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.

Holderness: Aldbrough, East Newton, Ringbrough

After walking to the station, I took bus 24 to Hornsea and then 170 to Aldbrough. It's a mild day with little wind and light cloud cover, ideal for a walk. The village is very quiet, traffic wise, away from main roads and the bird chorus is wonderful, the cacophony of the Rooks at their rookery, Robin, Wren, Song Thrush, Blackbird and Coal Tit. I walk on the grounds of St Bartholomew's church, perched on a rise, recording the ever present primroses on the churchyard. Then I take Seaside road. Soon a Skylark rises from the fields, and then a Meadow Pipit sings. Two Buzzards lazily glide round a thermal.

Rook.

Rookery.

Jackdaw.

Pheasant.

Song Thrush.

View south of the valley young Lambwath Stream.

Buzzard.

I notice the pub is now very close to the cliff edge. One of the bungalows has been condemned, now empty and fenced off, soon to topple down the cliff. A man arrives and we have a chat. He says he hasn't been here in decades and a lot has gone.

Looking back towards Aldbrough.

Meadow Pipit.

The new waymarkers for the coastal path, sometimes a bit close to the edge of the cliff. This section is away from the cliff edge. It follows Old Dale Road and then East Newton road to avoid the increasingly encroached Hill Top farm. Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits near the farm. After crossing East Newton, I make my way towards Ringbrough, which was a settlement lost to sea. The farm by the track claims to be Ringbrough West, so I take it. A Yellowhammer sings from a barn. I'm surprised to see the hawthorns still not in leaf as they are in Hull. Spring is delayed here. I make my way to Aldbrough by East Newton road, a very tranquil country track.

Reed Bunting singing at Hill Top Farm.

Rejoining the cliff after Hilltop Farm.

Last winter storms took a bite of the cliff and footpath near East Newton.

Yellowhammer singing.

A Pied Wagtail on a pile of manure.

Holderness: Burstwick, Elstronwick and Danthorpe

A mild day with light cloud and brief sunny spells, I take bus 75 to Burstwick. I walk east along Pinfold lane to take the public right of way by Burstwick drain. A blackthorn is in full bloom, its branches packed with blossom. Several Small Tortoiseshells bask and flutter on the banks of the drain, which are peppered on flowering Lesser Celandines. Skylarks sing over the fields. I walk north on Hedon road by the golf course, and then take the right towards Windy Hill, where I leave the busy road for the footpath towards Lelley Grange. Siskins sing from an alder and a hare bounds away. A sprinkle of Linnets. Rooks fly over towards the rookery at Daisy Hill farm. Ditches, hedges and arable fields make most of the landscape, which is undulating. Right beyond the crossing at with Bownhill lake there is a grassy hollow, the ditch that runs through it and a local hill give away that this used to be a mere: Braemere. It is now horse paddocks, but there is open water, and judging by the position of the fences the area has flooder overwinter, overtopping its banks. Greylags, Mallards and a Moorhen feed or rest around it. Flocks of starlings fly overhead. Later, on the way back, I see two Curlew by the water's edge.

Small Tortoiseshell.

Rook.

Brown Hare.

Siskin.

Rookery at Daisy Hill farm.

Rookery.

Roe deer by Fox Covert.

Roe Deer.

Clumps of primroses flower on churchyards and on innaccessible banks, refuges for this species.

The crossing with Bownhill Lane.

Elstronwick is an elongated village from East to West between Front street and Back street. The houses and cottages are spread out, and the village has a very rural field, out of the busy roads. Chickens feed on the street. I have my lunch overlooking North Field. Afterwards, I continue along Back lane and then cross to Front lane, where I visit the churchyard of St Lawrence's Church. A Chiffchaff sings. The church sits just by Humbleton Beck, which is running gingerly (top shot) and drains its waters to Burstwick Drain after joining Braemere drain. I continue on the public right of way towards Danthorpe hamlet. A pond with domestic ducks has a pair of Shelduck, I assume wild by their alert stance, and a barnacle goose of doubtful origin. A group of cheeky lambs comes to have a closer look, while a Pied Wagtail feeds on the grass behind them.

Robin.

St Lawrence's church.

Shelduck.

Curious lambs.

A crossing on the edge of Elstronwick.

I take the road to Burton Pidsea, a village I still need to visit, but I have no time today. I walk along the road and turn right on Fieldend lane towards Lelley Grange and soon I reach the public right of way along Burstwick Drain.

Rabbit.

Curlew by Braemere ditch.

Linnets.

Buzzard at Bridge Farm.

Mature poplars on the edge of Bridge Farm.

A Roe Deer buck in full run.

A new bridge over Burstwick drain.

A woodpecker near the golf course was a nice surprise.

All Saints' Church in Burstwick.

Jackdaw.

As I enter Burstwick, children, the village is busy with the school run. I wait for the late bus at Station road to go back home.