A Sparrowhawk & Still Alive Woodpigeon
The classes resumed at East Park on Tuesday. We altered our normal route when we heard a tremendous clamour from a score of crows. They had gathered annoyed at a female Sparrowhawk sat on her prey - a Woodpigeon. We watched as she plucked at it for 10 minutes, but were rather surprised when the Woodpigeon suddenly flapped its wings. This caused the crows to reinforce their cawing, and the female Sparrowhawk finished off the pigeon by digging in her talons more efficiently. The Sparrowhawk was so intent on her prey that she continued to ignore walkers, joggers and even a group of 6 birdwatchers.
Sparrowhawk & Woodpigeon
On Thursday those coming from Ossett and Scunthorpe braved the fog and frost to make it all the way to Barmston. We headed north using the coastal path towards Bridlington. We had only just left the Caravan Park behind us when some humps and bumps were spotted in the field beyond a couple of pillboxes. On examination they proved to be a small covey of Partridges. At the same time a couple of Meadow Pipits landed on the boulder clay cliffs just to our right.
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| Meadow Pipit |
We hadn’t gone much further when we had good views, if a little distant, of a pair of Stonechats. We walked on and in the bright sunshine it was possible to see a strung out line of ducks - the back two were a pair of Pintail. The tide was only just starting to retreat, so it wasn’t too long before we began to spot small groups of Sanderling either flying along the foreshore or skittering on foot at the junction of the sea and sand. We walked on much further before 3 of a different species flew in and landed in front of us - Ringed Plovers.
Stonechat (c) 2025 Paul Green
We carried on to the distant pillbox, and just before we arrived there was an exaltation of 20+ Larks. There were some Golden Plovers hunched up near the frozen puddle. These were more active after lunch and they had trebled in number. New Paul was on fire, as he first pointed out a Fieldfare and then a Yellowhammer in the distant bushes. The stubble field was shielding maybe a score of Fieldfares, which occasionally flew up before disappearing into the stubble again. There were also a few Reed Buntings, but they were very distant. However, on the return journey a female Reed Bunting proved to be relatively confiding, as she ate seeds on a Dock plant. We couldn’t decide if a grey shape in the field was a bird or an unusual rock. After lunch it seemed to be more like a Common Gull.
Golden Plovers
The Golden Plovers suddenly took off for no apparent reason. Then I spotted a Fieldfare-sized bird on top of the hedge. It proved to be a Merlin. Most of the time she was looking over her shoulder into the field where the morning group had seen the Fieldfare, Yellowhammer and Reed Buntings. Eventually, she flew off low over the stubble towards her prey. When we reached the stubble field the only bird of interest was a distant Buzzard waddling on the ground.
Merlin
