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.