Holderness: Coniston

There has been a spring-like feeling in the last few days, with warmer weather and even a bit of sunshine, so I decided to restart the Holderness walks. I still have 32 villages and hamlets remaining to visit, including most of the most isolated, and hardest to reach by public transport. Today it was mild, a bit breezy, and dry and I started with a very easy one, Coniston, a tiny village with a pub and a derelict chapel, which is by the A165 road and has a bus stop. From the village I walked to the Hull to Hornsea railway trail at Swine station and then to Sutton. The landscape is flat, with large arable fields edged with hedges and or ditches. There were plenty of Yellowhammers, some on territory starting to sing, although there was a flock on a field of stubbles near Swine with some Reed buntings. Skylarks provided much of the soundtrack of the walk. 

Linnet.

Buzzard.

Kestrel.

One of a dozen or so Yellowhammers feeding on stubbles by the trail.

Dunnock singing.

It was a walk with plenty of Yellowhammers today.

This and another male Great Tit were having some territorial dispute.

Chaffinch.

Dumble Farm in winter

I had never visited Dumble Farm in the winter. This morning, I joined Holly for a winter bird survey at Arram Carrs, mostly on the grounds of Dumble Farm. We got the train to Arram station. The morning started cold, but with sunny sky and the birds really delivered. The Carrs were quite flooded, at one point on the public right of way we had to turn round despite wearing wellies. The survey started with a fly over lone Pinkfoot and six Little Egrets, with two Cattle Egrets with them, all feeding around the highland cows. There were so many highlights during the survey, but huge flocks of Lapwing, in the thousands, over 50 Curlew, a pair of Pintail, many Teal, Marsh Harriers, flocks of Fieldfare, dozens of Skylarks, a pair of Stonechat and to top it up, a Corn Bunting. A total of Other than the birds, the views were so expansive, and the weather such a relief after weeks on end of rain, that we had the most enjoyable day. We walked back via the public right of way by the railway line to Beverley.

Reed Bunting.

Pink-footed Goose.

The start of the survey.

Cattle Egret and co.

Rook.

Cattle Egret.

Lapwing, Curlew and Skylarks.

Curlew and Lapwing.

Fieldfare.

Pintail. There was a pair about.

Corn Bunting.

The river Hull near Leven canal looking very high.

View of Leven Carrs.

A huge flock of Lapwing, looking south from the river bank.

Stonechat.

Skylark singing. So many skylarks today.

Oystercatcher.

Male Marsh Harrier.