Clumber Park

My first visit to this National Trust estate in Nottinghamshire in search of this year's hawfinches and some woodland birds. This is an extensive area, 3800 acres of ancient woodland, plantations, arable, heathland and a lake. I parked by the eastern end of the lake, by an area that has undergone recent subsidence and flooded, so trees have sunk in water and died.

Statuesque Cormorants and a Grey Heron sat on the dead trees. I heard the screech of a Jay, my first this year, and soon after the loud bubbling yelps of Nuthatches.

Nuthatch

 I ended up walking on a long detour to the Chapel area -frequented by the Hawfinches - and I only got there about 10:15. After walking around and not seeing or hearing any I had almost given up and started photographing some bathing greenfinches on a puddle. Unexpectedly, a male Hawfinch alighted amongst them and proceeded to have a bath. Shortly after a female did the same. After a little while all birds were spooked and flew up the trees and couldn't reconnect with the Hawfinches again.

The pair of Hawfinches bathing with Greenfinches and Chaffinches, the female on the left.

 Common Garden birds and Grey Squirrels were plentiful in the area though and came down to the ground when I scattered some seed.

Singing Robin.

After the wonderful encounter with the Hawfinches I carried on towards the bridge and walked around the lake by the heathland area. Goosanders, Tufted Ducks and plenty of Black-headed Gulls were in the lake, but I couldn't find the Smew.

 I got to the car and drove to the main car park to search for the Hawfinches again. Some birdwatchers were about and had just seen them. After talking to them it appeared that the Hawfinches had been feeding on yew. The long line of mature Yews north of the chapel seems what is attracting them there. These seeds are highly toxic, but Hawfinches tolerate them - as Greenfinches do too - discarding the red aril and cracking the seed open.

The Chapel.

Around the chapel area. 

Grey Heron.

Cormorant in breeding plumage.

Heathland area.

Looking towards the chapel.

Lesser black-backed gull.

Weir damming the river Poulter and creating the lake.

January at Kilnsea and Spurn

I realised at the end of last year that I had never beet to Spurn on January, so this cold morning I put and end to this and headed there. A dusting of frost covered Holderness, the low sun glowing behind fuzzy clouds. I saw a distant flock of swans on the fields as I was arriving at Kilnsea, so after parking I walked to the pill box to have a look. A group of roe deer resting on the edge of a field appeared to be watching them too.

They were about 30 swans scattered in groups. Most Mute Swans but at least one of them a Whooper, but they were too distant for my binoculars. Magpies, Starlings and Curlew fed by the long bank scrapes amongst the sheep.
 I carried on towards the Kilnsea wetlands hide. As I approached I realised the wetland was frozen over, with small pockets of water. The only birds present were a flock of Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwits. I watched for a while. They appeared quite flighty and scanning for raptors I realised there was a Buzzard on a post almost opposite the hide. It appeared to be sunbathing, wings half spread, but it wasn't sunny at the time. I have seen them in a similar stance in rain.

I carried on. Two hares darted across the field towards Westmere Farm.
The birds had moved onto Beacon Ponds. Many Wigeon and Teal, but no chance of spotting a Green-winged teal with no telescope or the comfort of a hide. A Goldeneye, a Little Grebe and a single Brent Goose were also about.

Goldeneye.

I wandered north along the beach by Beacon Ponds in hope of finding shore larks, but no luck either. There was little about, or maybe I didn't go far enough.
I turned round and walked along the beach, and then along Beacon Lane. A fox scuttled away, just a red glimpse with big triangular dark ears and fluffy tail, no chance for a photo, my first fox of the year! A Song Thrush skulked between bushes.
 I walked along the cliff top. Usual Little Grebe and Mallard on the borrow pit. Added Meadow Pipit to my year list. A dozen linnets bounced along the dry grass. I got to the Breach and watched the waders on the mudflats. Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Shelduck, Curlew. On the Warren bushes three Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings.

After a hot drink in the Discovery Centre I moved to canal scrape hide. Mostly frozen, only the Mute Swans icebreaking had kept some free water, which was being used by a small group of Mallard and Teal.

The icebreaking Mute Swan pair at Canal Scrape.

It was time to get back to the car. I found a lovely trio of Roe Deer feeding on the field.

Roe Deer.

Black-tailed Godwit near the Crown and Anchor.

I caught up with the Hares again, this time they were snoozing in the middle of a field.

Kestrel on a barn roof.

I decided to make a quick stop at Sammy's Point before heading back in case the swans gave better views and I'm glad i did. A fox run ahead of the car as I was arriving and I could see that swans were a little closer. A family of six Whoopers were in view and also the White-fronted Geese, near a mute swan.

White-fronted Goose with mute swan.

 

Whooper Swan family

Brent Geese on a field.

Sunny December day at East Park

It's the week of the winter solstice, with its short days and low sun. The sun actually shone all day today and I headed to East Park, a great winter birding venue not far from home. A Shag had been reported last week and it didn't take me long to spot it. It was sitting on a post in the middle of the lake. I found it later on the boating jetty, where it was much closer (top shot). The low sun highlighted its green sheen. It has a very reptilian look to it, a snake-like neck and staring bottle-green eyes. It stood on its perch twisting its neck in various positions. A few times it took to the water, and returned shortly to a perch. It appeared to have some damage to the webbing of its left foot.

A Cormorant splashes right below the shag.

This is the Cormorant, note the heavier head and thicker bill and neck.

Stretching its left foot.

And swimming.

As I was watching the shag it became apparent that there were lots of Goosanders about. The light was great to capture the beautiful salmon-pink of the males...

 and the silvery grey of the females.

 There were two groups, of 16 and 14 birds, this is the highest count I've had at East Park, and I must have missed some birds that were loafing on the islands. Some of them slept.

Others were hunting, harassed by Black-headed gulls, which tried to steal the fish that they brought up.

 And yet others were displaying, with that kick-leap forward of the drakes, and much show off and preening.

I managed to capture the iridescence of this drake's head, with grooves like a goose's.

There were about 5 drake Pochards in the lake. Several slept.

 and one of them had a preening session.

A Jackdaw fed with coots and gulls.

 And a male Blackbird sat on a yew that was mostly devoid of berries. Five Grey Squirrels fed on yew seed underneath.

 A Grey Wagtail was on the stream/pool area.

 I watched as a Kestrel flew overhead being mobbed by Black-headed Gulls. A Sparrowhawk was also about. As I was about to leave, a Kingfisher flew past, settling briefly on an elder by the lake.

A windy circular walk around Flamborough with Hull Nats

I love the organic way in which walks are decided at Hull Nats. There is an already pre-arranged meeting point, this time in the centre of Flamborough Village. The wind, SSE strong and gusty, the clouds menacing, but no rain forecast until later in the day. A very cold wind chill too, not a walk we would have spontaneously set up on for a Sunday morning, but there we were, six members happy to take a walk in such a day. We initially thought on walking on the south part of the headland on the cliff path, as it has more possibilities. Then, as we walked towards South Landing we decided to try to walk on the foot of the cliff as it might offer more shelter from the wind, despite it's south aspect. We checked the tide, it had just started to ebb and it wasn't too high, so we set our walk at the bottom of the cliff to Danes Dyke and back to the village. The boat ramp was like a wind tunnel, the sea roaring, rough, and foaming. We sheltered behind the RNLI boathouse to take photos and a spot of seawatching. It crossed my mind to turn back. But then we descended to the beach and we realised that once we turned the corner by the cliff we were quite sheltered and at some points by the cliff base it was actually quite still. Helen found a plastic t-rex on the tide line, which I took as a good omen.

It is not easy walking on large rocks and chalk pebbles on the beach, but it's a bit addictive once you get going and clears the mind to have to focus on each step you take. A usual bird assortment on the beach and out at sea: Oystercatchers, Curlew, Turnstones, Rock Pipits, passing Guillemots, Fulmars gliding up and down over the surf and our heads, Herring Gulls. Harry pointed at an Eider and an oiled young Kittiwake.

 

Rock pipit.

Andrew Ch. with roaring seas, a Fulmar and foam.

Andrew A. pressing on. 

Turnstones are very cryptic when feeding amongst chalk pebbles on the strandline.

Looking back.

As on South Landing, Danes Dyke ramp was very windy. We quickly return to the village to complete our circular walk. We take a detour to try and see the Pied Crow that has been on residence there since the summer, without luck, so we find a pub, the Royal Dog and Duck, for our lunch, this the last trip of the year for the Hull Nats.