Winter wetlands

I had a walk around the perimeter of North Cave Wetlands this morning. It was mostly cloudy, with a few brief sunny spells, and much milder than last week, although there was thin ice near the shore of some of the lakes.
 Things were quieter than usual by Village Lake, there were many Teal, some Wigeon and a flock of Lapwings. A Snipe fed on the island and there were also some Coots and a Redshank.
 I move to Turret Hide and I spotted a flock of Greylags in a field at the north of the reserve. An very large flock of what appear to be Woodpigeon flies in the hills over the trees. I watched the Teals displaying.
 I couldn't miss a Mute swan fight going on in Reed Bed for quite some time, there were two immatures and at least three adults involved, and the fight seemed to involve possibly two pairs. There was actually one on one close contact by the reed beds and repeated chases with noisy wing beats and half flying as they run over the water. Likely a resident pair was chasing an intruder pair away. The individuals chasing adopted the typical Mute Swan threatening posture with raised wings and curved neck called 'busking' as it approached the other.
 All this was very interesting, but I was distracted by the call of a water rail from the reeds, and, as I was quite keen to try and spot it, I stopped watching the swans, although I ended up not seeing the rail either.

 No grebes - Little or Great Crested - to be seen at Main Lake. The flock of Greylags had by then moved onto the Main Lake and I counted them there, all more than 200 of them, with a few Gadwalls, Common Pochards and Tufted ducks. On the shore, more Teals and a dozen Redshanks.
 A late reward for a final look by the entrance fence was a male Siskin in an Alder.
Another great winter walk in the wetlands.

By the access path to Turret hide, a small party of Lesser Redpolls fed on some dry seedheads ( I don't know what they are, some sort of sorrel?

Field at the north of the reserve, with a flock of Greylags in the distance

 Very obvious Goldfinches today, feeding on dry seed heads, can you spot one on this sea of Teasel seedheads?

Goldfinch and Teasel

Mute Swan Chase

Redwing

I disturbed a Green Woodpecker on the north perimeter path, and it called with its 'kia kah!' alarm call as it flew ahead of me. It lated alighted on a tree trunk

Immature Male Tufted Duck

Bird List

1. Black-headed Gull
2.  Blackbird
3.  Blue Tit
4.  Carrion Crow
5.  Chaffinch
6.  Common Gull
7.  Coot
8.  Dunnock
9.  Feral Pigeon
10.  Fieldfare
11.  Gadwall
12.  Goldfinch
13.  Great Tit
14.  Green Woodpecker
15.  Greenfinch
16.  Greylag Goose
17.  House Sparrow
18.  Jackdaw
19.  Kestrel
20.  Lapwing
21.  Lesser Redpoll
22.  Long-tailed Tit
23.  Magpie
24.  Mallard
25.  Moorhen
26.  Mute Swan
27.  Pheasant
28.  Pochard
29.  Redshank
30.  Redwing
31.  Reed Bunting
32.  Robin
33.  Rook
34.  Shoveler
35.  Siskin
36.  Snipe
37.  Song Thrush
38.  Starling
39.  Teal
40.  Tree Sparrow
41.  Tufted Duck
42.  Water Rail
43.  Wigeon
44.  Woodpigeon
45.  Wren

Old trees in the cemetery

The trees are now bare and the ground vegetation much reduced. A background carpet of shrivelled leaves and the soft winter light makes it is easier to admire the size of trees in my local cemetery. Although some are ornamental varieties, such as flowering cherries and horse chestnuts, several of the larges trees are native species. Beech, Lime, Oak and Ash, Yew, Alder and Holly: many likely to have been planted, or self seeded over 150 years ago.
One of the reasons behind the abundance of woodland birds in the cemetery is the age of these trees and the reduced management. There are hollows in trunks, broken branches, fallen trunks. It is not a tidy garden, instead, it looks like wildlife is taking over. The following are just a few of the ones that took my eye in my walk today.
 I have been submitting individual trees of the cemetery to the Woodland Trust's Ancient Tree Hunt for verification. This project allows members of the public to find and catalogue ancient and notable trees throughout the British Isles. Worth having a look, as it is surprising how many ancient trees might be found near where you live.

A pair of Alders

Lime tree

Whitebeam

Beech

Ash

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

Flamborough South Landing

I would find it difficult to decide on my favourite place in East Yorkshire, but South Landing would come close to the top. This little corner of Flamborough Head combines a diversity of habitats: a creek with a wooded valley, stony and sandy beach, cliffs and a rocky spit with rock pools. Together with its rare and wonderful south aspect, which shelters the little bay from chilly northerly winds, it is hard to beat as a great place for wildlife, especially at this time of year.

 This is the site where the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has planned its Living Seas Centre (above), which is bound to open in the spring. There are several marked trails, peppered with picnic benches, sculptures and even a 'dinosaur's nest' for the little ones. There is a bird feeding station with a screen, but today it didn't appear to have been stocked.
 The sky was clear and the breeze northerly, so the landing was quite balmy considering the widespread frost. It took me some time to leave the carpark, as it was teeming with birds, Yellowhammers, Tree Sparrows, Song Thrushes and Bullfinches to name a few.
 I descend into the sheltered little bay, accompanied by the bubbling noise of the running creek. It was low tide and a wide beach opened ahead of me, backed by the clay and chalk cliffs. The top of the beach, under the seaweed covered tide like is made of white chalk boulders, but then there is a strip of sand. Instead of the planned walk to Danes Dyke, I walk right and then left and generally hang out with the beach birds, which appear unusually tame.

Pied Wagtail

Rock Pipit

Carrion Crow and Turnstone

Carrion Crow

Turnstone

A pair of Carrion Crows are busy turning the seaweed in search of food with some Turnstones. A Pied Wagtail goes back and forth by the creek pouring into the beach. There are Rock pipits and Turnstones everywhere.

A group of Turnstones climb onto the cliff and proceed to dig the clay out - maybe they should have been called the Cliff-Diggers (above). The Rock pipits seem interested in this activity too.

Later, I see what I initially take by a pair of albino Turnstones amongst normal looking ones, but when I look closer they turn out to be some lovely Sanderlings.

A Robin squabbles with a Stonechat for a favourite perch, possibly attracted by the similarly coloured chest. I see the Stonechat again later by the clay cliff vegetation.
A large flock of unidentified finches flies back and forth by the cliff tops.

Great Black-Backed Gull and Oystercatcher

By the water edge there are Great Black-Backed and Herring gulls, with a couple of Curlew, a Ringed Plover, Oystercatchers and Redshank.

Ringed Plover

  Further still in the water, I distinguish the silhouette of a diver, this one honouring its name, diving repeatedly. The frontal light and lack of a telescope makes it hard to distinguish any features, so I cannot identify it.

Limpets

Looking towards the headland by a rock pool

  Before leaving, I climb to the cliff top and follow the trail by the ravine. There are several blooming gorse bushes and then the trail becomes more wooded, with some mature trees and younger ones. I spot   a Treecreeper and a Chiffchaff, and later, a bunch of Long Tailed Tits.
The headland is as interesting and fascinating in winter as it is in spring and summer, when the cliffs are busy with breeding seabirds. I can't wait to be back.

The 'dinosaur nest' on the nature trail

Chiffchaff

Treecreeper

More Information
Flamborough Bird Observatory.

Yorkshire Wildlife trust.

Location map

View Larger Map

Bird list

1. Blackbird   
2. Bullfinch 4  
3. Carrion Crow, a recently fledged young begging to its parents in the car park
4. Chaffinch   
5. Chiffchaff 1  
6. Curlew   
7. Dunnock   
8. Goldfinch   
9. Great Black-backed Gull   
10. Great Tit   
11. Greenfinch   
12. Herring Gull   
13. Long-tailed Tit 6  
14. Oystercatcher   
15. Pied Wagtail  
16. Redshank   
17. Ringed Plover 1  
18. Robin 
19. Rock Pipit 10 C 
20. Sanderling 2  
21. Song Thrush 2  
22. Stonechat
23. Tree Sparrow   
24. Treecreeper
25. Turnstone, about 20
26. Woodpigeon   
27. Wren, singing male
28. Yellowhammer 2  
29. unidentified diver

Rain on D res

 My plans to go to Flamborough were thwarted by persistent rain today. So, I decided to pop into Tophill Low instead, and wait in a hide to see if the rain stopped by midday. Many fields were flooded and there was lots of water on the road. Water levels were also quite high on the Beverley and Barmston Drain. Flocks of Blackbirds and Redwings flew away from the car from the berry-laden hedgerows, and Pheasants fed on the edges of the large puddles with corvids and seagulls.
 I waited in the car for a while once in the car park, which is often quite productive, and then moved onto the hide overlooking the D reservoir.
 Water birds do not seem to mind the rain and carry on feeding as normal, and on the plus side it was quite calm so wildfowl were quite visible due to the stillness of the water despite the gloomy clouds. A loose group of Great Black Backed gulls, made of separate pairs, decided to take is as a cue to have a thorough wash and they splashed about on the water.
 There were many duck species, both diving and dabbling - a flotilla of Gadwalls above - plus Coots, and Great Crested Grebe. The unique tinge of a lone male Goosander's body, white with a orangey-pink glow being very distinctive despite the distance.
 A few females and a male Goldeneye were also present.
Given the size of the reservoir and how distant some of the birds are, this is a good site to practice identifying duck species by their general colour combination, like useful 'flags' to tell what country a boat is from.
 A soaking wet Grey Squirrel fed by the walls of the reservoir.
By midday, the rain kept coming, if anything, stronger than before. It was obvious the weather wasn't going to change any time soon, so that ended today's trip. Despite the weather, sitting on the hide birdwatching with a nice cup of thermos coffee was great.

Bird list

1. Blackbird    
2. Blue Tit    
3. Carrion Crow    
4. Chaffinch    
5. Coal Tit    
6. Collared Dove    
7. Coot    
8. Gadwall    
9. Goldeneye    
10. Goldfinch    
11. Goosander    
12. Great Black-backed Gull    
13. Great Crested Grebe    
14. Great Spotted Woodpecker    
15. Great Tit
16. Greylag Goose    
17. Herring Gull    
18. Magpie    
19. Mistle Thrush    
20. Moorhen    
21. Pheasant    
22. Pochard    
23. Robin    
24. Shoveler    
25. Tufted Duck    
26. Wigeon    
27. Woodpigeon

November Wetlands

A circular walk at North Cave Wetlands this morning. Bright blue skies and just a mild breeze - what a contrast to yesterday blustery day. I start to walk around the perimeter path counterclockwise. Despite getting there at 9:30 the place is deserted. In Dryham lane I spot a Fieldfare on the Hawthorns, and just before getting to East Hide I surprise a Stoat crossing the path, but I can't relocate it again.
  The background sound of the day are Teal peeps - I carry on hearing them even when I get home. I wonder if you can tell what month you are in by the background calls of dominant birds. There are large Teal flocks in Village lake and Island lake. Not many Lapwing or Greylag. The water levels are very high and there are not many islands left in Island Lake. From Turret hide, I get great views of preening Shelducks (above).
There are enormous flocks of Woodpigeons on the fields and hedgerows, with blackbirds and redwings.
A mixed flock of Siskins and Lesser Redpolls quietly feeding in alders suddenly takes to the air calling nervously. While I was watching them, I could only spotted a few, but the flock is over 50 strong, it is surprising how discreet they are while they feed. Later I see a male Sparrowhawk having a bath on the shore of the closest lake to the elders, maybe it is what caused the commotion. The Sparrowhawk flies high later, causing more alarm calls by small birds by South Hide.
 As I come out to Dryham Lane, a steam train-like sound makes me look up just in time to watch three Mute Swans flying over. Everybody should experience Mute Swans flying overhead, the sound of their wings is loud and quite unexpected. Awesome.
A shiny male Goldeneye is present in South hide, and thanks to two kind birders I am able to see a Jack Snipe, bobbing gently up and down on the shore. There are also many Common Snipe. Pochards, Tufted Ducks, Coots and a pair of Little Grebes feed about.
 I think this is the first time this year that I see 50 bird species in a day trip. North Cave Wetlands never disappoints.

Goldfinches

A curious Starling by the Wild Bird Cafe

Bird list

1. Black-headed Gull    
2.  Blackbird    
3.  Blue Tit    
4.  Carrion Crow    
5.  Chaffinch    
6.  Common Gull
7.  Coot    
8.  Dunnock
9.  Feral Pigeon    
10.  Fieldfare    
11.  Gadwall    
12.  Goldeneye    
13.  Goldfinch    
14.  Great Black-backed Gull    
15.  Great Crested Grebe    
16.  Great Tit    
17.  Greylag Goose    
18.  House Sparrow    
19.  Jack Snipe    
20.  Jackdaw    
21.  Kestrel    
22.  Lapwing    
23.  Lesser Redpoll    
24.  Little Grebe    
25.  Long-tailed Tit    
26.  Magpie    
27.  Mallard    
28.  Moorhen    
29.  Mute Swan    
30.  Pheasant    
31.  Pochard    
32.  Redshank    
33.  Redwing    
34.  Reed Bunting    
35.  Robin    
36.  Rook    
37.  Shelduck    
38.  Shoveler    
39.  Siskin    
40.  Skylark    
41.  Snipe    
42.  Song Thrush    
43.  Sparrowhawk    
44.  Starling    
45.  Teal    
46.  Tree Sparrow    
47.  Tufted Duck    
48.  Wigeon    
49.  Woodpigeon    
50.  Wren