Winter

It's sure been a cold, cold winter, Lord
My feet been draggin' 'cross the ground
And the fields has all been brown and fallow
And the springtime take the long way around

 From "Winter" by The Rolling Stones 1973

Yes, I know that winter has only just started, but it seems like it's been for a while!  I've been wearing my cold weather gear for a few weeks (along with waterproofs of course) and there are still nearly 3 months of this to come - aaaaargh.

 

Anyway, back to the weather in due course. What's been around to see here in deepest, darkest Hornsea? Not too much different is the answer, but a few to generate some interest and worthy of a snap or two.

 

I was struggling at the start of December with not much kicking around, so I resorted to a couple of tried and tested faves in good sunlight. 

Starling looking magnificent in good light

Greenfinch

Partially leucistic Carrion Crow

 

The westerly winds provided a good amount of spindrift off the waves as the tide came in along the sea front here in Hornsea. 

Spindrift caught in the rising sun

Spindrift in fading early morning light

Spindrift in full daylight

I love spindrift and it looks spectacular. I was once accused of airbrushing a photo of spindrift! I posted a pic on Facebook on a public group site and some numpty commented that it obviously had been Photoshopped or airbrushed. I don't think they'd ever looked at waves properly 🤣🤣

 

Another 10 Sanderling were on the beach and one of them had coloured rings on its legs. I went down onto the beach to get close ups so I could record it, but before I got anywhere near, the ubiquitous dog walker and dog came along and saw off all the birds. Happens way too often.

 

We've gone from one extreme to the other in almost no time at all it seems. We had Mere water levels at an all time low through late summer and into autumn, now we have the Mere overflowing into the boat house and all the jetties are under water.

Noivember 30 - jetties nearly submerged

 

December 3 - jetties under water

Boat house now flooded

 

A Red-crested Pochard has arrived again, this time on its own. It's always nice to see something different, even though I'm always dubious about them being escapes rather than kosher wild birds.

Drake Red-crested Pochard at the Mere

As above

 Also spotted by Jon was a hybrid Tufted Duck, but it's anyone's guess what it is hybridised with. They are usually Pochard/Tufted hybrids that we see, but this bird would likely be paler if a Pochard had been involved.

Aythya hybrid

 

 Another short post this time I'm afraid. I'll try and get out more often to bring more interesting updates - as long as the wildlife is there to see of coure!