Going Cuckoo

Record shots of a male Cuckoo

Cuckoo

Whitethroat (c) 2010 Vince Cowell Linnet (c) 2010 Vince Cowell Blackcap (c) 2010 Vince Cowell Alkanet Back to Cuckoos again - this one a Cuckoo Pint

Today both sessions had the most prolonged views of a male Cuckoo we’ve ever had in 7 years of the course. A male showed well as it called from a perch, but also as it almost hovered fairly close to us. Unfortunately, it was directly between me and the sun, so the resulting pics are little more than silhouettes. During the last 2 years there were 4 Cuckoos at this site at this time of year, including a hepatic female, but there was only one male there today. I hope the females will be along soon. The morning session had several fleeting views of the Kingfisher as it went to and from its nest site, but it was harder to see during the afternoon. However, the post-lunch group had a better views of a Linnet, which sat & posed for several minutes. It was a particularly bright male, which indicates the quality of the seeds in the surrounding area. We managed brief views of a Whitethroat, especially as it sprang up to perform its puppet-on-a-string song flight. The day was marred by a strong northerly wind, which affected the number of birds prepared to sing on exposed song posts. For this reason we failed to hear Turtle Doves, Lesser Whitethroats or have good views of Reed or Sedge Warblers. One exception was a Reed Bunting which did ‘sing’ its monotonous ditty from a windswept perch. There was one Great Crested Grebe and a single Greylag Goose, and a few Tufted Ducks, but otherwise fairly few water birds. I must try to get to this site on a really nice morning, if we have one this year!

Vote! Vote! Vote! For Yellow Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

Male Starling - note blue base of bill

Going for a St. Mark's Fly

Record shot of Meadow Pipit - King of the Muck Heap

Today's chief objective was Yellow Wagtail & after a bit of searching they were eventually located back on their old patch - although the patch seems to have contracted a little. Nevertheless, we found at least 3 male birds & a female. A Skylark gave extremely good views, as did several Linnets and a Meadow Pipit, but the camera was in the boot for all of these. 2 Common Seals and some Shelduck were at the end of the road, as was a Cuckoo, and in the afternoon another Cuckoo was in the Fisherman's car park at Paull. In the morning a Little Egret landed by the side of the road, whilst a Barn Owl hunted in the far distance; as did a Kestrel after lunch. The creek was swarming with Redshank at high tide, but after lunch only one remained, however a Greenshank was also heard & then seen.

Heron's Above

Fox (c) 2010 Maurice Gordon

Heron
ditto

ditto

Hare

ditto

Hare

Roe Deer [Buck]

Swallow (female)

Swallow (male) [cf. tail streamers with above]

Sedge Warbler (c) 2010 Maurice Gordon

Buzzard being mobbed by Rooks (c) 2010 Maurice Gordon

Record shot of Whitethroat

Record shot of Stock Dove

Heron Being Mobbed by Rook (c) 2010 Aileen Urquhart

Today was our 2nd visit to the Organic farm. Again, early morning visitors were greeted by Stock Doves on the approach road. More warblers had flooded in since last week, with at least 4 singing male Whitethroats, 2 Sedge Warblers, and more Swallows were in evidence around the farm buildings. Birds we didn’t encounter last week, but which were there today included: 2 Grey Partridges and a Treecreeper; but the 120 Linnet flock had fragmented or moved elsewhere. There were at least 3 Brown Trout in the chalk stream, and some animal excreta, which after examination Maureen thought belonged to a fox! Some of the young Herons were now able to fly, but remained around the nests. A Buzzard was mobbed by a Rook and a Heron in the morning, whilst in the afternoon several Rooks mobbed 2 Buzzards. The midday meal again proved highly popular, and some remained behind after the end of the afternoon session for a cup of tea. This new site is proving to be a highly popular venue. (The Fox was in Maurice’s garden!)

Peaceful Canal

Willow Warbler

ditto
Reed Warbler (c) 2010 Phil & Claude Hargreaves
Reed Warbler
ditto

Chaffinch

Peacock

Speckled Wood (c) 2010 Phil & Claude Hargreaves

Comma (c) 2010 Phil & Claude Hargreaves

Orange-Tip (c) Phil & Claude Hargreaves

Large Red Damselfly

Blue-tailed Damselfly [teneral male] ?

Parasitic Wasps

Bottom's Up - Mute Swan

We missed out on this lovely location last year, so we were quick to make amends this time. Everyone had great views of several Reed & Sedge Warblers, which were "lifers" for some on the course. We just missed out on the Grass Snakes as a dog walker went ahead of us to try & snap them - so, frightening them off for us. There always used to be a Lesser Whitethroat in a particular spot, but there was no sign of it today - it's place taken by a Garden Warbler. The day started with a very cold wind, which chilled everyone, but things had warmed up considerably by the conclusion of the morning session. In this warmth butterflies began to appear, quickly followed by the first damselflies of the year. A male Cuckoo was calling during the first part of the morning, then passed us as it was screened by thick vegetation, but it was completely silent in the afternoon. There were plenty of Linnets, Yellowhammers, and Reed Buntings with fewer Willow Warblers, Whitethroats; whilst overhead we had Swallows, Swifts & the first House Martins seen by the classes this year. A Holly Blue was seen for the 1st time ever at this location with plenty of Speckled Woods, Orange Tips, Small Tortoiseshells, Green-Veined Whites and a Peacock or two. We didn't see anything really unusual, but it was a very pleasant day once the temperature increased!

Dawn Chorus

All pics for this post (c) 2010 Aileen Urquhart

The group disappearing into the mist

Light breaking into the wood
Bluebell carpet

15 hardy souls volunteered to get up early to participate in this year’s Dawn Chorus. So, at 5am we met at a local reserve with plenty of parking & travelled a few miles to a reserve with only limited room for cars. Technically, we had missed the dawn, but the scene dripped with romanticism. The large moon reflected light on to a scene containing a milky-white mist which hung a few feet over the ground.
At first the chorus consisted mainly of resident birds – Robin, Great Tit, Wren, Robin & Song Thrush, but a Blackcap could also be discerned. Later, Willow Warblers & Chiffchaffs also joined in. A Treecreeper squeaked very close to us, and could just be glimpsed in the strengthening light. A Green Woodpecker laughed at our progress through the woodland, but slipped away before we could spot it. The first bird we had a really good view of was a nasal Willow Tit, which called & then sang whilst looking for food among the emerging buds. Later, along the same water-filled ditch we saw a Marsh Tit behaving in a similar fashion. The next bird we encountered was a Reed Bunting, but it took off with its partner before everyone could observe it. A Linnet flew over, and some Red-legged Partridges, Stock Doves (3 pairs), Hares & Rabbits frequented one field. We also heard a Whitethroat here, but views were distant.
We struck out in an Easterly direction and heard a distant Cuckoo – this was a first of the year for several people. The Bluebells were opening out, and every so often their subtle scent drifted across our path. Turning another 90 degrees we reached the Southern limit of the wood, and came across an enormous Hoof Fungus, plus another Whitethroat, and a fairly short glimpse of a singing Woodlark. Retracing our steps we reached the main path, and continuing on our way we discovered our 1st Garden Warbler in full song. A little later the Cuckoo flew into the tree we were standing under, and after a little gowking & its normal song, it flew off again as soon as it realised we were there. A little further on we actually had quite a good view of a Garden Warbler and a Great Spotted Woodpecker before arriving back at the cars.
We returned to our original meeting place and were rewarded with a hot drink and either a sausage or bacon sandwich. Even those who travelled from Tadcaster & Wetwang agreed it was a very worthwhile morning, and they would do it again! The consensus seems to be that they would even be prepared to get up earlier to appreciate the transition from night to dawn. However, if everyone feels as hungover as I do at the moment then there may actually be no takers next year!

Eastrington Ponds

All pics (c) 2010 Vince Cowell unless stated otherwise

Whitethroat

Great Crested Grebe
Changeover - revealing at least 2 eggs
Settling down

Blackcap

Bullfinch

One for the Absentee - (c) 2010 M Flowers

Morel - (c) 2010 M Flowers

Orange-Tip

Holly Blue

Another Sop to the Sentimentalists - (c) 2010 M Flowers

And Yet Another - M Flowers

Yesterday saw our only visit to Eastrington Ponds this year. The birds of the morning were a pair of Green Woodpecker, especially for Mike who hadn't really had good views before. A Reed Warbler also showed well, though distantly. The day became more overcast as it wore on, but the threatened showers didn't materialise. Other birds seen included: Treecreeper, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, and plenty of Bullfinches. A pair of Great Crested Grebes revealed that they had at least 2 eggs, but there was no sign of the Common Terns this year. There were many Speckled Wood butterflies, and a couple of Orange-Tips, plus Small Tortoiseshells, Peacocks and some Green-Veined Whites. Mike almost stumbled on a sole specimen of an unusual fungi - a species of Morel - Morchella semilibera. More examples of this toadstool may appear in the next few weeks. Despite a very wet night there was no sign of the Barn Owl, which used to frequent this site.