Barn Owl, Barnacles and Beetles

The weather is feeling more and more wintery but as the sun is shining and it's dry, everything is good as far as I'm concerned. We still have a shortage of the more interesting species of birds visiting The Mere - however there is always something to focus on.

Walking through the fields at dusk I came across a Barn Owl hunting. It was a little too dark to get good images but a couple of photos aren't bad -

Barn Owl in fading light

Our local wintering flock of Barnacle Geese is usually to be seen somewhere around the Mere, usually feeding in stubble fields. Each time I come across them I try a count but as they are closely packed and also a fair distance away, I get differing totals. The average is between 120 and 126 which is a decent flock size for the area.

Barnacle Geese

Barnacle Geese

In the hide at Wassand it has been noted that there are several batches of beetles clustered into the corners where the wooden beams join. These are Harlequin Beetles rather than our native UK ladybird which isn't good news.

Harlequin Beetles in Wassand hide

Harlequin Beetles in Wassand hide

 

The Harlequin Beetle or the Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) is a non-native species and is one of the most invasive insect species in the world. It took the Grey Squirrel about a century to spread throughout the UK – but the Harlequin ladybird only needed less than a decade to do the same. This insect was introduced from Asia into America and Europe to control aphids - its usual and preferred prey species - but was either wind-blown or accidentally introduced into the UK in 2004. Since then it has thrived and is becoming a real threat to our native ladybird species.

Identifying the thing isn't simple as over 100 different colour patterns have been recorded, especially from our Seven-spot ladybird, which is itself variable. You can see the variations in the photos above. 
 
However, the Harlequin doesn’t stick to one type of food. Once it has finished off the aphids it then turns its attention to other ladybird eggs and larvae and also the eggs and caterpillars of moths and butterflies. The main reason Harlequin ladybirds pose a threat to our native ladybirds is that they have such voracious appetites that they easily out-compete native ladybirds for food. 

Yes, we could remove these ladybirds from the hide and dispose of them, but there are so many around it would be merely a drop in the ocean, and it would not stop the continuing spread and growth of these invasive insects. It may make us feel a little better though ;)

Hornsea Mere and Surrounds

The last few days have been dry and mainly bright and the cold snap is now a distant memory, with cool mornings the norm rather than cold mornings. I've been walking the paths as usual and they are getting increasingly boggy - boots are usually OK but wellies or similar are now getting more use.

Autumn is rolling on and the leaves are gradually disappearing but there are still large patches of green in the trees.

On the top of south cliff I found the reamins of what looked to be a Barn Owl. The pattern and colour together with the fact that the leading edge of the feathers have hooks leads me to think I'm right. There was no evidence of foul play but I suspect it.

Barn Owl feathers/remains

In the wood over at Wassand there's been a good number of birds which is great to see. We haven't had much to get excited about recently so a couple of days when there are lots of common birds to see is almost as good :)

Goldcrests fly in to Britain during Autumn to swell our numbers and I saw two separate small flocks of 4+ and 3+ birds.

Goldcrest

Woodcock Pilot

 In days gone by people didn't believe that a bird as small as a Goldcrest could fly very far. They didn't think Goldcrests could fly from continental Europe to our shores so they invented a story that they arrived here on the back of Woodcocks! This gave Goldcrests the nickname of Woodcock Pilot. Unbelieveable now, but was probably reasonable back in the day :)

As the leaves fall it is easier to see birds up in the trees so Treecreepers get noticed more. I saw 2 within a few minutes.

Treecreeper

The same Treecreeper

A different Treecreeper

Today I walked up the Trans Pennine Trail (the old railway line) to Great Hatfield and back after I'd done the Mere and hide. It was a good day's wandering and my much better half had sent me off with a flask of her chilli to keep me going - was I looking forward to lunch time? Oh yes!!!!!

I stopped for lunch in a small dip along the trail that had a few steps so I could sit down -

As I was eating I noticed a couple of wild flowers still in bloom, one that I recognised and one I didn't. Red Campion is probably known to everyone as it appears everywhere through Spring and Summer here in East Yorkshire. The white flower is an umbel and I had to check the reference book as there are so many of these and they are so similar...it is a Hogweed.

Hogweed

Red Campion

Cowden

I had a good walk around Cowden range this morning in reasonable weather - mostly dry and overcast with a light north westerly breeze.

The number of Blackbirds flying around was immediately obvious and I counted 37 through the morning. The site is enormous though, so as I only covered about 25% of it there were many more I missed.

Down to the south of the site there were good numbers of passerines - Reed Buntings, Tits,  Redwing and finches; together with Pheasants, singing Skylarks and Red-legged Partridges in the fields. It was here in the stubble field that I saw 11 Whooper Swans - 5 adults and 6 juvs.

11 Whoopers

At least 12 Reed Buntings in the hawthorns and hedgerows:

female Reed Bunting

The large pond had 47 Mallards, 4 Teal and a Marsh Harrier took off from one of the partly submerged hawthorns.

Over towards the west pond I flushed a Snipe and also a new species for the site - Water Rail. It took off from about 10 yards to my right and it landed on top of a bramble patch. I almost caught it there but I was too slow getting the camera off my shoulder and all I got were a few shots as it disappeared into the undergrowth.

A headless Water Rail sinking into brambles

Species list for the morning (29):
Whooper Swan - 11
Great Black-backed Gull - 10
Herring Gull -14
Mallard - 47
Teal - 4
Water Rail
Moorhen - 2
Snipe
Barn Owl - 2
Marsh Harrier
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon - 160+
Red legged Partridge - 9
Pheasant - 8
Skylark - 5
Redwing - 7
Wren - 7
Robin - 3
Blackbird - 37
Magpie - 6
Carrion Crow - 6
Dunnock - 8
Tree Sparrow - 5
Long-tailed Tit - 10+
Great Tit - 4
Blue Tit - 4
Goldfinch - 5
Greenfinch
Yellowhammer
Reed Bunting - 13