It has been a fairly quiet autumn on the carrs this year but was messaged by PS on Friday morning that there were two Stonechat at Haltemprice Farm [I had just seen one myself at the opposite side of Cottingham at New Ings] so decided to have a look Saturday morning. Starting along the path south of Abbots Walk I was surprised to see eight Golden Plover so close to housing [the species used to be seen in large numbers in the fields north of Springhead GC last century but only seen in small numbers, usually in winter, now].
Reaching Haltemprice Farm I scanned the rough ground but didn’t see any Stonechat so I started looking for the Little Owl that had reappeared in the bushes a few week back. Eventually located it but as always hard to find and even harder to photograph.
Good to see owl boxes now mounted on the renovated farm house.
Scanning further I finally located a Stonechat. Mobile and usually perching on stems too low to get a good shot but it eventually settled on a slightly higher bush.
The Canada Geese [c150] were still on the flood prevention scheme but initially couldn’t see any Greylags only seeing two later viewing from the path behind the golf course.
However the rest of the Greylags were at Willerby Carr Farm with others in the paddocks off Priory Road. The weather was looking to go off so decided not to look on the golf course but head straight back along Wood Lane.
Six Teal had returned to winter at Willerby Carr Farm with fourteen Mallard.
Otherwise the only thing of note along Wood Lane were two Roe Deer.
Fortunately the rain held off until I got in.
Erich's birding and biking blog 