I try and walk around Hornsea Mere a couple of times each month just to keep tabs on what is going on. Usually the answer is not very much, and so it proved today.
The fields and footpaths on the north side of the Mere are not very inspiring. From a wildlife perspective the fields are arable and are given over to crops almost all year round, although there is a small strip of land that is planted as a cover crop area. The soft ground showed deer footprints this morning but I didn't spot any other signs. From a beauty perspective the copses and hedgerows are the most appealing features and the hedgerows would be even better if they weren't trimmed. Q. Is the plural of copse really copses?
Once you get to Wassand estate and the south side things are much better with mature trees, open grassy fields, reed beds and views of the Mere.
On the north side not much was seen apart from a Kestrel, 6 Fieldfare and a Song Thrush.
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| Song Thrush |
However, I did indulge in a bit of arty farty nonsense again when I saw water droplets on the bottom of hawthorn berries with the low, misty sun behind them.
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| The sun eclipsed by a hawthorn berry |
The set aside field which held a good sized flock of Goldfinch and Linnet last year is not faring so well this year. There is time for it to grow in size of course and I hope that it does, as it would mean the number of birds hasn't massively reduced over the last year.
The Mere itself was pretty quiet today with the Common Scoter seen again and the drake Long-tailed Duck too. The Smew were seen today but not by me.
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| Juvenile Common Scoter |
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| Drake Long-tailed Duck |
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| Long-tailed Duck and Goldeneye |
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| A not very elegant landing |
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