Siskin at Springhead GC

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.

Although not frozen the going was a bit better than last week

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.

Red Fox in a snow storm at Carr Farm

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.

Siskin behind Springhead GC

Had 40+ Lapwing in the fields off Well Lane but no sign of any Curlew.

Checked the hedgerow at Haltemprice Farm but no sign of the Siberian Chiffchaff. Hopefully it will turn up again when the weather improves.

Haltemprice Farm now looking more like a home

Possible Siberian Chiffchaff at Haltemprice Farm, Willerby

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.

Birding in the time of Covid-19 Pt2-Braving the mud on Willerby Carr

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.

Not advisable in anything but wellies

At the farm the Teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Lapwing and Redshank were back although in lower numbers than before the freeze.

Lapwing and Mallard at Carr Farm, Willerby

Shoveler at Carr Farm, Willerby

Never was more relieved to get back on firm ground.

The road from Carr Farm, Willerby.

Plenty of water in Springhead Flood Scheme but unlike November 2019 there was nothing unusual except some Canada Geese which I had seen before once this year in early January.

Canada Geese in Springhead Flood Scheme, Willerby

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.

Grey Wagtail in Stubble near Haltemprice Farm, Willerby

The last bit to The Garth was as expected hellishly muddy. However despite the conditions was worth the pain!

I had missed a Chiffchaff in the hedge north of Haltemprice Farm. For more information check my latest posting.

Birding in the time of Covid-19 Pt 1-New Ings, Cottingham

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.

New ings, Cottingham looking west towards greenhouses off Northmoor Lane.

New Ings, Cottingham looking north towards Beverley bypass

New Ings, Cottingham looking south

New Ings, Cottingham looking south to new build on Orchard Park.

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.

Female Stonechat on New Ing, Cottingham

Also a good number of Snipe, Meadow Pipit and Reed Bunting as well as the regular Roe Deer.

Male Reed Bunting-New Ings, Cottingham

Meadow Pipits-New Ings, Cottingham

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.