Sewerby Hall and cliffs with Hull Nats

 

An unexpectedly sunny day, milder than we expected thanks to the shelter of the woodland and cliffs from the northerly wind. After assembling in the car park we took a walk around the woodland. The first surprise was the Nuthatch feeding on a wall where people had left some seed. It was unfortunately too fast for photos. An area of the gardens holds a stunning grove of Monkey-puzzle tree, Araucaria araucana, with three large individuals, planted in 1868, and several smaller ones of different sizes. A fourth mature tree was blown during the infamous 'beast from the East' in March 2018. Its wood was used in carved panels lining paths to enhance the grounds carved by Allen Stichler.

The view from under a large Arauraria araucana.

The trunk.

A Rook arrives at the nest with a large branch.

Carpets of Snowdrops and Winter Aconite on the woodland floor.

One of the 14 new carvings by on the Araucaria wood.

After exploring the woods we had a picnic in the south-facing, sheltered building that can be seen in this photo. Absolutely toasty!

It was time to head to the beach. As we walked by the cricket pitch, a 50+ flock of Oystercatchers were feeding on it, a wonder to watch. 

We descended the steep steps to the beach. A Rock Pipit was feeding at the bottom of the chalk, and moved forward as we did, visiting the mounds of soil generated by cliff falls. I managed a couple of record shots. I had a bit of a lovely surprise when I got home and checked the photos, as the bird was colour ringed! I had 2 photos and the light wasn't great, but I had a possible code and a ringing scheme to contact, so I e-mailed the info and today I got the ringing details below. It appears that this is a Norwegian bird, so wintering at Flamborough:

Ring no : Stavanger EP02385, Orange colour ring ZVJ, right tarsus.

A male, hatched 2021 or before, ringing date: 26.9.2021.

Ringing place: Makkevika (62*30'29''N-006*01'37''E) Giske, Giske, Møre & Romsdal, Norway.

Remarks: Caught in walk-in-trap.

Ringer: Kjell Mork Soot / Sunnmøre Ringing Group.

Another photo of the ringed Rock Pipit.

A view of the Sewerby Beach and cliffs, all the way to Flamborough.

A Pied Wagtail feeding at the top of the beach.

Seven Great Black-backed Gulls amongst Herring gulls. A few Common Gulls ], Black-headed Gulls, a Redshank and some Oystercatchers were also feeding on the exposed intertidal.

The spot where the cliffs meet the clay and location of the raised Ipswichian beach.

As we had our coffee and cake, a Woodpigeon with a deformed bill displayed to another, approaching the other individual by hopping, as they usually do when courting.

Displaying Woodpigeon.