Stream Dike this morning

Dry and sunny with a light NE breeze and 7 degrees at 08:30.

After checking the beach for anything interesting (there wasn't) I made my way via the usual route from the sea front and along stream dike towards The Mere. Just 30 or so yards along the stream I was passed by 2 Kingfishers, that came up against the end of the stream and turned back inland. One landed well before the bridge so I slowly approached to try and get a photo or two. I got several pics before the bird took off and went back the way I'd come.

Kingfisher at Stream Dike

 

 

I didn't want to disturb the birds any more than they get on a day to day basis with dog walkers and the like, so I left them to it.

As I walked round the slight bend in the stream I saw a large white bird standing in the stream - a Little Egret. We get good numbers at the Mere and I've seen one on the beach before, but this is my first in the stream. It didn't hang around once it had spotted me...

A Little Egret taking off from Stream Dike

Little Egret circling before heading off to the Mere

 

 

I carried on to The Mere to check out KP, hoping to catch up with the Egret again. Unfortunately I was disappointed as there was little to see at KP, apart from very good numbers of wild fowl and the usual suspects, including a brief song from a Cetti's Warbler.

As I was just taking a short walk to pass the time while my better half was getting ready, I didn't stay long and headed home. As I walked over the small bridge that crosses Stream Dike on Southgate, I stopped and looked over as I always do, hoping to see something like a Kingfisher flying up to The Mere, but I spotted something much better - a Grey Wagtail :)

Grey Wagtail at Stream Dike, Southgate

Grey Wagtail contortionist

I'd seen a Grey Wagtail briefly at KP on Monday and wondered where it had gone - perhaps it's coming down into the stream which is more like its usual habitat? We don't see many around Hornsea so it's great to see one that may stick around for a while.

The pics are a little grainy as it was really dark down in the stream so the ASA rating went up to 6400 to get a decent shutter speed.

Water Rail at Hornsea Mere

A good dry morning at last after the last few days of rain. Dry, bright and 8 degrees at 9 o'clock this morning as I reached Kirkholme Point on my walk.

As I'd seen Water Rail at the Mere on Monday morning in the pouring rain, I took my camera along and waited in the same place for one to appear. I didn't have to wait long, as one appeared behind a few Coot over by the reeds:

Water Rail and Coots

 I saw 2 Rails but one disappeared into the reeds to the left. This one however showed very well for about 5 minutes and wandered along the edge of the reed bed, feeding and preening.

 

 

 

 

 

By the time the bird had disappeared into the reeds it was time for me to leave for the dreaded dentist visit :(

Red-head Smew

Off on another walk on a dry, bright, clear and sunny morning. 5 degrees C with a light NW breeze.

At the seafront there were 9 Sanderling running along the tideline, but no Turnstones in view.

At KP the first thing I noticed was the sound coming from hundreds of Greylag Geese on the Mere. I scanned the water for any sign of the Common Scoter, Long-tailed Duck and Smew that have been reported over the last few days but I couldn't pick up anything through the bins. I decided to go over to the south side as the mass of Greylags were all congregated over there.

In 1st field I got a much better view of the water as the sun was now behind me, and in a few seconds I found the Smew. A nice looking red head :)

Female Smew from 1st field this morning

A boat with a couple of MD's put up the whole Greylag Goose herd. I reckon there were upwards of 1100 birds in the sky over the Mere. Spotted 4 White-fronted Geese in the mob :)

On towards Wassand hide there were about 40 Redwing feeding on hawthorn berries along with 4 Bullfinch.  In the hedgerows on the way back there were plenty of Tree Sparrows, Linnet, Goldfinch and Reed Buntings. Also a Skylark was up in the clear blue sky singing away. Great to hear that on an Autumn morning.

Female Reed Bunting

 The 100+ herd of Barnacle Goose were in the ploughed field as usual as I made my way back home.

3 of over 100 Barnacle Goose

Waxwings

Wet and windy this morning and about 4 degrees C, but bright, and within 100 yards of home I heard the call of a Waxwing, then saw 2 fly from a hawthorn to the top of a nearby sycamore tree. Watched them through the bins for a minute or so then they flew off south. I went for my camera but I didn't manage to relocate them. Lovely to see and only the second time I've seen Waxwings in Hornsea.

Down at the sea front the waves were crashing in and although I spent half an hour sea-watching, nothing came past.

On to KP and the first bird I saw was a Fieldfare, looking very smart indeed:

I checked the reedbed at Bull Hole for Bittern but it's probably too early yet. There were plenty of Moorhen though - saw 9 altogether.

I set up the scope on the point and looked over to Swan Island and Tree Island. Lots of Greylag Goose (c200) but no White-fronts or Bean Geese.

Just off Tree Island was a single drake Pintail - nice to see as we usually get females:

The Slavonian Grebe was also further out - it's been here for about 10 days now.

Grey Herons continue to fly in regularly and we had 6 this morning - here's a pic of 4 of them, all in one tree:

Goldeneye numbers are building nicely, about 50 this morning. Other duck numbers were 60 Pochard, 40 Gadwall, 50 Wigeon plus uncounted Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan and Coot. 3 Shoveler were feeding at the base of the reedbed off KP. One of the cygnets had a leg ring that shows it is from the Yorkshire Swan Hospital at York:

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