Young Great Spotted Woodpeckers can easily be told apart from adults as they have red heads (and are smaller too!).
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| nest #1 |
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| nest #1 |
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| nest #2 |
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| nest #2 |
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| nest #2 |
Thursday 30 May 2019
Great Spotted Woodpeckers - young 'uns
The Great Spotted Woodpecker nestlings are big enough to stick their heads out of the nest holes now. Won't be long before they fledge :)
Young Great Spotted Woodpeckers can easily be told apart from adults as they have red heads (and are smaller too!).
Young Great Spotted Woodpeckers can easily be told apart from adults as they have red heads (and are smaller too!).
Saturday 25 May 2019
A Roebuck this morning
2 minutes later I was treated to a very close view of a fox. It was being chased by a doe Roe Deer (perhaps seeing it off as it may have young near by). The fox sat down very close to me in the undergrowth and just as the camera was focussing it was off...very nearly the shot of a lifetime :)
Thursday 23 May 2019
Withernwick Lane, Cowden Lane Circular walk
Dry, sunny, 8 degrees, light westerly wind
Start 07:00
Bird species: 38
I had a fine walk along Withernwick Lane/Cowden Lane towards Withernwick then back through the fields to the north of the lane. Only just a tad over 5 miles and on a glorious day like today it was very enjoyable.
I'd wanted to wander around this area for a while so when a friend mentioned he had seen a Turtle Dove there recently, this morning seemed a heaven sent opportunity to check it out.
I have driven down the road so I knew it was single track and pretty quiet so I wouldn't be bothered by loads of cars whizzing past. Only about half a dozen passed me the whole time I was walking along there and stepping onto the grass verge to let them by safely wasn't any bother.
If wind turbines are your thing then you get wonderfully close views of them along the road. They were quiet today as the wind was quite gentle.
I checked every field boundary as I went along hoping to see a Grey Partridge, but I didn't even see a Red-legged never mind a Grey. There were however plenty of warblers in the hedgerows and trees - Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat.
During the walk two things stood out:
1) that there were more Brown Hares than rabbits hereabouts,
2) someone had put up lots of nest boxes for owls and raptors.
For the most part the walk was simple, following the markers and an obvious path but the OSMaps app on my phone was needed a couple of times when the path was blocked by crops and I needed to find a way round and back onto the path. It also doesn't help when way markers have been removed...
I know that council cut backs have reduced services but I'm sure there are plenty of willing volunteers that could check out such things for East Yorkshire Council - me for one 😊
Along the route I came across the first large patch of common flax I've ever seen, it looked lovely in the morning sunshine, although my photo doesn't do it justice.
As it's the middle of Spring lots of birds were singing. Those you'd expect in an arable area such as Linnet and Yellowhammer and Skylark of course, but they were all out done by the loudest song of the day from this Wren.
Roe deer gave me the third mammal of my walk to add to hare and rabbit. There may have been squirrels in the wood but I never saw any.
Start 07:00
Bird species: 38
I had a fine walk along Withernwick Lane/Cowden Lane towards Withernwick then back through the fields to the north of the lane. Only just a tad over 5 miles and on a glorious day like today it was very enjoyable.
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| The route |
I have driven down the road so I knew it was single track and pretty quiet so I wouldn't be bothered by loads of cars whizzing past. Only about half a dozen passed me the whole time I was walking along there and stepping onto the grass verge to let them by safely wasn't any bother.
If wind turbines are your thing then you get wonderfully close views of them along the road. They were quiet today as the wind was quite gentle.
I checked every field boundary as I went along hoping to see a Grey Partridge, but I didn't even see a Red-legged never mind a Grey. There were however plenty of warblers in the hedgerows and trees - Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat.
During the walk two things stood out:
1) that there were more Brown Hares than rabbits hereabouts,
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| here a hare... |
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| there a hare... |
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| everywhere a hare hare. |
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| two nest boxes in one tree |
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| removed way marker - needs sorting |
Along the route I came across the first large patch of common flax I've ever seen, it looked lovely in the morning sunshine, although my photo doesn't do it justice.
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| Wren shouting |
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| Roebuck |
Thursday 9 May 2019
Black Terns and Water Voles
KP, Seaton Road hide, beach, KP again
Drizzle, overcast, northerly wind, 6 degrees C
8.7 miles
44 bird species
Tuesday was my volunteering day over at Wheldrake so no update on here, and yesterday was a trip to Leeds so no update for that either. I may include a Wheldrake day in due course just to make things a wee bit more varied.
The big thing today was to get a good view of the Black Terns that have been appearing all over the place. I went to KP first just to check whether there were any to be seen from there, and although there were a couple of Dunlin and a few Common Sandpipers, the Black Terns were feeding over behind Swan Island where they were sheltered from the northerly wind.
I walked round from KP and joined Jon in the hide, and straight away the Black Terns were giving great views through binoculars. They were nearer Swan Island though, so quite distant. I took a few pics just to see what sort of images were on offer and the light was obviously an issue. Focussing on the birds when they were so far away was nigh on impossible for my 400mm lens as the background was always being favoured. I tried a fast shutter speed to avoid blurring but the poor light also meant a high ISO which degraded the image quality. Right there you have my excuses for crap photos - poor focus/low light/moving birds/grainy images. I could add u/s photographer but you already know that 😂😂😂 I did try manual focus but that was worse. So here they are, cropped to 50% or higher.
Also seen while in the hide were Kingfisher, Common Tern and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Jon had seen Sandwich Terns though his scope so I thought I'd walk down to the beach to see if any were on the groynes, which is where they often rest between fishing sorties.
2 miles later I could see why they were favouring the Mere over the sea, as the waves were crashing in and the northerly wind was whipping the surf on the beach into a moving mass of foam.
I decided to go back to KP so I took the opportunity to check on the Water Voles. Two of them were quite active, swimming from the far bank over to the near bank and going back over into their holes.
Back at KP the rain was still raining and Common Terns were dominating the available resting places. No Black Terns or Sandwich Terns here I'm afraid.
Home for tea and crumpets courtesy of Mrs C? Oh yeah.
44 bird species seen this morning:
The usual plus-
2 Dunlin
3 Common Sandpiper
9 Black Tern
3 Common Tern
Kingfisher
Drizzle, overcast, northerly wind, 6 degrees C
8.7 miles
44 bird species
Tuesday was my volunteering day over at Wheldrake so no update on here, and yesterday was a trip to Leeds so no update for that either. I may include a Wheldrake day in due course just to make things a wee bit more varied.
The big thing today was to get a good view of the Black Terns that have been appearing all over the place. I went to KP first just to check whether there were any to be seen from there, and although there were a couple of Dunlin and a few Common Sandpipers, the Black Terns were feeding over behind Swan Island where they were sheltered from the northerly wind.
I walked round from KP and joined Jon in the hide, and straight away the Black Terns were giving great views through binoculars. They were nearer Swan Island though, so quite distant. I took a few pics just to see what sort of images were on offer and the light was obviously an issue. Focussing on the birds when they were so far away was nigh on impossible for my 400mm lens as the background was always being favoured. I tried a fast shutter speed to avoid blurring but the poor light also meant a high ISO which degraded the image quality. Right there you have my excuses for crap photos - poor focus/low light/moving birds/grainy images. I could add u/s photographer but you already know that 😂😂😂 I did try manual focus but that was worse. So here they are, cropped to 50% or higher.
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| 3 of the 9 Black Terns over Hornsea Mere this morning |
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| 2 of the 9.... |
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| The final Black Tern photo (for today) |
Jon had seen Sandwich Terns though his scope so I thought I'd walk down to the beach to see if any were on the groynes, which is where they often rest between fishing sorties.
2 miles later I could see why they were favouring the Mere over the sea, as the waves were crashing in and the northerly wind was whipping the surf on the beach into a moving mass of foam.
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| Water Vole |
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| Common Tern, Swallow and Sand Martin |
44 bird species seen this morning:
The usual plus-
2 Dunlin
3 Common Sandpiper
9 Black Tern
3 Common Tern
Kingfisher
Sunday 5 May 2019
Mere Circuit
Ciruit of Hornsea Mere including KP and Wassand hide
Cool, showers, 7 degrees C with a light N breeze
7.3 miles
53 bird species
As there was a northerly wind again I planned a walk that would keep me out of the wind as much as possible. An anti-clockwise circuit of the Mere seemed to be the best way to go, and to stick to the road side rather than go on the footpath through the fields on the north side, as that would be unsheltered. I could also visit the small hide on Seaton Road too.
On KP (Kirkholme Point) I saw a Common Sandpiper on the shoreline near where the ducks and geese congregate. An Oystercatcher flew overhead and landed on Swan Island and was soon followed by the Sandpiper.
4 Common Terns were fishing over the Mere and at least one was successful.
Leaving town on Seaton Road I could hear the Oystercatcher overhead for a good while and didn't lose it until I reached Seaton Garage. Lots of warblers were singing along the road - Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Blackcaps.
In the small hide a pair of Great Crested Grebes were displaying - these were two of at least 8 GCG I saw through the morning.
Looking over the Mere from Brockholme, I could see the hide with its elevated viewing platform over the other side of the Mere.
There are loads of wild flowers on the roadside verges and Garlic Mustard is the latest one to come into flower. The large flowers with umbels such as Hogweed and Cow Parsley are also growing quickly and will be fully out soon.
Into the wood at Wassand - I always enjoy going down the woodland walk that leads to the hide, it's so peaceful usually although this morning it was filled with birdsong. Did you know that it's International Dawn Chorus Day today? Who is this lady and why does she have a day named after her? 😄😄
From the hide I could see that the resident Marsh Harriers were flapping around over the reedbed. It is wonderful to have them here and I hope they hang around for a long time.
A final photo for this blog entry - a female Goldeneye appeared in front of the hide. We thought they'd all gone!
53 species - all the usual residents and migrants plus:
4 Common Tern
2 Common Sandpiper
Sparrowhawk
2 Pink-footed Goose
3 White-fronted Goose
Cool, showers, 7 degrees C with a light N breeze
7.3 miles
53 bird species
As there was a northerly wind again I planned a walk that would keep me out of the wind as much as possible. An anti-clockwise circuit of the Mere seemed to be the best way to go, and to stick to the road side rather than go on the footpath through the fields on the north side, as that would be unsheltered. I could also visit the small hide on Seaton Road too.
On KP (Kirkholme Point) I saw a Common Sandpiper on the shoreline near where the ducks and geese congregate. An Oystercatcher flew overhead and landed on Swan Island and was soon followed by the Sandpiper.
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| Common Sandpiper |
4 Common Terns were fishing over the Mere and at least one was successful.
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| Common Tern |
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| Common Terns, one with a small fish |
In the small hide a pair of Great Crested Grebes were displaying - these were two of at least 8 GCG I saw through the morning.
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| Great Crested Grebes displaying |
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| Wassand hide at Decoy |
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| Hornsea Mere from Brockholme |
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| Garlic mustard |
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| Wassand Hall drive |
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| Woodland walk to the hide |
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| A different view from near the hide |
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| Goldeneye - surely the last of them until Autumn? |
4 Common Tern
2 Common Sandpiper
Sparrowhawk
2 Pink-footed Goose
3 White-fronted Goose
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