Heads or No Tails?

On Friday and Tuesday the planned locations were dropped because of the prevailing weather, and we went to North Cave Wetlands instead.

On Friday the Great Crested Grebes showed definite signs of beginning their courtship dance, but this was much less evident in the bitter cold of Tuesday. The most unusual sighting from main hide on Tuesday was a Cormorant sporting a shaggy mane and more white on its head than I've ever previously seen in the UK. It was surrounded by immature birds, so the white-headed was the only one to also sport a white patch near its thigh, indicating its ready for breeding.  The Cormorant may be of the European Sinensis race, although it shows even more white than pictures of that race.  However, it doesn't look as though it belongs to the southern races: lucidus or maroccanus  of Africa. 

Cormorant with an  extraordinarily white head - Sinensis race?

(c) 2013 Maggie Bruce 

 Short-tailed Tit (c) 2013 Chris Cox

 Long-tailed Tits & Blue Tit (left) (c) 2013 Chris Cox

There were more romantically inclined GC Grebes on Carp Lake, plus a pair of Little Grebes. After quite a bit of searching on Far Lake we did eventually locate the Redhead Smew, as it swam behind a line of Tufted Ducks, but when it spotted us it swam as quickly as it could to a more remote area of the lake.




There were plenty of Lapwings on Reedbed Lake on Friday, but as this area was almost completely frozen over these had all departed on Tuesday. However, there were 3 Redshank, a pair of Shoveler, a Gadwall and 3 Little Grebes. A Reed Bunting was in the bushes near the mossy hedgerow along the road, but again this bird was absent on Tuesday.

Teal (c) 2013 Chris Cox

 Rat (c) 2013 Chris Cox

 All remaining pics (c) 2013 Maggie Bruce

Pochard

 Rook

 Wren

 Oystercatchers

A pair of Buzzards were seen on the crest of a hill getting jiggy on Friday, but on Tuesday there was just a single example looking miserable as it sat hunched on the edge of a tree. There were a pair of Kestrels hunting over the reserve on both days, plus a male Sparrowhawk hunting near the new working near Crosslands Hide. 

From Turret Hide there were several Snipe stitching for food on Tuesday, but we could only find these in the afternoon on Friday. On Friday morning in 1st hide a female Green Woodpecker was sat in the nearest small tree. Unfortunately, because of the grey weather all cameras remained in the cars. We didn't see this bird on Friday afternoon or at all on Tuesday. 

Robin

 Ditto

 Ditto

 Kestrel [male]

 Kestrel [female]

 Male House Sparrow

 Wildbird's Brenda?

Strawberry Blonde?

All pics (c) 2013 Richard Whateley

Female Pochard

The forecast was so bad for Thursday that we relocated to Tophill Low.  Although the rain didn't materialise (yet again), it was a another grey day and we saw many more species than we would have done at the original location.  

Smew [Redhead]

 Smew [Redhead] & Drake Goldeneye

At the Visitor Centre there was plenty of birdsong, but just common birds: Song Thrush, Great Tit, Blue Tit & Chaffinch.  We headed south and near South Lagoon we saw a single Lesser Redpoll, which posed long enough for everyone to get good views.  The next bird seen was a male Great Spotted Woodpecker, which proved elusive at first, but once its mate joined it, they both got rather over excited and everyone was able to view them.  We went up to 'O' reservoir where there were plenty of Wigeon with fewer Tufted Ducks and even less Goldeneye. 

Great Spotted Woodpecker [male]

 Drake Shoveler

 Drake Shelduck

 Drake Teal

After admiring the skeleton of a Mute Swan, and in the afternoon's case the remains of a Cormorant we made our way to the back-to-back hides.  South Marsh East had really perked up with several Oystercatchers on the islands (am only), plus Shoveler, Teal, Shelduck and 6 drake Gadwalls harassing a single female.   In the other hide overlooking South Marsh East there was just a female Pochard near the hide, which was later joined by a drake, which flew in.  Otherwise, apart from a few scattered scummy Coots there was much less action going on here.  From the L-shaped hide we discovered that there were also some Tufted Ducks on South Marsh East, but because of the low level of water in the reservoir hardly any birds on the 'O' could be spotted from here.

 Drake Goldeneye

 Drake Tufted Duck

In the afternoon 2 long-necked ducks were circling above South Scrub, and sure enough on investigation they proved to be drake Pintail.  They eventually flew off in a South-easterly direction.  As usual at this time of year the best selection of viewable species was to be found at Watton Borrow Pits.  The star bird, spotted by Jan, was a Smew (Redhead).  All the previously mentioned duck species were also here, but also a pair of Great Crested Grebe, who nearly, but not quite went into their courtship display - instead they seemed to be synchronising their preening movements.  I mentioned the presence of the Barn Owl, which no one had pointed out, and it wasn't long before Richard saw it, without me having to point it out.  In the afternoon I had to give directions as to its location, but it was slightly harder to see, as the visibility had decreased slightly.  The evocative calls of some Curlew were another highlight at this location. 

Gadwall

 Long-tailed Tit [with ring]

In the morning we returned on the gravel path, but this was really open to the icy northerly wind, so we went on the grass in the afternoon.  The morning group had stopped to watch some Long-tailed Tits just to the north of East Pond, when suddenly they gave out their 'Sparrowhawk alarm call'.  One of the party felt the wind rush past his ear as a fast flying brown bird approached from behind us after having flown over 'O' reservoir.  It seemed to change its trajectory away from us slightly before it landed in the woodland behind the Tits, but still only a few feet in front of us.  As it landed its rich brown broad wings could be seen before they folded back into their non-flying position.  I identified the bird, only to be met with incredulous looks and unbelieving gasps.  However, we waited for a few minutes and it must have gathered its strength because fairly soon it took to the air again, and as it flew away from us at speed more than one participant was able to see its almost overlong beak - yes, it was a Woodcock.  One of the Long-tailed Tits we discovered on receipt of Richard's photos was ringed - a local bird?

Both groups were able to view from D Reservoir which appeared to be still in the thrall of winter.  Again all the usual suspects were present, but in the afternoon the Common Gull roost had started and Eric was able to spot 3 distant Goosanders through his telescope.  An excellent end to the afternoon.  

Testing the Optics

The Wednesday groups, especially those in the morning must have wondered what they were doing driving to Potteric Carr when the mist continued to thicken the nearer we reached Doncaster. 




We arrived at the feeding station where the star turn was a very close Jay followed by a pair of Willow Tits. The male Reed Buntings were looking very smart, but so too were the females. Meanwhile, the young males looked a lot scruffier, as their black bibs were only just starting to show. In the afternoon the Jay was still present, but the Willow Tits failed to show.

All pics (c) 2013 Tony Robinson

Jay

 Goldcrest

 Goldcrest

Another highlight were the 2 Kingfishers on Mother drain. Unfortunately, these were on the very edge of visibility, and not everyone was able to make them out. It wasn't clear if this was a failure of their optics, or of their eyesight.




Not many birds could be seen at all from Duchess hide, so there seemed no point in going to Piper Marsh. Instead we checked on Childers Hide, Old Ea, and we were able to walk in a more leisurely manner than usual. After the proliferation of Treecreepers there 3 weeks ago, it was rather surprising we didn't find a single individual today.




A confiding Goldcrest was outside Childers Hide with a group of Long-tailed Tits, including one like the tiny chap at North Cave Wetlands - without a tail. Is this the latest feature of Long-tailed Tits at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserves?

Willow Tit

 Coal Tit & Reed Bunting

 Sub-adult Lesser Black-Backed Gull??

 Ditto

 In the mist we had a slightly unusual gull today. It wasn't anything like as dark as a full adult Lesser Black backed Gull, but was far darker than a Herring Gull. It appeared to have pink legs at first, but later they looked yellow. The bill had a very distinctive mark. Was it anything more than a sub-adult Lesser Black Backed Gull? In the afternoon it had moved over to Huxter Well. It seemed to look a little larger than the Herring Gull nearby, but certainly wasn't as large as a Great Black backed Gull. Any constructive comments on this bird would be welcomed.

In all we saw 41 species before lunch with a similar amount in the afternoon, but at least after dinner everyone was able to see the Kingfisher and most of the other species a lot more clearly.

Stoatally Speechless

 We had another day at Hornsea.  It was a bit misty at first, but the day improved.  There were a lot more small birds in the woodland than a fortnight ago.  We had excellent views of Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Treecreepers in the morning, with an even better view of a Treecreeper after lunch.  However, the 'bird' of the day was a Stoat, which was hunting a small rodent right along the edge of Hornsea Mere.

Stoat

 Ditto

 Ditto

 Treecreeper

All remaining pics (c) 2013 Maggie Bruce

Great Crested Grebe

 Mute Swan

 A Friday Unmentionable

 Canada Geese

 Common Gull

 Record Shot of a Great Spotted Woodpecker

 The Lowest of the Low - a Female Friday Unmentionable

 Oystercatchers and Black-headed Gulls

Has Winter Been Defeated?

On Thursday we had another sunny day on the wolds. What a difference from last week! We had only just left the car when I heard a Marsh Tit sneeze, and it posed long enough for everyone to get decent views. Last week the hedgerow was completely barren, but today there were singing Chaffinches, Blue Tits, Great Tits and at the furthest end a Song Thrush. On the way back there was also a wheezing Greenfinch. This could be glimpsed singing in the far side of a Weeping Willow. As we came into the open a stunning male Kestrel was seen, but on the return journey this had departed, to be replaced by a female.

All photos (c) 2013 Richard Whateley

Red Kite 

 Robin

 Marsh Tit (MJF)

Song Thrush

 Kestrel

Climbing to the hill top we saw a Red Kite, and halfway up the hill we came across a small Common Buzzard perched on a post.  It and another spent the rest of the day in the area, apparently feeding on earthworms. The Pied Wagtail was quite a surprise - these insectivorous birds seem to have been in short supply this Feb, but maybe they are starting to return?  When we reached the far gate we saw a couple of pairs of Buzzards soaring on a thermal. Just like last week there was no sign of last year's Little Owl. On the return journey a pair of Mistle Thrushes landed on distant telegraph wires. A debate was held if these tiny birds could really nearly be as large as Green Woodpeckers. The were a long way off though - shades of Father Ted? 

 Buzzard

 Ditto

 Goldcrest

Goldcrest with a species of Blow Fly (MJF)

 'Singing' Pied Wagtail

 Red Kite looming over Pied Wagtail

 Pink-footed Geese

On the way back I managed to pick out a distinctive sound above the cackle of voices. It was a flock of 100+ returning Pink-footed Geese heading North-west.

The afternoon rang true to form with fewer small birds present, but we did still see a Marsh Tit, and Liz glimpsed a Goldcrest, I think the others would admit to having more than a glimpse! 

Jackdaw - not sure why Richard took this one!