24th February 2015 - North Ferriby to Welton Water

Shamefully this was a walk to Brough which was abandoned at Welton Water. The start of the walk was around the North Ferriby Walkway, primarily in the hope that a Turnstone would be present on the rocky defences. With it being high tide, I felt that my chances were high but once again, the rocks supplied just a couple of Mallard. A strong westerly wind meant that the birds had largely hit the deck (perhaps a sensible option!). There is not much shelter on the river side in these conditions, and my walk was to take me into the wind all the way.

Often quite confiding, the Bullfinch pair this morning was rather flighty

The woodland was perhaps more lively, with finch flocks containing Greenfinch and Chaffinch accompanied by a Goldcrest and a pair of Bullfinch. The high tide means that the shoreline walk to Brough is impassable at the North Ferriby end, so requires a long walk through the village and back down through the wood. Song Thrush was the only bird of note in the woodland as the wind put paid to much activity. I walked the field edge and flushed Redwing and a Mistle Thrush as well as a number of Carrion Crows. The Gull flock here was particularly impressive with at least 500 Common Gulls and a lesser number of Black-Headed. My mission for a Med Gull continues as 20 minutes scouring the ever-moving group proved unsuccessful.

Finally reaching the river the tide was already beginning to recede. The walk across the field edge was very exposed and I got quite a buffeting although the flock of Goldfinch here seemed to be enjoying themselves! The shore now had a few waders, with the usual Redshank and Dunlin accompanied by 4 Ringed Plover (still no Turnstone)! The Ringed Plover blend so well into their stony background that only when they move do they become evident.

Ringed Plover is a common sight on the exposed mud - at least when they move!

The remainder of the walk was exceptionally quiet, with little of note. Welton Water was also quiet with no evidence of the numbers of Gadwall present earlier in the week. 26 Tufted for once outnumbered the Goldeneye of which there were 16. A Little Grebe kept sensibly against the reeds on the far side rather than brave the choppy waters.

At this point I took up the option of a lift so made to the rail crossing. A Reed Bunting gave away its presence with its monotonous call as did a couple of Gadwall tucked away on the small entrance pool. The fields on the way to the crossing were perhaps the liveliest area. Singing Skylark were a very welcome sound as they rose high above the grouped Curlew picking their way through the rough and furrowed field. They were joined by a number of Fieldfare, hard to count in the muddy field but into double figures at best count.

A nice walk along the patch but perhaps the birds took the best option today.

23rd February 2015 - Hornsea Mere

A week off means a trip to the sea! Having lived a good 2 hours from the coast for the last 10 years, living within half an hour is quite a novelty. It will be exciting times in the Spring and Autumn when I can easily get to the coast for a mornings birding.

So this was the first trip. I have not been to Hornsea since I was very young, so it was quite a trip down memory lane but it strikes me that little has changed! A cold north westerly ensured that hands remained in pockets and a hot chocolate was arguably the days highlight.

There is something quite captivating about a seaside town in winter though. Maybe Hornsea is a little less melancholy that most, but the deserted arcades and quiet windswept fronts looking hopefully out upon an iron coloured sea definitely evokes a range of emotions. I think perhaps I prefer it in winter to the summer hoardes but I am sure that the local business would disagree.

Despite working the groups of gull, nothing unusual could be revealed. Highlights on the promenade were a few Gannet flying north offshore and a Sanderling which abandoned the wave chasing in order to run up and down the promenade, taking a close up look at our bench where we selfishly opted not to share our chips, despite the clear intentions of the local Black-Headed Gulls.

We also popped to Kirkholme Point at the Mere but it was generally quiet with just a few Goldeneye, Tufted Duck and a Little Grebe. The highlight here was a pair of Oystercatcher, common enough but always a welcome sight and another sign that Spring is on the way.

21st February 2015 - Brough Airfield Starling Murmuration

An evening walk did not produce many birds of note with the exception of Shelduck on the mudflats and vast numbers of loafing Gulls. The true spectacle was the Starling roost. They began to gather at 4.30 with a small group of maybe 500 birds performing in impressive style.

By 5.15 the group had swelled to close to 5,000 birds at best estimate. They performed incredibly well, flying overhead as a black mist flowing into all sorts of shapes. An incredible display of deft and co-ordinated flying.

I have just noticed that the video has converted pretty badly on here - I will try to reload this tomorrow.

15th February 2015 - Welton Water

A quick walk around Welton Water at the end of the day yielded little for most of the walk. The pools were mostly quiet except for 12 Tufted Duck and an equal number of Goldeneye. However, the small reedy pool at the dam end of Welton Water contained an incredible 48 Gadwall. Many years ago, Gadwall were a surprise find on the Webs counts that I did in North Notts. At Welton they appear to be commoner than Mallard which is quite a change around.

2 Shoveler made their way through the reeds on the car park pool and Cormorants were roosting in the island trees again in good numbers.

Highlight of the walk was an easily recognised buzzing zee zee of a Marsh Tit. The bird performed well but would not stay still for camera, moving constantly amongst the pathside bushes. Hence the awful record shot. This is a bird which has not been a regular at most of my patches in the past, so I don't see them very often, so it was a bit of a treat.

A small reedy pool held a large number of Gadwall, far out numbering all other wildfowl put together at Welton Water

Awful record shot of a Marsh Tit that simply would not stop moving!!!!

8th February - Brough Haven

A quick visit as the light was going in the hope that an owl might put in an appearance. No such luck, but a pair of Reed Buntings performed just in front of the car and 3 Snipe all flew in and landed close to the gate on the far side of the channel. A Marsh Harrier worked its way over the reedbed, falling out with local Carrion Crows and a Kestrel as it did so.

A distant Marsh Harrier put in a performance over the reedbeds

Much to the consternation of the local crow population

Close up the female Reed Bunting is prettier than its dull call might make you think!

7th February 2015 - Brough Haven to Welton Water

The chance arose to walk the path from Brough to Welton Water. I have walked parts of the path but not the full length, so following the snow melt I decided to brave the muddy conditions. Most people seem to have been put off by the prospect of sliding along the banking, and I must have looked quite a sight as I tried to keep my feet.

None-the-less, I enjoyed the walk and managed to add a number of species to my patch list. Central to this was some of the wildfowl that I had been expecting, but that has proved to be more difficult than I had thought. Welton Water is a large stretch of water, but is short on wildfowl for what looks like such a productive space. It has surprised me to date that on certain days there can be nothing more than a few Tufted and Goldeneye. Whilst today Welton was still quiet, a pair of Pochard on the fishing pools was very welcome. In addition, a flock of ducks on the airfield pool produced 4 Shoveler as well as a number of Gadwall. A singing Skylark was a herald of things to come in the Spring when they will be commonplace, and a skulking bird in the reedbeds turned out to be a Meadow Pipit which are regular here but again will I am sure appear in greater numbers later in the year.

A large flock of Greylag were on the airfield marsh, but despite picking through I couldn't turn any into something less domestic! Their heckles were raised somewhat however by a male Marsh Harrier quartering the reedbeds here.

At the Haven Teal and Mallard dominated as large number of Gulls flew over to take advantage of the sand banks unveiled by the receding tide. 5 Wigeon were present too. The best sighting of the day though, was the pair of Shelduck on the exposed mud. These will be the first of many in the year, but they are one of the earliest signs of the changing seasons, the estuarine equivalent of the Snowdrops perhaps.

6th February 2015 - North Ferriby Station

The usual morning companions of Bullfinch and Goldfinch this morning hit the alarm button as 2 Sparrowhawks flew low over the station this morning just moments apart. Both tracked from the south west to north east across the cafe at a low height. It is the first time I have seen two together since the move.

25th January - North Ferriby and Brough

A brief walk around North Ferriby walkway this morning provided a couple of new ticks for the patch. Both in the same location, a showy tail flashing male Reed Bunting joined the House Sparrow flock as did a couple of Tree Sparrows.

A Mistle Thrush was on the paddocks again and 4 Mute Swan flew low over towards the river

In the afternoon I took myself off to Brough to see of the Twite were still present. Whilst there were no Twite on this occasion, a Linnet and 3 Meadow Pipits were new birds for the year. As before, Goldeneye were plentiful with over 20 counted on the river and at Welton. I have been expecting a Marsh Harrier, but when a male rose from the airfield and proceeded to hunt just 50 yards away it was a more dramatic sighting that I have been expecting.

Welton was quiet again, with the same birds as yesterday with the addition of just a Gadwall. The wildfowl highlight was a fine male Goosander which flew downstream.

18th January 2015 - Hessle to Ferriby and Brough Airfield

A morning walk at Hessle to bird the stretch from the bridge to the inlet before the lorry park. The wooded path was very lively with a large finch flock made up of predominantly Greenfinch with a few Goldfinch and Chaffinch thrown in for good measure. A few Redwing were also in amongst the leaf litter allowing very close views. Working their way through the trees, a Tit flock containing all the usual candidates brought along a Goldcrest and a Song Thrush kept itself to the trees nearest the playing field.

On the river the usual Gulls were present joined at the inlet by a trio of turnstones.

Walking along to North Ferriby along the river, a pair of Buzzards were in the field by the train line and showed impressively at close quarters. Bird of the day was a Green Woodpecker however. Although not seen, it’s distinctive cackle from the field to the right of the gate as you entered the walkway was unmistakable and a reminder of home where that sound is commonplace.

Bullfinch were in evidence again and seem to be common here.

Later in the afternoon, a walk from the car park in Brough along the river proved productive. Highlight was a flock of 9 Twite on the patch of open ground just on the other side of the fence on Brough Airfield. The mud around the natural harbour held a large number of Teal and Goldeneye were out on the river, with ten just off the metal tower.

Male Teal in poor light at Brough. One of the commoner birds - their piping is a constant companion.

24th January 2015 - North Ferriby to Welton Water

The low tide gave a chance to walk from North Ferriby to Welton Water. Even at low tide the first part of the walk is a little precarious as the sea defences have been washed away – but picking along the shingle and mud flushed a couple of Redshanks before reaching the rather more solid underfoot woodland. Tit flocks here demonstrated the potential of this stretch of woodland which reaches up to the A63 if you walk north at this point.

After the woodland I was happy to find a large open field which quickly provided me with my first Pheasant (it has only taken 24 days!). This open space is yet another addition to the wide range of habitats on my new patch.

Some great scrubland and reedy channels which should be great for Sedge and Reed Warbler in the Summer are found between this point and Welton Water. Welton seems quiet at the moment, with Goldeneye and Tufted the commonest birds in equal measure with 8 of each. A male Wigeon was out in the centre of the lake providing another patch tick.

The walk back was quieter, but the low tide was providing much excitement for Dunlin and Ringed Plover which were feeding amongst the stoney ground.

12th January - North Ferriby Station

Waiting for the train this morning I added another 4 species to the patchlist. A Kestrel hovered high above gardens looking for a meal whilst both Trecreeper and Greater Spotted Woodpecker were heard but both unseen. The former was part of a group o Long-Tailed Tots foraging along the trees by the rail line opposite the station whilst the latter was heard in the large trees at the back of our garden.

Finally just before boarding a male Sparrowhawk flew low and with sinister intention over the station building.

10th January - North Ferriby Walkway

A quiet day as a continuing strong wind kept most birds in cover. As the tide went out, 15 Dunlin fed along the shore along with a couple of Redshank which appear to favour the area of the pipe outlet.

Dunlin on the Walkway foreshore

Many Gulls were flying west up river but nothing unusual, whilst a Mistle Thrush on the patch was welcome in the paddock fields.

9th January 2015 – Hessle to North Ferriby

Jan12

So I’ve moved house. New job and new home in North Ferriby in East Riding of Yorkshire. 9th January was the first day and after staying at my sisters in Hessle I walked along the river to North Ferriby in a blustery westerly gale.

On Hessle foreshore, 6 Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin were sheltering by the bridge as high tide pushed them onto the shingle. All were still and hunkered down as the wind whipped across their feathers. Most small birds had the common sense to be hiding from the wind, only the gulls continued to brave the elements with all 5 of the common species on show. A flock of 45 Curlew flew from the fields on the other side of the train line and flew along the river in a what would have been a stunning photo had I had my camera.

A Turnstone worked its way along the rocky flood barrier, showing its black and white stripes as it flew on ahead.

Arriving at North Ferriby, the walkway has some excellent habitat. The highlight of the walk was a Peregrine which dashed by low overhead, it’s stiff wing beats and chunky body not appearing to reflect its evident agility. A Bullfinch called from within the bushes but stayed hidden, unlike the showy Goldfinches which gave themselves away both visibly and vocally.