Red-throated Diver, Smew, Siskin and Blackcap

 A Red-throated Diver flew in and stayed a few days at the Mere, giving good views eventually. They don't normally hang around so this was a nice change for us.

Red-throated Diver on the Mere

On the same day that I got these photos of the diver, a male Smew appeared and stayed for a few hours. I had reasonable views of it off first field, but didn't manage to get any useable photos. The same went for a Velvet Scoter!

 

When I got home I spotted a female Blackcap in the garden, feeding on fat balls. We had a male Blackcap last year and I hope the trend for having over-wintering Blackcaps in the garden continues.

Female Blackcap in the garden

 Half a dozen Siskin were in the alders on KP with about 15 Long-tailed Tits. The morning was awful - grey, windy and drizzly and the light was grim so the images were too dark even after over-exposing. They look a little better after a bit of editting, but not much.

 

Siskin on KP

I went for a good long walk up Bewholme Lane this morning and really enjoyed having the sun out for the first time in what seemed like ages. Lots of birds singing and active - nothing particularly outstanding but good to see a few Red-legged Partridges and to hear two Skylarks up and singing.

Red-legged Partrige

Red-legged Partridges

Starlings

Two of five Greenfinch

About 100 Linnet

It was really great to see so many Linnet in the hedgerows, as the large flock we get each winter at the Mere set aside field has been absent this year. A break from the usual seed-rich planting there (replaced with a two year seed planting last year) is the cause and if I can manage to see him I'll ask the guy who does it if we can go back to the previous seed mix.

Quick Update with Repaired Camera

 It's good to have my camera back again, even though the opportunities to use it have been limited by the poor light. It seems to be working as well as before though so....back to normal 😊

 

Down at the sea front we had a large influx of Sanderling of over 170 birds. I walked along the following morning and found 35 still there, roosting on the beach as the tide came in.

35 Sanderling, well camouflaged on the beach

Closer shot of the snoozing Sanderling

 Further along the promenade, the long-staying pair of Stonechats were feeding in the undergrowth.

Female Stonechat enjoying the sea view

Male Stonechat

Things have quiet at the Mere which is normal at this time of year, although we have had a Ring-necked Duck and over 10 Scaup hanging around for several days. Photos have been an issue due to distance but hopefully they will approach to within camera range at some point.

Redwing are seen every morning and Great Spotted Woodpeckers have started drumming, making them easier to find and photograph.

Redwing showing its red underwing

Great Spotted Woodpecker at the Mere

In the garden we are seeing Long-tailed Tits every day now as they visit the sunflower seed and fat ball feeders. One of the LTs showed behaviour I haven't seen before when it hung from one leg and held a seed to eat it in the other. It reminded me of a parrot which I think is the only other bird I've seen doing this?! 

Long-tailed Tit holding a seed to eat it while hanging by one leg

The green wire is a hanging basket that I use in the cotoneaster bush to keep Wood Pigeons off the feeders. 

Long-tailed Tit

Also in the garden was the first Greenfinch I have seen visiting our garden. We've been here 18 months now so a Greenfinch is well overdue.

Greenfinch on a garden feeder

Greenfinch

Normal Service Will Be Resumed As Soon As Possible

 I have just received an email informing me that my camera has been repaired and is being sent back to me 👍

I will hopefully be back up and running very soon and able to take photos again.

 Thanks for ypur patience!😉 

Not a Good Start To My New Year

 Not a particularly good start to the new year for me I'm afraid - I slipped on the snow and damaged my camera. It is now in the hands of the manufacturers and I'm hoping it is fixable.

 

Before the incident...

Wassand woodland walk - first photo of 2026

Redwing

Wren

 The first full moon of the year is called a Wolf Moon, it's thought to be because wolves howled more at this time of year, as there was less food.

Wolf Moon

 The snow arrived on 4 January in some style - we had 4 or 5 inches in just a few hours. Weirdly only a narrow strip along the coast was lucky enough to get it! This photo from a NASA satellite shows the Yorkshire coast covered in snow, with Spurn in the bottom right and Flamborough Head just to the north of Spurn.

 

The snow was very picturesque but it was damn cold, and slippery as my camera can confirm.

The Wolf Moon over the Mere

Mere cafe and St Nicholas church

South side fields

Wassand pines

Wassand pines again

A frozen Mere from the hide

Wassand woodland walk in the snow

Reed Bunting

A much-needed hot drink during my morning walk

Coal Tit with a sunflower seed

I am hopeful that my camera can be repaired - buying another RX10 MkIV is not only expensive it is also next to impossible to get a new one. There are plenty of used ones for sale on the web but you never know what they've been through before it comes to you.

The Last Post (of 2025 anyway)

 The year is ending with a beautiful day here on the East Coast of Yorkshire, with a  lovely sunset just to top things off nicely. Cold and clear and sunny, a proper Decemebr day.

 

The local footpaths are now passable in boots rather than wellies and the only thing that could be better is the temperature - it was -2 C this morning when I got up. I don't want it to be warm but above freezing would be good 😉

 

 I'm looking forward to the new year and hope to put a bit more effort into my wildlife watching. My total walking distance for the year was 2,323 miles, which is better than last year but still 200 miles under 2023 and 2022's totals. OK I'm older and people tell me I should be slowing down, but I'm sure I can do better. I will give it my best shot.

 

 As I was walking along to Bewholme Lane a few days ago a Goldcrest was feeding in the Great Willowherb on the road side. No camera but a quick video on the phone did the trick.

 

 Bewholme Lane was the place to be in late December with about 1,500 Pink-footed Geese, 4 White Fronted Geese, 2 Tundra Bean Geese and a single Brent Goose. I managed a photo of some Pinkies but the mist made the visibility a bit grim.

Pink-footed Geese through the murk

As I was walking up the lane I spotted a few Red-legged Partridges. There jused to be a partridge farm up there so I guess a few would have made a bid for freedom at some point or other.

Red-legged Partridges

Anyway, let's close the year with a few photos taken on the final day of the year:

 

View of the Mere with Grey Heron, Mute Swans and Goldeneye

South side field with your truly's shadow

Hornsea's two churches in the distance

December 31 2025's moon

My shadow getting in the shot again

Hornsea Mere boat house and cafe

 

I wish everyone a very happy and healthy new year.