An early start found me at the car park at Sammy's for 07-10 a.m. It's the only way to make the journey easy and not spend the morning looking at the bumper in front! First impressions in the paddocks were that it was very quiet, a Shelduck and a couple of Meadow Pipits were the only obvious birds - not the array of Wheatears and Yellow Wagtails we hope for at this time. Walking along the flood bank, I came across this stoat foraging in and out of the rocks. I'd reached the main section of bushes before anything significant was found and the first warblers began to appear. Single Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, followed by a pair of Blackcaps, then a Wheatear on the fenceline. It was still quiet, even the Chiffchaff wasn't calling!
I met with Mick Turton and he called out a Hooded Crow flying up-river. I followed its path and it joined a large flock of assorted corvids, feeding in fields West of the car park. One reason for my visit was to 'list' the female Garganey on Holderness Field and knowing that bird numbers often build up at Sammy's later in the morning, I moved on to Kilnsea for a while. The Wetlands had another Wheatear and the Avocets were stunning in the morning sunshine. I found the Garganey dabbling in the pool amongst a few Teal and Redshank. A surprise find this morning was a Green Woodpecker, which appeared to fly out of Cliff Farm, cross the road in front of me and over Church Field. Unfortunately, I didn't relocate it again. 2 Wheatears were at Southcliff Farm. Around Canal Hide were - Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, male Blackcap and 2 Swallows. A Whimbrel took off from Clubley's Field. My second reason for today's visit was to find a Ring Ouzel and it was time to return to Sammy's. 2 Swallows flew East and Chiffchaffs were calling now along with 2 Whitethroats. 2 Yellow Wagtails were in the paddocks when I heard an Ouzel calling and found it sitting on top of the roadside hedge. It flew to the bushes along the drain and I only managed a distant shot as it was very flighty and took off East. Another walk through the bushes showed more Chiffchaffs (10), a Redwing was deep in a hawthorn bush and then I saw the male Redstart - a stunning bird but seen only briefly, twice in half an hour. Comments are closed.
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