22/4/22 A guided walk at Tophill Low NR

As I was short of time had a quick walk up Park Lane {Cottingham} then after a text from Roy an even quicker walk back across the fields to Millbeck Wildlife Area only to slowing when I heard a familiar chup-chup to locate the first Tree Sparrow of the year away from Poplar Farm and in my Cottingham Patch. The first thing I heard on mounting the bank on Weel Road, Beverley to view Swine Moor was my first Cetti’s Warbler of the year. Also heard only my second Sedge Warbler. Also new for the year were several Yellow Wagtail. Had a frustrating small leggy wader that was too close to the bank to scope. Likely the Wood Sandpiper Roy had seen recently. On getting to Roy further along the bank added Greenshank and Little Ringed Plover. At Tophill Low NR we joined a small group for an escorted walk with Margaret and Amy including a few friends not seen for a while.

Not getting ready for a Macron victory but Margaret greeting us outside the visitor centre.

Sue, Neil and Roy.

Check here if you aren’t up to date with events on the reserve. Started in the visitors centre. Nothing much on D reservoir except a few lingering Goldeneye and Tufted Duck but two Black-necked Grebes had been seen recently.

Headed south with Margaret giving us an update of recent changes.

Extensive tree felling on site including opening out the “swamp” along the path to the lagoons.

Old stinker still guarding the reserve but during the peace of the closure has been joined by another legend from the other side of the Humber – Tiddy Mun

Reputedly hates the Dutch for draining Lincolnshire. More on him here.

Little on North Lagoon but informed that plans for lowering the water and dredging some of the silt could mean the best conditions for late summer wader movement for several years.

South Lagoon from the hide

top of the new treated water outlet that cause the disruption near South Lagoon recently

River Hull by the lagoons

Tree thinning near South Marsh

Also apart from breeding birds including Black-headed Gull and Oystercatcher nothing much of note on South Marsh East.

Birds on South Marsh East; ♂︎ Gadwall, Little Egret, nesting Black-headed Gulls, Lapwing and 1s Common Gull, Oystercatcher, Greylag Goose family.

Did get several fly pasts of Marsh Harrier though.

Avocet and Common Tern have been seen recently.

Canada Goose family on South Marsh West.

Informed that Bittern was regularly booming on South Marsh West. The first I’m aware of and a pity we currently aren’t likely to get to hear it.

Great Crested Grebe and Tufted Duck on O res

Tufted Duck on O res

Alder Beetle by South Lagoon

Good to see the old hut has resurfaced near the ticket machine to be used for the sightings books which should mean more will be recorded.

I must say that today at least there seemed no real reason for an escort and hi-vis vests as there was no construction traffic or any obvious new hazards but was informed that once work on the new treatment works start there’d be movement of trucks carrying earth to use for ramps for better disabled access to new/improved hides. However the information passed on by Margaret and Amy was worth it.

Getting in I went straight out with the dog. Walked Wood Lane and had two Oystercatcher at Carr Farm to added to my Willerby Carr Patch year list. Also a pair of Teal still lingering.

Oystercatcher at Carr Farm

Thanks to Roy Lyon for some of the photographs above.

The reserve reopens on Monday 12th September. See here for details.

Signs of Spring around the Cottingham area.

10/3/22

Mistle Thrush singing on Station Road

Had my first Chiffchaff singing on Middledyke Fields Thursday evening. Early so wondered whether it might have overwintered but only got brief views so couldn’t tell if it was of the Siberian race.

Chiffchaff singing Oppy Wood

11/3/22 Had my first Small Tortoiseshell butterfly of 2022 on Canongate this morning. Too mobile but needn’t have worried as I encountered several more on my walk. Also a male Brimstone but they rarely stop. I had a singing Chiffchaff in Oppy Wood but no sign of yesterday’s bird so likely a single mobile bird. Only one other local sighting so far at Burton Bushes. No sign of any Siskin.

Rooks nest building on Hallgate

The emergence of butterflies today was the signal to put the moth trap out for the first time this year catching a single Common Quaker. A species expected early spring.

Common Quaker-a moth

12/3/22

Wild Primrose-N.of Haltemprice Priory

13/3/22

Sparrowhawk with Woodpigeon-Middledyke Lane

14/3/22 Had at least two Chiffchaff on Willerby Carr this morning so now arriving in numbers. Also a good of Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstone butterflies on the wing.

Small Tortoiseshell-Wood Lane

15/3/22

Common Green Shield Bug-Millbeck Lane

Chiffchaffs singing at Millbeck Wildlife Area on Tuesday morning and a friend had several on Snuff Mill Lane fields.

A flock of Whooper Swan flying north at dusk near Waterworks Cottages were my first in the village but had seen a flock over Haltemprice Farm a similar time last year that would have flown over Cottingham.

Had Beautiful Plume moth on the kitchen door this evening.

Beautiful Plume-a moth

17/3/22 A walk to Beverley Parks

Buzzards displaying over Beverley Parks

Hibernating Snails-Beverley Parks

19/3/22

Chiffchaff-Millbeck Wildlife Area . My best shot so far!?

22/3/22

Common Dog-violet-Beverley Parks

23/3/22

Comma butterfly-Millbeck Wildlife Area

24/3/22

Red Fox-Mill Road, Skidby

26/3/22

Little Owl-Burn Park Farm

Peregrine on pylon

A walked round Willerby Carr on Saturday evening added Red-legged Partridge at Southwood Farm, the only other record this year being along the approach road to Tophill Low NR and a Snipe over Carr Farm, again the only the records so far being at Tophill Low NR.

Red-legged Partridge off Abbots Walk

28/3/22 Having seen Canada goose occasionally on Northmoor Lane, just outside my Cottingham Patch,  a pair over Park Lane on Monday morning could finally be added to the patch year list.

Heard what I assume was my wintering Blackcap in better song by Church View early evening. However I have yet to encounter any migrants.

29/3/22 Walked round Willerby Carr early Tuesday evening. Nothing note worthy bird-wise although there were no Wigeon at Carr Farm but they might not yet have departed [still present on Saturday] properly. Pete Scot among others had seen a Water Vole in the drain along Swine Bank last week. I had seen a large swimming rodent on Saturday but couldn’t exclude Brown Rat which I had seen in the area before, however today after seeing some disturbance in the water managed to get up close to “Ratty” the Water Vole. My only other records in the area were one along Willerby Low Road and another in Oppy Road, both in this decade.

Water Vole-Swine Bank, Willerby

30/3/22 A walk up Park Lane on Wednesday evening added Red-legged Partridge to my Cottingham Patch year list.

31/3/22 The end of March we seems to have returned temporarily to winter. However Chiffchaffs were still singing Middledyke Fields/Oppy Wood

Despite an early arrival of Chiffchaff I haven’t encountered any further migrants but hopefully after this brief chill early April proper spring bird migration should start along with the emergence of more butterflies and moth and maybe early dragonflies. Told there were two Blackcap at Millbeck Wildlife Area this evening but didn’t connect.

Latest update on Tophill Low NR access https://tophilllow.blogspot.com/2022/04/tophill-tours-limited-access-to-reserve.html?m=1&fbclid=IwAR26uAywHpzFb35rnSk2zqN8dwoZl7PZ6wg40nGg1g6ISCYjIVviCYU8aqY Basically no general access but booked escorted tours.