Migrants Arriving

 A grand morning, sunny and dry but the chilly Easterly wind persists and keeps the temperature down to just about double figures.

My first two WIllow Warblers of the year popped up today at Wassand Wood, both singing and showing well.

Willow Warbler

We've had one or two Blackcaps at the Mere but today I had eight, all singing and showing pretty clearly.

Blackcap

In the set aside a few Reed Buntings were feeding quietly, keeping themselves to themselves. Only one bird singing though, further aloing the footpath.

Reed Bunting

Yesterday I saw my second Small Tortoiseshell butterfly of the year, basking in the sun on KP close to a patch of flowering Ground Ivy.

Small Tortoiseshell

Ground Ivy

Also from KP were four Pintail, distant but beautiful to see.

Pintail

 Blackthorn blossom is coming into flower in the hedgerows - easily told from hawthorn at this time of year because blackthorn flowers before its leaves come out, whereas hawthorn flowers after its leaves have appeared. Hawthorn's other common name is whitethorn: both shrubs probably get their names from the colour of their bark, although blackthorn is dark rather than black and whitethorn is a bit paler rather than white.

Leafless blackthorn blossom (Prunus spinosa)

Blackthorn is a very strong wood and is the traditional wood that shillelaghs are made from.

Non, Je ne regrette rien

 No Edith, I do not regret seeing two Egrets this morning 😉

 

First, a Little Egret flew south over Southorpe Road. It was past me before I got onto it, so the pics are of a receding bird.

 

Little Egret southbound

Then when I got to the hide a Great White Egret took off from the reed bed to the right of the hide, circled, got moved on by a Greylag Goose and landed back in the same spot for a few seconds before flying off east. This is the third day running I've seen a GWE at the Mere but the first time I managed to get pics.

Great White Egret from Decoy Hide

Landed on the north side, didn't like it

 

Landed at the west end, got moved on by a Greylag Goose

Tried the west "corner", not happy

Came back to the hide reed bed, almost too close!

Close up crop of the above photo

On Tuesday morning I saw a Barn Owl land in a tree, so I carefully approached hoping its senses were turned off. No such luck, of course it knew I was there all the time.

Barn Owl

That's close enough - I'm off

 

The number of ducks at the Mere is dwindling fast as they leave for their summer haunts. There are still a few Goldeneye and Tufties left though.

Tufted Ducks over the Mere

I had two singing Blackcaps this morning over at Wassand, following a single singing bird on 28 March. The first bird could have been an over-wintering bird starting to sing, but I reckon today's were proper migrants just arrived.

 

Four Sand Martins on 25 March are my only other migrants so far, apart from the omnipresent Chiff Chaffs of course.

Bluethroat at Hornsea At Last

 All in all a very good week for walking and watching wildlife here in Hornsea.

 

My first Hornsea Bluethroat was enjoyed with friends on the cliff top, and the weather has been sunny and dry again but accompanied by chilly winds.

 Saturday 22 March

Redwings flew into Wassand Wood

About 50 or so birds came in from the West. Probably positioning themselves for the journey over the sea back to their breeding grounds.

 Monday 24 March

 A nice morning to walk along the south cliffs and check for arriving Wheatears. Hope over expectation again as none arrived. A pair of Stonechats kept me company as I walked along though, and the Skylarks are always a wonderful backdrop at this time of year.

Singing Skylark

Female Stonechat

A showy male Stonechat

In the afternoon I decided to walk to North Cliffs and see if the reported Bluethroat was still there, hoping others would have already been to see it and left by the time I got there.

 

As I approached North Cliffs I bumped into Graham who was just parking his car. I said the bird was a bit further along so we joined forces and went further north together. Having walked onto the cliff top we saw Ady who had just spotted the Bluethroat on the path by the hedgerow. We had very good views and photos were taken. Lesley joined us and we watched the bird for a few minutes before it disappeared into the hedge. Richard W was there but at the opposite side of the path, looking towards us with the bird between.

 

We waited for the Bluethroat to reappear and wandered up to meet with Richard. Mike then appeared from the other side of the hedge just as the bird hopped out onto the path again.

 

More photos were taken, the five of us had a good old chinwag and then it was time to leave, giving the Bluethroat a wide berth as we left so we didn't disturb it. Strange how we all met at the same time in the late afternoon without any prior communication.

 

Bluethroat at Hornsea North Cliffs

 Wednesday 26 March

 

About 60 Starlings and Redwings along Southorpe Road

Starlings and Redwings

Roe Deer sauntering across the road, early morning

Chiff Chaff

Primroses brightening up the wood

Brown Hare, probably thinking I couldn't see it

 Thursday 27 March

 

 Distant views of the Marsh Harriers at the Mere, checking each other out.

Male and female Marsh Harrier

 

Yellowhammers are more numerous now along the Mere hedgerows

 Friday 28 March

 

A circuit of the Mere this morning in the warm sun and westerly chilly wind. The usual birds and mammals were seen, but in a slightly different setting.

 

Wassand Wood

Song Thrushes are everywhere 😀

There's always one that has to be different!

The difference

Hornsea Mere

Saturday 29 March

 

I walked along to North Cliffs again this morning to see if Wheatears had decided today was a good day to make land fall - no luck, but a fine walk anyway. Not much to see, maybe the strong westerlies had something to do this that, but Chiff Chaffs in the hedge were obligingly close.

Chiff Chaff

 Along the sea front, the seal that had come ashore to rest yesterday was still there, watched over by the local rep from BDMRC to ensure everyone and their dogs kept a respectful distance. Fingers crossed that it decides to go back out to sea when high tide comes around this evening. No pics as it doesn't need me hassling it when all it wants to do is chill.