Autumnal Days

 Lots of European Shags have been reported down the East coast this week. I've seen a few off Hornsea and another 4 went by this morning.

Four European Shags going south off Hornsea

I saw my first Sanderlings of the Autumn this morning on the beach, unfortunately being chased off by dogs which happens far too often for my liking.

Inland there were three Roe Deer in the set aside but not many birds for a change.

Roe Deer

Up on north cliffs Meadow Pipits continue to arrive/fly through.

Meadow Pipits on north cliffs

Also a daily occurence and a wonderful sight and sound are loads of Pink-footed Geese making their way to their feeding grounds each morning.

Pink-footed Geese going north in the morning

Last Week

 Last week has been changeable to say the least, from brilliant sunshine to storm clouds and downpours and back to sunny again.

MONDAY 16 OCT cold start (2 degrees) frosty and sunny

A walk along the south side of the Mere to Wassand wood and a quick visit to the hide.

Smoke On The Water (early morning mist really)

4 of at least 12 Bearded Tits along the north side

They came past the hide eventually

Brambling and Chaffinch near set aside

A couple of Greenfinch on the sunflowers

Part of the c.100 strong Linnet flock

TUE 17 OCT rain, mild

A stroll up to north cliffs hoping for a few migrants to be blown in. A few mipits and Skylarks seen but the highlight was 2 Shags flying in and landing on the sea just offshore.

Bright start but rain soon came in

Here comes the rain 😀

Shags just offshore from north cliffs

Flock of 290 Linnet on the fields

Pied Wagtail on one side of the TV arial...

Tree Sparrow on the other side

WED 18 OCT  Dry, windy (Easterlies) cool

South side of the Mere again with not much showing. 8 Redwing, 10 Fieldfare and about 50 Linnets in the set aside.

Syrphus sp. hoverfly

Flax still in flower in set aside field

Wild radish seed pods waiting to be eaten

THU 19 OCT  Overcast, warm, dry with the wind building as Storm Babet makes its presence felt.

Sea front, KP and south side in the morning. 8 Fieldfare, Curlew over going West, lots of birds in the set aside including a Brambling again.

Waves crashing in on the sea front

Goldeneye taking off near KP

I walked on south cliffs in the afternoon looking for migrants - specifically Shore Larks - but none found. A Wheatear was a good find though.

Wheatear on south cliffs

FRI 20 OCT  40 mph Easterly gales and lashing rain as Storm Babet arrives. I went out early on but didn't take the camera for obvious reasons.

SAT 21 OCT  Calm, mild, quite sunny in the gentle Westerly wind

I walked on the sea front, along south cliffs and then over to the south side. Plenty of evidence that Babet had done quite a bit of damage to property and to trees.

One of the groyne "baskets" got knocked out of shape

High tide but waves back to normal

One of at least 8 Greenfinch

8 Greenfinch in the set aside

Large part of tree gone

A Cracking Autumn Day

 What a fabulous autumn day last Saturday - brilliant sunshine, clear blue sky and a bit chilly. Perfect.

Goldcrest at the woodland edge

Goldcrest

The number of Common Darters had to be seen to be believed. I saw 9 at once, each one of them on a separate fence post.

One of many Common Darters

Migrant Hawkers were flying too but but I only saw 3 of them.

A Comma and 2 Red Admirals added to the colourful nature on show...

Can you tell what it is yet?

Yes, a Red Admiral

Comma

Comma

Whooper Swans have been seen at The Mere for the last few days as they arrive to over-winter in the UK. Seven of them flew over me as I went along the south side footparth.

Whooper Swans leaving the Mere

4 of 7 Whoopers

On the fence posts,as well as Common Darters, were several species of fly, one I'd never seen before - a Noon Fly 😀

Noon Fly (Mesembrina meridiana)

The sunflower seeds are being demolished by all manner of birds including Blue and Great Tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and probably Linnet as well - but I haven't seen them actually on the flower heads yet.

Sunflower minus a lot of its seeds