A Late Afternoon Visit to Cleethorpes.

 A late afternoon visit to Cleethorpes with Malcolm and Maureen rewarded us with 23 species, the highlight being bar-tailed godwit.

Bar-tailed Godwit

Redshank

Dunlin

A Second Visit to North Cave Wetlands.

 The day began overcast but as the afternoon wore on the sun came out to give magnificent light. Heather's brother and his wife were staying with us and were keen to visit this excellent location. There were still large numbers of brambling at the feeders and it was good to see a good few siskins. Tree sparrows were still present in good numbers and we enjoyed some close views of bullfinch. We saw 41 bird species in all, highlights being siskin and brambling.

Brambling

Brambling

Siskin

Teal

Tree Sparrow

A short session at the feeding station.

 A quick trip out the the wood to top up the feeders gave me enough time for an hour in the hide. The feeders were buzzing with activity, largely tits but a couple of nuthatches are coming down. There seems to be much more activity than the last few years - good to see.  There was an atmosphere of spring in the wood: snowdrops and aconites in flower and birds singing especially a very vocal great tit. A wren visited briefly but there is still no sign of a woodpecker. It was bright sun but chilly at 7C.

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Nuthatch

Pheasant

Novartis Ings and the Humber Bank

 Making the most of a trip to the tip, I decided to visit Novartis Ings and the Humber Bank. Although overcast and cold (7C) the sky cleared during the afternoon to give wonderful light. I was pleased to find the hide open (apparently from 8.30 - 2.30) and if it is closed viewing stations have been created in the fence - excellent.) as the tide was out there was not a lot to see on the Ings but there was plenty of wader activity on the Humber mud. I saw 28 bird species the highlight being a huge flock of golden plover which at one point wheeled into the air before settling to roost again, a magnificent sight.

Novartis Ings

Novartis Ings

A large flock of golden plover on the Humber mud.

Looking towards Immingham

Grimsby dock tower in the distance.

An overdue walk around the local patch.

 A dull, grey day but mild at 12C. I misjudged my timing, starting out too late. Not only did I lose the light but I found myself locked in and had to go a long way round to get out. I managed 15 bird species, highlights being a singing song thrush and goldfinches feeding on the alders. The regular aconites were in flower on the usual grave and lichens added a splash of colour on a dull day.

 

Bramblings at North Cave Wetlands

 Although still very cold, the clear sunny conditions had come to an end and it was grey and overcast, but only 3C as I parked in Dryham Lane at the entrance to North Cave Wetlands YWT reserve. I quickly gathered all of my gear, donned the wellies and set off into the reserve. The viewing platform opposite the Butty Van, overlooking Village Lake, is always a useful place to start. As usual there were good numbers of wildfowl including wigeon, teal, mallard, coot, tufted duck and gadwall. I love to hear the whistling of the wigeon and the bubbling call of curlew echoed over the lake. There were plentiful small birds in the hedge and on the feeders too.

 I was keen to move on and get to the maize field feeders where 50+ brambling were said to be found. I was not disappointed. As I arrived there was a whirring of wings and everything disappeared but the birds quickly returned including the bramblings. I was delighted; apart from a brief glimpse of some at Whisby last year I hadn't seen any of these colourful finches for years. At a quick glance they could be mistaken for chaffinches but they are more orange and far more colourful. As far as we are concerned bramblings are winter visitors to our shores breeding in upland birch forest in Fenno-Scandia. I was delighted to see a fair number of tree sparrows here as well as all the other usual suspects to a winter feeding station.

Having secured plenty of photographs I continued on my way around the reserve. I was pleased to see that the two egyptian geese were still present on the flooded fields to the north of the reserve.

I was hoping to see the usual tawny owl near the NW corner but it must have been tucked away today. There was very little to see from Crossland Hide overlookng Cell A, perhaps because the water was frozen. There were one or two green woodpeckers 'yaffling' around the area, though, which was good to hear. Moving on down Dryham lane back towards the car and Butty Van was another feeding station which again came up trumps as far as brambling were concerned and there were larger numbers of tree sparrows here as well as goldfinches, greenfinches and tits.

Goldfinch

Goldfinch

Greenfinch

Long-Tailed Tit

Long-Tailed Tit

Reed Bunting

Tree Sparrow

Tree Sparrow

Tree Sparrow

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