Mike's Natural Musings: Humber Birding

Friday 15 October 2021

Humber Birding

It was a bright clear and sunny morning as Brian and I drew into the parking area at Winter's Pit on the Humber Bank. It was cool, though, at only 8C with a wind coming from the NW. Cilly on our outward walk but warm on the return with our backs to the wind and sun in our faces.

Our day began with a good scan of the pit where we ticked off quite a few of the regular birds. I had hoped for Godwit but had to wait until our return later in the day. Most of the water fowl were coming out of eclipse plumage now and beginning to resume their finery but there were still some scruffy tufted ducks around.

Having wandered around the pond and chatted with, Jean, the owner, we headed north along the concrete sea wall. There was very little to see initially apart from the occasional curlew on the muddy river bank. I had hoped for some winter thrushes as redwing are now appearing but we had no luck. We saw no pink-footed gees either today. Things looked up when we reached East Halton Skitter, the outflow of East Halton Beck into the Humber. As we approached we could see good numbers of birds on the edge of the outflow. There were good numbers of redshank and dunlin with a couple of greenshank and best of all a small flock of avocets. As we continued to cross the beck to lunch further up the, now grassy, bank we had excellent views of marsh harrier.

After a pleasant lunch in the sun we wandered back towards Winter's getting excellent views of a super male stonechat as we began the return. Back at the pit, I was delighted to find a few black-tailed godwit that were confiding enough for photography. Even better was the glimpse of a buttern in the reeds faily close to us.