Birding with Flowers: The Week of the Drowned Rat

Water Rail

We arrived at a very grey location on the Yorkshire Wolds on Tuesday morning. However, immediately on exiting the car I could hear the distinctive sneeze of a Marsh Tit. Luckily, examples of the species were still present when everyone else had arrived. The heavy rain was due to start at 11, but the first drops started around 9.20. We started to walk as Red Kites drifted over our heads their colours masked by the grey conditions. A Nuthatch flew into a willow tree on the edge of the village. We began to climb the hill, where a Red Kite was sitting at the top of a clumpy Ash tree. It flew off as we continued our climb. There didn’t seem to be as many Pheasants on the estate as in previous years, but we did spot a few white examples. The rain really began to take hold, which curtailed our excursion.

Record Shot of Marsh Tit

Red Kite

ditto

Peahen

The White Peacock & his Mate

On Wednesday we returned in much colder weather to the other side of the Humber Bridge. There were plenty of Redwings around, but once again they weren’t that easy to obtain clear views because they were always behind twigs. There were Cormorants flying around and on the water. There wasn’t too much to see from the Main Hide, and the wind was blowing in, so we tried Target Lake. Here, there were Tufted Ducks, Teal, Gadwall and at least 4 Little Grebes. The river was out, but we found a pair of Redshank on the estuary mud. A Common Gull loafed on a rock only to be replaced by a Black-headed. A few Wigeon loitered in the muddy water. In the afternoon a flock of black-tailed Godwit whizzed past us heading east.

Redwing

Ditto

Mute Swan

Redshanks

Wigeon

Black-tailed Godwit

Ditto

It was a lot warmer in Reedy Hide, but it started to rain yet again. However, this didn’t prevent an immature male Marsh Harrier from quartering the reeds. It didn’t appear to locate any prey. A flock of nearly a score of Dunlin headed east at great speed. We heard a Water Rail, but failed to see it. The rain took a greater hold, so once again the morning was curtailed. In the afternoon we walked the opposite way round the reserve, which worked out better for getting out of the wind.

Common Gull

Ditto

Great Black-Backed Gull

Cormorant

Great Crested Grebe

Marsh Harrier

Female Pheasant

Sloe Berries

On Thursday it started snowing heavily just as I was setting out 20 mins earlier than normal. Even the overtaking lane on Hedon Road felt dodgy. It took over 90 mins on a journey, which normally takes 50 mins.

In the car park as the 4 hardy souls and myself were getting ready, a Red Kite flew low over the car park, heading in a southerly direction. We tried a couple of hides, but apart from a Little Grebe these were fairly uneventful until we reached SME. Although all last week’s Teal had left we did see an altercation between a very young male Marsh Harrier and a slightly older male bird. Redwings were flying over most of the morning, but eventually we did hear and see a few Fieldfare.

Angela’s Cinnamon Sedge [Caddis-fly]

Little Grebe

Fighting Male Marsh Harriers

Ditto

Male Marsh Harrier

When we returned we checked out D reservoir, where there was a moulting drake Goosander fairly close to the hide. It was a lifer for one attendee. There was a mass of Coots in the centre of the reservoir, with plenty of Pochard and Shovelers sheltering along the reservoir wall. One female Goldeneye was spotted and at least 3 Great Crested Grebes. We searched for the Black-necked Grebe and the Long-tailed Duck, but without success. It started snowing again at lunchtime, which wasn’t great, but it seemed a lot wetter snow this time.

Shovelers & a Goosander

Ditto

Drake Goosander

On Friday we returned over the Humber Bridge. It was less windy than the last few days, and we had bright sunshine for the first time. It was quiet in the main hide at first, but we saw a distant Otter, which eventually caught a fish. There was a smart Gadwall and Redshank at the next hide. George spotted a Ringed Plover on the Humber bank. In Reedy hide a Water Rail appeared, which stayed in the open long enough for everyone to enjoy a really good view. In fact it was the best Water Rail for the whole of 2025.

Otter