On Tuesday we went to Millington. We walked from the wood to the pond and then up the valley. It was overcast with a little bit of drizzle at first, but it became brighter towards the end. Almost straight away we saw a buck Roe Deer racing across a field and it promptly cleared a fence. It scattered a group of up to 6 Bullfinches we had been watching.
Buck Roe Deer
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Bullfinches
Bullfinch
Red-legged Partridge
We saw the same species around the pond as other weeks, but the weather ensured the birds were less lively than previous weeks.
Gadwall
Willow Warbler
We returned to the wood, where we were greeted by a singing Blackcap. However, the highlight was a Spotted Flycatcher flying around the canopy of some bare trees not too far from the redundant charcoal burner. We saw it several times, but it’s position in the canopy made it frustratingly difficult to photograph.
Blackcap
Singing Blackcap
Chaffinch
Blue Tit emerging from nest box
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Spotted Flycatcher
Cuckoo Pint aka Lords and Ladies aka Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Water Avens
It was rather a wet afternoon, but between the showers I checked on my puddle. Of course the birds had no need of the puddle when it had been raining so much. I stopped off at Stone Creek. The beatific Harbour Seal appeared to be sleeping, but looked at me when it heard me arrive. It soon resumed its dozing posture.
Yellow Wagtail
Grey Plover
Curlew
Common Seal
On Wednesday we travelled to MSQ. Unfortunately, it was much wetter than the forecast, although the rain did ease to a good extent just before we started. A Jay was seen near the car park before most attendees had arrived, but two Great Crested Grebes flew over once more people had arrived. We don’t see too many members of this species flying. We went round in the opposite direction to our normal route to make use of the comparative shelter of the conifers. The first part of the walk was quite uneventful.
Mistle Thrush
Reed Warbler
Shelduck
We reached the end of the conifers when Miles heard and identified the beautiful song of a Garden Warbler, and we did manage to glimpse it as it moved from one songpost to another. Then when we arrived at a more open area we saw a pair of Mistle Thrushes, and Brian identified a Linnet. We trudged to Wader hide, and saw Shelduck and plenty of Sand Martins, Swallows and a couple of Swifts. We retraced out steps and made our way to Duck Hide. From the outdoor seating area we saw a small group of drake Pochard. A Cetti’s Warbler was heard and then spotted as it flew away. Both Reed Warblers and Reed Butings were seen in this area.
In the afternoon the rain finally stopped, so we resumed our normal route. We saw almost as many species after lunch as we had in the morning. One participant mentioned that the birdsong was superior to any other venue visited this term. This could have been because of the rain early on, which put a damper on the dawn chorus. One noticeable absence was the flock of 6 Common Pochard, which had disappeared by the afternoon. Luckily, the Red-crested Pochard was present for everyone.
Red-crested PochardDitto
On the way to the car park we stopped off at the fishing lake, and after a little searching we saw a drake Red-Crested Pochard, but no Egyptian Geese this time. When we reached the large lake we enjoyed a better view of a drake Red-Crested Pochard, plus a Common Tern sat on a raft.
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Some of the Wednesday am crew, still dripping from the morning dousing went on to RSPB Blacktoft Sands, where the weather improved.
Avocet (c) 2021 Tony Robinson
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Male Marsh Harrier (c) 2021 Tony Robinson
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Record Shot of Yellow Wagtail (c) 2021 Tony Robinson
On Thursday we returned to Holderness, and in the best weather of the week listened to more species of Warbler than had been possible all week.
Heron
Buzzard
Long-tailed Tit
Song Thrush
Yellow Wagtail
The morning class had ended and nearly everyone was seated enjoying either a hot sandwich, cake or a hot drink when Rose asked what was that bird over the other lake. It was quite high and vaguely looked like a gull at first, but it soon resolved itself into an Osprey, which appeared to assume its diving posture. A few minutes later it returned in. a southerly direction being mobbed by a crow. It is several years since any of the groups have been graced by an Osprey, and it was relatively close, so it was a better than average view.
Rose's Osprey
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Female Pied Wagtail
After lunch we enjoyed prolonged views of a pair of Bullfinches preparing either petal or seed soup for their youngsters. We also had very distant views of 2 very high Hobbies, plus a much closer Marsh Harrier.
Bullfinch
Hobby
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Marsh Harrier
Some of the Thursday pm class stopped behind to eat their habitual cake and drinks. Margaret had packed her camera away, when someone wondered if the Buzzard was worth checking through the bins. It was, and turned out to be a second Osprey!!!
Orange-Tip
Wax Cap
Wax Caps
On Friday we crossed the Humber for Alkborough for virtually the final time this term. The Cetti’s covertly greeted everyone on arrival in the car park. There was a distant Cuckoo and Bittern, but this time neither was observed. We stopped at last week’s Water Rail bush, which was heard again, but it may have to be christened the Bearded Tit brood bush, as we saw a whole brood of 6 fledglings, already independent of their parents, but staying together as a foraging party. When we reached the furthest point the flooded field contained several Spoonbills, plus one Great White Egret and the usual suspects. We didn’t see the Glossy Ibis.
Last Thursday's forgotten Water Rail photo
Wednesday am Coffee break
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Wednesday pm break for hailstorm
