East Yorkshire Wildlife

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North Yorks Trip

2010-03-24T13:47:00.001-07:00

I had a trip up to North Yorkshire at the weekend and had quite varying amounts of luck.
first stop was Holbeck for the mediterranean gulls, I got there before 7 and waited half an hour after putting bread out.
No sign but there were 3 herons flying over south bay and a pair of stonechat on the bushes.
Moved on to Forge valley, the sun was still behind the hill when I got there but there was plenty of activity from the common woodland birds there.I also a pair of mandarin ducks flying over.
Once the sun did come out the photographic opportunities were fantastic and I stayed longer than the time I had anticipated.
Then on to Wykeham Forest looking for crossbills, by now I was running out of time so I had a drive round but didn't see any sign.
On the way back I called in at Tophill Low and managed some decent views of the bittern and 3 woodcock near the visitor centre.
Hopefully some summer migrants around next weekend.

East Park

2010-03-08T12:40:00.001-08:00

Been pushed for time just lately and decent weather but managed a couple of hours on East park yesterday morning.
The almost residenr redwing flock were very obiliging yesterday.
Initially they would fly up as I approached but quickly carried on searching for food when I stood still.Some were coming extremely close (within 2ft) as I stood watching them.
A quick look on the lake produced some nice shots of some common wildfowl plus a kingfisher showed quite well on one of the islands.
Hopefully will be out a bit more as the weather improves.

Filey Brigg

2010-01-31T11:28:00.000-08:00

I had a trip to Filey Brigg this morning, despite being very cold it was a pleasant day.
The waders in the bay corner were most obliging and the light was very good first thing.
Further round on the brigg there were 3 long tailed ducks that were quite skittish, plus an obliging eider and a couple of shag.
I was in a rush to get back to at Haven for the raptors but it was very disappointing with only a kestrel seen.
In hindsight I would have been better off staying at Filey.
Ah well there's always next week.

Black Throated Thrush

2010-01-18T13:33:00.001-08:00

I had a trip up to North Yorkshire for the black throated thrush yesterday.
The trip wasn't too bad but the amount of snow still on the Moors made for some dramatic scenery.
I got to Newholme for about 8.20 and there was already a small crowd which was growing by the minute.
The bird was showing staright away and was quite confiding although the light was poor for photography.
As it brightened up the bird appeared to get more mobile and spent some considerable time away from the gardens.
A nice bird and a well behaved bunch ensured a nice day out, I was back in Hull for about 1.30

2010 List

2010-01-02T11:24:00.001-08:00

I had an absolutely cracking day's birding around East Yorkshire today.
I went with my mate Sam with a plan to record as many species as we could during the full day.
The list started with a sparrowhawk on Hedon Rd and a barn owl and kestrel on the way up to Filey.
Carr Naze didn't yeild much apart from a stonechat and skylark.
It was then down to the Brigg where we found purple sandpiper, common scoter, velvet scoter, long tailed duck, red throated diver, great northern diver, shag, rock pipit and eider.Also a nice bonus in the form of a woodcock flushed from the side of the cliff along with close views of common waders.
next it was on to Flamborough (North Landing) where almost immediately we had a fantastic view of a corn bunting. Further along we found lots of small birds in the subbole fields including some superb lapland buntings, snow buntings, twite another woodcock and more corn buntings.
Then off to Tophill Low where we found a smew (plus lots of common wildfowl)willow tit,siskin and bullfinch.
Finally we called in at Paull and added black tailed godwit (plus a couple more common species) to the list.
In total we finished with 89 species with notable exceptions being grey heron, little grebe,kingfisher,sanderling, brambling and pink footed goose.
All in all a superb day and a good marker set for a similar event next new year.

Allerthorpe Woods

2009-12-24T07:28:00.000-08:00

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a trip to the car park at Allerthorpe for some close encounters with the common birds at the feeders.
This year the photos are given a festive feel with the recent weather making for some nice shots.
Some of the robins were coming as close as 2ft.
I had a walk around the reserve and elsewhere there was very little activity disappointingly there were no crossbills or bramblings.
In the trees around the car park was a shy jay and a great spotted woodpecker and a couple of fieldfare flying over.
Other than that it was very quiet.

Winter Solstice

2009-12-24T04:13:00.001-08:00

The shortest day of the year provided some superb opportunities to capture mid winter.
Allerthorpe woods was particularly spectacular and the birds (albeit only common species were very obliging some coming as close as 2ft.

Out and About

2009-12-05T13:40:00.000-08:00

Not been able to postjust lately because of some problems with the blog.
Thankfully they are now sorted.
Went over to Chowder ness a couple of weeks ago for the red necked phalarope.
It was quite blustery and dull, but still managed a couple of decent shots.
i went again yesterday for the bearded tits they showed first thing but the light was poor.They didn't come back again within the 2 hours I waited.
I went round to theHotel Pit and there was a superb male smew always distant but as the sun was dropping the light was fantastic.
I managed a couple of hours at South landing today.
The water pipit was quite mobile at first then once it settled down to feed was quite obliging.

Water Pipit

Water Pipit

Water Pipit

Water Pipit

Water Pipit

Water Pipit

Smew

Smew

Rock Pipit

Kestrel

Bearded Tit

Red necked Phalarope

Snow Bunting

2009-11-08T11:08:00.000-08:00

I went down to Spurn at the wekend specifically for a snow bunting shot and i wasn't disappointed.
I went to the spot where they had been reported at saw one straight away.
At first it was alittle wary but after a while it became quite confiding.
It was interesting to watch it creeping about amongst the weeds it almost looked like a little mouse.
On a fairly quiet day I was pleased to get these shots.

Jack Snipe

2009-10-24T11:26:00.001-07:00

I had set jack snipe as one of my target birds for this winter so with an afternoon off wrok I set off for canal scrape at Kilnsea.This was my second attempt at jack snipe this year.
When I got to the hide there was a small crowd fixated on a small patch of reeds to the left of the hide.
About 15m away there was a rather motionless jack snipe that 'had been in that position for the last 3 hours'.
I got a few shots of it as it was then after about an hour it began to feed, curiously bobbing along as it went.
A couple of times it came out in the open allowing for some decent shots.
The light was not good and coupled with its constant movement made a sharp shot a little difficult, however I was extremely happy with the shots.
Coupled up with some good company in the hide it made for a most enjoyable afternoon.

Red Flanked Bluetail

2009-10-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

Although I didn't manage any shots, I thought this bird deserved a mention.
Went for a look around Holmpton yesterday dinner time and didn't see much apart from a couple of reed buntimg.
It was probably too blustery.
On the way back to the car I got an alert confirming a red flanked bluetail at the Crown and Anchor.
On arriving, the bird had been trapped and ringed and released near the canal scrape.
A quick dash along the bank to the crowd eagerly awaiting a re-appearance.
I waited just over an hour with no sign so set off back to the car (it was getting chilly).I had a quick look back at the last few bushes near the fence line and there it wa sat up on some dead brambles, the views weren't great but I watched it flicking about for a couple of minutes.Then a big crowd descended and it seemed to disappear.
It was good enough for me a proper Siberian mega.Superb.

Pat Haven & Spurn

2009-09-28T13:08:00.001-07:00

I had a couple of trips at the weekend both early morning starts in glorious sunshine.
I had visited Pat Haven during the week and noticed a lot of waders congregating at the entrance to the lagoon at high tide, so it was here I headed on Saturday morning.
Being a relatively small tide it didn't reallly flood into the lagoon and after a mile and a half walk in semi darkness followed by a perilous walk over mud and weed covered rocks I was glad to get laid out on the rocks.
It wasn't long before the obligatory redshanks landed in front of me followed by a few dunlin.
There was plenty of birds feeding on the tide line and as it flooded they got ever closer.
Behind me there was a small rock pool and the birds were also landing on here as well, it was whilst I was looking in there that 3 little egrets landed about 10m in front of me.
Hardly daring to move I managed a few shots before they moved on to the next pool.
I think they were a little wary of me being there and felt more comfortable a bit further away.
By now it was nearly high tide and the waders were coming in thick and fast.
Flocks of redshank,dunlin and knot were whizzing above my head some only a metre away.
There was one solitary avocet and disappointingly no curlew sandpipers.
It was brilliant gettng so close to the birds without them knowing I was there.
On Sunday morning I headed off to Spurn and with no major rarities reported I had snow bunting as my target bird.
I started at the point at first, a couple of shots of the lapland bunting and some nice views of a juvenile wheatear on the Point beach.
Quite a few stonechat plus some common migrants but on the whole pretty quiet.
I went back towards the Warren in hope of seeing the barred warbler and almost immediately I was treated to very close but biref flight views.
It was here that I heard the news of a very obliging snow bunting along the cliff top and after a 5minute walk I found the bird on the cliff edge.
It was very obliging and looked pretty settled feeding on seed heads on the cliff top.
Pretty chuffed with the shots and a better weeked for photography than for the quality of the birds.
Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Wheatear

Lapland Bunting

Little Egret

Little Egret

Little Egret

Little Egret

Greenshank

Greenshank

Avocet

Redshank

Autumn at Spurn

2009-09-21T11:57:00.001-07:00

Been down to sammy's Point and Spurn a couple of times this weekend.The first time was on Friday night with the woodchat shrike in mind.
During the day there had been all sorts reported but with limited time (about an hour before losing the light) I elected to go to Sammys.
The woodchat shrike posed beautifully straight away, so within 10 minutes I had some decent shots.My attention turned to the paddock east of the car park.There was an extremely obliging spotted flycatcher that posed nicely in good light.
Also nearby was redstart,wheatear and snow bunting.
I left looking forward to the next trip,
We had planned a family day out for Saturday and I watched the pager nervously as scarce rare after scarce rare flashed up for Spurn.
Sunday morning came and after a clear night I feared the worst.It was my intention to start at spurn Point and work my way up, however a flooded road put paid to that plan.was it an omen?
I went to Sammy's Point and the woodchat shrike was still there I walked right up to the last set of bushes towards kilnsea with only a couple of gulls on the way.The trip back wasn't much more productive with only a few meadow pipit and a small flock of golden plover in an adjacent field.It was only when I got back to the first paddock that the birds began to show with a couple of wheatear,spotted flycatcher, whitethroat and a few more redstart.I managed a few shots of these before heading towards Spurn.
Had a quick look on canal scrape and the surrounding area, plenty of birders but not a lot bout (the earlier reported common rosefinch had vanished).
A quick look on the cliff top opposite canal scrape hide produced a pair of stonechat.
The radio crackled with the news that the gate had been re-opened so I headed towards the point, a brief look for the firecrest yielded a biref glimpse and the sound of it calling.
On towards the point again it looked quiet but as I got to the green beacon the lapland bunting was sat amongst the grasses only 20ft away.
News of a Richards Pipit came over the airwaves so I made my way off the point and stopped of at post 62 (parked at chalk bank and walked south).I headed to post 62 for the reported barred warbler,and it was while walking I noticed a large pipit amongst the meadow pipits with a strange call almost simultaneously 'richards pipit over sheep field' came on the radio.It landed briefely in the field, then on the fence then went onto the beach, a quick look over the top and it was up again, this time heading on its way south.Wow a lifer!
No sign of the barred warbler but plenty of common migrants including whinchat and more redstart.
On the way back to the car a pair of brightly coloured willow warblers caught my eye.
I called in at the crown and anchor car park on the way up, again very quiet so went back to Sammy's Point.
The woodchat shrike had moved into the paddock area and became slightly more elusive spending more time in the bushes.
The common migrants were still in abundance and a med gull came in off the Humber.
All in all a very entertaining day, not as many rares as hoped but still some good birds.
On final note, I must commend the staff at the YWT for controlling a huge volume of people with very little fuss, made the day more enjoyable.

Woodchat Shrike

Woodchat Shrike

Woodchat Shrike

Woodchat Shrike

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Redstart

Redstart

Redstart

lapland Bunting

Whitethroat

Wheatear

Willow warbler

Golden Plover

Pat Haven

2009-09-13T11:19:00.001-07:00

I had an early morning trip to Pat Haven yesterday, getting there before dawn the only birds on the way were a couple of barn owls.
A few gulls on the lagoon including black headed,common and lbb.
Not too many waders to start but plenty of redshank.Ringed plover,dunlin and knot were around but in much reduced numbers than of late.
A pair of little egrets were fishing around the edge of the lagoon and they were joined for a while by a heron.
A couple of vociferous greenshank roosted for a time and a single black tailed godwit kept in the deeper part of the lagoon.
Lots of shellduck appeared near high tide along with a single cormorant and 4 teal.
A bit disappointing really as there was no sign of any curlew sandpipers,ruff golden or grey plover or anything else remotely interesting.
Might be the last visit of the summer.

Redshank

Redshank

Redshank

Redshank

Black Tailed Godwit

Black Tailed Godwit

Greenshank

Greenshank

Dunlin

Grey Heron

Little Egret

Little Egret

Shellduck

Teal

Bank Holiday Birds

2009-09-01T13:09:00.001-07:00

After finally getting my computer sorted, I've managed to update the blog with pics from the weekend.
I had quite a bit of spare time so managed a few trips here and there highlights were as follows.
saturday-Spurn arctic skua,great skua,manx shearwater,hen harrier,merlin,marsh harrier, whinchat, wheatear.
Sunday-Spurn spotted flycatcher,
Sunday-Pat Haven Curlew sandpiper,avocet,common buzzard,marsh harrier,kingfisher,golden plover,greenshank.
Monday-Curlew sandpiper plus common waders.

Some nice photo opportunities as the birds fed around the edge of the lagoon.

A Mixed bag

2009-08-23T13:48:00.001-07:00

I was minful of the big tides predicted this weekend so I went to check out patrington haven on Friday night just to see how high it came up.
The lagoon was completely flooded leaving very little space for the waders but there were some perched on the extreme outer spits, amd one confiding golden plover landed within 10m of where I was stood.
On the walk down there were a couple of willow warbler,grey heron,yellow wagtails lots of hirundines and a distant marsh harrier.
There was also a pair of whinchat on the brambles on the opposite bank suggesting a small movement (13 were recorded at Spurn on Saturday).
Having sorted a spot I was back again before first light on saturday morning and got to the spit for about 5.30.
The river was already pouring into the lagoon , it was like a couldron and all the birds appearde to be whipped into a frenzy, I was only there 5 minutes when a large raptor shot over my head at what felt like about 3ft, it looped round and perched about 25m in front and I managed a few shots albeit in poor light.
The river continued to flood and wadres were whizzzing about all over the place.
Eventually the spit covered and it was all over.
I made my way back to the car and then on to Spurn.
There was a single snipe on canal scrape a few common waders on the river bank along side the road down to Spurn.
Not much on Beacon lane but a small seal on the beach at the end was a nice suprise.
Quite a bit going on at beacon ponds-all quite distant but plenty of terns and common waders.
All in all an interesting couple of days.

Blacktoft Sands

2009-08-16T12:47:00.000-07:00

I had a trip out to Blacktoft sands today mainly for the wood sandpiper and the little stint.
I got there about 8.40 and was able to get into the hides straight away.The wood sand was on townend hide to start and then moved over to marshland.
It was there that most of the action happened, wood sandpiper,little stint,spotted redshank,black tailed godwit, avocet, snipe, plus some more common waders and wildfowl.
There were also some grey wagtails which are apparently quite scarce for Blacktoft, plus yellow and pied wags, a hobby and marsh harrier kept the waders on their toes plus occaisonal glimpses of the barn owl in its box.There has also been a juvenile peregrine about just lately(but didn't show whilst I was there)
The most supising sighting for me was seven bearded tits feeding openly on the mud flat, usually I have fleeting views of birds in the reeds but these stayed out in the open for a long time.
There was some good birds today, I got there early and left just after 11 I suppose crowds of people are to be expected at Blacktoft on a Sundayin August but the constant almost shouting at the excitement of relatively common birds made it rather uncomfortable.
Give me the peace and quiet of my bag hide any day.

Humber Waders

2009-08-15T03:00:00.001-07:00

I've been having some problems uploading my photos just lately so these are some images from last weekend.
I've been down to my favourite spot at Patrington haven and managed some shots of the usual redshank,greenshank and dunlin but i wanted some variety so I tried a ne place at Paull and got the shots of the black tailed godwit and common sandpiper.
They wer taken in late evening but all the other shots were taken early in the morning.
For the green sandpiper, I had gone bak to Pat Haven with an idea of getting even closer setting up under a bag hide right at the edge of the mud.
It didnt take long for the waders to come on to the lagoon and I heard the green sand calling but thought it flew over.
Unknown to me it had landed about 5 metres away.When I eventually got it in focus I managed a few close up shots then it went to the other side of the lagoon.
Also about were thousands of knot, a curlew sandpiper and a massive flock of gulls, turtle dove at the car park.

More Humber Waders

2009-08-11T14:01:00.000-07:00

Hornsea Mere Little Gulls

2009-08-09T13:56:00.001-07:00

I went down to Hornsea Mere on saturday for a look at the little gulls.
Fortunately there was at least half a dozen perched on a small rock on the end of Kirkholme Point.
They were almost oblivious to anyone walking along the bank top and gave a good photo opportunity.
The light was a bit harsh but I was happy with these shots.
there was a few other birds about including common sandpiper,greenshank,common tern and loads of common wildfowl.
the best thing though was a water shrew showing occasionally around the big tank block.
Nice.

Wader Fest

2009-07-27T03:23:00.001-07:00

Its getting to that time of year again when thousands of waders descend on the Humber Estuary and give some fantastic photo opportunities.
I've been to a couple of places over the weeked with mixed results as far as quality of shot is concerned but just got better as the weekend went on for birds.
Pat Haven was the first stop on saturday morning, got there for dawn.
Quite a few godwits feeding on the main lagoon along with Knot and redshak.Spooked a few birds as i set up then waited, the tide was flooding so hopefully it wouldn't take long for them to come back-and it didn't.
first was a couple of dunlin, then a redshank then a couple of grey plover.
Then a massive flock of mixed birds landed en masse mainly dunlin but at least 20 greenshanks it got to a point where I was awestruck by the amount and proximity of the birds the dunlin were at times only 2m away!
No soon as the birds had landed the tide came in and completely deluged the lagoon and most of the birds moved on.
On the way back a sinle dunlin was on the track and gave a close photo opportunity.
Next morning I was back but this time went futher down on to the main Humber Bank again plenty of waders but also some close encounters with the little egrets that were so close I could't focus!
On Sunday night news of the lesser yellowlegs at Paull broke.I thought I would take a chance and give it a go.Unfortunately it was absolutely bucketing it down and I only got a drenching.
Went again this morning and although it had been seen earlier there was no sign when I got there, luckily enough it made a show and I managed a record shot.
On holiday this week so hope to be out again.
Lesser yellowlegs

lesser Yellowlegs

Dunlin

Dunlin

Dunlin

Dunlin

Curlew

Greenshank

Greenshank

Grey Plover

Grey Plover

Redshank

Turnstone

Little Egret

Little Egret

Notable

2009-07-23T14:16:00.000-07:00

I took this at Hornsea Mere the other night and thought I would put it on Birdguides.
I was absolutely amazed at some of the comments that I got back and it was posted in the notable section under photo of the week.
Really chuffed and even more inspired to go out for another crack.

Collared Pratincole

2009-07-21T14:08:00.000-07:00

Went up to Pulfin & High eske tonight for the collared pratincole.
Strange night really, drenched in sweat by the time I got there, clouds of midges, nearly pitch black at 7.00, chucking it down with rain while 8.30 then sunshine.
Got home (10 miles away) not a drop of rain.
Oh by the way a Yorkshire Mega showing well but in really poor light.
The bird looked ill to me didn't feed for the 2 1/2 hours I was there, tried flying a couple of times but only got about a metre off the ground.
Hopefully it will perk up but the signs aren't good.

Hornsea Mere Revisited

2009-07-19T10:58:00.001-07:00

Having seen the recent reports about the good numbers of common sandpipers at Hornsea Mere I couldn't resist in having a go for them.
I set myself up in a likely spot and waited.
When I got to my spot a small flock flew off as well as a wood sandpiper.
Once I got set up it didn't take long for the birds to come back, some more obliging than others.
First was the juvenile common tern, almost oblivious to me as it came within 2 metres of my bag hide.
Then it was the greenshank, a little more wary but still good views at 10m.
Finally the common sands came back, always distant they had a small group of rocks they preferred and they didn't stray too far away.
In between there were plenty of little gulls to look at, a little egret that flew by also hundreds of swifts and swallows hunting low over the water.
A cracking evening, would like to get a shot of the wood sand so will be back again.