All Along The Lee Shore

 A strong, cold NE wind and driving rain wasn't a pleasant backdrop to this morning's walk. Still, a walk is a walk no matter the weather, and it was enjoyable in parts. I only met one other hardy soul all morning, and he didn't really have a choice but to be out in the rain as he was going to work.

In second field by the shore line, between 50 and 60 Swallows were feeding in the lee of the wind and rain behind the taller trees and willows - hence the title for today's post. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's 1971 live album "Four Way Street" was the first published recording of The Lee Shore.

Yesterday and Friday delivered better weather for wandering about with the camera.

Bumblebee Blacklet hoverfly

7-spot Ladybird on a bluebell

First ducklings of the year - Mallards

Egyptian Goose

Friday morning's walk through the fields brought a new species for the year in the shape on an Egyptian Goose. Cue silly walks and the Bangles song.

Egyptian Goose with Canadas and Greylags

Egyptian Goose with a single Pink-footed Goose

EG and Pinkie again

EG, PF with Canadas and Greylags

Last pic of the Egyptian Goose

Having written in the previous blog post that I hadn't seen any butterflies for a while, Friday produced 2 Speckled Wood and my first Orange Tip of the year.

Orange Tip

Garlic mustard - Orange Tip food plant

Nettle-tap moth

In previous years there was always a good number of Reed Buntings in the reed bed at Heslop's, but over the last three or four years the count has been declining. At the moment I only see and hear one or two as I go through. Part of the overall decline of bird numbers in general unfortunately.

Sedge Warblers have taken up their usual residency in Heslop's and were joined from Thursday onwards by Reed Warblers. We've had a Grasshopper Warbler reeling in Heslop's since 17th April but only intermittently and for very short bursts. Normally Groppers reel for ages so they are easy to hear, but this one seems reluctant to sing at all, so you need to wait for quite a while before you catch a second or two of song.

Here are some photos of a Grasshopper Warbler, but not a recent one. I took these way back in 2015 at Cowden. Although I have taken more photos of Gropper since then, these are undoubtedly the best I've ever managed.

Grasshopper Warbler reeling

Grasshopper Warbler keeping its head down

Gropper reelin' in the years

The forecast for tomorrow is warm (15 degrees!!!) and dryish so let's hope that happens and gives us some joy for a while.

No Butterflies But Plenty To See

How our wildlife is managing to carry on regardless of the shocking weather is beyond me. Cold winds and heavy rain most days - it is most disheartening for me as a human, even  with cold and wet weather clothing to assist me and a centrally heated home to go back to.

These Brown Hares were looking bedraggled to say the least.

Seen through a hedge, three Brown Hares

One of them ran across the track in front of me,

but it soon went back again 😂

The weather is way too cold to attract butterflies to come out and play, and sure enough I haven't seen a butterfly for ages!

I hear Song Thrush singing every morning, come rain or shine, and it does lift your spirits when you hear a song as lovely as that.

Song Thrush

 Walking past the fields south of Heslop's I noticed a single Pink-footed Goose with the Greylags, Canadas and Mute Swans. Time it wasn't here I reckon.

Pink-footed Goose

I walked along the Trans Pennine Trail to Great Hatfield this morning, returning via Goxhill to the south side of the Mere. Plenty of warblers around and nice to see and hear a few Whitethroats in the hedgerows. I got a few distant pics of Whitethroat but they were very flighty. They will settle down after a week or so.

Distant first Whitethroat pic of the year

 I heard my first Reed Warbler of the year in first field reed bed, but no sighting. Sedge Warblers, Cetti's Warblers and Reed Buntings were keeping it company in the mid-morning chorus.

Cowslips are beginning to appear along the roadside verges and footpaths, adding to the profusion of mainly yellow flowers this time of year. Apparently the Cowslip is used to make a very potent country wine!? More research needed here 😉

Cowslip (Primula veris)

In the middle of a (very) wet meadow I saw my first Cuckoo flower of the year too. 

Cuckoo flower (Cardamine pretensis)

The cuckoo flower is allegedly  either named after the bird (that sings during April and May when the flower is out) or from cuckoo-spit - the foamy substance that is sometimes seen on the leaves or stem (which has nothing to do with cuckoos but is actually produced by Froghopper nymphs). Either way, the flower is a delicate and beautiful sight.

As we are due to move soon and will lose the lovely view that we have at the back of the house over open fields and hedgerows, I thought I'd finish this post on a self-indulgent note by putting up some pics taken yesterday...

First of a few Roe Deer that are seen daily browsing among the crops.

The view

The deer

Close up of the deer

Later in the day a fox ran up the far side of the field and briefly thought about sneaking up on the geese. The geese convinced it not to be so silly and it ran off.

Fox and geese

Fox having second thoughts, but ran off anyway

Inside the house, the Sundew plant we have in the conservatory (thanks Nick!) was treated to a nice fat fly and soon wrapped it up in order to ingest the goodness.

Sundew feast

We don't have a conservatory at the house we are moving to, so I hope the Sundew thrives as well on a window cill as it has in the glass house 🤞

It's A...Nice Day...For A...White Wagtail Day

A wander around Ulrome/Barmston was a pleasant change of scenery yesterday. The small scrape towards the sea usually has something lurking and yesterday was no exception - six White Wagtails no less.

White Wagtail at Ulrome scrape

Three of six White Wagtails

Also present on the large body of flood water in the fields were 2 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover and a Shelduck.

The small cliff faces are home to several Sand Martin colonies and about 20 or so birds were checking out the available properties.

Sand Martin

Numerous Skylarks filled the air with song all morning and Meadow Pipits joined in every now and then.

Meadow Pipit singing on the ground

This morning it was cool again and I went for a walk along the beach and sea front as the tide was ebbing. Nine Sanderling and a Turnstone along with a Common Sandpiper made the journey worthwhile.

This and two below - Common Sandpiper

Wednesday was a nice morning (but cold) and I managed to find a Grasshopper Warbler in Heslop's. No photos of course for this species, although I've managed some good ones in the past.

While I was listening to the Gropper a Roebuck came walking along the track. He obviously didn't see me as he got very close before deciding I wasn't part of the scenery 😂

Male Roe deer

 I took some video before I got a bit worried that he was coming right up to me, so I moved the camera and he got the message to move off.

The number of Shoveler has been quite impressive over the recent week or so, with up to 30 seen at any one time.

Shovelers flying east

Back to today for a final photo, this one from our garden and my first Dark-edged Bee-fly of the year. Lovely little insects they are too.

Dark-edged Bee-fly

Common Buzzard V Marsh Harrier

 A territorial dispute broke out over the Mere this morning with a Buzzard and a Marsh Harrier flashing talons at each other. Not sure who came out the winner though 😀

Marsh Harrier left, Common Buzzard right

Early butterflies are now being seen quite regularly, but are still scarce.

Small White

Speckled Wood

A Barn Owl was hunting along the south side again this morning. Enjoying the spell of dry weather I think.

Barn Owl

Grey Squirrels are not my fave mammal but when a photo opportunity arises one just has to go for it.

Grey Squirrel in Wassand

Blackcaps are not as numerous as I thought they would be yet, but there's time of course. Males arrive before the females in order to claim their breeding territories ready for the ladies.

Male Blackcap

Wild flowers are everywhere now and I found both Dog Violet and Early Dog Violet close by Weatherhill.

Dog Violet

Early Dog Violet

White Dead Nettle

Ground Ivy

I also came across a white Forget-Me-Not which I think may be Water Forget-Me-Not.

Water Forget-Me-Not

As well as butterflies there are now lots of bees and hover flies to be seen. Tricky blighters to id these insects.

Orange-tailed Mining Bee

Tawny Mining Bee

Furry Drone Fly

Tiger Marsh Fly

There is so much going on now that these blog posts could be very long indeed if I didn't take care not to outstay my welcome on your device of choice, so I'll end there and pick up the continuing development of spring here in Hornsea in a few days time.