On Tuesday the habitat at Stone Creek had been trashed, so we switched to what should have been the first venue of this term: Alkborough Flats.
Female Reed Bunting
It was a very grey morning, so instead of the car park being rammed to the gills, it was completely empty this time. Rather worryingly, there was absolutely no sound of Bearded Tits from the car park, whereas 10 days ago, they could be clearly heard before we set off. We walked along the gravel path, but there was very little to see or hear at first. Then we noticed a group of people who had disembarked from a minibus all staring with their optics and cameras towards the hide. When we got there, a large group of Bearded Tits were pecking at the reconstituted causeway.
Long-tailed Tit
Bearded Tits
We didn’t want to disturb them, so we carried on walking along the path. Alison spotted a pair of Black-tailed Godwits pass over our heads as they made towards the river. There was relatively little to see as we continued, but we did notice some distant Lapwings, which mobbed at least 3 Marsh Harriers.
Stonechat
As we neared the Trent there were at least 2 Stonechats on top of the reeds, and high in the sky towards Blacktoft we could see what looked like several thousand birds wheeling in the sky. Later, a smaller section broke away, and started performing patterns in the sky.
Golden Plover
We went in the hide on our return journey, when Steve recognised a moulting Goldeneye and someone else spotted a Pintail, only recognizable by its long slender neck and its dark bill.
Pintail
Almost Blind Buck Roe Deer
ditto
Ruby Tiger Caterpillar
As Tuesday am at Alkborough was a little below par, I couldn’t imagine how poor the wildlife would be in an afternoon, so the Wednesday groups switched to the previously-flooded Blacktoft. As we walked to Marshland the best sighting was of the silhouette of a Merlin attempting to catch a small bird. From Marshland itself there were lots of Teal and a good smattering of Snipe. The latter were easier to spot after lunch, and three were much closer to the hide.
Snipe
ditto
Snipe (c) 2024 Tony Robinson
At Ousefleet there were a great number of wildfowl feeding on the edge of a bare patch of earth, then running back in relays dipping their outsized bills in the water, and then running back to the food source. These were mainly unmentionable, but did include Teal and Pintail. Sadly, the latter 2 species were still in eclipse. Later, a solitary Black-tailed Godwit flew through. Then a nervous flock of Wigeon circled the area several times, flew off and eventually landed. After lunch the Pintail were still present, but they had dropped out of the relay race.
Pintail
ditto
ditto
Pintail (c) 2024 Tony Robinson
Black-tailed Godwit
Wigeon
ditto
Reedling Hide failed to add anything spectacular, unless you regard Little Grebes in that light. Townend only held a quartet of very noisy snorting well-grown Cygnet Mute Swans. They had gone by the afternoon to be replaced by Shoveler.
Shoveler (c) 2024 Peter Moizer
Marsh Harrier
Singleton was very disappointing with only a flock of Greylag Geese to disturb the peace. It was the same after lunch.
Brian's Grass Snake
Note the Eye
Note Tongue Wrapped Round a Reed
Grass Snake (c) 2024 Tony Robinson
On the return journey we reluctantly stopped at First Hide, which is normally very unrewarding. This time there were several Gadwall, but Brian spotted a dark Grass Snake, weaving its way through the broken- down reeds. It remained in view long enough for everyone to see it.
Peregrine [right] Spooking Ducks
In the afternoon we went to see the Grass Snake first, which was now at a strange angle, but still hadn’t sloughed off its skin. We then walked to Ousefleet where a Peregrine parted our hair before speeding towards a group of ducks, which sprung up in alarm.
Grass Snake (c) 2024 Peter Moizer
Thursday was a repeat of Wednesday, but with constant sunshine instead of endless gloom. There were some Ruff and Spotted Redshank on Marshland, which was a great improvement. However, no one had spoken to the Pintail at Ousefleet asking them to stay, because they had all vamooshed.
Pink-footed Geese
Ruff [front] & Spotted Redshank [back]
Snipe
Heron
Allegedly a Bit of a Barn Owl
Most of the other hides were fairly quiet. The Grass Snake was still waiting to slough its skin, but this time was benefitting from the glorious sunshine. I never expected to see it, but Liz was the first to point it out. After lunch it seemed to have either slithered off, or maybe had been snatched by a Marsh Harrier.
Grass Snake
Little Grebes
The Marsh Harriers were very remiss, as the first one didn’t appear until the am class had almost finished. However, one performed extremely close to the hide just as the session was drawing to a close.
After lunch we saw 6 different species of butterfly, and several types of dragonfly.
Wall [Brown]
Comma
Migrant Hawker
On Friday I made the long drive to Paull Holme Strays. When we arrived the tide was still quite high and the breeze meant the Humber was fairly choppy. As the tide began to recede, several flocks of various waders zipped past us always heading right. The most obliging waders were probably Curlews, which were both on the foreshore and in the air flying past. Redshanks were present, but the best of these were still fairly distant in the central channel.
Curlew with a Crab
Throughout the morning there were flocks of Pink-footed Geese heading from every Cardinal direction. After lunch we failed to locate a single Pinkie, but had to put up with a twinkling ‘V’ of Golden Plovers instead. In the morning we spotted the silhouette of a Peregrine attempting to pluck a wader from the mudflats, but it left disappointed. Only a short time later we saw a Sparrowhawk powering over the Saltmarsh.
Sparrowhawk
Red-legged Partridge
A Wednesday am stalwart on holiday took the best photo of a Rock Pipit by any class-member.
A Rock Pipit in Pembrokeshire (c) 2024 Symon Fraser
Comet R-3 (c) 2024 Ben Coneyworth
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