Tuesday, 31 December 2024

Winter's Pit and East Halton Marsh

 New Year's Eve and what has become a traditional visit with Brian to Winter's Pit, East Halton Marsh and Skitter Beck. We picked Brian up at 9.30 and were parked up and scanning the pit by 10.00. We had seen a flock of greylag geese feeding on the fields on the way down the lane but scanning them didn't reveal any pinkfeet or white fronts, although there was a white domestic goose with them. There had been a red-necked grebe on the pit a week or so ago but no sign today just a solitary little grebe. There were plenty of tufted duck, mallard, coot and shoveler. Moving across to look out over the marsh revealed a large flock of wigeon with the occasional teal among them. There was a very good number of lapwing which kept flying up and wheeling around before settling to feed once more. Plenty of curlew were feeding out on the marsh and their bubbling calls periodically echoed across the marsh along with the whisting calls of the wigeon. A beautiful winter scene. Once up on the sea wall we could scan the marsh from above and found a small flock of barnacle geese, unusual and interesting because they mainly winter on the Solway Firth and further north in Scotland. There was not a lot to see as we walked along the sea wall to the Skitter Beck but here we found plenty of redshank, a single dunlin and heron along with some teal along the tideline. Back at the old brick works above the pit we found a flock of avocet that must have flown in in our absence. As far as species seen went, it was an average day with 32. This brought my monthly total up to 55 and my total for the year is 143. Although very gust and chilly it was a splendid morning and time for turkey soup and Christmas cake.

Over the new year period Heather and I have been keeping a record of plants in flower of the new year count by the Botanical Societyy of the British Isles. We have managed 8 species at three sites:

Irby Dales - dandelion, blackthorn, gorse and white dead-nettle.

Scartho Cemetery - hazel, alder, snowdrop, primrose 

East Halton Marsh - dandelion and white dead-nettle.

Barnacle Goose (archive image)

Tufted Duck
Tufted Duck

Friday, 27 December 2024

More Cemetery Wandering

 Over the Christmas period I enjoyed 3 more walks around the cemetery and woodland burial ground on the 19th, 21st and 27th. The 27th was especially exciting as I got to try out my new binoculars. My old one are nearly 40 years old and showing their age. I had a mixture of weather from 4C and clear skies to gusty winds and finally to cold and misty and only 3C. Things were quiet on the birding front with only 20 species in total. I had nice views of a charm of goldfinches feeding acrobatically on the alder cones. Buzzard and curlew are always most welcome. Tree surveyors were busy a couple of months ago checking trees for disease. Work has now begun on them, either remedial or complete removal. A pity as old standing dead wood provides any number of nesting sites but, sadly tidyness is god. One of my favourites, a big old maple, lost a limb in Storm Darragh and it has been removed completely.








Sunday, 15 December 2024

Three Cemetery Wanders

 Three walks around the cemetery and woodland burial ground. It always amazes me that neary as soon as I turn down the approach drive towards the cemetery gates the traffic noise from Scartho Road diminshes and once in the cemetery is gone completely. A few weeks ago I chatted to two people carrying out a tree survey and looking for and marking diseased trees. These are now being removed and on week days it is busy with the sound of chainsaws rather than traffic. It is a quiet time in the cemetery for birds and most other wildlife. There are a few fungi about, however, and next year's hazel catkins and flowers are already formed and growing.

Shaggy Scalycap
Shaggy Scalycap
Shaggy Scalycap
Shaggy Scalycap
Hazel catkins

Sunday, 8 December 2024

The PreChristmas Trip. 3rd - 6th December

 Tuesday 3rd

Up early today and Mia delivered to the cattery while I loaded the car. We were away on time at 10.00am, the journey went well and we met up with Peter and Linda at Boggle Hole at 12.30. It felt cold at 5C but it was pleasant and sunny. We were down on the beach by 1.00 but even so the tide was well in necessitating a paddle (and a wet foot as my wellies appear to have perished!!! :(  ) It was pleasant to sit on the beach for lunch of tomato soup with fu;l oil slick and Christmas cake. (We have found yet another piece of last years!!). We managed to get to Bay Town just ahead of the tide enjoying a festive hot chocolate in the old chapel. We had enjoyed lovely views of foraging turnstones on the beach and on the way back along the cliff top were lucky enough to have superb close views of a pair of barn owls hunting in the gathering dusk.

It was a quick drive to Whitby and our appartment on the Crescent up on West Cliff. Peter and I have very happy memories of our first stay here with mum and day 65 years ago. It was, of course beer o'clock while we relived some of the memories.





Wednesday 4th

We woke to a cold and clear morning after overnight rain. Breakfast over, we drove to Sandsend where we parked t our usual spot at Wits End. While Heather and Linda walk along the beach to the village, Peter and I tried yet again to get along the beach and around the headland to a prime folssiling location, normally reached by a very steep path and precipitous steps from the old railway line. We were optimistic today as it was at the bottom of a very low tide. Yet again, however, we were thwarted. Later we were told that it isn't possible. We were pleased to see some rock pipits and a fulmar, however.

Returning to the car park we started out along the old railway, part of the Cleveland Way, to mee H&L. On the way we chatted to some fossil hunters who had been down the steps. Once regrouped and back at the cars we continued to Staithes. Both here and at Sandsend there were a lot of expert looking surfers who said that conditions were perfect. I was certailny impressed watching them. Back in Whitby we wandered down into the town and reconvened at the excellent Black Horse in the old town. An fine hostelry and a fitting end to an excellent day.











                                       




Thursday 5th December

A lazy start for H and myself today and we wandered down into the town at 11.00 all meeting up at Hammonds Jewellers at the bottom of the Abbey Steps for lunch. Sadly there were no crab sandwiches.

During the drive over the moors to Danby Lodge Moors centre we were impressed by the sight of large flocks of lapwings wheeling over the fields. The Moors Centre, as awlays was interesting and on the way back we were delighted to have incredibly close views of a hunting barn owl that didn't seem pahsed by the car at all. Where is the big lens when it's needed.

Tea this evening was fish and chips at the Magpie. A smashing end to a great few days.




Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Cold and Damp around the Burial Ground.

After overnight snow and rain it was good to get out into the cemetery and woodland burial ground. Despite being overcast and cold there was still plenty of colour with a few fungi. Again quiet on the bird front with only 12 species, the best being a goldcrest and a sparrowhawk which exploded out of the hedge next to me and sped down the woodland burial ground ride, panicing all the small birds as it went with a blackbird being very vociferous in its disapproval.






 

Sunday, 17 November 2024

Freshney Birding

 Although still testing positive for Covid (faintly) but feeling much better I took the opportunity of a beautiful day to go for a self-isolating walk along the Freshney. Although lovely and very sunny weather it was definitely colder than of late and frost and snow are forecast for later in the week. I would doubt that we shall get snow, though. Things were very quiet on the bird front despite seeing 21 species and I was surprised to find a common darter still on the wing, obviously surviving due to the mild autumn. We met up with a photography friend, Alan Greensmith  and he agreed that things were very quiet here and also at Far Ings where he is a volunteer warden. It was good to catch up. The fallen tree that has completely blocked the path for the last few years has finally been cleared away, so it was pleasant to be able to complete a proper round walk.

Common darter
Common darter
Cormorant
Cormorant
Dunnock
Mute Swan
Mute Swan