Erichs birding and biking blog | Smile! You’re at the best WordPress.com site ever

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8/2/21 Having stayed in over the weekend I was determined to get out Monday morning. Regular snow showers but only a light dusting so the going wouldn t be too bad. Decide to do Willerby Carr patch. Started on Priory Road. Although cold it wasn t icy and the pools were only partly iced. Plenty of gulls on the fields but started snowing heavy so escaped down Wood Lane before I had counted everything. With a large number arriving on the coast with the bad weather I had hoped for Woodcock. Little along the lane but leaving the wood counted an impressive 35+ Meadow Pipit in stubble with 10+ Pied Wagtail.As on Priory Road the Carr Farm pool was largely unfrozen with 60 Teal but no other ducks or waders. Had a smart Red Fox though as the snow started again. The Canada Geese were still on Springhead Flood scheme with a small number of Greylag [the main flock was again on the field to the West} and c40 Mallard. Walked the back of Springhead GC. The thicket there used to be good for Woodcock but now too overgrown to walk in and the area was quite flooded anyway. Had a few Siskin in a tree at the west end. Not unexpected but my first there this winter.Checked the hedgerow at Haltemprice Farm but no sign of the Siberian Chiffchaff. Hopefully it will turn up again when the weather improves.Following my walk on Willerby Carr on Thursday [see here} I received a text from RL. Recently PG and PS had had an interesting Chiffchaff in the hedgerow north of Haltemprice Farm which I had walked earlier. Arranged for a socially distanced meeting there on Friday afternoon. Saw it fairly early and followed it up and down the hedgerow until I lost it. Always distant and beyond my decrepit Nikon P510 but RL s P1000 faired much better producing several good images including the one above. The cold plumage with no obvious green/yellow as well as very black legs/bill and distinct eye ring suggest Siberian Chiffchaff but not definitive without the call. PG relayed to RL the call he heard and sounded good to him. Vaguely remember hearing one a Flamborough head and the call is described as lost chick or, vaguely, Bullfinch . Worryingly I remember a faint Bullfinch call on Thursday but not seeing one!! No sign today by several observer but it has been a bad day with often heavy rain [turning to snow tonight]. The immediate forecast is for the coldest spell since the beast from the East but hopefully it will hang around until better conditions return. 4/2/21 Thursday looked like the still before the storm being fairly mild but with proper snow forecast this weekend so despite the mud thought I had to check Willerby Carr. Started at Priory Road Cemetery. Highlight was three Foxes, likely mother and two large cubs, flushed from the edge of one of ponds. Also had circa one hundred Pink-footed Geese flying south. The start of Wood Lane isn t too bad as although plenty of deep puddles the stone put down a few years back still prevents it becoming too muddy. Near the end of the wood I had considered walking the field edge on the opposite side of the drain to avoid the worst of the mud but the improvised bridge made from a ladder and plank and disappeared. Checked the stubble fields. Usual small gulls and corvids as well as the odd, now singing, Skylark. A gull flew from the fields and before I even put my bins up could tell it was an immaculate adult winter Mediterranean Gull, not just a years tick but my first for the patch. A thousand times better than a distant bird in bad light on D res, Tophill Low NR! Watched it flying towards Priory Road before disappearing behind bushes. Gave it a few minute but didn t return. From here the going got very bad but I was determined to continue to Carr Farm instead of cutting across to Haltemprice Farm. At the farm the Teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Lapwing and Redshank were back although in lower numbers than before the freeze. Plenty of water in Springhead Flood Scheme but unlike November 2019 there was nothing unusual except some Canada Geese which I seen before once this year in early January.No sign again of Stonechat at Haltemprice Farm, but plenty birds in the stubble nearby including a few Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, Fieldfare, Pied Wagtail and a single Grey Wagtail. The last bit to The Garth was as expected hellishly muddy. However despite the conditions was worth the pain!With the current lockdown looking to last well into 2021 we are restricted to exercising on foot thus so far I have concentrated on my Green patches Cottingham and Willerby Carrs. Willerby Carrs is with out walking range of several friends so we have a bit of a [socially isolated] birding community passing in information to each other and I have tried to make this my main patch. Check my earlier post for an idea of my 2 patches Curlew off Well Lane, Willerby. Although usually outside my patch they occasionally fly east over the fields I count. This field regularly has Greylag Geese occasionally accompanied by a Pink-footed Goose, Lapwing and Golden Plover so worth checking maybe even an adjustment to my patch boundary. Unfortunately paths from Cottingham are currently very muddy making progress difficult even in wellies meaning I tend to only venture there when the ground is frozen. Too often, like Sunday, I encounter Covid-19 walkers who have probably never explored the local countryside on foot before, wearing box fresh trainers!1/2/21 After a hard day yesterday on Willerby Carrs despite good frost I headed north this morning up Northmoor Lane to New Ings. This a large area of wilderness bounded by Northmoor Lane, Beverley bypass and Orchard Park Estate. I don t know exact status of this area but it is used as a rough shoot by several local farmer etc one of which tipped my off about Short-eared Owls a few years back. Haven t seen any recently but because of its true wildness holds promises of something interesting one day. Highlight today was a mobile pair of Stonechat much I have so far in 20121 failed to see on Willerby Carr at the usually reliable Haltemprice Farm area. A big area so easily overlooked but had a few previously in November. Also a good number of Snipe, Meadow Pipit and Reed Bunting as well as the regular Roe Deer. Maybe because of the more spring-like weather I saw more Buzzard than I seen so far this year, including two over my garden not long after getting in. New Ings isn t actually in my Cottingham patch but having missed them so far this year managed to see a Sparrowhawk at the limit of the patch over Northmoor Lane flood scheme. Currently full so I m hoping it might attract a some different ducks or waders but was largely frozen this morning.8/9/20 Text from PS mid morning that he had seen a Stonechat at Haltemprice Farm. The dog hadn t come down for his walk yet so went upstairs but he just wasn t interested so got the cycle out. His loss as saw his friend Artie, a fellow Bedlington/Whippet and walked part of the way talking to his owner.Getting to Haltemprice Farm no immediate sign so starting looking starting with the scrub to the east of the ruin then back along the other side when I saw a chat like bird flying out of the compound so back tracked but no sign so started looking in the area to the north. Saw some interesting birds on the west side of the track but getting closer turned out to be Reed Bunting. However going back to the track saw a definite chat and lifting my bins proved to be the Stonechat. Started stalking it but as usual very mobile.After being a ruin for many years the new owners of Haltemprice Farm have now started working on it. Hopefully the Barn and Little Owls, as well as Kestrels, that nest in the building have fledged their young but sad that they will now be evicted. Would be great if there was some mitigation in the form of nest boxes. The Barn Owls might be welcomed at nearby Carr Farm stables as they would control the inevitable rodents population. Wish I had done something when the planning permission was under consideration to get some consideration for nature. 5/9/20 Whinchat is annual at Haltemprice Farm, Willerby late summer/early autumn so have been checking the area recently. Finally on Saturday morning found a few. As usual very difficult to get close to and although had 3 together briefly were constantly on the move and often out of sight. Eventually one hung around long enough to get some distant photos. 6/9/20 Sunday morning had a walk in Cottingham around Middledyke fields, Oppy Wood and Northmoor Flood Prevention Scheme. A few migrants hanging on including a few Chiffchaff, one singing, and Swallows and House Martins over the paddocks. No sign today but had seen Little Egret on Friday.This afternoon decide to cut the lawn just before it started to rain but managed to finish before it got to bad. AG tweeted a Spotted Flycatcher in Millbeck Wildlife Area. Used to breed into the 1990 s but now just a rare migrant. Got out late afternoon when the rain eased. From the directions checked the best spot, a dead tree near the entrance to the allotments and only a short distance from where I last seen a Spotted Flycatcher last August 2019. Plenty of birds including Willow Warbler, which I hadn t record in the area this year, the nearest being at Middledyke Fields. Also had my first Treecreeper there this year. The flycatcher was quickly seen and I got one sharp but rear shot before the clouds returned. Took several more photos but although better framed in poorer light.Although the rain had returned the dog insisted on continuing north to the set-aside fields. Had been good for butterflies recently including a colony of Brown Argus and in the better weather early last week a few migrant Painted Ladies. Someone shooting Woodpigeon in Millhouse Wood and with rain increasing put the dog on the lead and headed back south via the official footpath, often avoid because of social distancing [first Covid 19 mention!]. Fancied a look at the paddock anyway which paid off with 22+ Pied Wagtails. Previous autumns I have had even larger flocks of Pied Wagtails with similar numbers in the paddock off Park Lane. However with the recent heavy rain this may have been a fall evidenced by 3 Yellow Wagtails, a species I can only ever remember recording in the village in fields south of The Garth. Although distance and the light poor managed a few pictures before the rain drove me away.7/9/20 No sign of the Spotted Flycatcher or any wagtails early Monday afternoon. Eastern Yellow Wagtail is one of those birds that flew under the radar until recently with the first accepted record over a hundreds years old on Fair Isle in 1909 with a further bird there in 1912 now considered British following genetic analysis of  both records.  The next record was at Colyton, Devon in December 2010 which was trapped allowing DNA analysis to confirm it as the 2nd record {BB Vol 106 p36-41}. Since then though there have been a small but steady occurrence, likely more to do with greater knowledge, particularly the call with sound recording and sonographs, as well as appearance than actual increase in occurrence. What were just late grey Yellow Wagtails [as with the Devon record birds seen after the usual autumn migration and into winter] are now given a good grilling [and listening!] Of course with split of Eastern from Western forms they have now become in demand to twitchers. Living in Yorkshire the temptation to sit and wait had kept me expecting one locally but with one not too far off in Northumberland and showing well TD got interested and ofter some reluctance I gave in.18712/19 Too cold, with the risk of ice, and my usual trip to Bridlington by bike was replaced with the train. So walked to Cottingham station in the dark and despite initial worries the new ticket machine proved non-challenging and after a few minutes on a frozen bench joined RG on the train. TD picked us up from the station and got to Prestwick Carr by early afternoon with incident. Unfortunately the bird, having been settled all morning, had flown to north of the cross road. Getting there it had flown again and after a few minutes searching returned to the fields further south. Found a distant group of Pied Wagtail and Meadow Pipit and started looking through when called back to the northern field were the Eastern Yellow Wagtail had been relocated. To be honest the usual early twitch panic where a bit of patience was the best thing. The bird then spent the rest of our stay feeding on blood worms only a few metres from the birders.Eastern Yellow Wagtail-Prestwick CarrBirders including Joe and Richard at Prestwick CarrThe fields had a few horses and was like the sort of thing you see in RSPSA programs being virtually devoid of grass although did have a plenty of hay in feeders.Was nice to get back to Bridlington and getting on train with only a short walk home at the end rather than having to ride back the extra cost is an issue. In better weather the ticket price would have paid for almost enough petrol to make the full journey on my own.With the Cornish Brown Booby already on my life list from Florida the Wagtail looks likely my only lifer in Britain in 2019, my worst total since I started birding. However got a few more in Romania.A word of caution The parking is a on a soft verge and one birder got so stuck the front of the car was dug in so deep with couldn t push him out.Update Still present on Sunday 29th but a better marked male in Norfolk of the Blue-headed [Alaskan] race is attracting more visitors. Tags: Eastern Yellow Wagtail, nature, outdoors, photography, Prestwick Carr Saved from a boring day rained in, with even the dog not interested in a walk, by RL with a trip to Hornsea Mere early afternoon. Started in Seaton Road hide where immediately on opening the flaps saw the redhead Smew close in. Went for our cameras, and ignoring a close fly over by a Marsh Harrier, got a few shots before it swam off.Juvenile Smew at Hornsea Mere from Seaton Road HideNothing else of note and having learned from MJ that the track to Wassand Hide was flooded we headed to Kirkholme Point where a Long-tailed Duck was usually seen around the jetties. No sign there so looked further afield, still with no luck, but on walking back towards the jetties RL picked it up flying in from the west then landing and showing well again at the jetties.Juvenile Long-tailed Duck with Tufted Duck at Kirkholme Point, Hornsea MereNo sign of any of the recent Scaup.Went to look for wild geese in the Skipsea area with out luck then ended the day looking for gulls around Catwick but also no sign no helped by a jet ski on FosseHill. Tags: Hornsea Mere, Long-tailed Duck, nature, photography, Smew Sinoe areaSpoonbill in Sinoe villageRollerSyrian Woodpecker in Pensiunea Grindul Lupitor gardenSouslik sp at VaduTrack to Grindul LupilorRed-backed ShrikeBee-eaterFlava Wagtail speciesHoopoe28/5/2019Woods near SomovaSpur-thighed TortoiseLizard speciesMănăstirea Celic-DereFire Bug29/05/2019Near NiculitelRed-breasted FlycatcherSilver-washed FritillaryLooking down over Niculitel towards The Ukraine 30/05/2019Cariera quarryCrested LarkNorthern WheatearFull Trip Bird ListMute Swan Greylag GooseCommon ShelduckGarganeyGadwallMallardRed-crested PochardCommon PochardFerruginous DuckGoldeneyeCommon QuailCommon PheasantRed-necked GrebeGreat Crested GrebeBlack-necked GrebeWhite StorkBlack-crowned Night HeronGlossy IbisEurasian SpoonbillLittle Bittern Squacco HeronGrey HeronPurple HeronGreat EgretLittle EgretGreat White PelicanDalmatian PelicanGreat CormorantPygmy CormorantBooted EagleLevant SparrowhawkWhite-tailed EagleCommon BuzzardLong-legged BuzzardWater RailCommon MoorhenEurasian CootPied AvocetWestern Marsh HarrierNorthern LapwingCommon RedshankWood SandpiperCollared PratincoleBlack-headed GullPallas s GullYellow-legged GullCommon TernWhiskered TernBlack TernCollared DoveFeral PigeonWoodpigeonEuropean Turtle DoveCommon CuckooTawny OwlLittle OwlCommon SwiftEuropean RollerCommon KingfisherEuropean Bee-eaterEurasian HoopoeMiddle Spotted WoodpeckerSyrian WoodpeckerGreat Spotted WoodpeckerBlack WoodpeckerGrey-headed WoodpeckerCommon KestrelRed-footed FalconEurasian HobbyRed-backed ShrikeLesser Grey ShrikeEurasian Golden OrioleMagpieWestern JackdawRookHooded CrowSombre TitBlue TitGreat TitEurasian Penduline TitBearded ReedlingCrested LarkGreater Short-toed LarkCalandra LarkBarn SwallowCommon House MartinRed-rumped SwallowLong-tailed TitCommon ChiffchaffGreat Reed WarblerEurasian Reed WarblerIcterine Warbler Savi s WarblerEurasian BlackcapLesser WhitethroatEurasian NuthatchCommon StarlingCommon BlackbirdSpotted FlycatcherCommon NightingaleRed-breasted FlycatcherCollared FlycatcherNorthern WheatearIsabelline WheatearPied WheatearHouse SparrowSpanish SparrowTree SparrowWestern Yellow Wagtail-mainly Black-headed formWhite WagtailTawny PipitCommon ChaffinchEuropean GreenfinchEuropean GoldfinchCorn BuntingYellowhammerOrtolan BuntingCommon Reed BuntingPostscriptThe only heron we missed in Romania, although Bittern only heard, was Cattle Egret so it was fitting that on returning to the UK I heard of one at my regular patch, Tophill Low NR.Cattle Egret on Hempholme Meadows-Tophill Low NR Tags: Bee-eater, Cariera quarry, Cattle Egret, Crested Lark, Fire Bug, Hoopoe, Niculitel, Northern Wheatear, Pensiunea Grindul Lupitor, Red-backed Shrike, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Roller, Silver-washed Fritillary., Sinoe, Somova, Souslik, Spoonbill, Spur-thighed Tortoise, Syrian Woodpecker, Tophill Low NR, Vadu Privacy Cookies: This site uses cookies. 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