* 1988 album by Penguin Cafe Orchestra
A track from the Penguin Cafe Orchestra album When In Rome was playing in my head as I walked around Ulrome and Barmston yesterday morning. "Beanfields" is a very good track with an ear worm hook and as I walked round a few of them it got into my ear and stayed there all day 😂 so too many associations for me to ignore, hence the title for this post.
It was a good walking day with a breeze and not too much sun which made it very enjoyable - with a few decent birds too - mainly juveniles but that just added to the enjoyment for me as my id skills are naff at the best of times so a challenge or two keeps me learning. Not necessarily remembering, but learning for the time being.
The first interesting bird I saw flew in to an area where they are digging to bring the off-shore wind farm power ashore (I asked a guy on site what was going on and he said he didn't know. "You just work here then" I asked, "yes" he said! We had a laugh together at least.) I therefore assume as there is a bloody big sign on the road half a mile away with the wind farm name on it and lots of massive spools of cable hanging around that I may be correct.
Any road up, the bird was a ringed plover sp. at first sight and, more importantly, a Little Ringed Plover to boot. Looked like a young 'un to me.
 |
Juvenile Little Ringed Plover
|
I continued down the track - the bloke I had spoken to watched me all the way out of sight - with farmland birds in the hedgerow. Linnet, Reed Bunting, Goldfinch, Tree Sparrow and Whitethroat were in there along with at least 4 singing Yellowhammers. A beautiful accompaniment to the ear worm on a repeat loop in my head.
Three Mute Swans flew in from the sea and over my head. It's a great sound their wings make as they pass by so closely 😃
 |
Two of the three Mute Swans overhead
|
I approached the scrape carefully as Mark had seen a Wood Sandpiper here the day before and I didn't want to risk flushing any birds. Was the Wood Sand still there? No. Of course it wasn't, but there were 2 Dunlin and 4+ juv Yellow Wagtails for me to enjoy.
 |
Juv Yellow Wagtail
|
 |
| Dunlin |
It was still pretty early so I headed to the beach hoping there weren't that many dog walkers about to disturb any birds that may be lingering there. A few Sanderling (5) were early returners to our area and the first I'd seen since they left in spring. They were clockworking along the tide line about 100 yards ahead until they were flushed by a dog. Luckily they flew along the beach and landed closer to me.
 |
3 of 5 Sanderling flying in
|
 |
| Sanderling |
Through another beanfield and into Barmston then back along the road to the beach. Nothing much to take the eye through here, although there is a fantastic pond in a garden just before you get to the road with masses of water lilies and breeding Moorhen. A Little Egret on the beach and several loafing gulls passed another bunch of minutes away as I tried in vain to find something different among the gulls.
 |
A beached Little Egret
|
Along the track back to Ulrome the hedgerows were still holding many birds and I took the opportunity to get some more photos of Whitethroat and Reed Bunting.
 |
Juv Whitethroats
|
 |
Reed Bunting
|
Back to the car and away down to Hornsea for a quick wander along the south side Mere footpath to make sure I hadn't missed anything while I was away. I hadn't 👍
