Shoot Out

Bullfinch (c) 2009 Marcus Conway

Marsh Tit
ditto

ditto

Errr, not sure what this is!

Fairy Caps

Both morning & afternoon sessions were disrupted by shoots. The morning shoot was the most destructive for the classes, but at least one Woodcock escaped, as did many Pheasants and 5 Red-legged Partridges, but the latter may have copped it in the afternoon. The light wasn’t brilliant today, so most birds were identified by sound. A flock of 20+ Linnets flew over several times, as did smaller groups of Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Chaffinches and a few Bullfinches. Hawfinches, Rough-legged Buzzards and a Kingfisher were notable by their absence. 2 Water Rails called either side of the pond, and the pm shoot frightened off the Grey Wagtail. An alarm call of a Yellowhammer was heard, whilst there were plenty of winter thrushes swirling around, looking lost. The only bird of prey we saw was a Kestrel, but the pm group heard a Buzzard, and a dog walker saw 2 large birds of prey with forked tails further south. I’m sure we would have seen more raptors if there had been some wind! Hopefully, future visits to this site will be in more favourable weather, and the shooters may be absent - fingers-crossed.

Dipping

Bearded Tit - one thing we hoped to see - (c) 2009 Vince Cowell

Bittern - another bird we hoped to see
Marsh Harrier

ditto

Magpie

Today was spent introducing eBirder to a local site he hadn’t visited before, just before he bids the area adios forever! We started by looking for some Bearded Tits without success, although we did hear a distant Kingfisher. A bloke was there who had waited 5 hours the other day & we left him, as he began another 3-hour stint today. We popped over to the old main site and almost immediately saw a Cetti’s Warbler. It called (rather than sang), and spent most of it’s time in the reeds just above the water – it was difficult to get a clear view. We hung around for a while & then proceeded to a hide where 3 Bitterns had been seen yesterday. It was full of beeping photographers, so we gave it a miss. We then went clock-wise round the whole reserve taking in most of the hides. We didn’t see anything really special, just the usual Goldeneye, Shoveler, Gadwall, Pochard and Tufties. We probably saw the Cetti’s again (briefly) in the same hide as earlier. Marcus went to join the photographers, while I had my packed lunch. I had a fairly good view of a Willow Tit, but Marcus was enjoying much better views of a Marsh Harrier. The Bittern failed to show, but we knew which particular reeds it was hiding in! We saw at least 2 Water Rails, and heard at least another 2. Another try for the Bearded Tits ended in failure, as it had for the bloke who had waited for another 3 hours in vain, and the Willow Tit wasn’t an adequate compensation. We crossed the Humber Bridge for the Bullfinches, which only put in an appearance after half-an-hour and then only provided flighty views.

BF Filey Meet - Marcus's Leaving Do

Kingfisher - the final 'good' bird of the day

Snow Bunting - the first 'good' bird of the day

but this pic from Spurn on Thursday
A Sparrowhawk like the one Keith & I saw today
(c) 2009 Mike Williamson

A Filey Dams Snipe

A Filey Brigg Grey Seal

Record shot of Pink-footed Geese

Record shot of Red-throated Diver

The day started well with a Snow Bunting on the tip of the Naze, but even better for Jim and Graham who almost certainly had a Lapland Bunting over first thing. There were some Goldfinches, Linnets, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks flocking around and a Kestrel, but nothing too exciting. We walked along the cliff top past Old Tip, but apart from a Gannet and plenty of Fulmar we didn't add a lot more. We walked through Old Tip, but only picked up a Reed Bunting and a Pheasant, but some interesting fungi. A strange bird call was emanating from Parish Wood, but we were unable to track it down. Some screaming in the hedge led Keith & I to see a Starling being hauled off by a female Sparrowhawk. She sat on it for some time, but it kept yammering, so she did a little plucking, and eventually flew off with it. There were plenty of concealed Goldfinches in Parish Wood, plus Tree Sparrows and a few Greenfinches. The housing estate didn't add much. Jim & I climbed to Carr Naze and saw plenty of Oystercatchers and a handful of Redshanks on the Country Park. We then had lunch & went down to the brigg. There were quite a few Red-throated Divers at first, plus a Great Crested Grebe flying past, and what we thought were a pair of Red-breasted Merganser heading north. There were quite a few Eider duck around (mainly females, with the odd male) and 2 different flocks of Common Scoter, both Shags & Cormorants were also seen. We went off to Filey Dams & saw a few Snipe, 2 Herons, Teal, and Tufted Duck, but the best bird here was a Kingfisher, which eventually gave great views as we switched to the larger hide. The Kingfisher provided a nice splash of colour to bring the meeting to its conclusion. The best thing about today was the company! Marcus stayed sober, and even left his own leaving do early! Namarie, Marcus

"Women's Knitting Circle"

Kingfisher (c) 2009 Howie Speight

Kingfisher (c) 2009 Howie Speight
Kingfisher (c) 2009 Howie Speight

Kingfisher (c) 2009 Howie Speight

Long-tailed Tit (c) 2009 Howie Speight

Treecreeper (c) 2009 Howie Speight

Pied Wagtail (c) 2009 David Ware

No offence meant to any knitters, or women, or those who like circles, but the above title refers to what a miserable old goat said today – sorry, may have used 2 incorrect vowels, when I should really substitute them with quite another vowel. Before today’s session’s started a lump under the hedge may, or may not have been a Woodcock. I decided to leave it until it showed better when we came back at lunchtime. The first bird after this was a hidden, but noisy Treecreeper, then a dazzling Grey Wagtail flew up from the car park and landed on a nearby wall. We tried the Kingfisher thing again, and sure enough it appeared. It was distant in the morning, but gave prolonged views; whilst in the afternoon it showed for a briefer time, but was closer to the observers. A flock of 20+ Siskins flew south, but there wasn’t as much movement as on Tuesday. There wasn’t too much of interest on the large expanses of water, apart from one lone Pink-footed Goose being dwarfed by the Greylags. The woodland held Bullfinches, Goldcrests, Long-tailed Tits, Treecreepers and plenty of fungi, but nothing out of the ordinary. We retraced our way back to the main hide where an old bloke had now taken up residence with what was presumably his spouse. He remained silent, but his wife did return my greeting. I quietly pointed out each species to the group, but was sat at the furthest side of the hide from the bloke, so wasn’t aware he was continually swearing under his breath. Elizabeth, who was nearest, wasn’t sure, but she thought he was cursing because he couldn’t find the Black-necked Grebe or Smew he was looking for. We went back to the visitor centre to try & link up with the Woodcock, but it had moved even further back into the gloom. The session dispersed and I enjoyed my packed-lunch in the warmth & comfort of the visitor centre in the affable company of the warden – thanks for the warm mug of tea! Later, the curser came in, and during the course of his conversation he let slip that he was glad that the “Women’s Knitting Circle” had gone! If only all those macho men, and the others from the morning group could have heard this bigot speak – of course, we were at fault for invading his private hide! The same birds were around in the afternoon with nothing really outstanding apart from the Kingfisher. Unfortunately, the light became trickier as the rain clouds loomed ever closer, but we managed to escape before it started raining! Will be there again on Wednesday, so I hope the bigot stays away!

Spurned

Snow Bunting

Water Rail

Water Rail

Water Rail

Squealing like a pig!

Redshank with fish

Stonechat (female)

Fieldfare - just after being ringed

Record shot of Siskin

Didn’t have to change today’s meeting place because of the weather or the intrusion of the 21st-century’s progress, which was a bonus. Even before the am class officially started there was a burst of Skylark song. I looked up and there was a Merlin trying to catch it. It spun round in circles, fanning its tail, and lunged for its prey several times, but the Skylark appeared to get away. We walked along the road and turned left & walked along a tiny hedge, which masquerades under the overblown soubriquet of “Big Hedge” – don’t ask! I turned left as Tony Robinson instructed from yesterday, but it was very disappointing. Only a Great Black-backed Gull fled from us in terror from the shoreline. We turned round & ventured south along the cliff & then came across 4 very confiding Snow Buntings. They were much less accommodating in the afternoon, but were still much friendlier than the female Bullfinch we saw at lunch time – a local rarity here. After the Snow Buntings we walked to the Warren & saw a male Stonechat, and had a very brief glimpse of an eastern race Lesser Whitethroat. We were in time to see an underweight Fieldfare being released – hope it makes it! Then we walked to Canal Scrape & had fairly good views of a Water Rail, although there was little else around. On the foreshore there were masses of Knot, and Golden Plover, and we heard Grey Plover, and in the afternoon Black-tailed Godwits. In the Crown & Anchor car park were at least 2 Chiffchaffs, and a flock of about 8 Siskins. Again there was a good sighting before the pm session began – a flock of 50+ Pink-footed Geese heading south in a perfect V-formation. The Snow Buntings showed well again, but were disturbed by 4 morons on the beach. The Water Rail showed even better from the Canal Scrape hide, and a Redshank had a real tussle with a tiny fish. Some Fieldfare also dropped into the bushes. The light made viewing difficult on the mudflats, but the sounds of the estuary were evocative. A pair of Stonechats on the Canal Zone were new since the morning and a couple of Reed Buntings gave good views. On the return journey we enjoyed several excellent views of Redwings. It was actually a pleasant afternoon at Spurn, as the am wind had died right down. May be foggy tomorrow if the wind doesn’t pick up!

Explosive!

Brambling - bit like the one at today's site

Golden Plovers (c) 2009 Jackie Dawson
Skylark (c) 2009 Aileen Urquhart
Skylark (c) 2009 Tony Robinson
Skylark (c) 2009 Tony Robinson
Wren (c) 2009 Aileen Urquhart

Mute Swan - Acting oddly (c) 2009 Aileen Urquhart

Common Gull (c) 2009 Tony Robinson

Today’s planned rendezvous had to be changed because the reserve car park was sealed off, as a gas pipeline was being laid. We met in a car park about a mile further west. One participant went for a stroll round the bushes before the session started and flushed a Woodcock. We walked along the side of the Humber, but there wasn’t a great deal to see apart from the odd Redshank, Mallard and Curlew. The police had a significant presence with a large van with 2 blokes early doors; this was changed to a car with one female officer later on. There didn’t appear to be any evidence of criminal activity, and surely they weren’t keeping an eye on the forlorn young Mute Swan we wondered. There were some Golden Plovers on the mudflats, and later a flock of 200+ Lapwings were seen north of the site. There were 11 Black-tailed Godwits on the mud – the most interesting wader seen. We were serenaded by a close-flying Skylark in the morning, but in the afternoon no Skylarks were even seen – their place was taken over by Meadow Pipits. The afternoon was mainly a re-run of the morning, but we were held up for 15 minutes by the police whilst aa couple from army bomb disposal exploded a device found on the riverside. We were allowed through several minutes after the loud bang, which sent all the waders and wildfowl into the air. A Sparrowhawk flew low over the mudflats, whilst this morning a different individual was harassing birds in the village. The bird of the afternoon was seen as we were almost back at the car park. Some finches flew into the top of the trees, and with 2 Chaffinches was a single male Brambling – the 1st I’ve actually had a decent view of this winter. It actually stayed posing longer than the Chaffinches, allowing everyone to get good views before disappearing - a nice end to a cold and windswept day. Brian reports 25 species this morning, so with the Brambling and Little Egret that makes 27. It would have been higher if we’d been allowed to get into the usual reserve!

Queen Fisher

Kingfisher (c) 2009 Mike Williamson

Kingfisher Kingfisher

Kingfisher

Treecreeper (c) 2009 Mike Williamson

Long-tailed Tit (c) 2009 Mike Williamson

We were due to go to Potteric today, but the forecast was for too much rain for such a long journey, so we went to somewhere local with hides instead. The morning started well with plenty of Goldcrests, and then a Great Spotted Woodpecker and Treecreeper near an old wasps’ nest. Just after this a Woodcock flew up in front of us, but not everyone had a decent view. We went to a newish hide and had great views of a fishing Kingfisher in both morning and afternoon. 8 Siskins flew south over here, and c.80 Golden Plovers also flew south following the river. We carried on through the woodland, and as it petered out there was a flock of almost 20 Long-tailed Tits and with them was a silent, tail-dipping, black-legged Chiffchaff. On the return journey a Lesser Redpoll flew over the woodland heading north. We went to another hide near the car park, and got there just before a colossal downpour. Most people had never seen a Great Crested Grebe in flight before, but one after another flew from the right-side of the lake to the left to try & avoid the worst of the weather. We had great views of the bold white wing bars. There was a good selection of wildfowl with: Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Shoveler, Gadwall, Ruddy Duck and Little Grebes. In the afternoons these birds were joined by a single drake Goldeneye. There were reports of a Redhead Smew there, but we didn’t see it, & yesterday a Black-necked Grebe was seen. In the afternoon we had a similar experience, but there were some good views of Bullfinches, and better sightings of the Treecreeper. Someone who spent all day at the site, ventured into the southern area, and had the best view of a Barn owl he’d ever enjoyed.