Hornsea Wildlife and Walks: Merely Drifting

I thought it was time I went out in a rowing boat again as it is over 3 years since my last venture onto the water. I could have picked a better day for light and wildlife but the water was really calm, making for a restful voyage - apart from grafting on the oars of course 😀

Setting "sail" from the jetty on Kirkholme Point at 7am when everything was quiet was a joy. I remembered all I'd been taught when I was nobbut a lad and helped on the rowing boats at Shibden Park for a summer with my friend, and was soon off towards Swan Island. (For info, Shibden Park is in Halifax and its main attraction these days is Shibden Hall - of Gentleman Jim fame).

Back to the present day and here's a track of my route, just short of 3 miles taken at a steady pace with lots of stops for photos and tea.

I flushed a Common Sandpiper off the south side of Kirkholme Point as I zoomed past but my hands were full of oars so no photo opportunity there.

At Swan Island I saw the pair of Oystercatchers that nest there each year, with one bird sitting as I passed by. The other was off galavanting somewhere, but it could just be heard calling over the noise of a speeding rowing boat. It came in shortly afterwards, shouting at me to bugger off. This wasn't the only time during my trip that I'd be told to go elsewhere.

Oystercatcher

The next sighting was of pseudo-wildlife that keeps kids amused on their trips around the Mere. Sorry to spoil their enjoyment if they read this but that gorilla isn't actually native to Hornsea 🤣

Another introduced species

Common Sandpipers could be heard as I travelled along the north side of Swan Island - the dark side as far as local birders are concerned, as we never see this side normally.

Going past The Gap in Swan Island I saw a couple of friends over on the south side - so I waved but I don't think they saw me.


The Gap seen from the north side

Another feature of the Mere we don't see close up is Tree Island...

You'll never guess how Tree Island got its name

As I approached the spit, things got a bit more interesting. Lots of Mute Swans moved out of the way for me which I appreciated, as I didn't want to run any down 'cos I didn't have a rear view mirror, and going backwards is sort of what you do in a rowing boat. Having a navigator on board would be very useful.


The Spit with Mute Swans and a Greylag Goose

Here is where the Common Sandpipers were at their most active. Two birds most of the time but joined by a third for a minute or so before it realised it was surplus to requirements and flew off.

I took loads of photos as the two Common Sands flew around me, landing on The Spit every now and then to fratch and argue by the sound of it. They are lovely birds to see and hear so no apologies for all the photos.

Common Sandpipers in flight on the north side of The Spit

The only other bird I saw in passing was a Moorhen, so the hoped-for wader fest never happened.

Moorhen

Along the north bank I was listening for Cetti's Warblers as well as for migrant warblers, just hoping to see something a little different, which would have been nice but it didn't happen I'm afraid. I had just 4 Cetti's singing along the north side which was a little disappointing as I've heard more than that walking on the road and fields in the past.

I was also a bit surprised how few Sedge Warblers there were, with just 4 heard singing (and no Reed Warblers which wasn't a surprise at all, as northern reed beds are small compared to the south shore).

Northsyde reed bed

I'd reached the westernmost point of my cruise so I turned south and rowed along the boundary line that hopefully prevents boats (and maggot-ganglers) from going into Decoy, thus preserving a modicum of protection for the wildlife.

Back into home terrritory (south side) and out of unchartered seas (north side) the air was filled with Cetti's, Sedge and Willow Warbler song. Despite the overcast sky there were a good number of birds singing.

My second lot of "get-out-of-my-space" shouting came as I quietly drifted along, going generally eastwards. A Mute Swan with 4 cygnets appeared in my peripheral vision over my left shoulder and I put the wood to the floor to get out of its way before it got really upset with me 😂

A pissed off Mute Swan telling me to geroutofit

And that was the final highlight of my excursion onto the waters of Hornsea.

As I did on my way out, I had a look over on the north bank log to try and catch a sight of the terrapin that Jon has often seen basking in the sun. Given there was little or no sun to be had this morning, another non-surprise iwas that it wasn't to be seen. Next time then.

I'll finish with a few in-boat pics and a shot of me in my cruise liner taken by Jon, as I drifted past him on Kirkholme Point.