Friday, 31 January 2025

When the Grey Woods Sing

Yellowhammers

On Tuesday we reconvened on the Yorkshire Wolds for the 100+ finch flock.  It rained throughout the journey, but stayed dry at the venue itself.  The “chip” of a Yellowhammer could be heard immediately, and this time so could a Skylark.  A large flock of Linnets could be seen twisting over the field. There was a sprinkling of Reed Buntings on the hedgerows.  The quarry was a bit quieter with just 2 Buzzards along the edge, and 2 more flying in a southerly direction.  A Hare ran towards us across the chalky field. We walked to the woodland, which thrilled with Linnet song.  On the southerly edge of the wood a sneezing was a contrast with the pleasing singing.  It led us to good views of a Marsh Tit, which was the biggest surprise of the morning.  As we drove home the rain set in again, and this time was very heavy.  

Female Yellowhammer

Yellowhammer 
Male Yellowhammer
Marsh Tit
Ditto
Hare
Hare


On Wednesday we switched to South Landing at Flamborough because of a report of 30 Snow Buntings.  From the car park a Bullfinch and a Tree Sparrow were seen.  On the beach we could see Oystercatchers and a Curlew while Cormorants flew over the sea.  After lunch the sun was stronger and there were insects swarming over the seaweed, which resulted in at least 5 Rock Pipits.  We climbed up some very steep amateurish steps to the cliff top.  We hadn’t been walking long before two birds flew in and almost disappeared into the bare field - they were Meadow Pipits.  Not long afterwards we saw several larger, sandier-coloured birds which were Skylarks.  They also did some sporadic singing.  An unidentified flock of around 20 buff-coloured birds flew across the field but were tricky to see looking into the bright sunlight.  We searched the chalky field, but were unable to locate any Snow Buntings, although one chap reported he had seen them - it seems he saw a flock of 30.  We went back the way we came, scouring the field for any sign of movement.  We had also still reached the steps again, when Phil pointed out a Magpie, and it was near them where it was possible to see 2 bright specks.  On closer inspection they proved to be a score of Yellowhammers, most of them very bright indeed against the dark soil.


Oystercatchers
Rock Pipit
Rock Pipit
Record Shot of Meadow Pipit
Skylark (c) 2025 Symon Fraser
Ditto
Skylark 
Ditto
Yellowhammers (c) 2024 Symon Fraser
After lunch some Pink-footed Geese looked lost at sea before they regrouped and sailed over our heads.
Pink-footed Geese
Ditto
A Fulmar in the afternoon was also new.  Deborah spotted a Common Scoter on the sea.  There was also a pair of Wigeon, but the best bird was a Red-throated Diver on the return journey.
Fulmar
Record Shot of Common Scoter
Record Shot of Red-throated Diver
Helicopter 
Plane
On Thursday we made our final visit of the year to East Park.  We headed for the Parakeets first, and saw a couple of gull species on the way.  Both groups saw at least 2 Ring-necked Parakeets with 4 individuals seen in the morning - the most I’ve seen of that species all at once.  Under the first island Elaine spotted a Little Grebe, and another at a further island - this time in full breeding plumage.
Black-headed Gull
Black-headed Gulls
Common Gulls
Ring-necked Parakeets
The star bird was a male Kingfisher partially concealed on the largest island.
Male Kingfisher
Little Grebe
Coot
Cormorant 
Ditto
Gadwall
Drake Goosander
Ditto
Female Goosander
Ditto
Grey Squirrels
We returned to the wolds on Friday, only to discover that it was misty yet again.  The Linnet choir put in a fine performance, and all the small birds we saw last week were still in place.  We saw Tuesday’s Marsh Tit couple again, but a Treecreeper was an addition to the avifauna.  There was no wind, which meant that there was no sign of the Buzzards or Red Kites.
Reed Bunting
Treecreeper 
Ditto
Meanwhile, in Brough a Sparrowhawk visited a garden.
Sparrowhawk (c) 2025 Hugh Wood
Ditto
The photos from a fortnight in Costa Rica in January keep rolling in.
All Costa Rica photos (c) 2025 Ian Puckering
White-throated Magpie Jay
Hoffman’s Woodpecker?
Motmot
Turkey Vulture
Scarlet Macaw
Sleeping Blue-hooded Euphonia
Ditto
Red Eye Frog - Night Safari
Ditto
Ditto
Butterfly sp.

Another Butterfly sp.
Third Butterfly sp.
Iguana sp.
Dragonfly sp.
Stick Insect

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