Monday 25 February 2019

Half-Term Holiday Photos

Last week was half-term, and the weather was rather unseasonal, so several people sent some photos in.  One student returned from a visit to Costa Rica.  The names used for the birds are those utilised by the person who sent them in.
Flame-coloured Tanager (c) 2019 Bridget Towler 
 Blue Heron (c) 2019 Bridget Towler
 Scarlet Macaw (c) 2019 Bridget Towler
 Tony Robinson and several of the Weds am crew went on to Scarborough to the raptor viewpoint.  Although they did see at least 4 raptors the closest views of any bird were these Crossbills.
Male Crossbill (c) 2019 Tony Robinson 
 ditto
 ditto
 Crossbill Pair (c) 2019 Tony Robinson 
 Female Crossbill (c) 2019 Tony Robinson 
 ditto
2 Friday stalwarts visited Patrington Haven for the first time, and were rewarded with a Short-eared Owl, and were surrounded by 500 Curlew, plus many other waders.  Will they ever want to visit again, perhaps when ii is less windy?
Short-eared Owl (c) 2019 Jane Robinson 
 ditto
 ditto
 ditto
 ditto
 ditto
 ditto
 ditto
A male Sparrowhawk sat in our holly tree for nearly half an hour, and prevented any small birds from visiting the feeders! 
Male Sparrowhawk
 ditto
 ditto
 Having a stretch
 ditto
I've never seen Allerthorpe Common so dry at this time of year, but the birds were rather thin on the ground.  Highlights was a flock of 4+ Redpolls and a stream with bathing Goldcrests, Treecreeper and several species of Tit.  It was too dark and rather busy with dog walkers for photos of the bathing birds.
 Redpolls
 ditto
 Coal Tit
 Ditto

Tuesday 19 February 2019

Beverley FM: East Park

A programme about the wildlife currently to be found in East Park, Hull is being broadcast this week on Beverley FM.  The following birds are the ones mentioned in the programme.  The majority of these photos were actually taken in East Park.
Great Spotted Woodpecker

Drake Mallard - the standard dabbling duck
Mallard, Drake [left] & female [right]
Tufted Ducks [female, middle] - a diving duck 
Drake Pochard - another diving duck.  Note the red eye!
Female Pochard
Jay - a recent addition to the park fauna
 Kingfisher - back in the park after being wiped out in 2010 winter
Grey Wagtail - seen in the park only in winter months
[not mentioned on the programme] 
 Although bright yellow under the tail, this is a Grey Wagtail
[not mentioned on the programme]
Although not mentioned in the programme, there is a free-flying Ring-necked Parakeet in the park.  It is usually found near the aviary.

Little Grebe [or Dabchick] - another recent addition to the fauna
 Great Crested Grebes courting in the park last Friday
Drake Goosander
Drake Goosander [left] & female [right]

 Black-headed Gulls [winter plumage]
 Black-headed Gull [1st winter]
 Common Gull
 Herring Gull

Saturday 16 February 2019

In the Pink

Jay (c) 2019 Jane Robinson

Tuesday was cool, but fine, so we went to Ness End as planned.  No one encountered the usual traffic problems, so we actually set off early.  There had been big changes since my last visit, which looked a bit shocking at first glance, but I’m sure once the reeds begin to grow this season, much of that will be masked and soon forgotten.  We went to Main Hide first, and saw Goldeneye, Tufted Ducks, Gadwall, Coot and Unmentionables of course.  After 20 mins or so a Kingfisher flew in from the right, and briefly settled on a post before taking off again.  Some distant Reed Buntings could be heard singing their monotonous songs- the first I’ve heard this year.  We were about to move on when John P saw and identified a Bittern to our extreme right. he alerted everyone to its presence.  It was creeping along the ground, but soon landed in the open for a couple of minutes before flying off.  As those in the right side of the hide were watching this, another one came out of the reeds straight ahead of us and flew off west.
Bittern
 Bittern
 Ready for Launch
 We have take off
 Ditto
 A different individual in flight
We walked off and had a long look at a pair of Song Thrushes - 30 years ago we probably wouldn’t have given them a second glance.  From Target Lake we saw plenty of Shoveler, a few Teal, a group of Tufted Duck, and a single Little Grebe.  From the hide on the high bank we saw a Marsh Harrier towards the Humber Bridge.  We looked towards Chowder Ness, but only two Redshanks were new for the day.  A single Teal and a pair of Wigeon were on the river bank.  Before we plunged back into the reserve an odd goose, which didn’t appear to have an orange bill was sailing under the Humber Bridge.
Song Thrush
 Sleeping Shoveler
 Little Grebe
We sat in Reedy Hide for half-an-hour or so.  Everything was the same as from Main Hide at first, until Jenny spotted a Kingfisher fluttering in from the north.  This stayed with us for the remainder of the visit.  While we were watching it something flew underneath it, which alarmed the Kingfisher at first.  It was a Sparrowhawk, and it landed behind the hide, but could be observed through one of the rear panels.  The discomforted Kingfisher calmed down, and carried on as before.  
Kingfisher
 Ditto
 Sparrowhawk
Leaving the hide we cut across the meadow and overtook one of the founding Friday am class members.  This was a reunion for another former Friday am member, who now attends on Tuesday mornings.  Shortly after this we came to three Bullfinches feeding on Buddleia.   
Female Bullfinch
 Unidentified Goose on the humber

 Back at home - Mistle Thrush
 Barn Owl
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Hare
Wednesday was supposed to be mild, but it seemed very cold at first.  Unfortunately, it was also very overcast, which had a dampening effect on the birdsong.  Last week’s Green Woodpecker and Whooper and even the Mute Swans and Treecreeper were all absent without leave!  A Red Kite had been seen from the car, so not all was lost.
Siskin
As we left the buildings a flock of small finches descended on an alder tree, and as they came down it was clear that many of them were Siskins.  A few yards further along the road a pair of Bullfinches seemed to be chewing on the emerging buds of a Hawthorn bush.  A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew overhead, and very much later one was heard drumming. 
Bullfinch
 Buzzard
Nothing was heard or seen from the bridge, and the weir only brought a pair of Mistle Thrush and a Kestrel.  There were plenty of Rooks and Jackdaws on the hilltop, and occasionally a Buzzard seemed to be attempting to take advantage of a thermal.  There was no sign of a Marsh Tit before lunch, but in the afternoon there were several sightings.  
Marsh Tit
The walk up the hill was fairly quiet with no sign of rooftop Pied Wagtails, or of Red Kites.  (A male Pied Wagtail was seen in the afternoon).  Our long wait resulted in several Buzzards, and a Sparrowhawk. Sally found a Yellowhammer in the afternoon.  
Yellowhammer
 Male Kestrel
The walk back was warmer as some rents in the cloud cover meant that the sun was able to break through at times. A very smart male Kestrel was spotted in the afternoon.  A single bramble patch brought a Reed Bunting and 2 Goldcrests in the morning.  In the afternoon it was even more productive with the above plus Bullfinches, a Long-tailed Tit and a Great Tit with a most unusual call. As we reached the buildings again, a Greenfinch attempting its twittering and annoying song was new for the year. 
Reed Bunting
 Mistle Thrush
In the afternoon as we reached the cars a Mistle Thrush flew down on to the grass followed by 3 Redwings, and finally another Mistle Thrush. 
Redwings 
 Ditto
Thursday was supposed to be too windy for the estuary, so we went to North Cliffe Wood instead.   There was a lot of birdsong as soon as we got out of the cars.   Birds had probably been visiting a feeding station on the other side of the road, and were heading back to their woodland haunts.  It was a little misty at first and we were walking towards the sun so visibility was a bit difficult at first.  However, one member spotted a Goldcrest high in a tree, of which everyone was able to gain a decent view.  
Goldcrest
In the morning nothing left the garden which had harboured Woodcock on three recent visits.  However, we did hear a Jay, and after lunch we actually saw it flying away.  We followed the snaking path through the woodland, but we were mainly seeing Great and Blue Tits at every turn.  However, in the afternoon we had Marsh Tits too.  At one stage lots of thrushes flew up from the leaf litter, and we were able to glimpse a few superciliums and red flanks to confirm that they were Redwings.   
Ditto
Green Woodpecker

We reached the heath, and were heartened to hear the ringing peal of a Green Woodpecker.  There were at least 2 of these, and one flew over our heads before it landed and remained like a sentinel in a tall tree for several minutes.  Unfortunately, although we could all see it, it was also partially obscured behind lots of twigs.  In the afternoon we failed to either see or even hear it.   A Hare also ran ahead of us on the mossy path, again morning only.  Meanwhile, the distant song of a Mistle Thrush provided an evocative soundtrack for our stay in the relatively warm sunshine.  A Redpoll was heard flying over, as was a Skylark, but we didn’t see either.  It was swings and roundabouts because after lunch we did manage to see a single Redpoll.  
Buzzard - seen both am & pm
We looked across a field, but this time it was full of Woodpigeons, Rooks and Jackdaws.  In the afternoon it was empty.  We resumed our walk in the wood, but a probable Marsh Tit turned out to be a Great Tit with pretentions of being a perfect ventriloquist.  Eventually, we did see a couple of small birds which looked like Marsh Tits, but we didn’t get great views of these or the female Bullfinch on the opposite side of the path.  
Marsh Tit
 Ditto
The afternoon group heard a male Tawny Owl, which seemed to be calling from a long line of pines across the field in which we had seen the Hare in the morning.  We encountered several more Marsh Tits on the way back before the afternoon sun was lost. 
Hare
 Ditto
 Reed Bunting - at lunch time
 Redpoll
The morning group saw 22 species, and heard another 4.  I don't have the afternoon figures at the time of writing, but before today they had encountered 70 species.
Jay (c) 2019 Jane Robinson
Friday was a day of unbroken sunshine and wasn't too windy.  Apparently, the first choice of location is devoid of birds this year, so we caught up with last week’s cancelled East Park.  This was to be the final visit of 2019. On arrival a Great Spotted Woodpecker was at the top of the poplar near the entrance and the park resounded with the songs of Mistle and Song Thrushes.


Black-headed Gull
 ditto
Common Gull (c) 2019 Jane Robinson
We started off with Black-headed Gulls trampling the crocuses.  As we walked along the main road we heard the sound of Geese and became aware of a massive movement of Pink-footed Geese heading north.  The unseasonably mild weather must have caused them to shift earlier than normal.  Later, a similar flock came over heading east, so had the6 thought better of their original plans?
Blue Tit (c) 2019 Jane Robinson
Pink-footed Geese
 ditto
 Pink-footed Geese (c) 2019 Jane Robinson
We reached the model yacht lake only to be surrounded by a mass of rule-breaking Carrion Crows.  One of these was one of the most extreme examples of leucistic white-bread eating individuals we’ve ever come across.  A Moorhen posted on the grass in the sunlight, and almost looked photogenic.
Leucistic Crow (c) 2019 Jane Robinson
 Ditto
Leucistic & Standard Crows
 A Murder of Crows
 Leucistic Crow

Unmentionable 
 ditto
 ditto
The Tufted Ducks weren’t in their usual place, but we did find them around the second island.  There were two Great Spotted Woodpeckers around the children’s play area, and some Mistle Thrushes and Goldcrests in the trees nearby.  There were two Pochard near the splashboat, quite a few Tufted Ducks, a mass of Unmentionables, and several screeching Black-headed and Herring Gulls fighting over the white bread being liberally dropped into the water. 
Moorhen
 Ditto
Moorhen (c) 2019 Jane Robinson
Tufted Ducks
 Tufted Duck (c) 2019 Jane Robinson
Female Tufted Duck 
 Pochard (c) 2019 Jane Robinson
Pochard
 Mistle Thrushes
 Mistle Thrush (c) 2019 Jane Robinson
We reached the main lakes again and found more Pochard, and rather surprisingly a Shoveler.  We had been told there had been a Goldeneye a day earlier, but of course there was no sign of that.  In the darkest corner behind the final island we eventually unearthed 4 Goosanders.  Under the willow twigs as the west side of this island we found a Little Grebe.  It was more hidden in the afternoon, but the compensation at this point was a brief view of a Kingfisher.  
Shoveler (c) 2019 Jane Robinson
 Shoveler
 Herring Gull
Magpie (c) 2019 Jane Robinson
Goldcrest (c) 2019 Jane Robinson
 ditto
 ditto
 ditto
 Coal Tit (c) 2019 Jane Robinson
 ditto
Jackdaw
 Jackdaw (& Herring Gull)
 Jackdaw

On the journey round the back of the islands we found a pair of Great Crested Grebes and they later kindly put on a performance of their courtship distance, which was lit almost of if there were spotlights on the birds in a dark corner. 
Great Crested Grebes Courtship Display
 ditto
 ditto
 ditto
More Courtship (c) 2019 Jane Robinson
ditto 
 ditto
 ditto
 ditto
 ditto
 ditto
Great Crested Grebe! (c) 2019 Jane Robinson 
 ditto
 Great Crested Grebes (c) 2019 Jane Robinson
Great Crested Grebes 
We carried on to the Treecreeper roosting area.  They weren’t at home, but there were Goldcrests, Long-tailed Tits, and Great and Blue Tits.  We passed the cafe and the the three epicureans must have peeled off at this point, as they weren’t present when the star bird gently floated past us on the Holly Avenue.  It landed in the weeping ash, and allowed us to get closer and closer.  These are normally rather scarce in our parts and when you do find one they are invariably timid, but this one was obviously unfazed by the proximity of humans.
Jay (c) 2019 Jane Robinson
 Overexposed
 Jay (c) 2019 Jane Robinson
 Ditto
 Ditto
Jay - very close, but too many twigs
The afternoon group had only just started really when we saw a Sparrowhawk flying over.  Then eagle-eyed John spotted a pair of Teal just snoozing away on one of the islands, either side of some posts.
Sparrowhawk
Sparrowhawk (c) 2019 Mike Woods
 Pochard (c) 2019 Mike Woods
Black-headed Gull (c) 2019 Mike Woods 
Coot (c) 2019 Mike Woods 
Herring Gull (c) 2019 Mike Woods 
 Immature Herring Gull (c) 2019 Mike Woods
Teal
On her return journey Jane stopped off at a cemetery and managed to photograph a female Kestrel at fairly close quarters.  No buzzards though.
Kestrel (c) 2019 Jane Robinson
 ditto
 ditto
 ditto
 ditto
 ditto