Monday 10 December 2012

Wintry Hornsea Mere

Despite the forecast of northerly wind and showers, I decided to try Hornsea Mere this morning. On the way near Tickton, the river Hull loomed high, contained by its banks, over the low lying fields.
The water level in the Mere was the highest I have ever seen. The boathouse was partially flooded, and the jetties mostly submerged. First, I watched the assorted wildfowl from the car. A large group of Coots fed on the grass, some of them from a sitting position. There were just a handful of Greylags, mostly of hybrid and semi-domestic ancestry, but no Canada Geese. Mallards, Mute Swans, Black headed gulls and Jackdaws were also present.
 On the little bay north of Kirkholme, I had great views of a few Goldeneyes - including a female that seemed to have survived a predator attack - with a Great Crested Grebe, Gadwalls, Tufted ducks and Pochards, including a couple of females all feeding in the deep water.
 As I went for a walk around the point, I came across the remains of a Swan's chest and wing, with little meat left on the bone.
 A Great Spotted Woodpecker called loudly from a large willow, while pecking at the trunk, and in the hedges House Sparrows, and a Tree Sparrow chirped.
 I stopped by the promenade in Hornsea before heading back home. The sea was rough and I enjoyed a sunny spell before a large stormy cloud rapidly approached and the rain started.
Somebody had Swan for dinner
Great Crested Grebe
The semiflooded boathouse
A view of the jetty, with a flock of Black Headed Gulls
This Goldeneye looked injured, it had many feathers missing from its head and dragged a wing
Male Goldeneye
A threatening cloud coming from the north toward Hornsea Beach
Bird list

  1. Black-headed Gull
  2.  Blackbird
  3.  Blue Tit
  4.  Carrion Crow
  5.  Chaffinch
  6.  Common Gull
  7.  Coot
  8.  Dunnock
  9.  Gadwall
  10.  Goldeneye
  11.  Great Black-backed Gull
  12.  Great Crested Grebe
  13.  Great Spotted Woodpecker
  14.  Greylag Goose
  15.  Herring Gull
  16.  House Sparrow
  17.  Jackdaw
  18.  Long-tailed Tit
  19.  Mallard
  20.  Moorhen
  21.  Mute Swan
  22.  Pochard
  23.  Robin
  24.  Tree Sparrow
  25.  Tufted Duck
  26.  Wigeon
  27.  Woodpigeon

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