Holderness: Kilnsea and Easington

A cold and windy day, with drizzle forecast in the morning. Nevertheless, to reach Kilnsea easily, Saturdays is the only day the Spurn Explorer bus runs, so I took it at 8:24 and just before 10 am I was at the Spurn Discovery centre. I dip into the Canal Scrape hide. It is very quiet, the only thing of note a Mute Swan on nest and a passing March Harrier that, with the wind, it seems to be flying backwards most of the time, Given the wind, I decide against walking along the bank and head towards Beacon Lane, seeking the shelter of the hedges. Another Marsh Harrier passes by. It starts drizzling to top the horrid wind. A Whimbrel, and then a group of 6-7 fly over. I get to Kilnsea Wetlands hide and I spot a Whimbrel feeding. Usual suspects from the hide, but it's lovely out of the wind. 

March Harrier.

The old Blue Bell building at Kilnsea.

A dapper Reed Bunting at Beacon Ponds.

Whimbrel.

Oystercatchers pair.

Shelduck pair.

Three highland cattle are grazing the wetlands. Note the Nofence collar.

A birder gets in the hide and comments on two drake Garganey at the wetlands on the other side of the road. Having missed the one at Bransholme reservoir, and quite relunctantly as it means leaving the comfort of the hide, I take advantage of the sky lightening and face the wind again. I'm wonderfully suprised to find Holly and Ryan at the other hide. They point at the Garganeys and a stunning summer plumage Bar-tailed Godwit. There are about 30 Curley about and a few Whimbrel too, one of them passes a Curlew allowing a side to side comparison. 

Lapwing.

Curlew (left) and Whimbrel side to side.

The dozing Garganey.

Bar-tailed Godwit.

Drake Pintail. Two females were present too.

Hare.

I come across Holly and Ryan again, who had left the hide earlier. The wind seems to have eased a bit. They have heard news of a Cuckoo and we head for the bank. We see the Cuckoo flying. It attempts to land atop a bush, but it changes its mind and dissapears from vide. Just then I spot a Barn Owl hunting ovet the field. It gives us great views. It has probably taken advantage of the easing wind to do a spot of hunting.

Barn Owl.

Barn Owl perched.

We head for the Discovery Centre for a hot drink and lunch. Afterwards, I head towards Sammy's Point on the Humber Bank. There is not much about, but I record some saltmarh plants that are colonising the bank and footpath, including Sea Wormwood, which I hadn't seen before there. 

View over the Humber with Spurn Point in the distance.

Looking towards Easington Bank.

Brent Geese.

Curlew.

The three of us meet again at Sammy's Point. Holly had messaged me that she had found a Redstart on the first paddock. It's a male, perched on a hawthorn and regularly flying back and forth to the ground. We watch it feeding for a while. Then I continue my walk towards Easington along Humber Side lane. I make a short stop at the cemetery, where I quickly find a male Brambling with some chaffinches. As quickly as they appeared, they dissappear! I carry on and admire the thatched roof tithe barn when I notice there are two Barn Swallows flying around the farm. I take some record shots, but, for my delight they land on an aerial and the male starts singing! I wander around Easington church while I wait for my bus back.

Male Redstart.

Redstart.

Another Whimbrel, it's been a Whimbrel day!

Little Egret.

Some animal sculptures decorate the edges of a field just before Easington, including this wonderful swan and dog pair.

Great Spotted Woodpecker at Easington Cemetery.

Male Brambling.

Easington tithe barn.

My first Swallows of the year, already settled and singing by the tithe barn.

Swallow pair.

Holderness: Coniston, Thirtleby, Old Ellerby, Skirlaugh

I got bus 24 to Coniston and got there about 9am. A bright, spring-like mild day of blue skies and little wind. A female Linnet collects nesting material from a roof at Coniston. I cross the road and take Thirtleby lane to the hamlet of that name. There is a lot of farm traffic on the single track road. A Yellowhammer sings from a hedge,Skylarks rise. I get to Thirtleby, a spread out hamlet with some new farm outbuildings. The hamlet sits on an area labelled on the map as Gravel Hills, which reminds me that the undulating landscape is due to the presence of sands and gravels deposited by glacial moraines. The gravels are exposed on a ditch. I take a detour towards Thirtleby Grange to explore the hamlet a bit more. There are many birds singing, amongst them the lovely song of my first Willow Warbler of the year. I spot a hare standing on a field track, I take one photo with the wrong exposure and she's gone. 

A female Linnet collects nesting material from a gutter at Coniston.

Yellowhammer singing.

Linnet singing.

Stock Dove at Thirtleby.

Song Thrush.

A Brown Hare stands up to eye me out. It bounded off after this photo.

Skylark singing.

I then turn round to the main road towards Roe Hill Farm. More Skylarks and Pheasants and a distant Yellowhammer. Soon I get to the left turn into a public right of way towards Roe Hill. It is a gentle climb to its more than 25 m of altitude. The landscape shows evidence of ancient woods, with copses and plantations including a diverse ground flora of Wood Anemones, Bluebells and Greater Stichwort. I get to the evocatively named Bog Wood, on the grounds of Wood Hall. Although the trees are not particularly old, there is some evidence of woodland continuity, as opposed to the carrs and marshes of the low lying lands. In the distance I can see Old Wood (previously known as Yaud Wood) of Burton Constable, and later on, Woodcock Wood (there are some great names in the area such as Spacey Field, and Bittern Boom Mere). There is a round pond sunk amongst the trees (top shot) reflecting the blue sky. I come near and there is a carpet of Greater Stitchwort.

A view North from a gap in the hedge.

Peacock.

A few Buzzards enjoying the thermals today. This was over Roe Hill plantation.

Climbing Roe Hill.

Looking back.

Burton Constable's Old Wood from Roe Hill.

A gnarled oak near the hill top.

I'm surprised to find Wood Anemones on Roe Hill plantation. There is a carpet of Bluebells now blooming too.

Wood Hall amongst the trees.

Bluebells and Greater Stichwort by the pond.

Wood Hall farm and rookery.

There is a track by the field by Fox Covert, and then the right of way crosses a wheat field just before I get to Old Ellerby. A large hamlet with a pub, the Blue Bell, and church, St James, on Crab Tree Lane, another lovely name. I take a narrow footpath between houses that emerges on the churchyard, where there are a few young and curious Rabbits.

A Coat Tit singing at Old Ellerby.

Several Greylags were watchful on a field.

Young Rabbit.

St James Church at Old Ellerby.

An old building at Old Ellerby.

The two hamlets of the walk are done, so I make my way to Skirlaugh and wait for my bus back.

Wren atop Ellerby Grange.

My first Holly Blue at Skirlaugh.