Red-footed Falcon at Hornsea Mere

A good walk in the morning was topped off with good views of a Hobby above the cormorant trees on the north side of Hornsea Mere.

Before that, having bumped into John on the south side, a Little Gull was feeding with the Black-headed Gulls.

The Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers and Reed Buntings are all singing their way through the breeding season. Cetti's Warblers are doing the same but I still haven't got a photo of one that isn't blurred or obscured by vegetation. The quest goes on!

Sedge Warbler at The Mere

Sedge Warbler

Reed Warbler

Reed Warbler

The meadows are alive now with damselflies, mainly Blue I think as Azure Damselflies have a "U" on segment 2...

Common Blue Damselfly

Common Blue Damselfly

The wild flowers are coming through in profusion but I'm not yet confident of id'ing them without their being in full flower. Another few days to wait then :)

The best of the day was left until the afternoon though when I had a call from John saying there was a Red-footed Falcon at The Mere, north side. Although I usually don't go twitching I couldn't ignore this one as I've never seen Red-footed Falcon in the UK. It s therefore a new Hornsea Mere record for me too. When I got there the bird didn't disappoint and gave good views. No apologies for posting so many photos of this beautiful bird from sunnier climes.

First summer male Red-footed Falcon over Seaton Road hide

A fantastic bird to see over your local patch and many thnaks to John for finding it, and for letting me know so quickly. The bird has been seen again at The Mere, later yesterday and earlier today, so it may be around tomorrow when I'm free to go looking for it once more.

Sunny Spring Days

Well the last few days have been gorgeous here in Hornsea. Warm, sunny and dry and it has brought out the best in the local wildlife.

My morning walk on the cliffs was made a lot longer when a Barn Owl flew towards me, so I sat down and waited for it to get near enough to take some pics. Unfortunately Barn Owls have very acute hearing so as soon as it heard the sound of the camera shutter it veered away and flew round me.

I stayed sitting and watched it hunting over the fields, then it dropped onto what I assumed was some prey and didn't come up again for quite a few minutes. When it did take off it had a mouse or vole in its talons so it was a successful attempt.

Barn Owl with short tailed prey

Looks more like a vole than a mouse to me

Singing Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were everywhere and Linnets were collecting food for their young.

Skylark singing from a post

Another Skylark on a post

I eventually made it over to Kirkholme Point where the Cetti's Warblers greeted me with bursts of song as usual. I hope I never get used to hearing these great little birds - often heard but very seldom seen. I'm still trying to get a decent photo of one.

The Garganey had disappeared, but in its place was a smashing drake Pintail - swimming up and down just off Swan Island.

drake Pintail off Swan Island

drake Pintail

drake Pintail

Around the south side of Hornsea Mere the Sedge and Reed Warblers were singing away too in the sunshine, with a few Whitethroat and a Blackcap joining in.

Better Weather today

At last the northerly wind has ceased and given way to westerlies. The sun is really warm and isn't watered down by a force 6 chilly wind. A walk on the cliffs to celebrate? Of course.

On the cliffs this morning:
3 Wheatear
2 Whinchat (first of the year for me)
11 Meadow Pipit
6 Skylark
c.10 Sand Martin
4 Swallow
2 Sedge Warbler
2 Whitethroat

female Wheatear, just arrived

female Whinchat

male Whinchat

Wheatear and Whinchat

Sedge Warbler, warbling

As is usual at this time of year the shoreline was bereft of birds, just a few Herring Gulls sitting on the breakwater.

Around at Kirkholme Point the 2cy Iceland Gull was still hanging around hoping for some bread from the punters. KP list -

2nd calendar year Iceland Gull
2 Cetti's Warbler
Reed Warbler
c. 30 Tufted Duck still here
6 Gadwall
c.40 Swifts
c.20 Sand Martin
3 or 4 House Martin
no waders around today

Iceland Gull still here

Over on the south side of the Mere there were more butterflies than I've seen yet this year -
Brimstone
4 Orange Tip
3 Speckled Wood
3 Large White
Small White
Small Tortoiseshell
2 Green-veined White

Small White

Further on the Lapwings were seeing off a fox that was getting too close for comfort -

Reynard getting an ear bashing

I'm offski !!

Wassand Wood was looking lovely today with the sun glinting down onto the bluebells.

Several birds were seen with beaks full of food for their young - Great Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush and Long-tailed Tit to name just a few species. The GSW had a real mouthful of something but the photo isn't focussed correctly so the detail is lacking I'm afraid. Must do better!!

Long-tailed Tit

GSW with a mouthful of grub