Good Riddance!

So, that's January over with, my least favourite Month. If circumstances were different, I'd be abroad for the whole Month! However I'm not, so I've tried to make the most of it.

My last visit of the Month to Duff today produced an excellent count of 108 Pochard, this being my largest count...by THREE! A decent number were in situ on arrival but were subsequently joined by another significant flock just after midday...

c 1000 yds

This was the undoubted highlight of an otherwise quiet session. I scanned the Wigeon for a good while but couldn't turn one into an AMERICAN.

Other notables were...

Pintail - 60

Dunlin - 40

Little Grebe - 2

Marsh Harrier - Male

Brighter days ahead...

For the Record

A late drive up to Out Newton late afternoon to listen to the Footy on the move. I stopped off briefly at the "scrape"...

Nothing.

I continued on to Model Farm and let Bud have a stretch. I checked the fields...nothing! On my return I checked the scrape again...

Maybe I missed them on the way up? I like to think I didn't! Anyway, a nice catch by the lingering "scrape"...

Redshank (H.45)

Yesterday afternoon I spent an hour down Patrington Haven again watching from the car. Highlights being 3 Marsh Harriers and 4 passes by a beautiful Barn Owl in the afternoon sunshine. It flew right past my car on a couple of occasions...

Spurn Ticks

I decided to have a drive down the road for the first time this Year...just for a change of Scenery. You've probably noticed I don't get down there much these days. Increased coverage means less chance of finding something decent so I prefer to work Patches elsewhere and I'm more than happy doing that. Far more rewarding. I have many great memories since I first went there in 1987 and I will continue to visit and cherry pick on occasion.

I started my tour at the North end of the Gas Terminal...

...where I was pleased to see a tree planting scheme was in operation. Much potential. Tough going at this time of Year and there wasn't any sign of activity. Which Species springs to mind...

A nice pair to brighten up a Winter's afternoon!

Next I checked out Vicar's Lane at the Southern end. Here I saw my first Yellowhammers of 2024. I estimated 20 Birds, they were very mobile and elusive in the gloom but one finally gave itself up...

I also saw my first House Sparrows!!

I then drove down to Kilnsea and parked up by the gate...

Again mmany memories came flooding back but things have changed. I scanned the Estuary and added a few Waders to the Spurn/Patch Lists. The best was a lone Grey Plover close to the tideline...

I finished off at Sammy's and while Bud was having a stretch I just managed to catch a Little Grebe before it disappeared into the reeds...

All in all I recorded 33 Species with Yellowhammer being the only Patch addition! I'll be back...now and again...

Quiet?

As we approach the end of the Month things can get a little slooooow...depending on your form of Birding of course? If you cover the Miles you can obviously see more "Good Birds"...these days I prefer to work my Patches. I might still be tempted to drift further afield depending on what turns up.

So, it was over to NDC again this morning, arriving at 10. It wasn't as bright as forecast BUT it was much milder if breezy. The traditional Platform walk didn't promise much in the wind but that's the great thing about our Pastime...you never know...

The Bird was initially right by the path but wouldn't show...

Always nice to see a Bullfinch (54)...especially a Male.

We then had a walk down to Garganey Hide to have a nosey as the water level had dropped further. There was plenty of evidence of flood damage on the way down and the path had partially given way in places...

On arrival I could see it was possible to enter the Hide (just about)...

 We didn't linger...

This Hide has been battered by floodwater many times over the Years but still stands strong. A testament to the Manufacturers and Builders...Gilleard Bros. Dare I suggest it might have been positioned slightly...higher?! On the return walk...a sign of Spring. The camera wouldn't grab at first but I thought it would be worth posting them anyway...

Eventually...

After setting my stall out in the slightly drier Geoff Smith Hide, I began to scan. I immediately spotted 3 Drake Pochard (55) in the (extreme) distance, which was pleasing after enviously viewing a good number on Bubwith Ings...

As 1 approached a Little Egret (56) flew West, close...too quick for me! A slow session was still having its moments. A lone Chaffinch (57) then perched briefly in a bush out on the water...

The sun broke through briefly around 2 but soon disappeared, not before a Peregrine (58) shook the Wildfowl up briefly...and again distantly...

So, that concludes today's additions. Finally a shout out for one of the common Species. A pair of Wigeon in the sunshine...

Stunners

Breezy

An understated title. Wind is the worst element of Weather for me, debilitating most efforts to Bird and giving little pleasure when possible at all. Gale Force last night during the Storm (I refuse to use the names now given). Still lively today but some Birding was possible if mainly from the car. One positive of the wind is that it dries things up, which means I don't have to clean my Dog...or Cat!

Thankfully "Snakey Scrape" is hanging on in there, giving hope of catching some passing Waders. As I passed this morning I could see a tiny Bird in amongst the Gulls and Lapwings...

Dunlin

Nice to have an "Inland" record.

I then drove out to Skeffling and was pleased to see the Whooper herd were slightly closer...

Encouraging to see some juveniles present...

I counted 32 in total.

When I returned to Snakey to check the "Scrape"again. the Dunlin had multiplied by 3...

4 Fieldfares (P.72, H.42) then alighted briefly, before 7 Roe Deer passed by...

Out of nowhere a large flock of Golden Plovers suddenly descended onto the scrape...

I counted 220, my largest "inland" flock. Great to see on Snakey and very satisfying. While watching from the car a movement caught my eye on the adjacent mud...

Pied Wagtail ( P.73, H.43)

Always something to see...despite the conditions...

Frozen

I arrived at NDC around 10 after a detour around Hull due to an accident on the A63. The usual routine with a walk out to the Platform and a good scan which produced my first Snipe (48) of 24. Entering the Hide I was pleased to see Barry Bishop already in residence. We started to search for the Drake American Wigeon which was going to be a challenge as the Reserve was almost completely frozen which had concentrated the Birds on or around the River where viewing was difficult. 

Tim Jones arrived with the same intentions. After a while he decided to view from the Platform and told us he'd let us know if he connected...as would we. Another familiar face arrived in the form of Arnie Cowan who I hadn't seen for quite some time. Plenty of experienced eyes searching now. Alas the Bird wasn't located before I left at 1.

Highlights of the session included...

Pink-footed Geese (c200) still present which came in briefly to a small unfrozen patch for a drink and bathe before flying back to the adjacent fields.

Ruff (49) - 3 flew East over the River.

Red Kite  - 3 distantly to the North over the Woods.

I also added Pheasant (50), Dunnock (51) and Great Tit (52) to the Year List. This Grey Squirrel provided some entertainment in front of the Hide on the ice...

I gave Bud another stretch before returning to the car for Lunch. I scanned the trees around the car park and picked up a flock of Long-tailed Tits (c10) in the large tree opposite...

Could there be anything else with them? Yes...

Willow Tit (53)

No award winner but proof nonetheless; I expected to pick one up around the Hide!!

I had an appointment in Hedon at 5.20, so to kill some time I had an hour back down at Stone Creek...surprise, surprise! On arrival it became immediately apparent that more photographers were present, so I found a spot further South and parked. More exercise for Bud and more scanning for me...which finally resulted in my first Hen Harrier (P.71) of the Year and therefore the Patch. Chuffed to pick it up at distance (c800 yds) making steady progress East as the light faded...

A top finish to the Day.

Local

 Took it easy today, just checking a few Sites close by. The forecast snow didn't materialize producing another clear, crisp day. The sea is dead at the moment with just a few Red-throated Divers (P.67, H.38) passing.

I gave it an hour at the Sewage at lunchtime adding Sanderling (P68, H.39)...

Turnstone (P.69, H40)...

and Ringed Plover (P.70, H41)...

...to the Year List. 

I'll be over at Duff again tomorrow. A touch of spice added with the discovery of a Drake American Wigeon seen on Bubwith Ings from the Geoff Smith Hide. Maybe I missed it on Wednesday! I saw 2 Drakes at Bubwith in March 2007; fortunately one popped onto Duff for my Tick!

Clearly

A crispy start had me heading West for a session in the freezer at Duff. Levels have dropped further with the clearer weather but still plenty deep enough not to freeze! I was well wrapped up and there was little wind on a gloriously sunny Winter's day.

I was joined in the Hide by a chap called Nick and his Dog. He informed me he'd just had a couple of Willow Tits, of course  I couldn't find them. Nice to know they're "about" again though. The visibility was superb which enabled viewing of the Birds present near and far. After a while I picked out a fine Drake Scaup amongst the Tufties...

Geese were present in force now and I belatedly added Canada (45) to the Year List!? Greylags were also well represented with hundreds scattered along the Western edge of the Reserve. I started to work through them hoping for something different...I succeeded as mixed in were a decent number of Pink-footed (46). Always worth a closer look. A lone Redshank (47) darted across giving itself away with its call. I left at 1.

Yet again I was tempted to detour via Stone Creek on the way home, especially as the sun was still shining. On arrival I could immediately see Short-eared Owls hunting...which was pleasing. I parked up and watched from the car hoping for a flight shot or two. The birds were extremely active and came quite close on occasions, even landing a few times. The light faded but I managed a decent backlit shot at dusk...

I estimated 8 Birds present.

Humber Loop

After an enjoyable Weekend with the Good Lady I decided to do the Humber Loop this morning starting at Stone Creek. It was fresh...very fresh (-2). Fortunately the wind was light, which definitely helped. A pair of Stonechats was a good start...

Dung Heaps are always worth checking...

Most checks prove fruitless...but not this time. Movement detected at the rear in poor light...

Grey Wagtail (P.65)

An excellent Winter addition.

I gave it an hour but no Owls or Harriers were seen. Onto Sunk Island. I drove the minor roads and checked some ditches, again, one finally paid off...

SIX Little Grebes (P.66) were in residence...an excellent count...

This was the Site of my Black Stork find some Years ago. Next it was Skeffling which was a Wildfowl bonanza. c50 Whooper Swans were present plus c30 Mute and c200 Brent Geese.

No sign of the Twite flock. 

Snakey produced a flock of 40 Golden Plovers...

A grand morning out...