Birding with Flowers: Weather Throws Everything at us!

Sunday, 3 February 2019

Weather Throws Everything at us!

Red Kite Among Hoar Frost

On Tuesday it was very cold, but we went ahead with Tophill Low. An idiot fool lorry parked just in front of the railway line, which made getting there a little difficult. Once that hazard was negotiated it was just the heavy frost on the road which had to be endured. Luckily, every participant arrived safely. We set off and carried on all the way to O reservoir. There were Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebes, Tufted Duck and Pochard on here, but the wind was so cold we didn't stay too long. As with last week all the marshes were frozen over, but Watton Borrow Pits and the reservoirs were free.

We tried the other side of the reservoir from SMW. Now, some Shelduck had flown in, but otherwise the birds were the same, although it was much more pleasant watching them from the comparative warmth of the hide. As we left the yelping of geese could be heard, and a flock of c.20 Pink-footed Geese were flying over in a NW direction.

Teal

At Watton Borrow Pits we found 2 drake and a female Pintail. There were also a couple of Redshank, plus Gadwall, Teal, Cormorants, and most of the usual suspects. However, after we'd been there 30 mins a work party arrived, flushing all the birds from that area, so we set off back.

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We tried looking for the Red-necked Grebe among the mass of Coots on D reservoir. Apparently, if only we'd known to look in an extreme easterly direction we may have seen it. We headed off to North Marsh in the hope of coming across Woodpeckers or Goldcrests, again without success. A male Tawny Owl hooted seemingly very close to us in D Woods, but otherwise there were very few birds to see apart from those around the feeding areas. The best from these was the Marsh Tit at the bottom of the slope leading up to the visitor centre. We encountered 42 species, bringing the Tuesday total to 71 in 2019.

Pair of Teal

On Wednesday we dropped Patrington to avoid hypothermia! At North Cave Wetlands there had clearly been a very keen frost, but luckily there were still large areas of open water. From the car park at least 4 Snipe flew over calling creakily, after something had flushed them from their hiding place. Louise also reported Long-tailed Tit and Song Thrush from the car park. From South Hide there was a good selection of ducks, and in the sunlight the colours on the Shoveler, and the Teal was especially effective, as the accompanying photos make clear. Also present were Pochard, Gadwall, Wigeon and Unmentionables. A Fieldfare could be seen flying over the tree tops and landing in the hedge on the opposite side of the reserve.

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Crossland Hide didn't produce anything new, so we walked along the perimeter of the site. We were hoping for the Mandarin, but it failed to show along the edge of Carp Lake. As we continued three birds could be seen fluttering down into the stubble on the other side of the hedge - these were Skylarks.

Ditto

At the feeding station Anthony spotted a male Bullfinch hidden among all the saplings. This was the best bird in that area. The water surrounding Turret Hide was completely frozen over, so there wasn't a great deal to see there. However, a Sparrowhawk flew just under the hide and settled on one of the posts to the far left. This was the star bird from that hide, and for some remained the best bird seen the whole of that morning.

The Sparrowhawk was also visible from East Hide when it returned and landed on a post. Anthony spotted another raptor on a more distant post, which we could just make out - a Buzzard. It later flew into a conifer when its markings could be more easily observed. On our way out of the reserve a Siskin was spotted and Tony remained behind to take photos.

Record shot of Sparrowhawk

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The optimistic afternoon group decided to go on a quest for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, so we decamped four miles north to some birch woodland. We hadn't been out of the cars for more than 3 minutes when Deborah spotted a raptor flying along the line of a hedge - it was a ringtail Hen Harrier! After completing one hedge it turned 90 degrees and followed an adjacent hedge before being lost to sight. Deborah than proceeded to spot a Marsh Tit on a large Oak lining the edge of the road.

Marsh Tit

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We plunged into the wood, and soon came across an overgrown garden. A possible Woodcock flew up, but disappeared behind rhododendron leaves before we had chance for more than an infinitesimal view. However, the Friday afternoon group saw a Woodcock in the same place, so that confirms it. There were more Marsh Tits in this area. A bird left the garden screeching loudly - a Jay. We carried on and came across other Marsh Tits. There wasn't much on the heath, this time, but on Friday the situation would be quite different.

Redpoll

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We discovered a secret path into the woods, which seems to disappear during the summer. Many Redwings passed overhead, and then we came across a small flock of Redpolls. A musical sound was repeated about 3 times, was this a very tuneful Buzzard? The morning group encountered 46 species at N.Cave Wetlands bringing the annual figure to 70 species. Meanwhile, the pm session 42 species at the two NCW sites and have 71 species for the year so far.

Record shot of Redwing

We made it back to the cars without encountering anything new, although more Marsh Tits were heard. It was only on our return that we realised our quest for the Holy Grail had failed, but then we didn't have a Galahad with us.

Sulphur Tuft

On Thursday we stuck with the Yorkshire Wolds. I set off in thick mist, and had severe sinking feelings, but the sun broke out at Tickton, and shone all the way to the wolds. We met in a car park, and shared cars to our final destination. This was the dangerous part as the road was like a skating rink in some parts. However, we all arrived without further incident. We were extremely surprised to be greeted almost immediately with a hunting Barn Owl. It showed very well against the background of a rather magical hoar frost. The Red Kites also looked good against the sparkling background.

Barn Owl

Ditto

Red Kite

Ditto

Very Pale Buzzard

Bullfinches

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Treecreeper

Ditto

Song Thrush

Mistle Thrush

Is it a bird, is it a Plane? No, it's a Nuthatch!

Nuthatch

Ditto

I don't have any figures for either Thursday session so I cannot say how many species they saw among the hoar frost or how many species they have seen during their first 4 weeks.

Ditto

Red Kites Hours Before Dusk

Ditto

Mist Over the Village

Ditto

A Few Woodpigeons

Record shot of a Green Woodpecker

On Friday both sessions opted for North Cliffe Wood over the frozen North Cave Wetlands. The route taken was the same as the Weds pm group, but Hen Harrier was waiting for us as we steeped out of the cars. We did follow the same route though. The afternoon group flushed a Woodcock in both gardens, unfortunately, it was missing in the morning. Both sessions saw Marsh Tits and Redpolls, but only the am session managed to glimpse a Green Woodpecker. In the morning a Kestrel fanned its tail to dry it after an attempt to catch prey. In the afternoon this had been displaced by a Peregrine - the first one I've ever seen on the heath.

ditto

Goldfinches & Linnets

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Goldfinches

Goldfinches & Linnets

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Reed Bunting

Record Shot of Peregrine

Thawing on Catkins

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Having a scratch

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Repose

Long-tailed Tits

The Friday afternoon group encountered 39 species, taking their 2019 total to 70.

Heron & Wildfowl

Some Friday am students

We now have a pair of Buzzards near home, and I managed to snatch a few photos of the male from my car. While I was taking the photos the female flew past, but she disappeared before I could snatch an image. She looks paler than the male.

Our Male Buzzard

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The remaining photos are from a trip to Lincolnshire, although the Teal was from the North Bank, probably taken by a Peregrine.

Roe Deer

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Teal - victim of Peregrine?

Golden Plover

1 comment:

Bruce said...: Thanks Michael: very helpful having your commentary along with the great photos as an aide de memoire.; 3 February 2019 at 13:04

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.