Sunday 12 October 2025
The shorter days of cool mornings with a heavy dew or light rain are upon us, highlighting the number of spider's webs that are in place after each day. In the morning before most folk are up and about, I often walk through strands of webs that are drifting in the breeze between trees, bushes, lamp posts, and more often between the washing line and the hedge at home.
John Keats wrote his poem To Autumn back in the early 19th century which included the famous line "Mists of mellow fruitfulness" and that perfectly describes autumn to me. We lacked the mist on the days I took photos of the webs but it did appear on a couple of days.
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| Some of autumn's webs |
Despite the rain we've had over the last two months, the Mere water level is still very low. The "sloping pole" as we call it is normally well submerged but it is still showing its base and anchoring shale. It is actually an old boat mooring pole by the looks of it.
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| Sloping pole island, still well above water level |
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| Carrion Crow with white primaries |
I spent half an hour in the hide this morning and enjoyed reasonable views of Kingfisher and a couple of Great White Egrets.
Today was also the first day I heard Redwing arriving this autumn, but no photos I'm afraid. Whooper Swans were still on the Mere, about 50 overnight.
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| Great White Egret, one of two from the hide |
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| Kingfisher |
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| A missed fish left the Kingfisher with weed (not egg!) on its face |
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| Success 👍 |
Two Tawny Owls calling over by Weatherhill Farm were the highlight of the morning, followed by a singing Song Thrush which really lifted my spirits.
More Redwings were seen and heard but still no photos of them.
I came across a roosting Cormorant on a quick call in to the hide, which was very quiet apart from that.
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| Cormorant in front of the hide, looking very reptilian |
Some more autumn fungi were spotted and id'd (I hope!).
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| Amarillaria ostoyae, with Braconid wasp |
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| Amarillaria ostoyae |
This fungus is id'd by closed gills and a clear ring around its stipe (stem) which is near to the cap.
The species of Braconid wasp was tiny and I would have missed it altogether if it hadn't been on the fungus cap.
I noticed that the thick scrub close by the hide entrance gate is being cleared, which is a job obviously best left to heavy machinery. It could be done by hand but it would take a long time and a load of effort.
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| Scrub clearance by the hide |
A large fall of autumn migrants arrivals today, some of which I saw, but the main attraction was several Yellow-browed Warblers that hit the East Coast. We had four that we know of - one at North Cliffs and two on KP, with perhaps another on second field bank. I spent a happy hour or two in the afternoon with others trying to relocate those on KP, but no luck this time.
Siskin, Fieldfare and the usual Pink-footed Geese were seen, along with six Bearded Tits that ventured close to the edge of Heslop's reed bed.
Not particularly good images but you can tell what they are at least.
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| One of six Bearded Tits |
Saturday 18 October 2025
Today saw another calm but grey and overcast morning here in Hornsea, cool of course but not cold yet 😀
Nothing much to write home about today. Redwings were seen and heard once more and I managed a poor photo of one. Early morning light with no sun doesn't make for good photography really!!
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| A poor shot of a Redwing, I had to overexpose +3 to get enough light |
There was plenty of wildlife about but not within camera shot. However, set aside field two was looking resplendent even though the sunflowers are well past their best now. A small patch of phacelia caught my eye, as did the bordering borage which is still looking good.
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| Borage |
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| Set aside two with sunflowers and phacelia |
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| Phacelia, you're breaking my heart... |
Finish with a bang we are told - the Simon and Garfunkel song title pun is the best I can do today 🤣🤣
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