Windy, Rainy, Cold and Icy

 It's been a while since my last post on the blog, so let me cast your mind back to when it was a bit breezy with Storm Eowyn.

I went down to the sea front to see what havoc was being wreaked and was highly delighted to find that we were havocless here on the East Coast. That's not to say it wasn't a tad breezy, as this Turnstone found as it was hoisted from its chosen landing place to a place a few inches away...

A displaced Turnstone

The usual birds were found along the beach and it was a nice surprise to see the Purple Sandpiper on the strand line rather than on one of the breakwaters.

Purple Sandpiper having a bad feather day

Purple Sandpiper and a Sanderling

I walked up from the beach to the cliffs hoping to get the year's first Skylark as they are usually to be seen and heard along the cliff tops at this time of year.

Disappointingly there wasn't one to be found. I'm not really surprised as the amount of disturbance caused by the ongoing development of Hornsea Lakes and Longbeach has maybe put them off. Only one Meadow Pipit as well when there are historically quite a few along there in January. Carry on buggering up the countryside folks as there is still wildlife clinging on that you haven't totally scared off yet. This fox continues to hunt successfully amid the chaos.

A fox braving the wind and excavators on the cliff top

Life goes on regardless (hopefully) but we are several species poorer each year it seems.

The sun has made an appearance a few times and the local Winter Heliotrope near KP could have been awakened for an hour or two to track its movement through the heavens.

Winter Heliotrope

Great Spotted Woodpeckers are well into their spring drumming regime and I heard three rattling away one morning. I'm yet to see one of them drumming on anything other than a branch or tree trunk yet. Back west I frequently saw and heard 'peckers drumming on metal pylons. You'd think brain damage (no, not a Pink Floyd link) would result but their skulls have evolved to cushion the vibrations and they fly away unharmed to drum another day.

Great Spotted Woodpecker spotted in the tree tops

Back to the Mere now and I'm seeing a Kestrel each morning as I walk along my usual route. It swooped down to the road side yesterday and I hoped it had caught something, but it flew away with nothing.

Kestrel

The set aside field continues to do a grand job in sustaining our wildlife through the food gap. Linnet is the most numerous bird and is seen daily, followed by Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Reed Bunting. I hadn't seen a Yellowhammer this year until this morning when I found eight in the hedgerow towards Weatherhill in a mixed flock with over 25 Reed Buntings. As I walked through to the set aside I found two Yellowhammers there along with about 20 Reed Buntings - probably the same flock I saw earlier.

A good-sized flock of Linnet in the set aside

Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings

Yellowhammer and Reed Buntings

A last comment on the windy weather - I saw no damage following Storm Eowyn but this tree fell foul of the winds this last weekend. I didn't think it was particularly windy but maybe it's a cumulative effect? Almost half the tree fell and had to be cleared to make it safe.

Sad to see damage of this magnitude to trees

 * The Who's 1971 singles compilation album "Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy" becomes Windy, Rainy, Cold and Icy. An obscure musical link to keep you on your toes.

Blackcap in The Garden

 I've waited all this time to finally get an over-wintering warbler in the garden. I sort of knew the previous garden wasn't ideal for warblers so I hoped this one would be better.

Lin told me a few days ago she had seen one on the feeder outside the office window so I've been looking more closely and I finally got it.

An unseasonal Blackcap

I now await the appearance of a Chiff Chaff 😂😂

Roe Deer have been seen almost every day now the days are longer (well, half an hour counts you know!) with a current maximum of six on one day.

It's always nice to come across Roe Deer

A visit to Wassand yesterday and today provided a few nice images. The ice is slowly melting in Decoy but whether this brings any more wild fowl into view is anyone's guess.

Frozen Decoy

Pinkies going north

Male Marsh Harrier

Barnacle Goose fly-past

Sparrowhawk

Snowdrops are appearing now

The cool January continues, which is good because we should have cold winters. They seem to be getting few and far between now as climate change takes its toll.

A lovely misty and cold morning at the Mere

A look through the hedge-shaped window today...

The woodland walk in January

I was watched all the way through Heslop's by a Buzzard yesterday morning. Must have been a slow news day if it had northing better to look at.

Common Buzzard

The set asidde field is really doing a sterling job in providing much needed food for our local birds. The Linnet flock is about 140 strong, with other birds coming and going on a daily basis - figures for this year are Chaffinch about 20, Goldfinch up to 30, Reed Bunting max 8, Greenfinch max 2, Bullfinch max 2. No Yellowhammer or Brambling yet.

Reed Bunting

Linnet

The winter thrushes are still here of course and should be for a while yet. I see Redwings and Fieldfare daily but they are not always photoable (a new word, maybe I'll submit it to the OED for inclusion).

Fieldfare

The Trail Of The Lonesome Pine

 When Wassand Estate cut down the pine trees at the top of Wassand Wood in about 2013 for timber, for some reason they left a few still standing. The row of tall pines that run alongside the start of the woodland walk to the hide are pretty well known and photographed, but there is a single pine tree about 100 yards away. Why did they leave just one standing on its own I wonder?

The Lonesome Pine

The other pines

The expected winter flooded footpaths arrived, making wellies an absolute must to get anywhere at the Mere without soggy feet. 

A few Redwings are being seen along the south side of the Mere. There are usually quite a few in the wood through winter but the ones and twos through the fields are very welcome sights.

Redwing

The wintering Barnacle Geese are also making themselves heard in the mornings with their familiar "barking dogs" calls. Three Roe Deer browsing nearby made for a pleasant early morning sight.

Roe Deer, making sure I keep my distance

Roe Deer and Barnacle Geese

There was a run of beautiful sunrises through past week until the cold weather cut through. Such wonderful natural sights make walking along the sea front a real pleasure.

The start of another great day here on the east coast

A pair of Egyptian Geese were on KP regularly in December and they continue to show themselves into the new year. 

Egyptian Geese

Without further ado we are up to date with just this morning's walk to cover. It was a good one too - through Rolston to the cliffs and then the sea front. A morning list of Barn Owl, Little Egret, Snipe, Golden Plover and Stonechat was pleasing to say the least.

Barn Owl seen through the trees

A frosty teasel head

Greenfinch

Little Egret

Golden Plover (51 seen in the fields)

Pair of Stonechats

Male Stonechat

Female Stonechat

Along the sea front at least three Turnstone were joined by a Purple Sandpiper and later by a single Sanderling.

Purple Sandpiper

"The Trail Of The Lonesome Pine" is a song from 1913. 

Please note that despite some doubts to the contrary, I wasn't around at the time, but I do remember it from a Laurel and Hardy film 😂😂