April 2010 - North Cave YWT & Blacktoft Sands RSPB

Saturday 17th: A glorious sunny and warm day was too good to ignore, so I ventured up the M62 to make my first ever visit to North Cave Wetlands NR. Born from disused quarry pits, North Cave certainly attracts a variety of bird life. A gentle stroll around the site takes around 90 minutes and if you stop off at any of the three hides to view the birds then be sure to add on another hour or so.

As usual with most water-borne sites, Black-headed Gulls were in some abundance and their raucous calls dominated the area. The Reserve is surrounded by crop fields and at the time of my visit a tractor was ploughing a field which attracted a retinue of Black-headed Gulls and Rooks. Sand Martins were continuously zipping around the sky and skimming the lakes.

Great Crested Grebes were paired-up, I counted 4 pairs and saw one on a nest of two eggs (I was informed) at the edge of the reed-bed. There appeared to be a small grouping of about 12 1st-year Lesser Black-backed Gulls. I have heard that they tend to stay inland, in small groups while most of the adults leave and go back to the coast for the Summer.

The immatures who are fending for themselves now, will eventually depart and join their piers. Lapwings, Gadwalls and Mallards numbered amongst other waterfowl. A Mute Swan was seen at some distance on a rather large nest amongst the reeds. I did note two pairs of Great Tits seen at close quarters and not too bothered by my presence.

But it was getting late in the afternoon and I needed to get to Blacktoft Sands. Time for a quick sandwich and coffee before I departed. A pleasant place for birds, though not enough passerines for me. Maybe I need to get there in the morning! Definitely worth another visit and not too far away!

Soon I was on my way back down the motorway making the short trip to Blacktoft Sands, five miles east of Goole. The last time I was here at the beginning of the month, I saw a non-stop display by the recent influx of Marsh Harriers. Maybe because it was late in the afternoon; 5pm when I got there, but I only saw three displaying; an adult male and two immatures. Even so, they were very distinct through binoculars and not too far away.

Up at Ousfleet hide I saw my second group of Avocets of the day... I don't get to see any for over a year and in one day manage to bag at least 32. A fair few Pheasants were seen, particularly males, as the site emptied and became quiet, they all came out into the open, I counted 6 within an hour. Wigeon, Shoverlers, Shelduck, Gadwalls, Mallards and the ever-present Black-head Gulls were on the lagoons in reasonable numbers. One Little Grebe in breeding plumage was also seen. Also on the water and in the adjacent crop field were Greylag Geese. Walking back to the car, the Sun was starting to set and this was the signal for the passerines to start singing from their roosting places. Chaffinches and Goldfinches were very conspicuous in the budding-tree branches while some Reed Buntings and Tree Sparrows were helping themselves to a last snack before darkness fell.

April 2010 - News from the Garden!

Friday 16th: While Melanie was in the garden this afternoon, this young female Blackbird decided to do a spot of sunbathing. We think that this female is one of the offspring that were reared in the garden last year. To spend time sunbathing, we believe that it hasn't got a mate and so has no nest or chicks to consume her time, hence she can chill-out. Mel reports that she spent a good amount of time just fluffed-up enjoying the warmth of the Sun. This female is one of three that are regulars in our garden that enjoy coming to the back door to get some mealworms. The House Sparrows have also returned to the back door, forming a noisy que and often nip in before the inexperienced Blackbird and grab the mealworms!

Thursday 15th: This young Blackbird has been spending most of her time in our garden. During the harsh Winter, we had up to 4 males and 5 females in the garden, all in competition for food. Since the beginning of Spring this has dropped to three females and two males. Both 'Nice-Misses', (as we call her) a female Blackbird and her mate from last year. Though he had a mishap back in September and we think was attacked by a cat, he has grown back his flight feathers but as his wing was broken, can no-longer fly. He has done well to survive the Winter. He is of course more wary of everything maybe due to his vulnerability. There is another male who was his rival last year that has laid claim to the garden and also an older female.

The Dunnock sings most days and is always around. It's remarkable how trusting the bird has become, for it does not seem at all concerned with Mel and I if we are in the garden at the same time. It just keeps on pecking at the ground and sometimes gets quite close. We have not seen the Wren since the middle of March. This tiny bird with a big call has moved-on, we think to get a mate. We are hoping that he returns with his mate and any offspring, but in reality this is unlikely.

Since the Winter, we have had an influx of Feral Pigeons. Now we don't know where they come from but it's always the same 6 that return each day to our bird table. One particular pair always arrive at the same time late in the afternoon together. The Wood Pigeons seem to dislike sharing the seed on the bird table with the Feral Pigeons and there's always some 'puffing-out' of chests and 'shoving' by the Woodies but the Ferals, they won't be intimidated and give as good as they get!!! No Robins about but occasional one may make a surprise appearance.

Talking of surprise appearances....a Goldfinch and Chaffinch dropped in recently...probably blown of course as they are usually as rare as hen's teeth, in our garden!!

April 2010 - Potteric Carr YWT

Saturday 10th: What a gorgeous sunny and warm day! Sandra, joined me for an afternoon of roaming our local Patch. And what should we encounter just five minutes after walking through the reception area....KINGFISHERS! Two to be exact. We were crossing the little footbridge over the stream (Mother Drain) that bisects the Reserve in half and I noticed a shimmering blue streak fly low level down the length of the stream and under the footbridge! Well, immediately we stopped and stood on the bridge for the next hour enjoying the views of one Kingfisher flying up and down the stream just inches from the surface, while presumably the other stayed with the nest. I set up the scope on the tripod and obtained some stunning views of both birds. It appeared that the male was catching fish and on one occasion as witnessed through the scope by Sandra, feeding the female. Well Sandra was delighted at this sight as she was saying beforehand that it would make the day if she saw a kingfisher. Well here's two! As we had the scope set up, we attracted a small gathering as people would stop and join us in watching these brilliant birds. One or two even had a look through the scope at the Kingfisher pair! Unfortunately I didn't get any decent images of this event other than the silhouette of a Kingfisher (below), as watching was a joy in itself! As Sandra said afterwards, "this was well worth the visit alone!"

Well, we proceeded with the walk around the Reserve for the next five hours! After the Kingfisher pair, there was nothing that could top that! We encountered a variety of Warblers on our amble, mostly spotted by Sandra! A Chiffchaff, Blackcap (though I can't remember whether it was male or female), a stunning view of a Wood Warbler and at least two Willow Warblers! Robins and Wrens were singing constantly along with the occasional Dunnock. Sandra had a running test of wits with two or three Peacock Butterflies, as she tried to photograph them! A fine view of a Grey Heron (top), at Loversall Hide with Teal, Gadwall and Mallards. At Willow Pool Hide we encountered some Chaffinches and Reed Buntings. A Grey Squirrel climbed one of the bird tables as shown below and proceeded to eat the Sunflower seed.

A pair of Canada Geese, one of which was ringed as can be seen by the photo, gave a show of grooming themselves at Willow Pool. Unfortunately the detail on the ring can't be seen which is a shame as it would be interesting to know where it was ringed. We continued the walk around to Huxter Well and Piper Marsh where we encountered quite a few Sand Martins - not House Martins as I originally said.

And finally as we were on the way out, at Old Eaa Marsh amongst all the BHG's was a lone Canada Goose sitting on a mountain of a nest as can be seen below! It was rapidly getting to Sunset and the mosquitoes were beginning to dine on us, time to leave.

April 2010 - Blacktoft Sands RSPB

Friday 2nd: Another day, another field trip to view birds. This time I'm at Blacktoft Sands RSPB, a small Reserve situated at the convergence of two rivers; the Ouse and the Trent at the mouth of the Humber. This site provides a necessary stopping-off point for a variety of waders to feed and nest. I was hoping to see some Avocets and maybe a Bearded Tit or two. Alas...none were forthcoming. But I was in for a day of remarkable displays by the Reserve's current influx of Marsh Harriers. For I had arrived at just the right time as the males vie for the breeding rights to the sitting females in the reeds.

Now I've only ever seen one Marsh Harrier before and that was a good few years ago! Here today, I would be witness to five individuals in the sky at the same time! And remarkably, no sooner had one descended into the reeds, another would take it's place in the air. In fact I must've spent 70% of my time there, just watching and videoing the Marsh Harriers. I lost count of the number of individual Harriers but I believe that there were easily in excess of 12! These raptors would slowly cruise the sky with lethargic wing-beats and glide into steep turns and swoops towards the reed-tops. The individual colours and markings could readily be seen with the unaided-eye and through binoculars or my scope, were truly amazing! The video below shows one such display by a lone male.

Other birds of note were a Kestrel, hunting on the edge of a field, 40-odd Black-tailed Godwits on an island resting amidst all the cacophony from the Black-headed Gulls and mild indifference from a pair of Oystercatchers and 3 Wigeon. A large group of Shelducks and Shovelers shared the pool seen from Ousefleet hide along with a pair of smartly-looking Pintails. Various passerines such as Willow Warbler, Chaffinches, Reed Buntings, Tree Sparrows and Pied Wagtails to name but a few.

March 2010 - Old Moor RSPB

Wednesday 31st: Wow, it was perishing cold! In mid-afternoon the wind got up and made it even colder, thankfully I had taken the precaution of wearing layers of clothing and remembered my gloves! After 2 days of rain, I decided to chance the weather and get out amongst the wildlife.

Not many people at Old Moor as you would expect on a cold and blustery day. Above, you can see a photo of a Dunnock that I took at the Tree Sparrow farm. As you can see it has a ring on it's left leg. Although not unusual to see a common bird ringed, I wonder where it was captured and ringed, was it here at Old Moor or somewhere else? I think I'll have to make enquires. The highlight of the visit was the sighting of a male Yellowhammer and three Linnets at the Tree Sparrow farm. On the wader scrape the 4 Goosanders (1 male and 3 females) there gave a good showing and I was surprised that they were still in residence.

Although it was cold and not at all Spring-like, thirty to forty Sand Martins and a few Swallows were zig-zagging in the air and skimming the waters' surface. Back at the reception hide, amongst the Greenfinches and Chaffinches was a pair of Bullfinches and a male Greater Spotted Woodpecker. So apart from the wind and the cold...a fairly satisfying day out!