Round & Round the... Hawthorn

A Redstart - as it should look [taken last year]

One of today's fighters, during a brief rest
Yellowhammer
Green-Veined White

Orange-Tip

There was no question that today’s star bird was a Redstart- again seen by both groups. One male Redstart is special enough in East Yorkshire, but today we had 2. They were in conflict over a territory, as they chased each other round & round the same area, and on one occasion 4 times round the same Hawthorn tree one circuit after another. These birds were obviously tiring themselves out & were concentrating so hard on each other that they failed to be aware of a Sparrowhawk, which made an attempt to interrupt the fight. However, the Sparrowhawk suddenly became aware of the audience & veered away at the last minute. We were pleased that our presence probably meant this most attractive of our woodland birds survived to fight each other for another day! During part of their chase they were joined for several minutes by a paler bird. Without a clear view at first it was assumed to be a female Redstart, but eventually it was discovered to be a Willow Warbler, which just wanted to join in the fun, crazy! I also had a glimpse of one of our host’s Little Owls, but unfortunately, no other class member managed to spot it! Also seen today: Red-legged Partridge (too many to count!), 2 Treecreepers, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Kestrel, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Meadow Pipit & Skylark. The Redstarts were "lifers" for many of those present.

Jaw Dropping

A Shy Nightingale - is there any other sort?

Record shot of Nightingale on the ground (c) 2010 Tony Robinson
ditto - note rusty tail
Hobby (c) 2010 Tony Robinson - the earliest ever at the reserve?

Bullfinch [male]

Great Crested Grebe

Willow Warbler (c) 2010 Maurice Gordon

Another Willow Warbler!

Blackcap (c) 2010 Maurice Gordon

Comma (c) 2010 Tony Robinson

Apart from a quick glimpse of the target bird first thing this morning, as it flew from one area of hedge to another above a waterfilled ditch, it looked as though the day was going to be a huge disappointment – especially after a longer than usual journey. However, in the last few minutes of the morning session we enjoyed a blast of perfection as a hidden male Nightingale poured out its song in ever changing variety from the depths of blackthorn blossom. I don’t think I’ve seen so many mature people with their jaws open outside of an Old Folks’ Home! The afternoon class began with the same bird only a few feet away from where I had left it half an hour earlier. This time the bird was visible for a few seconds near the top of the blackthorn, and a shape was later glimpsed flitting at the back of the bushes from one area to another & sure enough the song blasted out from the area the dark shape was moving towards. There were plenty of Blackcaps, Willow Warblers & Chiffchaffs, but still no Whitethroats. Many of the morning class stayed behind and were rewarded by the Nightingale coming in to the open & hopping around next to the path. Tony Robinson also managed to get a photograph of a Hobby, which is thought to be the earliest ever recorded at the reserve. Also seen: Treecreeper, Bullfinch, Great Crested Grebes, Willow Tit, Kestrel, Buzzard, Red-legged Partridge, but no sign of last year’s Green Woodpecker. Carol in the afternoon only scored the session 13 out of 10!

Red[start] - Letter Day

Redstart [pic from last year]

Goldcrest

Really, really Goldcrest

Chiffchaff

Willow Warbler

Record shot of Blackcap

Orange-Tip [male]

Orange-Tip [male]

Orange-Tip [underside of male]

Butterbur

Hares

This was our first ever visit to our start location. Unfortunately, there were very few signs of Spring here, so we shared cars to a nearby venue were there some stirrings of Spring. On the morning drive we saw several Red-legged Partridges, Linnets, and a Meadow Pipit; whilst the afternoon crowd saw a Peregrine. Walking from the car park there were no Linnets or Yellowhammers because of the strong winds, but once the wind dies down both groups heard & saw 3 singing Willow Warblers. In the valley bottom itself everyone enjoyed good views of a singing male Redstart, which was a "lifer" for some participants. Down here we saw singing Blackcaps & Chiffchaffs. Again the former was a "lifer" for some, and for others it gave the best views some people had ever had. A Kestrel was hovering in the valley during the afternoon; whilst in the morning a Buzzard was soaring on a thermal. A couple of lone Swallows showed that summer had yet to arrive. We enjoyed some excellent views of a few birds which are normally quite hard to see, whilst at lunch we enjoyed close views of some excellent art work.

Poor old "Crossbill" Tit

Blue Tit

Showing the difficulty it has picking up leftovers
Neck seems to be held on by a few sinews

How the same bird looked on 17th December

The Blue Tit with the deformed bill first seen just before the really bad weather in December has survived the winter. However, both mandibles seem to have grown considerably since December, which you can see if you compare the first and last photos. You can also see that the plumage is still in a terrible state. The slab of fat has kept this bird artificially alive, so it almost would have seemed kinder if it had died in the cold weather.

Ready, Steady, Back

Redstart

Redstart
Record shot of singing male

Treecreeper

I did a recce to see if the Little Owls & Redstarts were all in place for this Tuesday's class. Unfortunately, this location still seemed in the grip of winter, with no hawthorns yet coming in to leaf. There were also none of the expected birds. There were Yellowhammers, Linnets, Red-legged Partridges, and a Peregrine but no Redstarts or Little Owls. However, on visiting two other sites with more flowing water we did find a Redstart at each site, plus a very confiding Treecreeper. I'm hoping more summer migrants will flood in before Tuesday's sessions, so everyone can enjoy them!

Reedbed Reserve

Marsh Harrier [male]

ditto

ditto
ditto

Willow Warbler

Robin

Magpie

Feeling at Home

Peacock

Pregnant Common Shrew?

Shrew

Rabbit

Last term Fridays endured the worst weather of every particular week, today we felt we had turned a corner as we enjoyed the best weather of the week. The morning started well with a Willow Tit in the car park, but we couldn't get in the Main hide, which was packe by job shy teaching staff! Instead, we tracked down a pair of Blackcaps in the hedgerow - most people got views eventually, but they were a very flighty pair & wouldn't remain still for long. We also saw Willow Warblers & Chiffchaffs, but the latter were much harder to see in the afternoon, and the Blackcaps made only distant snatches of their sweet notes. Cetti's Warblers punctuated the day with their outbursts of song, and we may have heard as many as 3 different birds. Bullfinches played hard to get, but we did catch glimpses between the many twigs & branches. Most of the winter wildlfowl had departed but there were single pairs of Shoveler, Pochard & Teal with larger numbers of Gadwall & Tufted Ducks. We also heard Curlew & also the "Klute, Klute" of Avocets which must have been travelling along the river. The highlight for both classes was probably the male Marsh Harrier, which we were able to view from an otherwise unpromising hide dedicated to a long-deceased teenager. Rather surprisingly, there was only 1 Swallow, and that singleton was at the very end of the day, and there were absolutely no Martins. The corresponding last-minute high in the morning was a small black mammal which was busy in the short grass near the car park & a fair distance from the water - either a Water Shrew, or more likely a pregnant Common Shrew - larger & darker than bog standard shrews. It was a very rewarding day at an excellent reserve, and at last some decent weather to enjoy.

Nutwood, Raywell

All pics today from the archives - too overcast for pics

Red-legged Partridge (c) 2010 Andrew Silcock

Goldcrest Marsh Tit

Treecreeper
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Blackcap (female)

Today was the only visit to this pleasant location this year. It was still in the grip of winter with only marginal evidence of spring. The overcast conditions and bitingly cold winds today didn't help. I'm beginning to wonder if it was a mistake on Sunday to mothball my thermals until November! For the past 3 years the Bluebells were in full bloom at this time of year, but only a couple looked almost ready to bloom this time. The encroaching Wild Garlic has a virtual stranglehold on this site now, and really needs tackling - come on Woodland Trust! However, the Wood Anenomes put on a fine display. Despite the very chilly weather a pair of Blackcaps showed well for the morning group and a male performed at the opposite side of the wood in the afternoon. The Chiffchaff appeared in the afternoon, while a Treecreeper showed both sides of lunch time. The sun started to break through in the afternoon, which is when a Marsh Tit sang away, and was seen partly obscured by twigs. An elusive Goldcrest also put in an appearance. The Linnet & Yellowhammer were only seen well in the morning. A Buzzard at lunch time being mobbed by 2 crows was the only raptor seen. A Red-legged Partridge gave its vocal impression of a sream train or a chicen being strangled both morning & afternoon, & we also heard a Grey Partridge. The new recruits, including the lady from Leeds enjoyed their first outings; whilst David had 2 "lifers" - the Treeceeper & the Blackcap. I nearly forgot, Carole also had the best view of a Skylark she's ever seen! She also learned that someone she may have taught at primary school is now one of the world's leading experts on Marsh Tits! It's a small world!