March 2015: Catch-up

Much has happened since last I updated this blog. Let me try to bring you guys up to speed!
The Grey Wagtail that has been visiting our garden pond since she was a juvenile way back in 2011 is still here. "Waggy", as we have affectionately called her, still arrives in the garden each autumn/winter until the following spring when she moves away to find a mate and raise a brood.

Over the successive seasons, she has matured into an adult Grey Wagtail, capable of evading threats from aggressively territorial Robins and hunting Sparrowhawks. She continues to spend the winter months on the garden pond, coming to the back door to accept live mealworms and spending the daylight hours in our garden.

Forward to 22nd March 2014, out of the blue sky, a male Grey Wagtail appeared on the garden lawn. Larger and with bolder colouring, the male departed and returned each day with the female over successive days until April 17th, which turned-out to be the last day that they spent time here. After that we have to assume that they flew to the summer breeding grounds to raise a brood.

December 3rd 2014 saw the female Grey Wagtail return to our garden pond and to be fed a regular intake of live mealworms. As of writing this account (Sunday 8th March 2015), "Waggy" is still here, but last Wednesday 4th, a male Grey Wagtail landed in the garden.

It too accepts live mealworms and will walk right up to the back door to accept a meaty morsel. As the male has arrived early, you will notice that his black bib has not fully developed compared to last year.

Now there are two Grey Wagtails in residence, this has given the resident male Robin much to think about. Whereas before, both the Robins (there is a resident pair) would continually chase the female Wagtail, now both species are evenly matched! The male Robin will still vent his spleen at any and all House Sparrows but particularly hates the resident Dunnock!

While all this is going on around us, the daily comings and goings of the Wren, Blue Tits, Blackbirds, and occasionally the Sparrowhawk, makes for intriguing observations.

Last Summer, our garden hosted the regular visits from two Hedgehogs. Each night both Hogs would spend time in the garden and share a bowl of live mealworms. Through May to October, the two Hedgehogs would eat and spend their nights in our garden. We purchased a couple of Hog-Houses, Mel fitted them out with hay and dried leaves. Both Hogs, for a few weeks, spent the days in the houses. This year we're hoping that one of them will return.

June 2012 - Red Damselfly & Blackbird fledglings in the garden.

Saturday 30th: A lovely warm day. This is the first of the summers' Damsel\Dragonflies that we have seen in the garden this year.

The Blackbird pair have successfully fledged a couple of young, their 3rd brood of the year.

The female now comes into the kitchen with the male and she will perch on the chair while he has first dibs at the bowl of mealworms.

June 2012 - RSPB Bempton Cliffs & Seabird Cruise

Saturday 2nd: A 90 minute drive to the East Riding of Yorkshire and the RSPB NR at Bempton Cliffs was a perfect opportunity to test-out my new camera with its 35x zoom lens. This was Sandra's first visit to the NR and she was eager to see as much as possible. A "head-for-heights" is a must as the vantage points are at the cliff edge. Colonies of Gannets, Razorbills, Guillemots, Kittiwakes and of course... Puffins are clustered on the cliff faces.

Above: This Puffin was easily seen in a scope but just a small black and white speck on the cliff-side to the un-aided eye. The camera that Mel got me for my birthday easily zoomed onto the bird.

Getting there for 9:15am, we only had 4 hours or so to look around before leaving for Bridlington and the Seabird Cruise. Farmland and open fields enclose the NR as the variety of birds is numerous. First sightings were Tree Sparrows, a large colony is resident, Jackdaws abound and when we were eating our sandwiches, four Jackdaws congregated around us and Sandra fed some scraps of bread which they took.

Skylarks were continually flying upwards in the vertical line, all the time singing only to hover for around 30 seconds and then descending to a favourite perch for a few moments before dropping down amongst the tufts of grass and weed.

At the cliff edge as expected were hoards on Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwakes, clusted in their separate groups. Immature Gannets flew close to the cliffs and hung in the breeze in order to entice a mate. Many were already on nests perched precariously on the cliff-side.

The Puffins were harder to spot. There are considerably less in number than previous years and the ones that are here are hidden in crevices and burrows from predators. But they can be seen with careful scanning of the cliff-face. Finding them is another matter as trying to spot a Puffin amongst all the thousands of Guillemots and Razorbills is like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack.

 Razorbill perched on the cliff-side.

Bempton Cliffs

A 20-minute car journey later and we were in the holiday town of Bridlington. As you'd expect, the town was busy and 30 minutes later managed to park the car on the promenade! At the North Quay, we waited with others for our boat, the "Yorkshire Belle", which would take us on an RSPB cruise around the "Head" and to the foot of Bempton Cliffs for some sea-watching. It wasn't long before the boat was sighted emerging from around Flamborough Head on its return from the previous cruise.

RSPB cruise boat "Yorkshire Belle"

As you would expect, the boat was crowded with sightseers eager to experience the sights and sounds from offshore around Bridlington, Flamborough and Bempton Cliffs.

 Flamborough Head Lighthouse

We were warned by the RSPB Wardens on board, that the seas were very choppy and that anyone who would feel the slightest "queesy" should not board! Needless to say, everyone boarded and myself, Sandra and the other experienced the massive swells of the coastal seas!

 Bridlington Harbour

Two hours later, the "Belle" was back in Brid Harbour. An exhilarating sea cruise, very cold and damp and very, very choppy seas! Time for a meal: and what else but fish & chips at the quayside!

November 2012 - Sparrowhawk in the garden!

Wednesday 27th: For the last few weeks, the garden has been empty of the usual squadron of House Sparrows and Starlings have been almost nonexistent, except for the odd one or two. On talking to others, this could be due to the time of year. But the upside of this is that we are seeing more Coal, Blue and Great Tits visiting the feeders. Even the Grey Wagtail has been hanging around the garden and taking live mealworms. Of course there could be another reason why the garden is quiet: regular visits by the local Sparrowhawk. We don't always see her, but she is around. Today I came home from running an errand at lunchtime and Mel called down; "the Sparrowhawk is here!". Looking out the window, there she was on her usual perch over the pond, with a fresh kill. We couldn't tell for sure what it was but it may have been a House Sparrow. The raptor didn't even seem too bothered that we were at the back door with binoculars and camera. She continued to feed on the carcass, and staying to digest her meal for some 15 minutes.

October 2012 - Grey Wagtail returns while Sparrowhawk kills Starling in the garden.

Saturday 27th: Yesterday, the Grey Wagtail returned to our garden on the first cold day of this autumn. Last night or very early this morning, we had a light dusting of snow. Though it was here a couple of weeks ago for one day, it had not stayed.

Today, it is back for a second day on and around the pond. The Wagtail will still come to the back door for live mealworms, still being harassed by the local Robin. After extensive research, Mel and I think that this Wagtail is a second-year bird. Last autumn from the photos we took at the time, it is quite clearly a juvenile bird.

But now, it has moulted and has more distinctive yellow feathers on its underparts. A male, it does not have the distinctive black bib until next spring and the breeding season. That's of course, if it makes it to Spring! Though it has gained more experience of the dangers in the natural world (it now freezes when an alarm call goes out by the Blackbirds or Sparrows) the Wagtail still has to contend with the daily danger from the local Sparrowhawk!

And this was readily apparent this morning. The Wagtail was on the pond wall when the Sparrowhawk grabbed a Starling from within the conifers. The photos and especially the movie below show the graphic detail of a Sparrowhawk kill. The original commentary by us (as it happened and the sound of the distressed Starling has been replaced by classical music so as not to offend or upset anyone. If you think the video would disturb you, don't watch it!

As I write this at 11:30am, the Sparrowhawk is still here in the back garden, on the arch (its favourite plucking post) still plucking and eating the Starling. We did hear the Grey Wagtail flyover some minutes ago but I shouldn't think it will return until the danger has gone. Apart from the Sparrowhawk, the garden is, as you would expect, deserted of wildlife.

Footnote:The Grey Wagtail, I should say, like other birds, vacated the area and didn't return for the rest of the day. Though on Sunday 28th, the Wagtail spent most of the day here!

May 2012 - Lakeside & other Birds

Tuesday 29th: After finishing at work, a short drive down the road to Lakeside to put my camera through some more tests. Yes, another lovely warm evening. People around, enjoying the late afternoon sun.

This is a photo of contemplation. The Sikh is sat on the pebble beach communing with nature.

A Coot on her nest, resting in the warm sunshine.

A Black-headed Gull, unusually resting and quiet!

Great-crested Grebes often take to Donny Lakeside.

Suspect that this is a Lesser Black-backed Gull.

We get our far share of Herring Gulls too.

Close by, a clutch of Mallard duckings explored a sheltered cove under the watchful eyes of the parent Mallards.

Getting home I took advantage of the sunny and warm evening by sitting in the garden. In the conifers a few feet away was perched one of the Blackbird fledglings that had hatched a couple of weeks earlier. It was waiting to be fed by the male and in between feeds would close its eyes for a moments rest.

Sunday 27th: An early morning midday to Hatfield Moor (North) to test my new camera. Warm day with clear blue sky - great to be out in the countryside! While driving down the narrow country lane, between farms, several Turkeys jumped out in front of the car forcing me to slam on the anchors! Curious, a couple wandered straight towards the car, peering at me all the while! Then joined by others, they wandered into the adjacent ploughed field. This is the first encounter with wild Turkeys that I have experienced. Usually they are on my plate!

Friday 25th: The female Blackbird is not at all worried by the presence of us in the kitchen - she is too trusting! Both Mel and I can get to almost touching distance of her! In fact she tends to stand around if the bowl is empty and flick her wings in order to get our attention.

There's all sorts of wildlife in the garden. This green Weevil with orange legs provided a test of close (macro) photography by Mel.

Wednesday 23rd: Occasionally, a passing Greenfinch will stop off in our garden - probably on it's way to Sandra's!!

Tuesday 22nd: The Blackbirds and House Sparrows are regularly coming into the kitchen for live mealworms throughout the day. The male Blackbird predominately collects a beak full and feeds the fledling Blackbirds,while the female mainly feeds herself! The birds have young to feed and are not at all shy about dashing in to get a beak full of mealworms.

 

 There are still plenty of Frogs in the garden. Most are in and around the pond as is the one below.

Saturday 12th: Mel and I went over to Elizabeth's house to do some gardening and all the time in the front, this cheeky Robin would nip in between Mel and her trowel to grab a tasty morsel. A very confident Robin, it wasn't put off by the constant movement of us and noise!