First video post for the blog

Let's see if this video of the Sanderling on the beach this morning works as it should...

This is a first for me!

First Sanderling of the season

On Hornsea beach this morning was the first returning Sanderling of the season. Looked like a juvenile to me...but it was an adult moulting.

Sanderling standing on its own foot!!!

Interestingly these birds have no rear toe, which may be an evolutionary development to help them run along the sand as quickly as they do.

At Kirkholme Point there were 7 Common Terns hunting in the pouring rain along with 2 Common Sandpipers on the very narrow shore line. About 200 Swift were noisily feeding high overhead with Sand Martins, House Martins and Swallows lower down skimming the water's surface.

A juvenile Great Crested Grebe was an interesting find as we don't believe they have successfully bred on the Mere this year, so it has probably flown in from elsewhere.

27 Little Gulls were feeding to the south of KP and 3 were on the jetty.

2 of the 3 Little Gulls on the jetty

Over at Wassand a small family group of Goldcrests were feeding in the tree tops with Blue Tits and Long-tailed Tits, and 2 cream crown Marsh Harriers were drifting alongover the Mere.

Catch Up - It's been a while since the last post!

Yes. I know. Very lax of me to go so long without posting an update but things have been a little hectic with visitors, volunteering and life getting in the way :)

So what's been going on in Hornsea and surrounds?

The summer migrants are doing well on their breeding grounds with lots of youngsters in the hedgerows and in the sky to provide sound evidence of this. I've never seen as many Whitethroats as I have this year and House Martins are doing very well too - apart from the nest that fell from the front of our house during the spell of bad weather we had a couple of weeks ago. The 3 chicks that were in there all perished I'm afraid.

The Barn Owls at Cowden are doing well with all 3 pairs seemingly feeding their chicks with a steady supply of food. Also the Roe Deer there seem to be thriving - I had a very close encounter with a doe and 2 youngsters a few weeks ago and here are a few pics.

At the pond there were zillions of dragonflies and damselflies and a Cuckoo landed on a tree just 10 yards away, then realised immediately that I was there and took off again.

Cuckoo landed momentarily

That could have been a fantastic, once in a lifetime photo opportunity :)

Four spot Chaser at Cowden

On the cliffs south of Hornsea there were breeding birds all over, including Meadow Pipits that were numerous and busy feeding their young 'uns. Although I could see that this Mipit was ringed I couldn't make out the number...

Ringed Meadow Pipit at Hornsea South Cliff

Also on the cliffs, orchids and moths were blending nicely to provide outstanding colours and textures.

5 Spot Burnet on red clover

5 Spot Burnet on Common Spotted Orchid

5 Spot Burnet on Common Spotted Orchid

 

There are plenty of great birds around East Yorkshire at the moment, Spoonbill, Buff Breasted Sandpiper, White Winged Black Tern and the rest, but I'm content to wander around Hornsea and take my chances on what may turn up here.