Tough going

Yesterday morning's walk North in yet more Easterlies started quietly but as I reached the farm it became apparent that there had been a fall of Wheatears. I like to think I'm conservative with my counts BUT I was happy that 6 birds were present...

Things got even better when a scan over the road produced a distant ringtail Hen Harrier fast disappearing west. This was almost certainly the lingering bird that had been present in the area for over a week now. The lone (and possibly ill) Golden Plover was still present, although it seemed spritely enough as it fed in the farm garden...

On the return journey something caught my eye on the beach as I approached Seaside road...

Common Sandpiper (P.109, H.89)

This is only my second record...but maybe not my second sighting?!

This Tree Sparrrow lingered long enough at the feeder for a pic mid-afternoon....

Lockdown update

So, what's been occuring?

Richard made another top find yesterday when he came across a Jay on Seaside Road. A Village tick for him...unfortunately not for me, as it soon disappeared never to be seen again. I had an extended watch from my bedroom but no joy. I was going to say at least he's not crowing about his double...but I thought it may be to corny!

No new "Garden additions" but nice views of some common stuff in unusual circimstances in and around the Village...

Red-legged Partridge in the Churchyard...

Chiffchaff singing on a wire...

Magpie on the fat balls...

I actually SAW a Lesser Whitethroat...just!

Terrific prolonged performance by a Sparrowhawk over the garden this afternoon...

That's all folks...

Check every bird!

Birding excitement can come in many guises. We all like a Rarity...don't we? An addition to a list, a foreign trip etc etc.

Today's exercise brought much excitement (I'm easily pleased). Herring Gulls are almost a constant sight cruising the cliffs here at Holmpton. Sometmes joined by Greater and maybe Lesser Black-backs. I've also had a few Fulmars (one today). I like to think I'm fairly thorough when checking the birds?

Anyway today provided a major surprise. As I was walking back South towards Seaside Road a "Gull" was cruising towards me at a leisurely pace. No surprise there I hear you cry. Except it wasn't a "Gull"...it was a Gannet!!! By the time I'd realized and sorted my camera out, it had passed by me and was contiuing North towards Withernsea...

Evocative?

I also saw my FOY Whitethroat (H.87, P.108)...

First picked up singing in Old Hive copse

Eventually it showed closer. Full of vigour and expectancy...

Cute!

Crows were still much in eveidence moving mainly south...I keep checking! Whilst checking on one occasion, 2 Shelducks (H.88) bulleted South.

House Martin would be nice tomorrow for an earliest date addition?

***I've just realized some of the posts I'd added to my labels section (see right hand column) weren't showing. Included here are past trips, significant twitches plus some personal stuff. Anyway for the record...they're all showing now***

Holmpton Lockdown...so far.

Just got back from a "quiet" walk with Bud. Crows passing South...none with hoods...alas. A couple more Wheatears were nice...and never taken for granted.

Yesterday morning yielded a couple of Curlew and Fulmar South plus 2 male Goosanders North. BIG bonus came in the form of a Peregrine South over the paddock, as I was heading home...

A surprisingly decent cropped image...

A powerful profile

An hour before lunch from the bedroom proved very productive with a late flurry of "Lockdown" additions....and Garden Lifers to boot. I added Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cormorant and Sand Martin. I also had great views of a female Blackcap at the bird bath...

A blur of bird and water

You may be wondering why its taken me seven years to add these species to my Garden List? Simple, I've never looked from the bedroom window with any real intent, before this enforced confinement! I'm enjoying it.

So, Lockdown so far.

Basing it on a March 23rd start I guess the first significant sighting was a Marsh Harrier (25th) seen from my front door courtesy of a knock on it by Richard! Later that morning I failed to reciprocate as I had my earliest Swallow on our walk but couldn't get him "on it". Daily sightings of a beautiful Barn Owl in the field opposite at dawn and dusk around this time, is also definitely worth a mention.
Fortunate indeed.

Next comes the undoubted highlight so far...Shore Larks. Initially found by Richard the previous week I evenually scored on April Fools Day when I found a flock of 6 on Mill Hill!

4 of them

Corn Buntings back on Snakey Lane on the 3rd was a welcome sight...



...with the first returning Sand Martins seen at Old Hive on the 4th. A singing Blackcap on the 5th was followed by brief views of a Ring Ouzel in flight on the 7th...another earliest record to savour. Another quality addition to my Holmpton List on this date was a Black Redstart, again found by Richard in the paddock...



Yellow Wagtails also joined the party on this date at the Llama Farm...



A stunning Hen Harrier that had been lingering on Snakey Lane was finally seen well on a "bread and milk run" on the 8th...




A silent Willow Warbler was a decent find at Old Hive Copse on the 12th. Turnstone and Fulmar were added on the 16th. Whimbrel fell on the 17th and the first Lesser Whitethroats were heard yesterday evening on Taylor Lane.

All birds seen/heard on walks from my house or trips to Patrington and Withernsea for supplies.

Plenty more to come...hopefully...

East Winds continue...

...and limited sightings ...continue!

A lone Whimbrel calling as it headed high South was the highlight of this mornings walk North. I finally managed a decent pic of a male Linnet...

We have a decent number now but they are very flighty.

I had an hour from the bedroom between 11 and 12 adding a lone Stock Dove to my "Garden Lockdown" list #47. It was also my 59th species for my developing "Garden Life" List.

As I was wallowing in my latest addition I received a message informing me a Hooded Crow had flown South past Holmpton. The message came at 11.38 but no time was given for the actual sighting. Still...rather galling nonetheless. I'll get one...I keep saying that?

Arctic Terns starting to pass by. None here...yet...

This male Chaffinch spent some time at the Niger seed this morning..

My attempt to beat some of my "earliest records" failed miserably...although the weather didn't help...

An ill wind...

Yesterday's highlights...

A lone Golden Plover I initially hoped was a Dotterel, as it flushed from the cliff path. The power of suggestion again raising its ugly head, with a couple being found further up the coast at Grimston...

Two of three cracking Yellow Wagtails in the paddock...

A lone Common Scoter just offshore was also noteworthy.

This morning I headed North and scored with a single Fulmar south along the beach. A small "fall" of Wheatears again with at least 6 birds present of which 4 were sticking close together. Here are 3 of them for the record...

Later, a few more jobs were undertaken before an hours watch from the bedroom. Pretty quiet...but it only takes one bird, well two actually, as I added Oystercatcher to my "Garden Lockdown"list 46. Again, remarkable really, as I've seen very little on the sea during my walks.

A quick update on my "First Dates". I've managed to beat my earliest record with the following species...

Chiffchaff - March 18th - 20 days (dubious with wintering birds a consideration)
Swallow...March 23rd - 11 days
Blackcap - April 5th - 3 days
Yellow Wagtail...April 7th - 1 day
Willow Warbler - April 12th - 3 days

Tomorrow I get a chance to beat...

Cuckoo
Ring Ouzel
Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
All April 20th.

Winds out of the East at the moment and for the foreseeable. Could be a challenge...

Late result

The day started well as I opened the curtains...Heron (Garden Lockdown #45).

 Another gorgeous day here...

Male Wheatear at Cliff Farm the highlight of our morning walk...

A noticable southerly movement of Crows...unfortunately, I was too late for the Hooded that Richard saw earlier...I'll get one.

After a few jobs I had another hour from the bedroom window, nothing new but a first visit from the male GSW...

The evening dog relief walk to the Cliff was surprisingly productive/lucky. In a brief scan I scored a double with 4 Fulmar (P.102, H.81) and 2 Turnstone (P.103, H.82) south. You just never know...

Bits and Bobs

I'm aware that my routes may be becoming repetitive...that's because they are! Still, we're all in the same boat...or should be? North, South or West...East would be a challenge, especially for a poor swimmer.

All walks are being done from my Cottage. Chuffed to have lost over a stone, although there's still some work to do. The last couple of days have been slow but there's always something of interest, right?  A few Yellow Wagtails have popped up and the drift of Wheatears continues...thankfully...A jumpy male on the cliff footpath...

...and an extremely chilled female in the paddock...

A lovely individual

The first Swallow was seen singing in the Village yesterday...

A lone Pink-footed Goose was also seen South of the Village. It was flushed by Bud and glided down onto the sea. Unusual behaviour and maybe not in the best of health, unfortunately...

He also (inadvertantly) flushed a pair of Grey Partridges. Finally for now, a mini-kettle (if there is such a thing) of Buzzards (3) was a pleasant sight.

You've got to be in the right place...

A cold wind was blowing hard first thing. So, after breakfast I retired for a bedroom watch!

Eventually, it paid off as I added Gannet and Great Black-backed Gull to my "Lockdown List" #43
Both Garden "Lifers". Ironically this was the first Gannet I had seen since lockdown, so in context, it was a miraculous sighting.

A shorter walk today, early afternoon. I tried to find a Black Redstart in the paddock but no sign although 2 were reported? While I was down there a Heron (H.80) flew over the house...

...a Village year tick but it would have been a Garden Lifer...as would the brief flight of a Mistle Thrush. Ah well, two to look for...

I did manage a late addition in the form of a female Sparrowhawk #44

This is the first time since we moved here I've really concentrated on my "Garden" list...as you can tell by some of the embarrassing additions! However, as I've said many times...listing is a Marathon not a sprint and each addition is greeted with much satisfaction. What's next?

The Weekend

Yesterday I mixed things up a little...change is a s good...and all that. We needed bread and milk first thing so I drove Snakey to Patrington. Not before I'd heard a Chiffchaff chipping away as I opened the front door (Garden Lockdown #40). 3 Corn Bunting territories are definitely in operation, which is great to report.

My walk took place after lunch with a stroll North to the Sewage. Nothing of note at the farm BUT beyond that...Wheatears...4 together! As I approached the Sewage it became apparent that one bird was unconcerned by my presence, enabling me to get this image...

I spent a wonderful 20 minutes in close proximity to this individual...VERY unusual in my experience.

On returning home for a brew I joined Louise in the garden. We both heard a distinctive call. After some searching I locked-on to an extremely high Curlew (Garden Lockdown #41).


This morning I went South on a fabulous day...

No Shore Larks at Mill Hill

It was nice to see the Sand Martin  numbers building up nicely (c40) at Old Hive...

I checked out the Copse...

...and the scrape lol!...

Days are numbered

On passing back by the Copse I saw a small bird flitting about in the upper branches. After a fair few minutes I located it motionless on a branch at the back. Chuffed to grab this pic...

Willow Warbler (H.79, P.102)

The bird was silent throughout. Some of the locals were showing well...

Male Reed Bunting