In a world of my own at Bonby.

 Yet again I had Bonby to myself.  What a peaceful place it is.  Not a sound other than that of the birds and the wind.  When I arrived at 10.30 the weather was grey and overcast with very little wind, although it had gone back round to the east.  Despite being only 11C it felt pleasant with there being little wind.  Not long after arriving I had parked in a likely spot for some bird activity when I noticed a movement by the fence.  A hare was squeezing through the gap and was relaxed as he had nor noticed me sitting in the car.  He ambled out into the field and began feeding, allowing for some photography, and then moved off back through the fence.  A real treat.  Down at the river there was a lot of whitethroat activity with several males displaying but refusing to show themselves.  During the time I was there I noted a small flock of birds that I put down as female reed buntings until I processed the images and realised they were corn buntings, the large bill being the give away.

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Brown Hare

Corn buntings and yellowhammer

Corn Buntings

Linnet

Meadow Pipit

Female reed bunting collecting nesting material

Female reed bunting collecting nesting material

Male reed bunting

Whitethroat

Yellowhammer.

Yellowhammer.

After a lengthy session down the Carrs, I decided to gradually head home via Winter's Pit on East Halton Marsh and then Killingholme Haven Pits.  Both were very quiet with virtually no birds on either.  Most of the regular wildfowl at Winter's had moved on and the only birds of note were the grat crested grebe pair.  I had gone to Killingholme Haven hoping for avocets with chicks but surprising the only birds present were several little egrets.  I did find and avocet but on the Humber mudflats when I went for a walk along the sea wall.

Chaffinch

Chaffinch

Little Egret

White-tailed Lapwing

 A trip to Winters today to look for the white-tailed lapwing while it was still there.  The weather was challenging to say the least: 4C, strong NW winter and continuous wintry squalls sweeping over.  None the less we found the lapwing where we expected by the wind pump of the marsh.  Although it was busily feeding when we arrived it spent a great deal of time sheltering behind the rushes out of the wind.  It was quite distant and too far away for successful photography but I was pleased with some record shots.  Although we didn't move far away from the pit, we did manage to find 35 species plus a roe deer buck so a successful day.

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A First for Lincolnshire at Winter's Pit

We wandered wearily along the track by the pit approaching the site of the old house on the corner when Brian remarked, "What's that bird just beyond the cormorants drying their wings?"  I could see the bird through binoculars but no real details so it was time to get out the new 'scope.  As soon as I lined up on the bird the long yellow legs leapt out at me, making it out as something special, but what I wasn't sure.  Returning to the car it was closer to us and the view through the 'scope was stunning.  Long yellow legs, pale grey/brown back and head, extending down into a shield shape on the breast and a pinky/buffish belly and dark bill.  It was a stunning bird, which after some checking out turned out to be a while-tailed lapwing, most likely the one that had been at Blacktoft Sands for some weeks.  As this was a first for Lincolnshire, it created not a little excitement among the Lincolnshire birding community.  Fame at last!!  This bird breeds in central Asia, west to Iraq and winters in East Africa and India.  It is a very rare vagrant to Western Europe.

Brian and I had arrived about 10.30 am, the aim, apart from some birding, was to try out my new 'scope.  In short it performed exceptionally well for an entry level model and I am delighted with it.  It certainly enabled some superb close-up views and IDs of birds that we might not have made.  After thoroughly checking out the pit we followed our usual route along the Humber bank as far as East Halton Skitter.  The highlights, before finding the lapwing, were a flock of 50+ avocet and one of 64 black-tailed godwit up at the Skitter.  We had hoped for marsh harrier and short-eared owl but were out of luck.  Although it was a mild day a flask of tomato soup hit the spot before heading back for our assignation with the white-tailed lapwing.

Our species list numbered 32; an excellent day.

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Wandering at Winter's

 It was dreer and cold when Brian and I pulled in to the car park at Winter's Pit near East Halton on the Humber Bank.  Back in the day we have spent many happy hours fishing here but today we were there for bird watching.  My plan was to leave the camera behind as, by and large, once on the Humber Bank stuff is too far away for photography.  However, there was a group of shoveler in the near corner so I wandered round to get a few shots and then took the camera back to the car.  Meanwhile eagle eyed Brian had found the bittern on the edge of the reeds on the far side of the pit.  Too far away for photography but excellent views nonetheless.  We continued up onto the bank having enjoyed excellent views of the large numbers of wildfowl.  Wigeon were whistling and sending shivers down my spine - such a wild cry.  On the sea wall it was rater bleak and dreer and, as we were moving slowly we became very cold.  The flask of tomato soup at Skitter Ness was most welcome.  We had excellent views of the marsh harrier yet again and the sound of calling curlew echoed over the landscape; magical.  Despite the raw cold, it was an excellent morning and tea and apple pie at Brian's went down a treat; thanks Heather.

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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. 

• Magpie
• Crow
• Cormorant
• Mute swan
• Mallard
• Dabchick (little grebe)
• Wigeon
• Shoveler
• Gadwall
• Goldfinch
• Wood pigeon
• Tufted duck
• Starling
• Curlew
• Dunnock
• Kestrel
• Avocet
• Shelduck
• Teal
• Redshank
• Greenshank
• Dunlin
• Common Gull
• Heron
• Marsh Harrier
• Lapwing
• Meadow Pipit
• Stonechat
• Black Backed Gull
• Great Crested Grebe
• Bittern
• Coot
• Black-Tailed Godwit
• Canada Goose
• Pheasant.

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Avocet

Black-Tailed Godwit

Black-Tailed Godwit

Black-Tailed Godwit

Curlew

Curlew

Curlew

Dunnock

Teal

Teal

Teal

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

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Black Tailed Godwit

Black Tailed Godwit

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

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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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