Saved by a Bittern

On Wednesday we shared cars over the Humber Bridge & met at the new reserve car park. We'd obtained  permission to visit the site, but with the strict instructions that we didn't use the  old reserve car park. In order to comply with this restriction we shared full cars over a heavily potholed road to the river bank. It was very windswept as we walked along the river bank, but the Redshank were still searching for food. We hurried along before we plunged into the hawthorn bushes. We were now out of the wind, but it was very threatening behind us, and as we settled in the 1st hide a severe snow shower set in. 

Bittern - Eileen must have had a view like this

 Bittern in flight - similar to the view yesterday

 Bittern in flight - on a much warmer day

 Bittern - an actual record shot from yesterday (c) 2013 Aileen Urquhart

 There wasn't a lot to see in the snow storm, but it was possible to discern: a Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorants, some Tufted Ducks and too many Coots.

A walk around the perimeter failed to add many extra species, but the deeper pool contained a pair of Goldeneye and some Tufted Ducks. When we reached the next hide there wasn't much to see apart from several Gadwall. The kingfisher failed to put in an appearance, but in the strong winds it wasn't really surprising. A hike to the biggest hide looked as though it was going to be disappointing too, but after a long wait a Bittern flew from just to the right of the hide under Eileen's nose before it landed in the reeds directly in front of the hide - never to be seen again!




The walk to the new hide failed to add any new species, but there was a distant flock of small waders (Dunlin?) flying around the mudflats. We shared cars back to the original car park and hurried across to the car park hide before an punishing sleet storm set in. We waited for it to clear, and marvelled as a bouncing flock of c 50 Siskins hesitated as they tried to land in some Alder trees. Then a small brownish bird of prey was seen. It was a male Marsh Harrier still a long way from its full adult plumage. It was a great way to end the session. 




The best bird of the afternoon was found by Les: a male Bullfinch

Propping up the Bottom of the Blog

A Repeat with Changes

If I thought the traffic was bad on Thursday, it was even worse yesterday.  It took over 45 mins to get through the whole of the traffic around Hull, so I needed to put a spurt on to get to Potteric Carr in time.  Maggie had the same problem, plus her fuel light came on, so she had to make a detour to fill up.  We waited for quite some time, but then had to set off.  

Apart from Long-tailed Tits with their accompanying acolytes there were few small birds about until we reached the feeding station.  The Willow Tits were much easier to see than they had been on Thursday.

Mother Drain was very cloudy so there was no sign of the Kingfisher, though it has returned for the pm class as they were on their way out.

We saw 4 Herons, and assorted duck species at Duchess hide, but we were thwarted from entering Piper Marsh by a gaggle of big lenses.  The same thing happened when we tried to enter Childers Marsh hide, but this time it was another group in there.  On the return journey we did locate some Siskins and Treecreepers, and Maggie was surprised to find that she'd photographed a Redpoll.

For the afternoon group Pat and June arrived early for lunch in the cafe.  On their walk they spotted a white creature flitting through the tangled undergrowth - it was a Stoat in ermine - the best sighting of the whole day.

All photographs (c) 2013 Maggie Bruce

Jay

 Jay

 Treecreeper

 Treecreeper

 Goldcrest

 Siskin [male]

 Lesser Redpoll

 Lesser Redpoll

 Great Tit

 Chaffinch

 Moorhen

 Reed Buntings & Chaffinches

 Pheasant

 Mute Swans

Another Bad Hair Day

On Thursday I braved the nightmare trek to Potteric Carr. It took 30 minutes trying to get out of Hull, and after that it was a high speed journey being buffeted by gale force winds, to try & make up for lost time. Confusing roadworks near the entrance made the last few minutes a bit hairy, but we all got through it safely.

Treecreeper (c) 2013 Richard Whateley

 Treecreeper (c) 2013 Phil Todd

The first few minutes were very quiet, but we did come across 2 separate flocks of Long-tailed Tits. As we neared the feeding station I heard a Treecreeper, which everyone managed to get decent views of, but the Willow Tit was a little trickier. The birds were all lined up waiting to be fed, but there was no food on the table. Birds seen here included: Reed Bunting, Coal, Blue and Great Tits, Chaffinch, a Jay, Dunnock, Blackbird, Pheasant, Canada Goose & Mute Swan. The Willow Tit appeared at least 3 times in the afternoon, but the Great Spotted Woodpecker and the Jay failed to put in an appearance. 

 Robin (c) 2013 Richard Whateley

 Great Tit (c) 2013 Phil Todd

Chaffinch (c) 2013 Richard Whateley

 Reed Bunting [male] (c) 2013 Richard Whateley

 Reed Bunting [female] (c) 2013 Richard Whateley

Not far from the hide some of the group caught a glimpse of a shadow flying just over the surface of the water - our only view of the obligatory Kingfisher. We made the big hike to the Bittern hide, but the wind had taken its toll, so we only saw Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Teal here, although a Heron flew through, badly buffeted by the wind.  

Teal (c) 2013 Richard Whateley

 Gadwall (c) 2013 Richard Whateley

 Mallard (c) 2013 Phil Todd

Heron (c) 2013 Richard Whateley

On the way back after we'd dropped off 10 people at the cafe we saw at least 3 Siskins (one male), the final treat were the 3 Bullfinches (1 male) on the final straight towards the reception. A late highlight in the afternoon was a male Kingfisher, which posed long enough for everyone to have a really good view. 

Back to Normal

On Tuesday we were able to stick with the original plan & visit Tophill Low. One of the best birds was seen on the approach road when Len in the car in front had a close encounter with a female Merlin, which headed across the road and disappeared into the farmland.

First 3 Kestrel pics (c) 2013 Chris Cox

 All remaining pics (c) 2013 Maggie Bruce

The same Kestrel seen in the am?

 Kestrel

When we actually started there were single Treecreepers, Goldcrests and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker near the visitor centre, so all augured well. This was increased by a good sighting of a first-year male Kingfisher on South Lagoon. 

 Kingfisher

 Pintail

 Ditto

There were a pair of Pintail on SME, plus a Goldeneye, some Shoveler and plenty of Teal. A Barn Owl flew not very close to the hide before taking a look in at us and then moving off higher and with more speed. In the other hide we saw 4 drake Goldeneye with one female, plus a slightly larger flock of Tufted duck. We could also hear 2 distinct Water Rails from here, and Claude may have caught sight of one of them flying from the left bank into the central Reedbed island. 

Ditto

 Goldeneye

There were plenty of Wigeon on the 'O' reservoir, and David got a glimpse of the a Great Crested Grebe. Unfortunately, the water level was very low, so we couldn't see what else was sheltering in the lee of the reservoir wall.  

Goldeneye (left), Tufted Duck (right)

 Goldeneye (female right)

At Watton Borrow pits there were 2 Redshanks, 3 Juvenile Cormorants and a few Gadwall. However, the best bird here was a female Smew (sometimes called a Redhead when it can't be differentiated from 1st-winter drakes). Not everyone could find this tiny duck easily, but later she hauled herself out on the the bank to preen herself, and this is when her white underparts could be studied. Someone also spotted a Barn Owl roosting at the bank just to the left of the island. On the return journey we saw yet another one of these flying around South Lagoon. This is probably a legacy of the aftermath of the snowy weather when the owls found hunting for food very difficult. 

Redhead Smew

 Redhead Smew behind Tufted Ducks

 Wigeon (front)

On 'D' reservoir there were literally hundreds of ducks - the highlight being another 6 Pintail. The total tally we saw was therefore 8, most I've seen in any one day at this site!

On the return to the visitor centre Richard, the warden, had located a Woodcock, so those who hadn't already gone home, or were visiting other parts of the reserve, were able to get decency view of it after staring at bits of vegetation for over half an hour. Unfortunately, before the afternoon group arrived it was frightened off by a prowling cat - at a site where all domestic pets were supposed to be banned.  In the afternoon the best photo opportunity came from a very confiding and extremely colourful male Kestrel.

Final Park Visit

Thursday was the only day last week when the planned venue was able to go ahead at the original venue selected 6 months ago.  Every other day a last minute change had to be substituted because of the prevailing weather conditions.  This was our final visit to the park.  4 Shoveler were still present, but didn't come close enough in the poor light, for decent photos to be taken.  

All pics (c) 2013 Richard Whateley

Goosander [drake]

 Goosanders [female right]

 Goosander [female]

 Goosanders [female right]

 Drake Goosander

 Tufted Ducks [drake right]

 Carrion Crow

 Black-headed Gulls [first-winter left, adult right]

 Coot

 Feral Pigeon ['Chequered' type]