An Excellent Morning at Winter's and the Humber Marshes

Although slightly hazier today, the sun did put in an appearance and the weather turned very warm. When Brian and I arrived at Winter's Pit, that and the adjacent marshes had lost that winter atmosphere. Song birds were giving voice, there were far fewer birds on the old brick pit and fewer flocks of wildfowl and waders were flying around. Interestingly the small flock of barnacle geese was still present.

We made our way around the pit, noting again the surprising lack of great crested grebes, although there were quite a few little grebes present. A marsh harrier periodically cruised over putting up the wigeon and curlews that were present on the marsh. When we climbed up onto the sea wall overlooking the Humber the tide was fully in with no mud for feeding waders and ducks. As we made our way along the bank towards the outfall of the Skitter Beck we noticed far more birds singing and making their presence known; spring is here. We heard a chiffchaff and skylarks were singing constantly. Several Cetti's warrblers were present evidenced by their very loud explosive calls. Good to hear; we hadn't heard them during the winter despite them being resident.

When we reached the Skitter there was some exposed mud and while we enjoyed our tomato soup and Christmas cake we were able to watch dunlin, redshank, little egret and shelduck. A few meadow pipits joined the skylarks; I love to see them fly up and then parachute down singing as they descend. On our walk we had seen my first coltsfoot and lesser celendines in flower.

We were well pleased with our 41 species and revelled in the warm spring weather.

Barnacle Geese.

Coltsfoot

Herring Gulls.

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

First Birding Day of 2023

 Brian and I drove down Marsh Lane towards Winter's Pit and the Humber Bank full of anticipation.  There had been reports of 19 russian white-fronted geese on the fields but we were to be disappointed; either they had moved or we missed them.  Once parked up, however, we set off down the track at the back of East Halton Marsh.  This is mitigation land, set aside for nature to mitigate for land taken up with industry in recent years.  There are other mitigation sites at Cress Marsh in Stallingborough and Novartis Ings on the Humber Bank closer to Grimsby.  Owing to the wet weather of late much of the marsh was flooded and this was enjoyed by the large numbers of wildfowl and waders present. Personal highlights were the beautiful teal and handsome wigeon.  The call of the wigeon as its whistle echoes over the flooded meadows raises the hairs on the back of my neck as does the plaintif call of the curlew.  The very large number of lapwings was encouraging as their numbers have fallen over recent years, although many of these birds will be winter visitors.  We enjoyed watching a kestrel as it hovered, balancing on the wind as it hunted for food on the flooded marsh below.  

On reaching Skitter Beck we continued alon the river bank for half a mile or so and were rewarded with wonderful views of marsh harrier as it patrolled with a low, leisurely flight over the saltmarsh.  These raptors have become more common over recent years.  I remember having to travel to Minsmere RSPB reserve for the first time to see them.  Reed bed specialists, they now breed locally at Far Ings near Barton-on Humber. 

Making our way back to the Skitter we stopped for lunch of tinned tomato soup (the ultimate comfort food) and Christmas cake.  As we ate we enjoyed excellent views of the very large flock of lapwings along with mixed flocks of dunlin and knot.  Redshank were present in good numbers, their high piping call at the approach of possible danger earning them the reputation of sentinel of the marsh.  The avocets were present in their usual location, busily sweeping their upcurved bills through the shallow water and mud as they filtered out tiny morsels of food.  It always gives me a thrill when large flocks of waders take to the air wheeling and twisting through the air, showing first their dark backs and then pale underparts, appearing dark and silver in turn.

Soon we were back at the car having enjoyed almost 40 bird species as well a brown hair and roe deer.  An excellent first day of birding in 2023.

To view large, please click on a thumbnail.

All images are marsh harrier from April 2010, taken from a public hide.

Nev Cole Way, Stage 3.

 Yesterday saw us embarking on the third stage of our Nev Cole Way walk, today's stage taking us from the Sloop in Barton to New Holland 4.5 miles along the Humber.  This turned out to be another excellent with good views and plenty of interest.  Sadly, although very warm at 24C, it was overcast and views were not crisp.  It was relatively quiet on the bird front, although I did get good views of a cuckoo fly past and reed warblers were active, churning out their rattling songs and little grebes were call on the lakes.  Buterflies were very active with very large numbers of small tortoiseshell along with occasional red admirals and whites of varying species.  Although not the best time of year for birds now this walk would be an excellent birding walk from Autumn through Winter and into Spring.  I hadn't realised how many lakes there were inland of the river, all presumably old brick pits.  I was amazed as we approached Barrow Haven to see the superstructure of a ship loom above the trees, discovering a few minutes later that it was berthed/grounded in the haven by the timeber yard.  A short while later we arrived at New Holland and I enjoyed conjecturing where the paddle steamers over to Hull had berthed and how people got to them from the station.  I only used it once or twice many years ago so had no recollection.  Back at the car it was time to repair to the excellent Sloop for well-deserved pint of Bateman's Gold and our evening meal.

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Forgot to Check the Tide Times

 We pulled up the short slope from the bungalow onto the Humber Bank and.........it was high tide right up to the sea wall so there was no exposed mud for birds.  Dash it!!!!  We had met Brian and Heather for a walk from Winter's Pit and along the Humber Bank to Skitter Ness and I thought that it would be a good opportunity for a bit of birding and it was - until I realised that the tide was in.  Doh!!

At the pit it was good for birds with several summer plumage black tailed godwits showing very well just over the fence.  However, the camera was at home!!  Doh again!!  There were large numbers of grey lags a few of which had hybridised with white domestic geese.  A little egret was feeding on the far side of the pond and there were several dabchicks out on the water.  A good number of swallows were feeding over the pit along with a lone sand martin.  A pair of great crested grebes was present too.  The bank was not entirely birdless as I found a large charm of goldfinches feeding on thistles and teasels.  At skitter Ness common and black-headed gulls were feeding on the mud and there was a small group of ringed plover.

A very pleasant walk but next time I will check tide times.

As I left the camera at home as it was a social walk, images were not taken today.

• Grey Lag
• Little Egret
• Dabchick
• Mallard
• Coot
• Moorhen
• Black-Tailed Godwit
• Wood Pigeon
• Mute Swan
• Cormorant
• Swallow
• Magpie
• Starling
• Shoveler
• Great Crested Grebe
• Goldfinch
• Crow
• Black Headed Gull
• Common Gull
• Ringed Plover
• Tufted Duck
• Sand Martin
• Pied Wagtail

To view large, please click on an image.

Black Tailed Godwit

Black Tailed Godwit

Tetney Marshes

The car park at the Humber Mouth Yacht Club at the end of the Fitties was busy when we arrived at 10.00 am, but there were still places.  It was pleasant waiting in the sun taking in the bird activity while we waited for Brian and Heather.  Gulls, mainly black-headed, were plentiful as were mallard.  A redshank was feeding busily in front of us and we could see several little egrets flying in and out of the creeks where they were feeding.  

While the Heathers set off to walk along the beach Brian and I decided to walk along the sea wall to the tidal lock gates at the end of the Louth Canal.  Walking along the high bank with good views over bothe the estuary and marsh and the inland fields it was good to see a large flock of brent geese feeding on the farmland.  I was surprised at how confiding these usually very wary birds were.  Presumably they are so used to people walking along the sea bank they are not seen as a threat.  Over the marsh a large flock of lapwings was wheeling and settling and then seeming to panic and flying up again.  I suspected a marauding peregrine but couldn't see it.  Further along it was good to see two flocks of curlew numbering about 100 birds in total.  Research by scientists from the RSPB, the British Trust for Ornithology and the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust in this country as well as others world wide have come to the conclusion that curlew species are seriously at risk: 7 of the 13 species are in danger of extinction and 2, the slender billed curlew and the eskimo curlew may already be so.  Risks to curlew species world wide are many and various but in the UK curlews have seen a sharp decline due to long-term changes in countyside management, where - in addition to predation - eggs and chicks can be destroyed by farm equipment.  Changes in farming practices can help curlew numbers to recover, the work being done by James Rebanks on his farm in the Lake District is a leading light in this area. (The English Pastoral, James Rebanks and @herdyshepherd1 on Twitter).  We are lucky in our part of the world in that we still see good numbers of curlew as the Humber Estuary is one of their most important wintering grounds.

Back at the lagoon by the car park we had an excellent view of a male teal in wonderful light as well as a pair of stonechats posing beautifully.  On the lagoon we enjoyed seeing 6 dabchicks or little grebes.

An excellent morning. 

More Humber Bank Birding

 It was a clear and frosty start as I left home but the closer I got to Goxhill Haven on the Humber Bank the more overcast and misty it became, turning into quite a drab day with the odd splash of warm light as the emerged.  Goxhill Haven is situated on the banks of the Humber opposite Hull so as I turned to walk first east and then south I had the P&O ferries to Zeebrugge and Rotterdam in my sights.  I had arrived about an hour after low tide so there was plenty of mud exposed for waders to feed on.  Large numbers were making the most of the opportunity with plenty of redshank, dunlin and knot as well as the occasional curlew.  On my return walk I had excellent views of black-tailed godwit, identification confirmed when the flew a short distance and revealed the black tail beautifully.  During the morning I saw several skeins of pink footed geese and good numbers of these were settling just inland of the sea wall a couple of fields away.  I did try to find them in the car later but to no avail.  Just past Dawn City Clay Pits ( a Lincs Trust reserve)  I enjoyed watching a marsh harrier as it hunted the marsh and fields.

My turn around point was East Halton Skitter giving me a round trip of 5.5 miles.  As I approached Dawson City on the return leg a short-eared owl delighted as it quartered the marsh on the seaward side of the bank.  A stirring and soul enriching sight.

Once back at the car, having failed to find the geese I popped in to Winter's Pit to check out what was there and enjoyed the sight of a large flock of wigeon coming in.  Their whistling call is always one of my favourite bird calls.

• House Sparrow
• Little egret
• Redshank
• Black Headed Gull
• Mallard
• Dunlin
• Crow
• Meadow piput
• Herring Gull
• Great Black Backed Gull
• Starling Reed Bunting
• Linnet (several flocks)
• Pink footed goose - several skeins
• Knot
• Wood Pigeon
• Curlew
• Magpie
• Blackbird
• Marsh Harrier
• Green Finch
• Stonechat - pair
• Short-eared Owl
• Wigeon
• Black-Tailed Godwit (7)
• Lapwing

Winter's

• Mute Swan
• Grey Lag
• Pochard
• Dabchick
• Tufted Duck
• Mallard
• Redshank
• Wigeon - large flock
• Curlew
• Gadwall
• Lapwing

To view large, please click on an image

 

Humber Bank Birding

 Inspired by friend Steve Routledge's trips to this location, his local patch, I decided it was time to reacquaint myself with the area.  Many years ago (1971 - 1979), when I lived in Immingham I used to visit regularly.  Before I passed my driving test in 1973 I used to catch the bus to Immingham Dock where I was able to walk over the lock gates and onto the sea wall beyond.  I'm not sure this is permissible now; certainly a few years ago I tried to drive onto the docks and was refused entry.  From the docks I would continue my birding walk along the sea wall past Killingholme Pits, now a Lincs Trust reserve, and onto Winter's Pond and beyond.  I would later return along the sea wall, branching off before the docks to walk home over the fields.  Once I passed my test and bought my first car, a minivan, I used to go fishing to Winter's making some fine catches on occasion, especially tench.

Today Heather and I parked up at Winter's where we found a large flock of grey lag geese resting up on the bank.  On the pond were several dabchicks, swans and tufted duck.  I had hoped for winter thrushes in the heavily fruited hawthorn hedges but no luck, although we did spot a large flock of fieldfares and possibly redwing on the fields later.  When we climbed up into the bank I realised that I had made a miscalculation.  I knew it was going to be high tide but at only 5.8m I hadn't realised it would be right up to the sea wall which it was,  This meant that we saw nothing on the marsh/mudflats until we reached East Halton Skitter.  Certainly at 5.8m in Cleetherpes it would hardly be noticed as a high tide.  Ah well such is life.

I might have miscalculated to tide, but I certainly hadn't the light.  Although a tad showery there were some dramatic clouds and and lovely golden end of the day light.  We did find some very confiding turnstones by the sea wall but saw little on the mitigation land behind other than a large flock of curlew feeding on the fields and the large flock of winter thrushes.

At the skitter there were more birds as there were some expanses of mud revealed by the receding tide and on the salt marsh beyond.  We enjoyed a welcome flask of hot chocolate here before heading back.  Back at Winter's I was able to get close enough to photograph a dabchick busily trying to deal with a perch that it had caught and the light was fabulous.  Just as we were preparing to leave we were treated to an excellent rainbow.

• Grey Lag
• Dabchick
• Moorhen
• Coot
• Mallard
• Tufted Duck
• Herring Gull
• Black Headed Gull
• Redshank
• Magpie
• Crow
• Heron
• Cormorant
• Turnstone
• Lapwing
• Dunlin
• Curlew
• Mute Swan
• Fieldfare
• Redwing
• Teal
• Blackbird

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