Feeding Station Photography

 Temperatures fell to -4 last night and when I set out to the wood at 10.00am it was still only 0C. The roads were frosted as I drove out into the Wolds. The wood was quiet when I arrived at the feeding station and all was frozen. Most of the feeders were empty apart from some seed in one feeder; not a favourite, sunflower hearts are always the first to go. There was very little activity until I put out some sunflower hearts and peanuts near the perches where I wanted the birds to be for photography. As soon as I sat in the hide birds started to come down. The all seemed to be very fast or perhaps I was out of practice since last feeding station season. Although really bright the light was very difficult to handle and very contrasty. All the usual suspects were there and I was very pleased to see a treecreeper. Chaffinches were unusually confident. As I was leaving a buzzard perched in an oak just outside the wood gave fabulous close views but unfortunately it flew off as soon as the car stopped.

Blue tit

Chaffinch

Chaffinch

Chaffinch

Chaffinch

Chaffinch

Grat Tit

Great Tit

Grey Squirrel

Nuthatch

Gibraltar Point Birding

 The day began bright and sunny, but a fresh 2C. It remained sunny throughout giving a splendid day with temperatures rising to 6C. We began with coffee and cake before setting off on our usual route around the reserve other than heading from the north car park straight down to Mill Hill and the beach in the hope of finding shore lark and snow bunting. We were unlucky in this partly owing to the fact that rising sea levels and very high tides are creating serious erosion and eating into the dunes.

We saw 47 bird species during the day, highlights being superb views of a pair of red kites on Jackson's Marsh and on Tennyson's Sands a marsh harrier mobbing a fox. From here we also had supeb views of a sparrowhawk perched on a post close to the harrier. Along the track down to Mill Hill a hunting barn owl gave amazingly close views.

Setting up the Winter Feeding Station.

The wood is quiet and drab at this time of year especially on the dark, dull days of my visits. Although the first snowdrops are just coming into flower in our local Churchyard, up here on the Wolds, where it is always a few degrees colder, there are still no signs of flowering, just the first shoots emerging from the dry leaf litter on the woodland floor. The highlight in the wood, though, in the dank, grey light of January is one group of plants that vibrates with a soft, vivid green. Not so noticeable against the greens of spring and summer, in deepest winter mosses glow gently, demanding our attention. In the feeding station wood most mosses present are common feather moss and this coats the dead fallen and felled trees with a vibrant green carpet. In the hotter temperatures of summer, mosses tend to desiccate and appear to be totally dried up, but now they are rehydrated, lush and luxurious adding a splash of colour to the winter wood. 

Despite the awful wet weather of late, double the amount of rainfall of the 10 year average in December, the wood was relatively dry and I had no need of my wellies. Apart from the mosses I found some coral spot fungus and a patch of jelly ear fungus. On my second visit to top up the feeders, I sat in the hide for a while to see what birds were coming down. All the usual species of tits were there along with a nuthatch, wren, robin and chaffinch. A buzzard drifted overhead; I love to hear the wild, plaintive mewing as it soars over the wood and meadow. Jackdaws were calling , as were rooks at their nests, a sure sign of approaching spring. 

East Halton Marshes

 As Brian and I drew up in the parking space at Winter's Pit, adjacent to East Halton Marshes, we could see the group of grey lag geese feeding on the grassy bank of the pit next to the car park. Reaching for the bins it was easy to pick out the single Russian white-fronted goose among them. It was easy to differentiate from the grey lags as it has a prominant white blaze around the base of the bill and noticable black markings on the belly and flanks. Two distinct populations of white-fronted geese winter in the UK: birds breeding in Greenlant migrate to Ireland and SW Scotland, while those breeding on the tundra in the far north east winter in west, central and SE Europe. This was a good start to the day and after checking the rest of the birds on the bank and scanning the pit we headed along the track at the rear of the marshland.

It was wet down here and wellies were appreciated but it was not so bad as I anticipated. The marsh, however was more flooded than I have seen it.

We had good views of both red fox and roe deer along here. The whistling of the plentiful wigeon echoing over the marsh sounded wonderful as did the haunting cries of culew. Despite being so close to industry there is a real wild feel to these marshes. It was pleasing to see large flocks of lapwing wheeling in the air above the marsh; occasional flocks of pink feet also few over regularly.

On reaching East Halton Skitter where the beck runs out to sea, we were impressed with the amount of water in the beck, higher than I have ever seen it. Up on the sea wall it was time for some lunch: tomato soup, Christmas cake and cheese, marvellous. As we were eating we watched with trepidation a squall blowing in from the north. Fortunately most of it missed up but it did produce a splendid rainbow. Wandering back to Winter's along the sea wall we noticed again how flooded the marsh was. On reaching the pit I was pleased to find a female goldeneye and we had excellent views of a fox on the far side.

We saw 43 bird species, 2 foxes and nine roe deer, a great start to the new year.

Whitby, December. Day 3

 Another dull and gloomy day today so we spent the morning enjoying a mooch around Whitby. In the afternoon we decided to drive out onto the moors to Goathland and walk down to Mallyan Spout in order to recreate a photograph that our father had taken of us 64 years ago. As we drove up onto the moors we went up into cloud and fog and prospects didn't look good. We pushed on however and things were not too bad at Goathland and we enjoyed pottering around and recreating family history.

Whitby, December, Day 2

 Thyankfully we woke up today to sunny skies but with a very cold wind. We were up and breakfasted (relatively) early and away to Sandsend where we had an enjoyable time wandering along the beach and enjoying an outside coffee in the sun. It was then time to move on to Staithes for more pottering and photography. Peter and I enjoyed walking up along the route of the Cleveland Way for some shots down onto the town and harbour.

Whitby, December, Day 1

 We were packed and off early today, Mia having been delivered to the cattery yesterday. After recent wet weather the weather was gloomy and gradually became worse as we travelled north until over Roseday Moor past the Lion Inn and Ralph Crosses it was foggy and raining. We drove down off the moors through Castelton to Dany Lodge Moors Center where we were due to meet up with Peter and Linda, my brother and his wife. We had been delayed somewhat at Malton as the route was closed at the bridge over the Derwent because of floods. We diverted via Pickering to reach Kirkby moorside and when we crossed the river on the Pickering road we could see that the whole valley was completely flooded. 

It was good to catch up over a late lunch before looking around the exhibitions and then it was virtually dark when we set off above Eskdale to the youth hostel on East Cliff at Whitby. Quickly settled in, it was soon time for a preprandial snifter before heading down the steps for our evening meal at the Marine restaurant on the harbour side. A good start to the trip.

Whitby Youth Hostel. Decenber 2019 in better weather.