Winter's, The Humber Bank and Killingholme Haven.

 An earlyish start today and Brian and I were at Winter's by about 9.30. As we were driving down the lane we rain into a birding friend, Steve Routledge who had been there about 4 hours by then. We ran into him again later and we had a good catch up. It was a cool but beautiful early morning and the colours are just beginning to develop; hips and haws are looking wonderful.. We took some time have a close examination of the pond to make sure that we recorded everyting that was present. We then wandered up on the the sea wall and continued to East Halton Skitter. Things are really grown up now that we are at the end of summer and most of the scrapes on the marsh are now dried out. Having had a good look at the mudflats at Skitter Beck we retraced our steps but not before picking up marsh harrier, sparrowhawk and hobby over the marsh beyond the skitter. Back at the car we got the chairs out and enjoyed Christmas cake, cheese and tomato soup, our regular autumn/winter birding lunch.

Before we finished for the day we drove round to Killingholme Haven Pits where we had an hour in the hide. There was nothing spectacular, although we did see a couple of roe deer on the island in the lagoon. The usual large flock of black-tailed godwits were on the far side of the pit with avocet mixed in with them. A good day was had.

Black-Tailed Godwit, Winter's Pit

Black-Tailed Godwit, Winter's Pit

Little Egret, Killingholme Haven.

Little Egret, Killingholme Haven.

Little Egret, Killingholme Haven.

Redshank, Killingholme Haven.

Roe Deer, Killingholme Haven

Velobiking With The Historian and The Ladies

 It was a beautiful morning as Heather and I loaded the bikes onto the car and drove over the Wolds to Cadney. I had never been to Cadney and enjoyed the ride. Brian and Heather had just arrived and we soon had the bikes off the car and were riding along the delightful back roads the short distance into Brigg. Here we had the obligatory coffee stop to top up The Historian's caffeine levels; the scones were excellent. From the Angel we cycled through the town to the banks of the River Ancholme. The route finding was easy from here: follow the river as far as Saxby Bridge and then return. As we left Brigg and the noisy M180 behind it became more and more isolated and peaceful. Things were fairly quiet on the bird front but we managed over 20 species, the highlights being buzzard, sparrowhawk, marsh harrier and Kestrel. There were large numbers of dragonflies on the wing, the most common being migrant hawkers, many in tandem as they mated on the wing. Brown hawkers were also numerous and there were a few common darters. There were still a few plants in flower and we recorded 17.

 Once back in Brigg, it was time for an excellent lunch sitting outside the Pantry in the sun. All that was left to complete an excellent day was a potter through the lanes back to Cadney where we had time to explore the attractive church. I was taken by the 13th Century green man in the sanctuary.

A New Piece of Kit

 As I had taken delivery of a smartphone adapter for my birding 'scope, I was keen to get out and play with it. I was thwarted somewhat by the very dull weather with some drizzle so I went to Killingholme Haven pits where there is a hide. I was very pleased with the result using the 'scope despite the poor conditions giving poor colour. I think that, given some decent sun, the results could be quite good. Although the variety of birds was small the total numbers were high. The highlight, though, was the roe deer that appeared right in front of the hide. As last time, however, I didn't have a camera so I didn't get any photos. It was too close for the 'scope and as soon as I moved to get my phone it rapidly melted away.

Curlew

A Family Day at RSPB Frampton.

 We had arranged to meet up with Heather's brother and his wife at Frampton today. The forecast was somewhat mixed as it proved. While we waited for them to arrive, I popped down to the 360 hide and was surprised to find it dry and seemingly planted with sunflowers. It would appear that this is a management strategy. At the end of the summer the plant growth is cut down and the lagoon reflooded. The rotting vegetation creates the right conditions for all manner of micro life which in turn encourages the birds. Each of the lagoons is given this treatment in rotation. On my return to the cafe, Malcolm and Maureen had arrived. Before they had finished their coffee and cake the heavens opened and so we used this as an opportunity to have lunch. By the time we had finished the weather had dried up and we were able to walk a circuit of the reserve. All told we recorded 44 species the highlights being several snipe, curlew sandpiper, little stint and half a dozen greenshank. A good day.

Black-tailed Godwit, RSPB Frampton.

Cemetery and Woodland Burial Ground

 Another hot day at 29C. A walkaround the woodlnd burial ground with Heather hoping to find purple hairstreak. The burial ground is plentifully supplied with young oak trees in the canopy of which these beautiful and special butterflies spend their time. Although a friend has pointed me in the right direction we had no luck. We did see several small whites, and some speckled woods as well as singles of peacock, meadow brown and holly blue. What a disappointing and worrying year it has been for butterflies this year and insects in general.

Purple Hairstreak taken in Chambers' Farm Wood, June, 2020.

Butterfly Conservation Open Day, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe

 Today the Lincolnshire branch of Butterfly Conservation were holding an open day at the Rimac entrance to Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR hosted by the wardens from Natural England: Owen Beaumont and Renata Jackson.Most members of the Lincolnshire Branch committe were there to lead guided walks so it was good to put faces to names as well as catch up with those I do know. Pater Cawdell, one of the founder members of the local branch was there and it turns out he was at Horncastle Grammar School at the same time as me, two years below me so we were able to reminisce about schooldays as well as butterflies. It was a very successful and enjoyable day with two guided walks led by Dave Wright, Branch contact and a friend from Grimsby. It was a very warm (28C) and breezy day so insects were very active and difficult to catch up with for photography. I have seen very few common blues this year so it was really good to see so many. I saw my first brown argus, small copper and wall brown of the year but the only one I managed to photograph was the argus. Small/essex skippers were plentiful. There were also large numbers of dragon and damselflies on the wing mainly ruddy darters, but I also saw black-tailed skimmer, emerald damselfly, brown hawker, small red-eyed damselfly and a fleeting glimpse of an emperor. The highlight of the day, however was a wasp spider, a first record for the reserve. I last saw them in Menorca.

Black-tailed Skimmer

Male Emerald Damselfly

Brown Argus

Common Blue

Gatekeeper

Meadow Brown

Peacock

Small Red-Eyed Damselfly

Ruddy Darter male

Ruddy Darter female

Ruddy Darter female

Ruddy Darter male

Ruddy Darter male

Silver Y moth

Silver Y moth

Small/Essex Skipper

Small/Essex Skipper

Wasp Spider

Wasp Spider

Fitties Birding

 Having had a good birding session a couple days earlier, Brian and I decided to begin our regular day out at the Humber Mouth Yacht Club on the Fitties and time it for hight tide. It was again a beautiful warm and sunny day, although with a strong breeze blowing. Surprisingly, despite having more time, we saw fewer birds. We walked down as far as the boating lake before retracing our tracks. We enjoyed sitting on one of the benches at the back of the Fitties cam watching the receding tide. We picked up a few more birds here but not as many as I expected. Looking, through the 'scope, though, there were many thousands way out on Tetney High Sands just off Northcoates Point.

Redshank

Humberston Fitties beach

The Haille Sand Fort

Bar-Tailed Godwit, Humberston Fitties.