A mild day with light cloud and brief sunny spells, I take bus 75 to Burstwick. I walk east along Pinfold lane to take the public right of way by Burstwick drain. A blackthorn is in full bloom, its branches packed with blossom. Several Small Tortoiseshells bask and flutter on the banks of the drain, which are peppered on flowering Lesser Celandines. Skylarks sing over the fields. I walk north on Hedon road by the golf course, and then take the right towards Windy Hill, where I leave the busy road for the footpath towards Lelley Grange. Siskins sing from an alder and a hare bounds away. A sprinkle of Linnets. Rooks fly over towards the rookery at Daisy Hill farm. Ditches, hedges and arable fields make most of the landscape, which is undulating. Right beyond the crossing at with Bownhill lake there is a grassy hollow, the ditch that runs through it and a local hill give away that this used to be a mere: Braemere. It is now horse paddocks, but there is open water, and judging by the position of the fences the area has flooder overwinter, overtopping its banks. Greylags, Mallards and a Moorhen feed or rest around it. Flocks of starlings fly overhead. Later, on the way back, I see two Curlew by the water's edge.
Small Tortoiseshell.
Rook.
Brown Hare.
Siskin.
Rookery at Daisy Hill farm.
Rookery.
Roe deer by Fox Covert.
Roe Deer.
Clumps of primroses flower on churchyards and on innaccessible banks, refuges for this species.
The crossing with Bownhill Lane.
Elstronwick is an elongated village from East to West between Front street and Back street. The houses and cottages are spread out, and the village has a very rural field, out of the busy roads. Chickens feed on the street. I have my lunch overlooking North Field. Afterwards, I continue along Back lane and then cross to Front lane, where I visit the churchyard of St Lawrence's Church. A Chiffchaff sings. The church sits just by Humbleton Beck, which is running gingerly (top shot) and drains its waters to Burstwick Drain after joining Braemere drain. I continue on the public right of way towards Danthorpe hamlet. A pond with domestic ducks has a pair of Shelduck, I assume wild by their alert stance, and a barnacle goose of doubtful origin. A group of cheeky lambs comes to have a closer look, while a Pied Wagtail feeds on the grass behind them.
Robin.
St Lawrence's church.
Shelduck.
Curious lambs.
A crossing on the edge of Elstronwick.
I take the road to Burton Pidsea, a village I still need to visit, but I have no time today. I walk along the road and turn right on Fieldend lane towards Lelley Grange and soon I reach the public right of way along Burstwick Drain.
Rabbit.
Curlew by Braemere ditch.
Linnets.
Buzzard at Bridge Farm.
Mature poplars on the edge of Bridge Farm.
A Roe Deer buck in full run.
A new bridge over Burstwick drain.
A woodpecker near the golf course was a nice surprise.
All Saints' Church in Burstwick.
Jackdaw.
As I enter Burstwick, children, the village is busy with the school run. I wait for the late bus at Station road to go back home.
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