Signs Of Spring

My usual walk onto Kirkholme Point then round to the footpath along the south of Hornsea Mere was a real joy yesterday. The sun had a warmth to it that has been missing since late last year - although the breeze was cool and it still felt cold if you were in the shadow of the sun.

A nice surprise was seeing a couple of flowering Common Field Speedwell in first field. Several of our wild flowers are emerging now and in a few weeks we'll have more colour back in the fields, woods and grass verges around town. 

Common Field Speedwell

Two Skylarks were singing high in the air over the fields and a flock of 36 Lapwing flew over, heading north. I counted 5 Cetti's Warbler singing! This little, unobtrusive bird is seldom seen as it sings its loud song before moving to another song perch in the undergrowth. Numbers are on the increase around the Mere which is great news.

A Fox was mooching along in the sun, walking slowly some way ahead of me along the hedgerow. It eventually heard me and turned round to give me a once-over before heading into cover:

Reed Buntings are now singing their usual song and it's great to hear them in the reed beds and willows - Spring is definitely in the air.

Walking towards the hide at Wassand, a female Marsh Harrier was heading west over the reeds. These birds are present at The Mere all year round, but they are particularly active at this time of year as they are displaying and pairing up for the breeding season.

Female Marsh Harrier

female Marsh Harrier

2 Redwing were flitting about in the hawthorns looking for berries, but they were hard pressed to find any as most of them were eaten well before the turn of the year.

In the hide there were 3 Marsh Harriers above the reed beds and lots of wild fowl as usual (but nothing of note unfortunately). The Goldeneyes are worth watching though as the males are displaying to the females, and anythingf else that's about too :)

 

drake Goldeneye displaying

Then, the sight I was hoping for - an Otter! It was swimming about 50 yards from the hide but mostly underwater. It broke the surface every now and then before diving again and it was impossible to guess where it would emerge next in order to get a photo. This was the best I could do - nice tail, pity about the rest of it.

An Otter's tail