Migrants are here despite the cold weather

Well, it may be snowing and hailing and raining and a cold northerly may be blowing strongly, but despite all this the migrants have made it. Magically appearing every year from far away, our summer migrants really perk up the Spring and Summer seasons for us.

Who could go though a summer without seeing Swallows over the meadows; or without hearing Swifts screaming over the town as they chase insects; or without the lovely House Martins with their gentle farty noises flying around our homes? Sand Martins are very numerous right now over Hornsea Mere, flying low over the water to catch flies.

House Martins shelter from the rain under the eaves of Hornsea Mere cafe

Sand Martin at Hornsea Mere

Sand Martin low over the water, sometimes they pluck insects off the water's surface

In the reed beds we have Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers rattling away, in the hedgerows there are Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats singing their heads off, and Blackcaps in the woods and hedgerows singing too. If you're really lucky you'll pick up the sound of a Grasshopper Warbler reeling its song - it sounds a bit like a fisherman's reel unwinding.

All these birds will stay with us here in Hornsea until Autumn.

Yellow Wagtails and White Wagtails are coming through now, along with a few Wheatear. Although the Yellow Wagtails will move into local farmland to breed, the White Wagtails and Wheatear will move on to habitat more to their liking.

White Wagtail and a Yellow Wagtail feeding on the putting green

White Wagtail on the Kirkholme Point putting green

Other migrants come in to Hornsea Mere to feed, one of which is the Common Sandpiper. They don't breed here as far as we know, but these small waders are often seen around late April and early May on the shoreline of the Mere. This photo was taken this morning in the sheltered area to the right of Kirkholme Point as you enter from the road.

Common Sandpiper flying off to the north of Kirkholme Point at The Mere

We do get other waders coming through and stopping off, but as there is precious little shoreline on The Mere at the moment, they may well just bypass us and carry on to somewhere that offers better feeding opportunities. The pond at Bewholme perhaps?

Otters and Deer

Spring continues to gather momentum - the crops are growing in the fields, migrating birds are returning from their wintering lands and wildlife is getting frisky.

A few hours spent in the hide at Wassand reaped dividends when 3 Otters turned up:

Hopefully these wonderful animals will thrive here at Hornsea Mere and will be left alone!

The local Roe Deer are being seen more and more often as the days get longer. There are several in the woods and fields now and if you're quick enough you can get a few nice images before they run off

Roe buck with doe in rape seed field

Roe buck with eye patch

On the cliffs birds have been arriving in good numbers, particularly Meadow Pipits and Linnets. I counted 23 Meadow Pipits and 12 Linnets in-off while I walked along the cliffs yesterday.

Meadow Pipit just arrived in Hornsea

Garganey and Marsh Harriers

Yesterday and today were days full of sunshine and singing birds and a really marvelous time to be out on the cliffs and in the fields.

Walking past Hornsea Lakes a different looking goose caught my eye and it turned out to be a dark-bellied Brent Goose - my first in Hornsea :)

Dark-bellied Brent Goose

Kirkholme Point was my usual call in location and turned up my first Garganey of the year - a smashing drake in breeding plumage and looking stunning over by Swan Island.

Garganey with Gadwall behind

Garganey and Coot

Garganey with no distractions

Through the fields at the south side of the Mere and Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer and Skylark were all making their presence known with their distinctive songs. There are still plenty of Greylag Geese around too.

Two pairs of Lapwing are displaying further along the fields before you reach Wassand, here's hoping they hang around and manage to nest and breed successfully.

In the hide there wasn't much excitement apart from the Marsh Harriers (and the toads and frogs that are just coming to the end of their spawning period).

Male and female Marsh Harrier over The Mere

Male Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Female Marsh Harrier

Common Toad

Also flying over the hide came a military cargo plane. No idea what kind it is though!