018 Jane Robinson
Meadow Pipit
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On a natural perch - note the size of the claws
Meadow Pipit in Flight (c) 2018 Jane Robinson
Immature Rock Pipit
Immature Rock Pipit (c) 2018 Jane Robinson
Skylark
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 Skylark (c) 2018 Jane Robinson
 Razorbill (c) 2018 Jane Robinson
 Razorbill with Chick (c) 2018 Jane Robinson
"Bridled" Guillemot
 Puffins
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Puffin (c) 2018 Jane Robinson
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Razorbills and Shag
 Female Peregrine
 Male Peregrine (Tiercel)
 Female Peregrine
 Male Peregrine
 Male Peregrine (c) 2018 Jane Robinson
 Male leaving its DNA (c) 2018 Jane Robinson
Shortly Afterwards 
 Record Shot of Peregrine in Flight
 Female Peregrine
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 Male Kestrel
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 Male Yellowhammer
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Feral Pigeon [left] & "Rock Dove"
 "Rock Dove"
 Jackdaw
 Herring Gull Chicks
 Painted Lady
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 Wall [Brown]
 Cinnabar Moth
Silver-Y Moth (c) 2018 Jane Robinson
Thrift
Some of the morning group went on to Bempton and had better views of the Gannets that we saw only more distantly at Flamborough.
Gannet (c) 2018 Jane Robinson
Earlier in the week one of the Friday attendees had time to visit West Yorkshire and was lucky enough to get a bit closer to the Black-necked Grebes.  
Black-necked Grebes (c) 2018 Jane Robinson
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1 comment:

janer said...

Great pictures especially the marsh harrier.