Friday 18 November 2022

Very Wet & Grey

 Water Rail
At the weekend near Stone Creek a Barn Owl flew over my car bonnet, then almost immediately plonked down in a ditch, only to arise a few moments later with a vole in its bill.
Barn Owl
The Grey Wagtail is still in the cemetery looking for insects among the fallen leaves.  
Grey Wagtail

On a rather misty Monday morning I checked out Barmston as the tide was going out.  Almost immediately there was a Red-throated Diver and a Great Crested Grebe on the very still sea.  Later, a flock of Teal flew in and landed.  More vague in the mist were a flock of Eider, which only became visible after staring at more Red-throated Divers.  Various birds were seen usually heading in a southerly direction, but sometimes they were just shapes moving in the mist.  Meanwhile, on shore in the reedbed or in the fields Stonechat, Reed Bunting and possibly Twite were seen.  I was nearing Fraisthorpe when a pod of Bottle-Nosed Dolphins starting leaping from the water.  Originally they too seemed to be heading south, but they soon swam round and began to head north instead.  Finally, I was returning to the car park when a Swallow headed north, luckily this changed direction, and when I was eating lunch looking out of the sea, it was observed flying in a southerly direction instead.
Red-throated Diver
Great Crested Grebe
Eider
Bottle-Nosed Dolphins
Tuesday was a complete washout, so we will  have an extra meeting in December.  On Wednesday a fine sunny day was forecast.  It was much greyer than predicted, and we were inflicted with gentle raindrops after lunch.  Both classes began in the village on the wolds.  There were more small birds about than the previous Tuesday, but fewer large raptors at close range.  Both groups had a Male Kestrel on the walk up the hill, but the barn Owl was much more elusive this time.
Male Kestrel
In the morning there were plenty of Bramblings munching beechmast, especially in the passing places.  However, after lunch these were completely absent, despite extra food being put out for them.  
Bramblings
Brambling (c) 2022 Symon Fraser
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
Ditto
Brambling (c) 2022 Tony Robinson
Red Kite
Ditto
Ditto
On the return journey a flock of Whooper Swans heading south was the first sighting of that species we’d seen at that site.  We heard Nuthatch and Marsh Tit, but neither of these species were seen.  A Great Spotted Woodpecker helped bring the morning to a climax, but the final coup de grace was a Grey Wagtail near to the cars.  In the afternoon despite the drizzle we had larger congregations of Kites.
Record Shot of Great Spotted Woodpecker (c) 2022 Tony Robinson
Whooper Swans heading South
Grey Wagtail
King Alfred's Cakes

Friday morning will always be remembered as the day I was driving past the tower-like Premier Inn near Myton Bridge when I noticed a chestnut coloured bird, which I initially thought may be a Kestrel flying in an unusual way.  However, soon its long bill was visible - it was a Woodcock heading east.

On Friday we crossed the Humber Bridge to Ness End. Bullfinches and Fieldfares flew over the car park as the attendees readied themselves.  A large “V” of Golden Plovers headed west, as did smaller groups of Lapwing.  We did a circuit of the main lake, where we came across a large flock of Long-tailed Tits and the odd Redwing.  A Cetti’s Warbler did a fine impression of a Wren in the open before disappearing into thick cover.  A couple leap-frogged us, so we were unable to go into Target Lake hide. However, we were able to see the drake Pintail and Shoveler from the river bank.  In the afternoon we managed to get in the hide and saw a drake Pintail, several Shoveler, some Tufted Ducks, and a trio of drake Teal.  Ken pointed out that the green speculum miraculously changed to blue - Teal Green & Teal Blue.  Meanwhile Chris found both a Great Spotted Woodpecker & a Kestrel.  

Golden Plovers
Long-tailed Tit (c) 2022 Jane Robinson
For Elizabeth (c) 2022 Jane Robinson
Male Great Spotted Woodpecker
Kestrel
Kestrel (c) 2022 Jane Robinson


Drake Pintail (without its tail)
ditto
Shoveler
ditto
ditto
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Ken's Teal Green
Ken's Teal Blue
On the river bank were a flock of Wigeon & a Redshank, but not much more. Reedy Hide was much quieter than a fortnight earlier.  Only a tree rat collecting material for its drey enlivened a rather long vigil.  
Wigeon
We walked past the hotel and were surprised to find three Little Grebes on the deep open water.  A couple of Goldcrests were in the area of the Bullfinch's buddleia.  At the gate we did get a quick glimpse of a Cetti’s Warbler as it vanished behind a fringe of reeds.  The bird of the morning was at the screen - a Water Rail.  It posed for a few seconds before climbing up the thicker reeds and clambering into the reedbed on the other side of the channel.  
Goldcrest (c) 2022 Jane Robinson
ditto
ditto
Little Grebe (c) 2022 Jane Robinson
Immature Heron (c) 2022 Jane Robinson
ditto
Immature Mute Swans (c) 2022 Jane Robinson
Mute Swan (c) 2022 Jane Robinson
ditto
Water Rail
ditto
Water rail (c) 2022 Jane Robinson
ditto
Robin (c) 2022 Jane Robinson
Robin
Dunnock
Dunnock (c) 2022 Jane Robinson
Grey Squirrel (c) 2022 Jane Robinson

We had a look across the road, but it was rather quiet.  The highlight was a Marsh Harrier, which was flying just beyond the road to the reserve.  



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