Birding with Flowers: February 2019

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.

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.

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?

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

Having a stretch

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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

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

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

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.

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

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?

Pink-footed Geese

ditto

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.

Ditto

Leucistic & Standard Crows

A Murder of Crows

Leucistic Crow

Unmentionable

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

Tufted Ducks

Female Tufted Duck

Pochard

Mistle Thrushes

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

Herring Gull

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

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.

Overexposed

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

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.

ditto

Autumn Course Details

Bookings for the 10-week Autumn term have started. At the time of writing there are most vacancies on Tuesday & Friday mornings with a couple of spaces on most other sessions. If you are interested in another session, please ask. For at least 2 hours a week encounter the natural world as a completely new sensual experience. You'll be amazed what you'll find just by listening, and not only by looking! In the Autumn we'll be paying special attention to finding and identifying birds on migration. Autumn visitors we are hoping to track down include: Redstarts, Flycatchers, Warblers, Rough-legged Buzzards, Hen Harriers, Short-eared Owls & various wading birds. We will be visiting venues in East Yorkshire with a couple of ventures into North Lincolnshire and West Yorkshire. So, if you are interested in learning more about your local wildlife in beautiful and secluded venues for less than £12 a week, contact me for more details! We visit a different local hotspot each week and identify all the birds and as much other wildlife as we can. This also includes mammals, and fungi with butterflies, and dragonflies in the warmer months. The course runs twice daily Tuesday to Friday. Please note it is not appropriate to bring your dogs with you. If you are interested in more details of the course, or wish to be placed on a waiting list, please leave a comment next to one of my posts or email me on mflowers81@live.co.uk

Terms and Conditions

Birding with Flowers

Terms and Conditions

1.0 General

1.1. Birding with Flowers organises birdwatching and wildlife walks and events to enable participants to learn bird identification, to gain knowledge of habitats and wildlife in general to enhance their enjoyment and appreciation of the countryside. These terms and conditions must be agreed by anyone joining a 10-week birding course or a special one-off event.

1.2 Birding with Flowers reserves the right to revise these Terms and Conditions at any time by updating these pages. It is your responsibility to review and understand the Terms and Conditions. If you are booking a course or event you will be asked to return a signed slip stating that you agree to these legally binding Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree to the Terms and Conditions please do not ask to participate in Birding with Flowers courses or events.

1.3 The Birding with Flowers blog HYPERLINK "http://www.eybirdwatching.blogspot.com" www.eybirdwatching.blogspot.com, the weekly East Yorkshire Birdwatching Walks and one-off special events are managed and operated by Birding with Flowers. The Terms and Conditions set out below constitute the agreement between you (the client) and us (Birding with Flowers or BWF).

1.4 Whilst we make every effort to provide you with up to date details for courses and events, it is ultimately your responsibility to check whether they have been cancelled or rescheduled by checking emails or, where applicable, text messages the evening before a session. We take all reasonable steps to ensure the information on the blog, in the course itineraries and for one-off events is accurate at the time of publishing and continues to be accurate. Liability for any loss or damage arising from inaccuracies, omissions or interpretation of contents is limited to the cost of the session. If you believe any content to be inaccurate please contact us on 07946 625677, or email us at mflowers81@live.co.uk and we will take all reasonable steps to correct it as soon as possible.

2.0 Payments and Bookings

2.1 For the complete 10-week course we require full payment in advance. If payment is not made before the date specified in the course particulars, your place may be given to another client.

2.2 One-off short (2-3 hours) walks may be paid for on the day in cash, but preference will always be made to those who pay in advance.

2.3 Except for payments for short walks (see 2.2 above), payments made by BACS are preferred by us as this is a safe, quick and easy method of payment. You will require the Birding with Flowers account number and bank sorting code. You will need to include your surname and the day you attend as a reference. If you require our bank details this will be sent in two separate emails, please do not reply to those emails for security reasons.

2.4 If you do not want to make a BACS payment you may still pay by cheque. Payment by cheque requires your contact details written on the reverse. If you pay by cheque, you should be aware that your cheque will take a few days to arrive in the post, and your payment will not be recognised as completed until the cheque has cleared, which will take several more working days. Please take this into consideration when sending your cheque. For details on how to pay by cheque please email us at mflowers81@live.co.uk

2.5 No cash payments should be sent to us in the post.

2.6 You are required to ensure, when booking a course or event, that there are sufficient funds to cover the cost of the service. Payment will be taken in advance for the services offered and if payment fails, bookings will not be made until an alternative payment has been made. If there are any changes to your details that may affect your booking it is your responsibility to inform Birding with Flowers by contacting us on 07946 625677, or email us at mflowers81@live.co.uk

2.7 It is important that you print the email of the confirmation of your booking for your own reference.

3.0 Data Protection

3.1 Birding with Flowers takes your contact details as part of the booking process. Your details will not be shared with any third party or organisation. If you request another member’s email or phone number for whatever purpose, your message will be forwarded to that client, but any reply will remain between yourself and that client.

4.0 Intellectual Property

4.1 As a member of the Birding with Flowers course you may be sent detailed itineraries, birdsong calendars, species location spreadsheets, bird identification flowcharts and other original items. Any items marked with copyright should not be shared with any third party, including previous members of the course. Once a person has left the course they are no longer entitled to receive further publications.

5.0 Changes and Cancellation: by Birding with Flowers

5.1 Birding with Flowers begins planning courses and events many months in advance. On occasions we have to make changes to details both before and after bookings have been confirmed. With outdoor classes and events, local weather, transport or a host of other uncontrollable factors can mean a change in the itinerary. Although we always take all reasonable steps to avoid changes, we must reserve the right to do so.

5.2 If we have to make a minor alteration to your itinerary or travel arrangements before departure, we will, if practicable, advise you before departure but we are not obliged to do so or to pay you compensation.

5.3 In the event of poor weather conditions which we consider will seriously affect the quality of a class or one-off event, we reserve the right to postpone or cancel the class or one-off event. In this case you will usually be offered alternative dates for the same or similar event from our programme of events.

5.4 If we have to cancel an individual class, or one-off event, completely due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness of the course leader, extreme weather events or major travel disruption, where possible we will offer an alternative date. If we have no alternative dates to offer, you will receive a full refund of all monies paid for that class or event.

5.5 If a major change is made (e.g. cancellation of all or more than 2 classes of your course or a one-off event e.g. because of the illness of the course leader), we will inform you as soon as possible. In this circumstance we will offer you the choice of the following options:

a) accepting an alternative course, part-course or one-off event arranged by Birding with Flowers and beginning on an arranged day; or

b) transferring your payment to a future course or one-off event run by Birding with Flowers of a similar standard to that originally booked, if available. We will endeavour to offer you at least one alternative course or one-off event of equivalent or higher standard.

In the event of no alternatives being available, or if you are unable to attend a future course or one-off event, a refund for the cancelled proportion of the course or for the one-off event will be offered.

5.6 The decision as to whether a change is minor or major lies with Birding with Flowers, who will act fairly in all circumstances.

5.7 No liability beyond offering the above-mentioned options can be accepted where we are forced to make a change or cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care. No compensation will be payable and the above options will not be available if we cancel as a result of your failure to comply with any requirement of our Terms and Conditions entitling us to cancel (e.g. not paying on time) or if the change made is a minor one.

5.8 In the event that a course or event is cancelled by Birding with Flowers because of insufficient numbers signing up for it, a full refund of monies paid by you will be made. However, no further liability will be accepted by Birding with Flowers. Usually an alternative course will be arranged.

6.0 Changes and cancellation by the client

6.1 You may cancel your booking for a course or one-off event at any stage; however, a full refund will not be issued if cancellation is notified to Birding with Flowers less than 7 days before the course commences or the event is due to take place. In the event of serious illness or a major change in your personal circumstance notified by you, any refund of some or all of the course fee or event fee would be at the discretion of Birding with Flowers.

6.2. You may request a change to a booking by contacting us by email or telephone. If possible, a request to change the day/and or time of a course or an individual class will be permitted, providing there is a vacancy for the replacement day and/or time.

6.3 Please note that failure to attend a course, a single class or one-off event without first informing Birding with Flowers cannot be regarded as a cancellation. Unless otherwise agreed, clients who fail to attend a class or event without prior notice will not receive a refund for the course, missed class or one-off event.

7.0 What is Included on BWF Courses or One-Off events

7.1 See the course itineraries or details of one-off events for what you can expect to be provided by Birding with Flowers.

8.0 What is Not Included on BWF Courses, or One-Off Events

8.1 Birding with Flowers does not organise or pay for clients’ travel expenses to and from events, such as public transport or car hire. We do not pay for telephone calls, snacks or any items of a personal nature.

9.0 Insurance

9.1 Birding with Flowers has taken out full indemnity insurance for events held in the UK.

10.0 Special Requests

10.1 If you have any special requests, you should inform us of such requests at the time of booking. We will try our best to accommodate your requirements but we cannot guarantee that such requests will be met. Furthermore, we have no liability to you if such requests are not met.

10.2 Confirmation that a special request has been noted or the inclusion of the special request on your confirmation or any other documentation is not confirmation that the request will be met.

10.3 If you have any medical problem or disability which may affect your course or one-off event, (e.g. heart condition, asthma, epilepsy, mobility problems, mental condition etc.) please tell us when making your booking so that we can advise as to the suitability of the chosen arrangements. In any event, you must give us full details in writing at the time of booking. If we reasonably feel unable to properly accommodate your particular needs, we must reserve the right to decline your reservation or, if full details are not given at the time of booking, cancel when we become aware of these details.

11.0 Behaviour

11.1 When you book with us, you accept responsibility for any damage or loss caused by your negligence.

11.2 You are respectfully requested to switch off your mobile phone, or switch it to silent mode, for the duration of the birdwatching session. If you are expecting an urgent call during any particular session, please let the course leader know before the commencement of the class. Otherwise if your phone rings without arrangement during a session, do not be offended if you are asked to switch it off.

11.3 You are respectfully requested to wear muted colours for birdwatching sessions. Dark colours allow us to get a little closer to the birds and may prolong our observation of the wildlife. If you arrive wearing bright red, white, yellow or pink you must expect to be asked to cover up.

11.4 Birding with Flowers requests participants to observe the basics of fieldcraft. This means when we are approaching wildlife unnecessary noise should be kept to a minimum. If clients are talking loudly they may be asked to be quiet.

11.5 We expect all clients to have consideration for other people. The majority of Birding with Flowers clients are non-smokers. In order that they can enjoy their course or one-off event in comfort, we insist that smokers refrain from smoking or vaping in the proximity of all other group members, and while watching wildlife, at all times. Smoking indoors in any public space – e.g. bird hide – is illegal, while smoking in any confined space – e.g. at any other group gathering or in a vehicle – cannot be permitted. Additionally, Birding with Flowers implements a policy of eco-tourism and requests that smokers dispose of used cigarette ends, which contain non-biodegradable material, responsibly. In booking a course or one-off event you agree to accept these guidelines, and it is the right of our course leader to dismiss from a class, event or course any participant failing to respect them.

11.6 If, in the reasonable opinion of the course leader, you behave in such a way as to cause or be likely to cause danger, upset or distress to any third party (including the course leader) or damage to property or fauna (including the collecting of any specimen from the natural world, for example any plants or insects), we are entitled, without prior notice, to terminate your attendance on the course or one-off event of the person(s) concerned. In this situation, you will be required to leave the course or event immediately. We will have no further responsibility toward you including any return travel arrangements. No refunds will be made and we will not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination.

11.7 If, in the reasonable opinion of the tour leader you are asked to modify your behaviour in any way, that modification, once agreed, must be adhered to. Any failure to modify your behaviour as previously agreed will result in the immediate expulsion of that person(s) from the course. We will have no further responsibility toward such person(s) including any return travel arrangements. No refunds will be made and we will not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination.

11.8 The course leader reserves the right to bar any person that he/she considers is behaving in any manner detrimental to the smooth running of the course from attendance on any future courses or one-off events. In the first instance this will involve the lack of a renewal information for a future course or one-off event to the individual(s) concerned. Renewal emails/renewals will only automatically be sent to those whose behaviour has caused no problems to either the course leader or to other members attending the course or one-off event.

11.9 If any course member has a problem with the behaviour of any other course member this must be brought to the attention of the course leader, preferably in writing. The person(s) concerned will be questioned and the opinion of other course members sought. If the case appears weak the individual will be informed of his/her alleged behaviour, and warned that any future recurrence will result in immediate explusion. If the case against the individual appears strong then that person(s) will be required to leave the course or event immediately. We will have no further responsibility toward such person(s) including any return travel arrangements. No refunds will be made and we will not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination.

12.0 The course leader’s decision on any dispute is final.