Brough Haven and Crabley Creek

From the train to London on Friday morning I spotted a Marsh Harrier flying over the reed beds just north of Brough. So I planned a walk today between Brough Haven and Crabley Farm, a marshy area traversed by Crabley Creek, lying between the Humber and its bank. It was sunny, but breezy in the morning and it was the first trip this season that I wished I have brough gloves. Although it warmed a bit later, the south westerly breeze was relentless. The tide was almost at its lowest as I parked by Brough Haven. A small group of Mallard, a flock of Teal and some Redshank fed on the mudflats. As soon as I pointed my binoculars towards the reed beds, I saw the distant silhouettes of four Marsh Harriers quartering near each other, the highest number I've seen together in East Yorkshire. One or several of them were visible through the morning. A large flock of geese, far too distant to identify, passed over the Humber, as did some small groups of Swans, which I couldn't ID.

 I found the way around Brough Haven onto the flood bank. A male Pheasant flew away landing near a group of Curlew. There were good numbers of Curlew around today.

 The side of the bank was flanked by wet pasture and large reed beds streaked by muddy creeks and ponds. New hedges have been planted, and some mature scattered hawthorns, laden with berries, revealed the position of old hedges. Sheep grazed the bank and the marshland. Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Pied Wagtails, Reed Buntings and a single Grey Heron flew across the bank.

 I noticed a Marsh Harrier flying nearby and landing in a visible spot by the path. At the same time, two Kestrels appeared to be squabbling over prey on the bank, one of them flying onto the other, which lifted its wings protecting its prey.

 I returned after reaching Crabley Farm. A bright male Yellowhammer flew towards the hedge by the train line. 

 Two Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral were flying by the entrance of the Haven. After feeding on the mud and getting a very muddy face, a Curlew started bathing in a pool on the mudflats, putting an end to an interesting outing.

Two Marsh Harriers over the reedbed with Drax and windmills on the background.

Distant swans crossing the Humber

Three Marsh Harriers in a line

Sheep

Ram checking the females

Hawthorn Berries

One of the Marsh Harrier stopped briefly by the reedbed.

Grey Heron

A Kestrel being mobbed by a Meadow Pipit

One kestrel had got a prey and lifted its wings every time the other approached and dived

If you click to enlarge you can spot the prey on the Kestrel talons, with the other chasing it, and two Curlew on the background

Greenfinch

The long straight bank heading towards Crabley Farm

A flock of geese in the distance

Female Reed Bunting

A Hawthorn laden with berries

The yellow spot in the middle of the photo is an almost fluorescent male Yellowhammer

Marsh Harrier

A view towards Lincolnshire 

The russet reed bed of Crabley Creek

Teal feeding in Brough Haven

Brough Haven

Marsh Harrier

Curlew with muddy face...

... and finishing its bath with a lovely clean face

Bird list

1. Black-headed Gull 
2. Blackbird 
3. Bullfinch 
4. Carrion Crow 
5. Chaffinch 
6. Common Gull 
7. Curlew 
8. Goldfinch 
9. Greenfinch 
10. House Sparrow 
11. Kestrel 
12. Lapwing 
13. Linnet 
14. Magpie 
15. Mallard 
16. Marsh Harrier 
17. Meadow Pipit 
18. Pheasant 
19. Pied/White Wagtail
20. Redshank 
21. Reed Bunting 
22. Robin 
23. Rock Dove
24. Skylark 
25. Teal 
26. Tufted Duck
27. Woodpigeon 
28. Wren 
29. Yellowhammer 

Sunny October at East Park

Armed with bike, skateboards and binoculars I headed to East Park with the kids. The morning had a beautiful light, still and mild conditions, ideal for a walk/ride. There were a few large Greylag flocks around the park. As we arrived, a Sparrowhawk flew past, followed by an angry charm of Goldfinches. Two Pied Wagtails called each other from the opposite shore of the lake.
 I failed to spot the Great Crested Grebes and there was still no sign of Goosanders.

Pied wagtail

Sleeping Tufted ducks

Sleeping Male Pochard

Greylags

A single Mute Swan was at the feeding stationon the lake. It had a metal ring and a very new yellow ring marked 775. I reported it to Euring and Dan, from the Yorkshire Swan & Wildlife Rescue Hospital replied the following day with this info: ZY8475 - Yellow 775 - 28.08.14 - Adult Male Mute Swan - East Park, Hull (TA 12107 31393). So it appears it was only ringed this August in the park. I will try and keep an eye on it.

Right leg yellow plastic ring 

At the mini zoo, while the kids played with a surprisingly laid back hen, I spotted a Dunnock, basking on a sunny corner by a bench, I was very close, but it took no notice of me.

As we returned to the car, a lovely Grey Wagtail on the rim of the empty model boating lake.

Bird list

1. Black-headed Gull
2. Blackbird
3. Blue Tit
4. Canada Goose
5. Carrion Crow
6. Common Gull
7. Coot
8. Cormorant
9. Dunnock
10. Feral Pigeon
11. Goldfinch
12. Great Tit
13. Grey Wagtail
14. Greylag Goose
15. Herring Gull
16. House Sparrow
17. Jackdaw
18. Long-tailed Tit
19. Magpie
20. Mallard
21. Mistle Thrush
22. Moorhen
23. Mute Swan
24. Pied Wagtail (yarrellii)
25. Pochard
26. Robin
27. Sparrowhawk
28. Starling
29. Tufted Duck
30. Woodpigeon
31. Wren

Hornets, kingfisher and a stinky stinkhorn at Tophill Low

I went to Tophil Low with Gui and Jess. Sunny sky and mild weather, just a tiny bit of a breeze. We walked the north side of the reserve. From the car park hide overlooking D-res Jess spotted a small group of Red-Crested pochard, a bird I hadn't seen this year. We could see some shovelers in the distance, and the usual assortment of coot, mute swan, pochard and tufted duck. A Buzzard soared over the trees in the distance and Jackdaws play fighted with a Kestrel.

 We kept an eye on the trees for a Tawny Owl on the way to D-woods, but there was no luck. Goldcrests were everywhere, and we also saw a Treecreeper. In a clearing in the wood near the pond, Hornets crossed the path at full speed. There might be a nest nearby, as there was a lot of hornet traffic there. And on the floor Gui spotted a fresh Stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus), which had just started to attract flies. 

Mature Stinkhorn. The tip is covered by a dark, sticky substance that contains the spores and emits a rotting flesh smell, which attracts flies. The immature fulgal bodies are called 'eggs' and you can see one intact one on the left.

We admired and photographed the fungus and carried on towards North Marsh. The Kingfisher gave us great views: it first landed behind some bullrush leaves, but after catching a fish it settled on a clea branch in front of the hide. After hitting the fish a few times against the branch it proceeded to drop it and wasn't too bothered about retrieving it.

 We waited a bit longer hoping to see an otter, but instead were entertained by two male Migrant Hawkers, Darters, Comma, Red Admiral and a white butterfly. At some point a male Kestrel landed on a tree, and a Wren expressed its alarm at the event. There were quite a number of active invertebrates about in the reserve.

 After North Marsh, and alerted by two kind birdwatchers, we kept an eye for water voles in the pond on the way to Helmpholme Meadows. We spotted them going about their busy lives from the hide and and inside the hide we discovered tens of overwintering lacewings on the roof.

 Helmpholme was quiet. Other than three Commas on the wing and a calling Chiffchaff or Willow warbler that called and didn't sing.

Red Crested Pochard, and Coots

Male Pintail still in eclipse plumage.

Shoveler and Teal?

Kingfisher

Kestrel

Common Darter

Migrant Hawker

Dronefly, Eristalis tenax

Water vole, one of several seen at the pond

Water vole

Red Admiral

Comma

Amber snail

Bug still to ID

A cluster of overwintering Lacewings, Chrysoperla carnea inside one of the hides.

The same stinkhorn two hours later. Many bluebottles, green bottles and other flies clustered over it. The black spore containing substance pretty much gone.

Caddis fly.

Bird List

1. Black-headed Gull
2. Blackbird
3. Buzzard
4. Carrion Crow
5. Chaffinch
6. Coal Tit
7. Common Gull
8. Coot
9. Cormorant
10. Gadwall
11. Goldcrest
12. Great Black-backed Gull
13. Great Crested Grebe
14. Great Spotted Woodpecker
15. Great Tit
16. Jackdaw
17. Kestrel
18. Kingfisher
19. Lapwing
20. Long-tailed Tit
21. Marsh Tit
22. Moorhen
23. Mute Swan
24. Pheasant
25. Pintail
26. Pochard
27. Red-crested Pochard
28. Robin
29. Shoveler
30. Swallow
31. Treecreeper
32. Tufted Duck
33. Wigeon
34. Woodpigeon
35. Wren