A day with long sunny spells, but still quite cold due to the northerly breeze. I make my way around the avenues and cross Chanterlands Avenue to head to the Setting Dike.
A male Blackbird with food for chicks.
Blackcap on Ivy.
Soon after I get to the Setting Dyke I spot a cat, and I soot realise the cat is stalking a Water Vole! The water vole is collecting vegetation from the bank standing on its rear legs, and the bringing it to the water for nibbling. It soon realises something is amiss and swims across the dyke. The light is lovely and I take some photos of its activities.
This is the closest the cat got to the Water Vole. The steepness of the dike probably helps keeping the water voles safe from cats and dogs.
A view of this stretch of the Setting Dike.
I have another surprise on the next stretch of the dike, when I spot a Little Egret on the bank. It is relatively quiet with most children already at school. The egret flies into the drain, where it joins another. I had never had a Little Egret in the Setting Dike.
Little Egrets.
3-spined Sticklebacks at the dike.
The Setting Dike has a plentiful population of 3-spined Stickebacks and the fact that is running quite low, making them accessible. I guess the Little Egrets make the best of this early in the morning before passers by and dogs walkers get up.
I walk around the playing fields. The gulls are alarm calling and I soon see the source of the issue: two Buzzards, they appear to be chasing each other in a playful way.
Buzzards.
An almost white Woodpigeon on Willerby Carr Farm.
Horses at Willerby Carr Farm.
A view of the flooded Willerby Carr Farm.
I had surprised a Fox earlier, but this one is too sleepy to notice me.
Two Wigeon and six Teal were still at Willerby Carr pool.
Wood Lane is quite dry, very different from the last time I walk by. The Blackthorn is in bloom, Chiffchaffs sing at regular intervals. A Skylark and a Linnet also singing.
My first Bluebells of the year at Wood Lane.
Four Roe Deer are feeding on the horse paddocks.This one stops to have a good look. It was a good day for mammals, a Bank Vole scurried on the grass shortly after.
Singing Chiffchaff.
A Rook comes to drink on a puddle at Priory Fields.
My first Green-veined White of the year at Snuff Mill Lane.
One of two Bee Flies at Snuff Mill Lane.
The field with a temporary pond off Snuff Mill Lane.
A Buzzard had landed on a Carrion Crow's nest. Both crows were calling noisily and flying around, but the Buzzard was undeterred. I wonder if it was looking for eggs and finding none, as it flew off shortly after.
Tawny Mining bee by the Setting Dike.
A very pleasant walk of 13 km walked and 42 bird species seen.
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