25th February - Brough Haven to Welton Water

After a good week off work, I had enjoyed a good number of walks around the patch without adding much of note for Patchwork Challenge. As opposed to the day before, which was blustery with choppy waters, the Humber was like a mirror as just a gentle breeze barely raised a ripple.

This kind of surface makes birding easier, with any bird on the surface standing out. Wigeon numbers were up with over 50 in the bay that can be viewed from the Haven car park. They outnumbered Teal for the first time since I have been watching the birds here.

The Shelduck are established now, with the male actively wooing the female on the exposed mud. A further pair were in the bay - but it is the this pair for which I have an affection as they were the first to return earlier in February.

I will watch this amorous couple over the summer to see if they are successful

Welton Water was quiet once again with nothing new to note. It was Brough Airfield that provided the best of the action when a Merlin came into view chasing a Snipe. A very even match, these two diminutive aerial acrobats were very evenly matched with the chase continuing right across the marsh and back before the chaser began to lose ground. Victory for the Snipe. So intriguing was the battle, that a Marsh Harrier flapping through the same view was given little regard.

Walking back to the car park, two Little Egrets flapped gently downriver. Approximately 2/3 of the way out, there was a short window of opportunity for a quick record short before they disappeared from view. I think they will be a regular sight through the year, particularly in late summer.

A distant record shot of a bird that I expect to be a regular over the coming year