Slow news day

Quiet. The most newsworthy item being my speedy write-up!

Saturday 28th July

Harpham/Lowthorpe (AM): 2 Sparrowhawk, 4 Buzzard, 4 Kestrel (3 together!), a juvenile Cuckoo at Lowthorpe, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2+ Goldcrest.

Gembling/Foston (PM): 27 Mallard, 1 Pochard, 5 Tufted Duck, 10+ Little Grebe, 2 Buzzard, 4 Kestrel, 7 Coot, 1 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 40+ Sand Martin, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Bullfinch.

The bird of the day was a Peregrine which drew attention by running amok with a flock of pigeons and crows - it appeared small to me so probably a male and not a juvenile but didn't look adult either. A cracking record and follows a similar one in July 2011.

Kelk (EVE): 2 Mute Swan, 110+ Greylags on stubbles at Gransmoor, 4 Canada Geese, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Red-legged and 4 Grey Partridge, 13 Golden Plover (a year tick!), 2 Green Sandpiper, 'low treble figures' of small gulls moving through, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Reed Warbler.

Sunday 29th July

Proper quiet today. Kelk Beck in the morning; 1 Teal, 1 Cormorant flying SW, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 3 Coot, 23 Golden Plover (the ones from yesterday had gone so these were perhaps the same), 1 Yellow Wagtail, juveniles of Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler.

As yesterday there was one standout bird, a Little Egret flying SW over Great Kelk. Like the Peregrine the expectation is to find winter birds and yet my first ever local egret was in July 2007.

I had another look around Gembling and Harpham late afternoon but nothing doing.

Butterflies this weekend were few and far between, the grand totals being; 50+ Ringlet, 25+ 'whites', 14 Meadow Brown, 3 Small Tortoiseshell.

Birds on film...

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, heavily in wing moult. Gulls aren't everyone's cup of tea but these fellas are quite elegant and have an interesting distribution within the area being mostly a summer visitor.

A young Carrion Crow in Kelk.

Male Linnet in Kelk. Because they're not really garden birds most people don't realise they're one of the commonest finches in the area - flocks over 100+ recorded on several occasions.

Much more familiar in gardens - Greenfinch. I've heard more than one person refer to them as Green Linnets, which I'd never heard before birding locally.

Part of a flock of 23 Golden Plovers, returning from their breeding grounds further north and still in their summer plumage. July records are unusual, however 23 is significant. The crop, by the way, is peas - late sown due to the crappy weather.

These plovers and the egret were the only year ticks...

102 Golden Plover

103 Little Egret

The dog ate my homework - June review

Well ok, not the dog, but my notes were swept away in the rain. Yes, that's my excuse for the delay and I'm sticking to it :o)

Friday 29th June

Very quiet around Harpham in the morning in poor weather; 2 Red-legged Partridge, 4 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Hobby over New Road, 14 Lapwing, several Skylark, a few House Martins, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest.

Afternoon around Kelk was better; 2 Mute Swan, 2 Red-legged and 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Cormorant, 1 Kestrel, 2 Oystercatcher, 48 Lapwing, 1 Black-headed Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed and 21 Herring Gull, 2 Kingfisher together, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Pied Wagtail, 1 Reed Warbler, 180 Starling including many juveniles, 2 Bullfinch, 5 Yellowhammer.

Non-birdy sightings today; a Grass Snake, and only a few butterflies - 1 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small Skipper, 1 Speckled Wood and 1 'white', plus several 'blue' damselflys.

Saturday 30th June

Gembling/Foston/Kelk Beck: 1 Mute Swan, 1 Greylag, 1 female Gadwall with 8 ducklings, 5 Mallard, female Pochard, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 3 Grey Partridge, 4 Little Grebe, 10 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 6 Coot, 38 Lapwing, 2 Black-headed Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 6 Stock Dove, 80 Woodpigeon, 40 Swift, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 14 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 11 Whitethroat, and 1 Corn Bunting.

The best record from the day was a Quail at Gembling briefly calling from a corn field.

In the evening a wander around Harpham didn't add too much but a surprise was 2 Oystercatchers at New Road - a new bird for that area. Also a single immature Common Gull was most unseasonal. The highlight, though, was a new record count of 164 Herring Gulls feeding on freshly cut grass and then seen flying east to the bay to roost. Big gulls are regular in summer but usually small numbers, indeed this is a record count for any time of year. Very strange!

Today's non-birdy stuff; 1 Squirrel, 1 'bat sp.', 21 Hares in one field, 1 Toad, and butterflies were nowhere to be seen except a measly 1 Peacock and 1 'white'.

Sunday 1st July

More searching around Kelk; 18 Greylags, 12 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Grey Partridge, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 2 Oystercatcher with a juvenile, 1 Black-headed Gull, 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull, a flock of 60 Feral Pigeon, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Sedge Warbler, 8 Whitethroat, 2 Bullfinch and 1 Reed Bunting. Remarkably yet another Quail was noted, this one near the Burton Agnes road and calling quite frequently.

Pictures...

Lapwing dive bombing me presumably for walking too close its young, which I couldn't locate in the corn but I did see a few little ones elsewhere.

Common Whitethroat at Gembling - the first one I've had the luck and patience to get a snap of. This one has food in its beak so perhaps there was a nest with young nearby. 

Tufted Duck starting its moult into eclipse plumage. They will look very messy and drab now until October.

A not-too-bad picture of one of the local pairs of Oystercatchers. I think there have been three pairs locally this year and this is the first year recently when I've found a juvenile - result! 

Finally, a vivid sunset over Lowthorpe. For once the weather was actually rather nice on the Saturday and this sight made for a cracking way to end the day. 

And so here we are, almost time for me to make my July visit.

One addition to the yearlist during the visit, plus one from my brother earlier in the month.

100 Marsh Harrier

101 Quail

Can I tick it?

It's been two weeks and I'm still catching up on the visit for June. While I gather detailed excuses together here's some random pictures...

But it's a bird, so I can tick it, right? This is what summer does to birders!

Angry sunset. Been a fair few of these this year.

Mini escargot.

Rescue-copter. A regular sight over Kelk as they move between Leconfield and the coast

Orchid. Possibly Marsh?

Laters...

Spot spot

Late May report...

Highlights were 2 sightings of Hobby and a Spotted Flycatcher, plus year ticks in the form of singing songbirds; Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler and Corn Bunting.

Friday 25th May

Afternoon around Kelk: 2 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Red-legged and 6 Grey Partridge, Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, Hobby - excellent view as it drifted overhead, 2 Oystercatcher, 22 Lapwing, 6 Lesser Black-backed and 46 Herring Gull, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Meadow Pipit, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Sedge Warbler, a flock of around 100 Linnet is unusual so late in the season, and 2 Reed Bunting singing.

Some butterflies;  4 Holly Blue, 6 Orange Tip, 4 Peacock, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 white sp, plus 3 blue damselflies (prob Azure-winged).

Evening at Gembling and Kelk Lake: pair of Mute Swan with one cygnet at Kelk Lake, 2 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, 3 Red-legged and 2 Grey Partridge, 2 Little Grebe, 3 Coot, 19 immature Common Gulls flew east at dusk to roost.

Saturday 26th May

Harpham-Lowthorpe: 2 Grey Partridge, Little Grebe, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 16 Lapwing, calling Cuckoo, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, several Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, several Chiffchaff and 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, a family of Long-tailed Tits, 3 Tree Sparrow, and 2 Bullfinch (pair).

Some more butterflies: 16 Orange Tip, 1 Wall, 1 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 24 white sp, plus 10 blue damselfies. Best of the bunch was a BRIMSTONE - my first sighting locally - which flew along the road/wood at the railway crossing.

Evening around Gembling-Foston-Wansford-Little Kelk: 10 Greylags, male Pochard, 4 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Hobby - chasing a Swift for several minutes over Millingdale, Tawny Owl calling from a hawthorn thicket at Gembling, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler (Kelk Lake before dusk), 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Whitethroat, 1 singing Corn Bunting near Kelk Lake - same location as the only male heard last year.

Sunday 27th May

Lots of non-birding activities today but a pleasant late afternoon walk around Harpham produced a final flourish in the shape of a Spotted Flycatcher at New Road. Also 3 Buzzard, calling Cuckoo, Yellow Wagtail, a Lesser Whtethroat at New Road, and two family parties of Long-tailed Tit.

One noticeable thing from the weekend was the lack of Swifts and hirundines, very much below what one would expect at the time of year. Either they have been delayed by the weather or were busy feeding elsewhere - despite fantastic weather. I shall be interested to see what the situation is like come August.

Now, a handful of photos. Here's a Pheasant chilling out with the lambs and not getting eaten by horrid Buzzards ;-)

Hawthorn blossom at its peak.

Singing Sedge Warbler at Lowthorpe bridge.

House Martin bringing mud to eaves in Kelk - still a lot of building to go! There was also another pair whirring around the same house.

Such was the heat this pheasant could not be bothered getting out of the road and let me approach to a few feet. Dozy thing!

 

Finally, a yearlist update...

096 - Reed Warbler
097 - Garden Warbler
098 - Corn Bunting
099 - Spotted Flycatcher

April migrants... just about

In previous recent years I've tended to make a mid-month visit in April in an attempt to get some early dates for passerine migrants. Which has, pretty much, done the job. However this means I always miss out on an April Swift. I never quite managed to catch one when I was watching the area years ago either so I decided to rectify that by taking a day off for a long weekend to get the last drops of the month.

Success!

Saturday 28th April

Harpham: a bit slow going with the poor weather but some birds noted; 4 Greylag Goose, 11 Mallard, 2 Grey Partridge, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Buzzard, 10 Lapwing, 7 Herring Gull, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, several Skylark, several Swallow, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Willow Warber, several Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Bullfinch. A Jackdaw looking somewhat like the continental subspecies was at Harpham - see photo below.

Kelk Lake / Little Kelk: 2 Mute Swan, 2 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cormorant, 5 Coot, 1 Sand Martin, 15+ Swallow, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Bullfinch, 19 Linnet, 16 Yellowhammer.

Gembling / Foston / Wansford: 1 Mute Swan, 5 Greylags, 2 Canada Goose, 6 Shelduck, 8 Gadwall, 2 Pochard, 24 Tufted Duck, 6 Little Grebe, 1 Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Coot, 3 Oystercatcher, 44 Herring Gull, 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, 8+ Swallow, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Whitethroat, 12+ Tree Sparrow.

Sunday 29th April

What an absolutely rubbish day - rain from early morning until 6pm. We managed a couple of hours as soon as it stopped. A brisk walk around Gransmoor Lane revealed 8 Grey Partridge, 1 Cormorant, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 16 Herring Gull, 1 Barn Owl, 9 Swallow and a Yellow Wagtail.

Monday 30th April

Bright sunshine... hard to believe after the previous day.

Kelk Beck / Little Kelk: 2 Mute Swan, 2 Greylags, 2 Gadwall, 12 Mallard, 6 Grey Partridge, 2 Cormorant, 1 Heron, 2 Sparrowhawk, 3 Kestrel, 4 Buzzard, 6 Coot, 1 Oystercatcher, 26 Lapwing, 15 Herring Gulls, 2 Cuckoo - including one flying overhead, 18+ Swallow, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, 5 Willow Warbler, 11 Goldfinch, 14 Linnet, 4 male Reed Buntings singing. Also noted were the first butterflies of the visit; 2 whites and 3 Peacock.

Gembling: 2 Pochard, 1 Cormorant, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 140+ Herring Gulls, 2 Tawny Owls calling to each other, 3 Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warbler. Another 3 Peackock butterflies were noted.

Last effort for the weekend was a quick dash on the bike to Harpham and back which added 1 Swift, 1 Kingfisher, 2 House Martin and a Speckled Wood butterfly. Best of the lot was an excellent view of a Hobby - my first record for April.

Some photos...

A male Yellowhammer in Little Kelk. My first sighting of one of these beauties as a young lad was part reason for getting me into birdwatching.

Linnets on barbed wires. The males a relatively understated for a finch but no less lovely for it.

You're going to have to trust me but this is a Willow Warbler. This view was looking toward sun - though you'd be forgiven for thinking it was dusk! I love the somewhat chilled out vibe to their song.

Gadwall seem to pass through the area regularly every spring, mostly at regular spots like Brigham Quarry or along Kelk Beck, unlike this pair which were at Lowthorpe Bridge - my first record for that spot.

Finally - the odd looking Jackdaw at Harpham, possibly a continental bird. The resident birds typically have a less contrasting pattern around the head and the almost white collar-line is thought to be consistent in continental birds. Popular thinking is that the overlap between the subspecies/races makes safe identification in the field near impossible. And then there's the problem of subspecies hybrids and intergrades. On the positive side, small numbers of continental Jackdaws must, surely, occur in the area, even if we can't properly identify the buggers. Whatever, this was a really striking little chap compared to more drab normal ones.

Additions to the yearlist...

085 Cuckoo

086 Swallow
087 Blackcap
088 Whitethroat
089 Willow Warbler
090 Yellow Wagtail
091 House Martin
092 Sedge Warbler
093 Lesser Whitethroat
094 Swift
095 Hobby

Ain't No Drought

Well ok it still is drought, according to the boffins, but you wouldn't have known it. The weather at the weekend had it all... cold and windy, rain and more rain, then spectacular spring sunshine on Monday.

Even so, I managed to notch up my first April records of Swift and Hobby and a few other year ticks to boot. Review later, just a few snaps now.

First - Herring Gulls at Gembling. The wet weather has caused the drain to flood the same fields as in the crazy flood in summer 2009.

And here is the same flood as in the picture above. There is no mud since it's been dry all winter so it may not attract waders but I shall be watching this with expectation anyway.

Spring time! A lovely big patch of Cowslips in Kelk. 

Is it a bird? Er, no it's plastic immitation pigeons. I did a double-take at first then just as I clicked I spotted a rather non-plussed but well camouflaged shooter lurking in the hedge. Doh!

More April later...

April showers

Weather's a bit rum, eh? Or so I'm told. I haven't been anywhere near East Yorkshire this month yet. My brother heard a Cuckoo at the weekend. Apart from that a few Swallows have been moving about.

And, so, er, message ends.