Not Much ABout

 It's been a quiet time over the last couple of weeks and that, allied with a few days away, has meant there isn't much to report I'm afraid. 

 

A walk along the sea front was of interest though as I spotted a skua flying by relatively close in to shore. I took photos as it flew by and checked them when I got home, as it looked to be something other than a Great Skua. A kind and helpful friend confirmed id as being an Arctic Skua. 

Arctic Skua off Hornsea sea front

Arctic Skua and a photo bombing Red-throated Diver

Arctic Skua

Red-throated Divers

The first of the Autumn's Pink-footed Geese have been flying over and I saw a small group that had landed south of the Mere, joining Barnacle and Greylag Geese.

Pink-footed Geese

The Red-legged Partridges that have been seen regularly around the Mere through Spring and Summer are still here, only four now though.

Red-legged Partridges

During the dearth of interesting birds I've been catching some of our resident birds through the lens. Here is a small selection of those I saved.

Teal

A scruffy Magpie

Kestrel

Same Kestrel as above

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Heron Landing

The insects still showing in the warmish days of early Autumn are quite numerous, although I can't say that that description applies to butterflies! Red Admirals, Commas and Whites are about in greater numbers than Small Coppers (I saw one of those 😂). 

Small Copper

Common Darters, Ruddy Darters and Migrant Hawkers lead the way in the dragonfly stakes, with 18 Common Darters seen during a morning walk. 

Ruddy Darter

Finally for this update, a young Roe Deer was trying to get out of a field but was having some difficulty finding a lowish part of the fence to jump over. It managed eventually I'm glad to report.

One of this year's young Roe Deer

Hobbies Showing Well

It has been a fine week for Hobbies at the Mere with up to three (an adult and two juveniles) flying around and being very vocal. Sunday morning turned out to be the best morning with all three birds up and doing early on. It was cool, about 12 degrees, and dull so a bit early for dragonflies to be flying. Also I didn't see any hirundines, so in the absence of anything else to chase the young 'uns chased each other, screeching and showing great aerobatic agility. They landed in trees every now and then, to rest and preen before they set off again.

 

Hobby over the Mere

Hobby showing a clean pair of "trousers"

 They came through so close one time I had no chance of getting them in the camera viewfinder, focussing and pressing the shutter release so I just pointed the camera at them and fired off frames blindly. One nearly got the best shot of the morning 😂

Close, but no cigar.

There are a few summer migrants still showing too, apart from the Hobbies, with Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff and Blackcap all seen in the trees and bushes around Wassand.

Blackcap

Chiff Chaff

Resident birds are also coming out of moult and are seen more regularly, which makes the morning walks much more interesting.

Wren

Robin

Long-tailed Tit

Along the sea front the Sandwich and Common Tern numbers have peaked but there are still a few to be seen and heard. The upturned baskets marking the end of the groynes are useful perches for birds.

 

Just managed to get this Sandwich Tern in the viewfinder

Common Tern

Immature Cormorant

Sandwich Tern

Squirrels were busy finding and burying food in readiness for the winter days when food is scarce. This squirrel had three dog rose hips, it ate one and buried two.

Squirrel with rose hips

There are lots of dragonflies around the woodland edge and a few damselflies and butterflies too. Nothing new I'm afraid, so the same old subjects are recycled, new photos are taken and posted here ad nauseum 🤣🤣

Green Shieldbug

Comma and Common Darter

Comma

Ruddy Darter

Willow Emerald

Willow Emerald

Willow Emerald

Black Clock Beetle swimming in a large puddle

Autumn is upon us, meteorologically speaking, and although the stubble fields are now being ploughed to make sure there is no grain left for the birds to eat, the set aside will be there to keep some of them going until next year.

 

South side set aside field, rich in seed bearing plants

Autumn Migration Starts

 It's been a good week, despite the hissing down rain, as the first few passerine migrants started to appear.

 

Yesterday was full of interest around the Mere and the first bird I saw on arrival in first field was a Wheatear, followed by two Whinchats and four Black Terns. Ruff flew south overhead on their out and I got photos of a couple over the Mere. Later a Hobby was over Heslop's and a couple of Marsh Harriers flew over too. 

 

Chiff Chaffs were singing and a single Willow Warbler was seen, as were three Lesser Whitethroats and a Common Whitethroat.The 15-strong Barnacle Goose herd that has been here for a while expanded to 31 and a Curlew flew over going west.

 

Dave H messaged to say he'd just seen 3 Great White Egrets and 4 Little Egrets over the boat yard heading towards the Mere, and a short while afterwards they appeared at the Mere:

Three Great White Egrets landing in the tree tops

Four Little Egrets appearing

The seven Black Terns from Thursday had dwindled to four and were very mobile over by the north shore. Photos were taken but they were at extreme range and are meagre record shots.

Two of the four distant Black Terns

Black Tern (centre of pic!)

Wheatear and two Whinchat on first field fence

Wheatear

Two Whinchat

Whinchat

Whinchat

Whinchat

Ruff fly-by

Ruff leaving the Mere going south

Ruff over the Mere

Chiff Chaff in first field

As above

Earlier in the week a few Common Sandpipers called in to the Mere and gave a brief photo opportunity:

Common Sandpiper

Common Sandpipers

Same Common Sandpipers as above

A couple of Hobbies came by as I walked along the south side and gave great views. One seemed to be just polishing off a dragonfly as it appeared.

Hobby munching

Hobby

Two Hobbies

Willow Warbler

Despite seeing Black Terns, Wheatear and Whinchats this week, the highlight for me was on Tuesday when I spotted two Mistle Thrushes in the trees by Wassand Hall. They have been conspicuous absentees from my Mere list this year, so it was good to see them at last. Normally they are seen quite often during January and February but not this year.

Mistle Thrush

Mistle Thrush

In the same area, a Jay flew through just a minute or so after the thrushes. The light was grim and over-exposure was the quickest way to get a shot or two before it disappeared.

An over-exposed Jay

I don't usually end on a question but I will this time. On a walk round the garden today I saw a small hole had appeared overnight. It's not big enough for a mole so I'm guessing it's a mouse of some kind. I've left the trailcam pointing at it so hopefully something will emerge eventually (or not 😀).

The hole is being monitored by a trailcam