Wintry cold has finally arrived after weeks of overcast, mild and gloomy weather, which, on the positive side brought some welcome rain. My aim today is to visit two hamlets just by Thorngumbald, which are in the middle of my walk. I take the 7:45 X7 bus to Keyingham, and walk along Church Lane and then around the church through Station Road. There are a couple of short hail showers to start with, but otherwise the weather was quite pleasant, with plenty of sunny spells. The fields by the village are busy with Rooks, Jackdaws and gulls. Two Woodpigeons gorge on what looks like some type of cherry, balancing on the thin branches to reach them.
As I take the Withernsea railway track towards Hedon, I notice a Curlew on a paddock. On the other side of the track, on a winter sown field there are 15 curlew, their lovely calls carrying far. Blackbirds, Redwings and Fieldfares move along the hedges lining the track, feeding on haws and sloes. It doesn't take me long to get to Keyingham drain (top shot). As I get there a large flock of Fieldfare and redwing land on a field and then fly overhead to Kelsey Gardens.
I take a short detour to Kelsey Gardens south lake. It is quiet, the cafe closed. I flush two Cormorants that were fishing near the shore, they land on the middle of the lake and eye me suspiciously. The resident pair of Mute Swans are more sedated, swimming by and in the distance at least 4 Little Grebes. Two crows rattle casing a Sparrowhawk. A Great Spotted Woodpecker feeds on a lichen-covered tree trunk. I return to the railway trail and watch Reed Buntings feeding on a field planted with millet (I think!). Further on, a Buzzard is sitting on a field, walking every now and then with that funny swagger of them. There is a stretch of road towards Ryehill I must walk by. I was planning to take a right of way 'shortcut' across the field, but I notice there is a large mixed flock of Lapwing and Golden plover on it, so I carry on by the road. Just by the crossing a covey of Red-legged Partridges are sitting looking like they are enjoying the sunshine.
Ryehill and Camerton are next to each other on the East of Thorngumbald, I take a walk around them. On a field by Ryehill I count 42 Curlew, which is the most I've seen in a long while. I'm pleased to record the Green Meshweaver in Thorngumbald. I want to check the Fallow Deer herd by the road to Hedon. I count 22, some of them look young and many are very pale. A few though, have the lovely russet coat with white spots.
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