This morning I went back to the Spotted Crake at North Cave. Over the days since my first photos, the Crake has settled down and become much more visible in the corner of the Reedbed Lake.
Plumage on the juvenile Crake is become more colourful and spotted! These images are a much better attempt for my records. It was years before I saw my first Barred Warbler and now, I try and see them whenever they occur. They are a large, grey warbler, notorious for skulking and that provides the challenge to seek them out. I found this morning's first winter bird around 7-00am, as the rising sun put some warmth into the hedgerow near Beacon Ponds. Speed was essential to get a photographic record as its appearance was short-lived and it was back in the thick hawthorn bush in no time. It did show on further occasions for those prepared to wait. Typical Barred Warbler - disappearing!! The light was superb along this hedgerow and a Willow Warbler emerged, no doubt to warm up and dry off, after a night's heavy rain. A Whinchat was seen perched on the fence behind the hedgerow. High tide was around 1120am this morning and I was hoping for some interesting waders on the Wetlands. A small flock of Knots flew across Beacon Ponds and showed their wing shape nicely in flight. Waders failed to appear in any numbers at all over high tide. A juvenile Spotted Redshank was picked out, among the distant Redshanks, showing the prominent white over the eye and barring pattern on coverts. (shown as centre bird). The Wood Sandpiper remains on the Wetlands at the Western end. The arrival of an adult Great Black-backed Gull dwarfed the surrounding Common Terns and Black-headed Gulls - what a size!! Leaving the Wetlands, I went to Sammy's Point and found 3 Northern Wheatears along the track. Sammy's was very quiet, apart from a nice Spotted Flycatcher I found in the bushes. ....... and one for the 'dragon-flyers'.
,Today saw a large influx of Willow Warblers on the East coast as well as some common migrants. It still came as a surprise to find I had six warblers in my town garden, late this afternoon. I always watch the roaming tit flock as they travel along the Close and at the moment, there are around 12 juv Long-tailed Tits who noisily signal their arrival. Today there was another 'huitt' call in the flock and over fifteen minutes, I was able to photograph, up-close, some of the 5 Chiffchaffs and single Willow Warbler that spent time feeding in my garden. I'm always delighted to have warblers in the garden! ...... and the Long-tailed Tit
A short visit to Tophill this evening to catch some passing waders. On North Lagoon, a Common Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper had been there for some time now, but this week an influx of Curlew Sandpipers resulted in two on this lagoon. Two nice looking juveniles fed with a number of Ruff and two Greenshank. The management of this lagoon is now the best it has been for years with a good selection of waders, as well as the Kingfishers, Water Rail and Egrets. Five Ruff, Common Sandpiper and Curlew Sandpiper. A short, heavy shower moved through as I walked to South Marsh East hide, resulting in a spectacular rainbow for a while. The Pectoral Sandpiper was not on North Lagoon and didn't appear to be on the South Marsh either at this time. Another Curlew Sandpiper and a Ruff were on the marsh, as were two Ringed Plover and the usual gathering of Lapwings. A Kingfisher made several visits. Moving to the West hide still didn't reveal the Pec Sandpiper, however a Green Sandpiper and Common Snipe showed well together. As if from nowhere, the Pectoral Sandpiper was seen walking along one of the small islands and had probably been present, but out of view behind the island. This N. American visitor was most welcome as, although seen annually in the UK, I've missed them for a few years recently.
My planned visit to Spurn Point today was cancelled yesterday evening when, on a routine visit to North Cave, news broke of a Spotted Crake. Seen initially on Saturday, it showed briefly around 5-15pm yesterday, to a couple of birders. Despite some serious watching by two or three of us, it failed to show again, in the West end of Reedbed Lake. I was on site at 7-00am today and had several bouts of excitement as 2 Common Snipe, a juvenile Water Rail and juvenile Moorhen, took it in turn to emerge from the reedbed before the Spotted Crake appeared around 7-40am. Those who know this lake will be aware that this particular reedbed is some distance away, consequently the images are poor, to say the least. In fact, concentrating on the Crake as a dot in the viewfinder, I was unaware of the approaching juv Water Rail (left), which made a good comparison. This was my first Spotted Crake in twelve years, previous record of two at Tophill Low on 20th August 2004!
The Crake remained in view for around thirty minutes, walking left along the reedbed until two Snipe flew in and it retreated into the reeds. I was surprised no-one had joined me by 9-00am and couldn't hand over its last position - must be the joys of retirement! Autumn isn't upon us yet, but with Easterly winds forecast for the week, a few trips to Spurn could prove interesting throughout this time. This morning was rather quiet, the Wetlands still had the Wood Sandpiper and Ruff at the car park end. Several Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover and a Redshank were the only other waders present. What was surprising, was the pea field between the hide and the 'listening dish'. Around 8-00am, many birds were feeding in this field, the overhead wires were laden with Linnets, Goldfinches and Meadow Pipits. The air was busy with Sand Martins, Swallows and a few House Martins. In the middle of the field was a single Whinchat and Reed Buntings flitted about. By far the most numerous were the Meadow Pipits and Yellow Wagtails, many young birds. In one bush, there were more than ten Yellow Wagtails alone. At the top end of the field, warblers were feeding on insects in the hedgerow. A Reed Warbler was seen first, then a Sedge (sadly not an Aquatic!), followed by 4 Willow Warblers and a Whitethroat. Beacon Ponds was quiet also with a small mix of Sandwich, Common and Little Terns. The highlight was a juvenile Black Tern which stayed for a while. (Record shots across the pond). A flock of 8 Knot flew in, 2 LRP's, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Sanderling, more Dunlin and 2 Cormorants were also noted. This Marsh Harrier came in, off the sea and circled the canal scrape, before moving up the Humber. The canal scrape was really quiet with one of the Little Grebes bathing. An interesting days' sightings and a warm sunny day.
I had gained an appetite for waders yesterday at Tophill Low and with the tides right at Spurn, a visit to Kilnsea Wetlands was the destination today. There was a quite considerable gull flock on arrival, which I checked out first in case they departed for the fields. A good selection included 4 hefty Great Black-backs, Lesser Black-backs, Herring Gulls, Common Gulls and Black-headed Gulls. 14 Mediterranean Gulls were picked out in total, mostly adults into winter plumage. First image, among the Black-headeds. Second image with LBB Gull. An adult Yellow-legged Gull took longer to find, mainly because its legs were part submerged(!), but I found it nodding off, behind a LBB Gull. As yesterday, a nearby Greenshank was the most conspicuous wader, and a Ruff, among the Dunlins. A single Knot was showing a fine rusty plumage, as was the only Black-tailed Godwit on the wetland. Eleven Little Egrets were on the wetlands. Two Little Stints were on Holderness Fields and a Peregrine flew over on my return walk. Other raptors seen were two Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. Curlew Sandpipers were on Beacon Ponds which I didn't see, in the huge Dunlin flock. Juvenile Yellow Wagtails frequented the Wetland edges. A visit to the Canal Scrape was made as, a Wood Sandpiper had been seen at 9-00am but did not show again. A Dunlin and two Common Snipe were in the cut down reeds, together with a smart Reed Warbler. On leaving the Canal car park, I almost drove past the Common Buzzard I'd seen earlier, perched by the Borrow Pit fence - Wow!
Before I start today's visit to Tophill, I have an interesting photo from a couple of nights ago. Whilst visiting Far Ings nature reserve on Saturday evening - to see the Squacco Heron, we were drawn to the sight of c.120 Common Scoter. These ducks were flying at considerable height and making their overland passage, East to West across the country. A very interesting sight that I hadn't seen before in such numbers. I also managed a sighting of the Squacco in flight too. So, a very windy start at Tophill this morning, but fine and warming up again. On the North Lagoon, a small cluster of waders revealed a juvenile Greenshank in company with three Green Sandpiper. The Greenshank fed throughout the morning, up to its knees in soft mud! In all, there were six Green Sandpipers, coming and going between the adjacent lagoon. One Common Sandpiper was also present. There were numerous wagtails on the approach road and on this lagoon. Eight Pied Wagtails on the road, three on the lagoon, a Yellow Wagtail on the lagoon and these two young Greys with an adult at times. More waders were found on South Marsh in the form of 4 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Common Snipe. 7 Little Egrets were counted this morning. Both reservoirs were quiet, probably due to the wind, which was howling over 'O' reservoir! By late morning, I was walking through 'D' woods and towards North Marsh. The wood was more sheltered further in and the smaller birds were now picked up - Marsh Tit, Wren families, Treecreepers and Goldcrest. Marsh Tit and Wren (young) At North Marsh, things started very slowly with two Moorhens only for quite a while. I had seen 3 Kingfishers flying about North Lagoon earlier and wondered if one would be up here at all. An adult Little Grebe appeared from nowhere and fished for a while. A Grey Heron flew through, a Cetti's Warbler was heard but no other warblers, and no raptors about. Eventually, without a call, a Kingfisher arrived, looking like a female type. It stayed for almost half an hour, trying out all the posts that have been provided (!) and finding a plentiful supply of small fry. An absolute delight watching this colourful little gem, flying from the perches into the water.
To complete my visit, I saw a large otter swim up the right hand channel and into the reeds. My camera didn't quite get there in time!!! |
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