Birding with Flowers: Halfway Through the Winter Term

Friday, 8 February 2019

Halfway Through the Winter Term

On Tuesday we were able to visit the southern Wolds for the first time this year. When we arrived we were pleased to find that there was no fog, although the Scarborough couple had driven through a lot of it. However, there had been a very severe frost. We had only just emerged from the cars when the laughing peal of a Green Woodpecker rang out, and one was seen bounding up from the nearby field. We hadn't gone very far when an immature Whooper Swan was spotted with a couple of Mute Swans. Three Little Grebes were also on the same small section of water.

Whooper Swan [right]

We carried on and spotted both Mistle and Song Thrushes. There were plenty of Great and Blue Tits, a Coal Tit and a few Tree Sparrows. When we reached the buildings at least 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen, and possibly a third. They sounded as if they were getting over excited. There were also Greenfinches and a few Chaffinches and some Goldfinches. Unfortunately, the habitual Marsh Tit was absent, and rather surprisingly so too were the Long-tailed Tits.

Red Kite

We went to the bridge over a disused railway line and were rewarded with a close encounter with a male Treecreeper. We went to the weir and had a brief view of a Grey Wagtail before it flew away. It did fly along above us on our return journey. However, two Friday morning attendees made the same walk 1.5 hours after us, and did see a Grey Wagtail on a roof in the sunshine. There was a Kestrel halfway up the hillside which seemed to be feeding on worms, and a pair of Mistle Thrush were a little bit higher up the hillside. The top of the hill gave us a good view of a perched Red Kite. We carried on along the pedestrian way, and it stayed perched for a long longer than anticipated. However, it did make off on its languorous way with a few rather laboured flaps eventually.

Red Kite

Buzzard

We watched the birds swirling about and soaring once the thermals began to take effect. 4 of us did catch a glimpse of one of our principal quarries. This part of the walk was punctuated again by the joker in the pack, but we couldn't see him this time. On the return journey the best bird was probably a Yellowhammer high in an Ash Tree. As we neared the parked cars several Fieldfare flew into a small tree, and caused a little confusion for some participants as their breast colouration seemed to vary a lot from bird to bird.

Yellowhammer

Fieldfare

The Tuesday group tried looking for Marsh Tits in all the usual areas without success, but the two truants from Friday morning were more successful!

The Tuesday group saw 37 species at this location. 6 birds were new for the term, bringing the overall tally for 2019 to 77 species. I popped into Saltmarshe Delph hide on Monday afternoon and heard at least 3 different Water Rails, but only one was slow enough to have its picture taken.

Water Rail

ditto

Curlew

After Tuesday's class my sister spotted a Hen Harrier at Stone Creek, but these photos are no more than record shots taken on a very dull afternoon.

Distant Hen Harrier

ditto

On Wednesday we returned to the northern Wolds. In the car park we had Red Kite, Long-tailed Tits, Tree Sparrows, and Great & Blue Tits. On the drive before we left the village a Collared Dove landed on a roof ahead of us.

It was quite a change from last week, as all the picturesque hoar frost had gone to be replaced by the usual view. It was quite still, so although there were few Red Kites about, we could hear them making their wild whistling calls. A few Buzzards were in the area too. Some Stock Doves flew over as well as the more numerous Woodpigeons. A male Bullfinch flew across with the fantastic view as a backdrop behind it.

Marsh Tit

There was less to see as we walked down the hill, but the laugh of a Green Woodpecker appeared to be fairly close. As we reached the village a female Bullfinch flew along the hedgeline never to be seen again! A Marsh Tit showed well in the hedge, whilst the afternoon group had a good view overlooking the site of the former nunnery. Unlike last week the Tawny Owl was visible, although most people could only make it out through Eric’s scope. When David carried the scope after lunch some people saw their first ever Tawny Owl, as they’d only ever heard them before. A Goldcrest flitted about near the bridge in the am, but my camera wouldn’t focus on it. The afternoon session caught up with it in the garden on the opposite side of the road. From the rockery none of last week’s birds were seen, so that was a bit of a disappointment.

Ditto

Tawny Owl - am

Tawny Owl - pm (one eye open)

Great Spotted Woodpecker

A walk back up the hill beyond the cars brought first a Red-legged Partridge, and then a more longed-for Nuthatch. Everyone heard it, but I believe only myself and Eric could actually see it. In the afternoon one was seen from the attractive rockery. A few Red Kites and Buzzards flew over us, but most of last week’s small birds had disappeared from the woodland which skirts the road up the hill.

Nuthatch - am

Nuthatch - pm

Ditto

Female Kestrel

Tree Sparrows

Snowdrops

The Wednesday morning group managed 33 species, which took the tally for 2019 to 78. Meanwhile, 32 species were seen by the afternoon group bringing their annual total to 76 so far. Some of the morning group went on to Toiphill Low, but a confiding Barn Owl was reputedly the only bird of interest.

ditto

On Thursday we revisited the LDV after over a week of going elsewhere. This seems to be somewhere the fates conspire to try and have us arriving late there with either lorries breaking down on the A63 or directions being difficult to follow.

There were Tree Sparrows, Great Tits and Blue Tits, and Bullfinches at the feeders, but we didn’t have time to linger. As we walked along the new gravel path to the first hide I could see that there was a lot more water since my last visit, and we could spot a flock of Lapwing strung-out over the hide in a long uneven line.

Pintail

Ditto

When we reached the hide there was a variety of ducks present, including a good number of Pintail, Wigeon, Shoveler and Teal. Elaine was able to see through her scope that there were also some Ruff among the Lapwing. On the walk we kept interrupting small charms of Goldfinches which were feeding on the burdock seed heads. In the afternoon a large flock of waders had landed fairly close to the hide. Most of these were Lapwings and Golden Plovers, but we could also discern a few Ruff. The highly-strung waders kept taking to the air, and we enjoyed some spectacular “murmurations” by the Golden Plovers. The photos show that at least one Dunlin was present.

Ruff & Lapwings

Golden Plovers plus Dunlin - can you see it Ken?

Ditto

We carried on to the far hide, and saw a good group of smart Goldeneye. A Buzzard flew over, and then away to the south a Marsh Harrier disturbed a flock of Curlew. Most of the birds seen from the far hide were the same as the first, but some of them were a little nearer, and the light was slightly better. We were also able to see Gadwall, which had been hidden among the more flamboyant ducks from the earlier hide.

Shoveler

We popped into the middle hide on the return journey, but felt guilty disturbing the work people who were strengthening the screens around the hide. We had better views of the Goldeneye and Tufted Ducks from here, and we saw our first Pochard of the day. A soaring Sparrowhawk enlivened our visit, and shortly afterwards one flew slowly in front of the hide and landed in a willow to our left. It was a very smart individual, but it didn’t remain perched for long before it flew off heading north west. In the afternoon we enjoyed fairly close views of several Goldeneye, and some of these began to display.

Sparrowhawk

ditto

Goldeneye

Displaying Goldeneye

ditto

On Friday a day of strong winds and rain had been forecast, so we had to abandon East Park for North Cave Wetlands. It's true the wind was stronger than normal, but we had absolutely zero rain. Who is responsible for these appallingly inaccurate forecasts? Some people didn't travel because of the forecast, but they would have encountered 47 species so would have been fine!
Mike found a Black-tailed Godwit from the viewing platform, so unusually we started there. There were many Teal, Wigeon and other ducks and a couple of Redshanks, but we did not notice the Ruff if it was present at that time. In the afternoon the Ruff had replaced the Godwit.

Black-tailed Godwit

Record Shot of Ruff

ditto

Curlew - only present after lunch

A drake Goosander flew past and returned both am & pm - record shot

Both classes went round in a clock-wise direction. We saw plenty from South Hide including Pochard, and most of the ducks found around the viewing platform. There were some Long-tailed Tits around the feeders in the afternoon, and both sessions had Tree Sparrows. Crossland Hide brought Shoveler and Common Gulls, with Wigeon, Lapwings, and in the afternoon 3 Oystercatchers. Reedbed Lake wasn't much better than Carp Lake, but we did see a pair of Rooks around the main feeders. In general birdwatchers tend to ignore corvids including Rooks, but the sheen on them is always impressive, and would have been almost spectacular if the sun had come out. The small birds were absent at first, but later Tree Sparrows, Chaffinches, and Great & Blue Tits appeared. However, the hoped-for Brambling failed to materialise.

Rook

ditto

In the morning Skylarks sang from the stubble in Northfield, and a decent-sized flock of Yellowhammers appeared briefly before disappearing screened by the stubble. In the afternoon we only saw Fieldfare in this area.

Fieldfare

Turret Hide was more interesting than when it was surrounded by ice, but less so than usual. Mike spotted a Buzzard in the distance, and this was still present after lunch, when it seemed to be feeding on worms. A Little Egret appeared to be roosting by early afternoon, and two Herons were seen standing alongside the pool on the top of the plateau.

Herons

At lunch time I visited North Cliffe Wood to photograph the Woodcock which had been seen in the same place twice, and nearby on a third occasion. Of course it was absent because I was ready with my camera!

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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.