I seem to have adopted this patch recently. It's not necessarily the quantity of birds here but the interesting species that I'm finding. In this huge area of reedbed, at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Trent, it's often a waiting game to see what comes out. Even on a very cold, unseasonal morning, I was pleased to hear the Grasshopper Warbler singing again and eventually found him climbing reeds, a good way off. Whilst listening for the Grasshopper to call again, three Sand Martins flew through and five Swallows remained at the small ponds. Bearded Tits began to call and for an hour I watched them, finally getting the male to perch nearby. The small pond had a pair of Mute Swans, 6 Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard, 2 Gadwall, 3 Little Grebe and a Grey Heron stayed for a while. Other migrants included 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 flyover Yellow Wagtails, Chiffchaff and a Cetti's Warbler.
The Sedge Warblers are increasingly active in the reedbed and 2 Marsh Harriers passed through. The garden has been busy recently and most notably the Robins built a nest in some ivy. With frequent watching and protection by Ellie the dog, we've kept the ginger menace out and fledged 3 youngsters. The parents continued getting food from the garden, but the young were over the fence(?) Hopefully, I'll get some pictures of them soon. The female looks a bit tattered now (above), whilst the male just sings all day in my acer! On another ivy covered fence, a Wren is sitting at the moment which should be interesting, and a pair of Coal Tits are taking food away constantly. On the feeders, the Bullfinches are still daily and a small Starling flock devours the fat-balls. As I'm writing this and feeling happy about the robins - just look what's on my feeder station!! This morning's walk along Welton Waters produced a good variety of warblers. Soon after crossing the railway lines, both Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers could be heard and I found more as I continued along the lane. A Whitethroat showed in some brambles and was nest building. Nearer the ponds, another Willow Warbler sang its song. My attention was now on the call from a Cetti's Warbler. A few years ago when I walked this lane, a Cetti's was never heard but today, I saw three and heard a fourth. With a little patience, they were seen quite easily for a change, always in hawthorns. On reaching the bank of the Humber estuary, 2 Sedge Warblers were seen in the nearby reeds. I like the image below as, all the plumage colours are also in the habitat. The area where I was can be good for Grasshopper Warbler and one has been reported already. I heard one earlier this morning at Faxfleet, a long way out in the reedbed.
Little change at Faxfleet today other than a marked increase in Sedge Warbler arrivals. Seven were seen in a one hundred yard stretch. Wrens also like the reedbeds and are singing as much as the sedgies. The calling Bearded Tit and Cetti's Warbler remained unseen, the visiting male Marsh Harrier was present when I arrived. At North Cave, my first Lesser Whitethroat of the year was in the roadside hedge, calling nicely. In the same hedgerow, a Willow Warbler looked good on the newly emerging foliage. On Dryham Ings, the Little Ringed Plovers are settling in well. Also present on the Ings were 4 Redshank, 6 Avocet and a Common Sandpiper showed for a while. No sign of the recent Ruff though. The arrival of a Pied Wagtail was followed by 3 Yellow Wagtails and this White Wagtail. The drake Mandarin duck was among the trees on the west side of Main Lake. At least 4 Common Buzzards were about, together with the now frequent Red Kite.
My title is the best way to describe Sammy's Point this morning - migrants arriving all the time! I was first greeted with Chiffchaff in song and then saw the first Whitethroat of the year. Next came the song of a Willow Warbler, a real pleasure to see in Spring. A Short-eared Owl passed through as I began counting the Wheatears in the first two horse paddocks. A total of eight which, through the morning rose to nearer eighteen. Really stunning birds in Spring. Working my way along the estuary, a large number of Curlews were flying down river and out to sea, throughout the morning. A Common Buzzard crossed the estuary going South and occasional Sand Martins passed overhead too. In the main area of bushes, Ring Ouzels had arrived - two males and a female. They were being harassed by local Blackbirds and were very mobile or hiding in bushes! A couple of Redstarts were also in the same location. Having had lunch, I went to the Canal area at Spurn to see a Black Redstart in canal hedge, and while there, took this smart Meadow Pipit. A little later, I returned to Sammy's and was lucky to see a male Hen Harrier coming South to Kilnsea. It didn't stay and u-turned before climbing away, at height. In the paddocks, it was the turn of Yellow Wagtails to provide yet more stunning colour. Before leaving, I heard of a Whinchat around the gas terminal and caught up with it almost straightaway. A really enjoyable visit on a sunny Spring day. Great to see the returning migrants.
Had a short walk along the Humber bank in the Faxfleet area this morning. The reedbeds bordering the estuary extend for miles here, in parts, being opposite the RSPB's Blacktoft Sands Reserve and Alkborough Flats.
I was looking and listening for new migrants and the first was a Willow Warbler in a roadside tree. On the riverbank, I soon heard my first Sedge Warblers of spring and saw them as they climbed the reeds. A Chiffchaff was singing nearby and close to a couple of small ponds, a Cetti's Warbler made its presence known and was seen very briefly in the reedbed. I've seen Grasshopper Warbler here before and maybe I will in another week or so! A few Tufted Duck and Gadwall remained, together with a Great-crested Grebe and up to four Little Grebes. On the river, Shelduck, Cormorants and a Great-black-backed Gull passed through, together with three Avocets. Looking across to Blacktoft, three male and one female Marsh Harriers were in the air - this male was hunting my side of the river. The morning began quite bright as I drove into Kilnsea. I had passed a Marsh Harrier on the Easington road and a Barn Owl was flying near the Wetlands. I knew the tide would be out and the flock of Brent Geese were probably on the estuary. The Wetlands was quiet with high water levels and the sixteen Avocets had to make do with the banks, as some of the islands were submerged. A few Wigeon remained and 4 Sand Martins and a single Swallow made a brief appearance. I made contact with my first Wheatear of the year, on the cliff by Bluebell car park. The surrounding area was quiet and I moved down to the canal car park. Right in front of me was this lovely Short-eared Owl. As I stayed in the car, it preened and rested with eyes closed at times. It eventually flew into the Triangle. Fieldfares were still 'chacking' somewhere close to me , as I watched the 'shortie'. In search of more Wheatears, I went to Sammy's Point and was lucky to see another five on the old tank blocks before they quickly moved up river. (2 males and 3 females). Near Sammy's Point, in Easington a Willow Warbler was singing and five Chiffchaffs were together, including this one with an enlarged upper mandible!
This afternoon I travelled to Nunburnholme, a small village in the Yorkshire Wolds not far from Market Weighton. In the last few years it has become home to an increasing population of Red Kites around the Warter Estate.
I have heard that the roost time is when the Kites are most numerous and three were in the air as I arrived. Scanning the skyline, I found four Common Buzzard also, at times mingling with the Kites. I don't know how many I saw in total as none were tagged birds and in the main they appeared in pairs. A calling Green Woodpecker was present throughout my stay. The images aren't very bright as it was another cloudy day! |
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