Tuesday 9 January 2024

A walk to Willerby Carr in January

A walk along the Setting Dyke, Willerby Carr and Wood Lane, returning via Snuff Mill Lane. This is a good walk to bump up the bird year list. It has been very rainy lately and the Carrs and Ings are flooded, the Setting Dyke running gingerly. It was cold, but no wind or frost, which meant that the walk was quite muddy underfoot. 

A Goldfinch feeding on Ash keys.
Stock Dove, singing and displaying.
Two Lapwing chasing and pirouetting at Willerby Carr. 
The Willerby Carr and Derringham flood reservoir was as full as I've ever seen it. Some Mallard and a pair of Wigeon were on it.
Wigeon and Mallard.
Displaying Black-headed Gulls.
Teal and Wigeon on the flashes.
I counted 66 Lapwing roosting.
Pony grazing.
I scan the field margins with the binoculars and spot a fox. It looks most relaxed, scratching, rolling on the ground, running back and forth.
Red Fox.

Wood Lane is very muddy, but not flooded. Near the north paddocks a Roe Deer sitting on the field looks at me over her shoulder. It follows me with its gaze, but doesn't move. A wonderful encounter.


Roe Deer doe portrait.
I catch up with the local pair of Ruddy Shelduck, feeding on the flash south of the crematorium.

A Blackbird feeding on Ivy berries.
Sparrowhawk over the Avenues.

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