Welcome To My Blog,This Will Be Mainly Used As A Diary For My Local Birding Patch At East Halton/Goxhill On The Banks Of The Humber Estuary,With Occasional Twitching And Visits Elsewhere Including Photos From Mine & Tracey's Walks Around Our Beautiful Countryside.
An organised meet up with Tim at a favourite destination in North Yorkshire today, saw us visiting the beautiful area of Troutsdale Valley.
After setting off in pretty dire conditions with fairly heavy rain and then arriving at Hilla Green in the same conditions, we stuck around until the rain finally looked like it was stopping.
We got our gear together and after watching the pair of nesting Dippers we began our walk along the valley.
It wasn't long before we were watching our first Goshawks, as 3 males were chasing each other over the forest adjacent to Hilla giving us our first proper views of the day, after a brief sighting when i was sat in the car earlier.
The cloudy conditions eventually began to break as we walked, and then the most unexpected sighting of the day was seen as 2 Hawfinches flew past us along the valley chasing each other. These are the first sightings for us both here and were an unexpected bonus making the sticking it out in the rain even more sweet.
The scenery really is stunning along the valley and it really makes for a great setting to enjoy the hobby.
As we stopped for a drink, I'm sure i had heard a Raven call and then a few minutes later 2 flew past us east along the valley. Its always a good day when i see a Raven, i absolutely love them.
More Goshawk sightings ensued, with several birds giving cracking views, with soaring and displaying Buzzards also putting on a great show, it is certainly birding heaven here!.
As we wandered back to Hilla, a hunting Barn Owl gave some lovely views and a pair of Mandarins and at least 52 Common Frogs showed around the small ox-bow beside the River Derwent. The latter, along with spring sunshine, gave the end to the day a proper spring feel, what a brilliant day out.
The following are my favourite photos from the day.
Hi again, as another month ends and spring is just around the corner, the last month of winter proper, was a pretty decent one, with the local patch list now standing at 105 species.
The following are the sightings on my visits during the month.
Sunday 1st
A visit today to Goxhill in some pretty cold conditions, saw me walking up to Goxhill Tilery from the Haven and look at the Goldeneye flock between there and New Holland.
It was great to see the Scaup were still around, in amongst the Goldeneye, with 9 birds present which included 3 adult drakes, a 1st winter drake and 4 females. There were also at least 145 Goldeneye, but birds were distant and continually feeding so difficult to count.
As i walked back towards the Haven, the fantastic sight of a hunting male Hen Harrier over the fields, certainly made it worth the while to be out in the freezing cold wind. These birds are so special and it is a real privilege to see them.
Sunday 8th
A visit to East Halton today proved pretty fruitful to be fair, with some great sightings during the day, despite disturbance along the marshes from a group of morons on trials bikes.
This area was the main focus of the visit today, with highlights consisting of 26 Russian White-fronted Geese, 22 Barnacle Geese, 400 Wigeon, 300 Teal, 190 Curlew, 1100 Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits and 7 Knot making for a very impressive sight.
On Winter's it was fairly quiet, with the best of the sightings going to 5 Coot, 3 Water Rail, 46 Canada Geese and a pair each of Pochard and Goldeneye.
The only other highlight was a Green Woodpecker in East Halton village, providing me with my first record of the year of this scarce visitor to the local patch.
Saturday 14th
A good walk around most of the patch today after parking at Goxhill Haven saw 64 species being recorded. The main highlights went to a few nice sightings and year ticks in the form of 2 Oystercatcher at Goxhill Haven, a Woodcock at East Halton Skitter, a Barn Owl at Goxhill Haven, a pair of Stonechat along East Halton Beck and another Green Woodpecker, this time at Goxhill.
Saturday 21st
Visits to both Goxhill and East Halton today, saw some nice sightings being seen, with 3 species of Owl recorded. The first were 2 Tawny Owls calling at dawn, with 3 Barn Owls being logged followed by a single Short-eared Owl great to see and hear.
The East Halton Marshes area was again full of birds, with counts including 465 Lapwing, 1650 Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits, 310 Curlew, 600 Teal, 500 Wigeon and 13 Gadwall.
At Goxhill Haven, the best sightings went to a lovely Red Kite as it drifted west, the second record of the year, a Peregrine, 481 Curlew and 46 Turnstone.
A decent month, roll on spring now and some migrants.
Russian White-fronted Geese, East Halton Marshes, 8th.
East Halton, 8th.
Some Stunning Skies At Goxhill Haven/Marsh On The 14th.
A New Year begins on the local patch at Goxhill & East Halton and to be fair, it was a pretty good month with a total of 99 species recorded in 6 visits, with some proper winter weather.
Friday 2nd
It all began on Friday 2nd of January, with me covering East Halton, which included Marsh Lane, Winter's Pond, Skitter Road and East Halton Skitter & Marshes. A decent count of 72 species entered the notes, with the best of the species including a single Ruff, a cracking flyby from a Bittern at Winter's Pond, a lovely Little Owl along the old railway, Barn Owl hunting along Marsh Lane and a smashing adult Peregrine along Skitter Road.
Some decent numbers of common birds feeding along Skitter Road in a wet stubble/set aside included 265 Linnet, 18 Yellowhammer, 32 Chaffinches and 50 Goldfinch.
A solid start to the new birding year.
Saturday 3rd
A trip up to Goxhill this morning, saw me seeing a decent 56 species, with me visiting the usual areas of Dawson City, Goxhill Tilery Ponds, Neat Gangs Lane and Goxhill Haven itself.
The best birds went to 6 gorgeous Whooper Swans as they flew south west over Dawson City, a single Knot which flew north at Goxhill Haven, a lovely Treecreeper and male Great-spotted Woodpecker which both gave some nice views in Dawson City and a calling Tawny Owl and 2 Jays around the Goxhill Tilery Ponds area.
Today saw the first proper snow we have seen locally for a few years.
Saturday 10th
A good 9.5 mile walk around, mainly the Goxhill part of the patch saw some more year ticks being added to the ever growing local patch list. The best sightings went to a Mistle Thrush and an unseasonal Chiffchaff along West Marsh Lane, 3 Siskins along Ruard's Lane and 2 Water Pipit in the brackish marsh between Dawson City and East Halton Skitter and 2 Kingfisher, 1 along East Halton Beck and another later in the day near Goxhill Tilery Ponds. At Goxhill Haven, 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese flew out east along the Humber.
A good count of 50 Blackbirds were recorded during the day and a lovely Barn Owl was seen hunting along Skitter Road. Later in the day a good count of at least 375 Goldeneye were on the Humber between New Holland and Goxhill Haven.
Saturday 24th
Another visit to the East Halton area today, saw no real surprises, but again as on my last visit here, some good counts of commoner species were logged.
The best of the counts today, went to a huge flock of at least 200 Stock Doves in one whopping flock feeding in fields at the side of East Halton Marshes with Wood Pigeons, this is the largest flock i have seen for a good few years and made for an impressive sight.
East Halton Marshes was also alive with birds on today's visit and this included 505 Teal, 350 Wigeon and 363 Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits. The latter is the largest count i have had here in winter.
Other good counts during the day included 750 Linnet in 2 flocks, 22 Greenfinch and 118 Chaffinch.
Sunday 25th
A switch to Goxhill today in some rubbish, cold, rainy weather, saw some good birds being seen despite the conditions.
The best birds were seen in the form of 3 Scaup, a Drake and 2 females off Goxhill Haven in amongst the wintering Goldeneye flock, a scarce bird these days. And a good scan through a good sized flock of 2500 Pink-footed Geese feeding on fields along Goxhill Marsh, saw me picking out 3 adult Russian White-fronted Geese and a single Barnacle Goose in amongst the throng. This is the first time for a good month or so I've been able to get a proper look at the Geese wintering in the area.
Saturday 31st
A cracking visit today to the East Halton area, saw me adding another 7 year ticks to the local patch year list and logging 72 species.
The year additions included a female Blackcap in East Halton village, an unexpected surprise, Coot, Water Rail and Cetti's Warbler at Winter's Pond along with a stunning Red Kite which ranged between Winter's and East Halton Marshes before flying off west, a flock of 8 Pintail which flew south along the Humber and a calling male Grey Partridge along Skitter Road.
The Red Kite, actually landed in the wood alongside the marshes and is the only one i have seen perched on my local patch to date, all the other birds have been fly overs.
Other nice sightings included a flock of 10 Ruff near East Halton Skitter, a Drake Pochard at Winter's Pond, 3 Water Pipit at East Halton Skitter, a huge count of 650 Icelandic Black-tails between Winter's and the Skitter and a smart male Peregrine near East Halton Skitter.
While stood at East Halton Skitter, several flocks of Pink-footed Geese were flying away from Goxhill Marsh after being shot at and in amongst them 4 Russian White-fronted Geese and a flock of 11 Barnacle Geese were seen, making for a lovely sight and sound.
A big count of 34 Roe Deer between East Halton village and Ruins Pond was impressive and other mammal sightings included 5 Brown Hare and a lovely Fox.
Badger Footpath, Where They Had Been Dragging Reeds For Bedding
Watery Sun, Dawson City, 3rd.
Snow Storm, Goxhill Haven, 3rd.
Goxhill Haven, 3rd.
Some Lovely Light, Goxhill Marsh, 3rd.
West Marsh Lane, Goxhill, 3rd.
Passing Storm, East Halton, 24th.
Sunrise At Winter's Pond, 31st.
Female Kestrel Taken With The New Phone/Scope Combo, Winter's Pond, 31st.
A decent forecast and the chance to get out and about again with Tracey, saw us heading to a favourite destination for this time of year, Clumber Park and introduce the New Year in, in style.
After a very kind offer from Tim, to join him and Mark, to travel down to Norfolk to see the wintering Black-winged Kite was a no brainer as i had never seen this species before.
After an expert drive by Tim, of which i spent most of the time asleep, we arrived at Ludham Bridge on the banks of the River Ant just before it began to get light.
After a short while we started to see a few people heading off along the river bank, in the direction of where the Kite had been seen the previous evening going to roost.
We got our kit together and we were off looking.
Lots of scanning and waiting then ensued, but we were treated to fly overs by 2 Bewick's Swans, 12 Common Cranes and some lovely views of Red Kites before someone thought they had seen the Kite, but again it was frustratingly brief and we again waited, before, at last we saw it sat amongst a flock of Wood Pigeons.
This was a great relief for us, but the bird was sat with its back to us and its head was partially hidden by a branch. The bird then flew and landed out of view, before again flying and this time it was in full view perched and preening, giving some lovely views in the scope and allowing me to take some fairly decent video considering the distance involved. We watched as it preened, with those piercing red eyes and black supercilium/lores, black shoulder patch, long wings and short tail making for a very handsome raptor.
This was a new species for myself and a new UK bird for both Tim and Mark.
After enjoying the Kite, we had a quick look on the grazing marshes from the bridge, enjoying some distant views of 2 Cranes feeding, but no sign of the previous days Glossy Ibis.
After enjoying our time at Ludham Bridge we headed off towards Titchwell, having a pretty productive drive, seeing Glossy Ibis, Hen Harrier and several Red Kites. Just as we were approaching Chosely Drying Barns, i spotted a Heron flying towards us and it proceeded to land on a nearby muck heap just as we were parking up, it was a Cattle Egret. We watched it briefly, before it proceeded to fly off inland.
After arriving at Titchwell we headed out to the sea along the coastal path seeing a few nice birds which included A lovely Drake Pintail, a fine drake Red-breasted Merganser, Great-white Egret and a couple of Marsh Harriers.
Some prolonged scanning of the sea, saw us adding more niceties to the already excellent day list of birds which included 3 long-tailed Ducks, at least 3 Shags, a Great-northern Diver and more Mergs.
It was really nice to be back here after quite a few years of not visiting, a top site for birding.
After enjoying our mega day, Tim expertly drove us back home after another successful twitch.
The River Ant And Grazing Marshes At Ludham Bridge.
The chance to get away for a few days between Christmas & New Year with Mrs R, saw us staying in the lovely village of Grasmere and spending our time visiting Grasmere, Windermere, Keswick, Derwent Water and Hawkshead.
It was really nice to get to visit this superb area, even if it was so busy and nice to have a few days away with Tracey again.
The weather was fairly good, with bright days and frosty nights, allowing us to take some nice photos, the best of which are included here.
At last after a 2 month hiatus, or nearly that long, i have now got the chance to start blogging again about myself and Tracey's adventures.
We have travelled back in this blog, about a trip we did back in early November of last year, were we travelled up to North Yorkshire, visiting the lovely seaside villages of Saltburn and then Staithes, before on the way home stopping off at the Hole of Horcum, a huge glacial bowl between Whitby and Pickering.
The following are my favourite photos from this cracking day out and about.
The Statue Of 'Hendrix' The Black Cat, Who Spent Many An Hour Wandering Along The Pier And Beach Area At Saltburn.
Beautiful Staithes, Such A Stunning Little Place!.
Looking North From Staithes Harbour, To The Highest Cliffs In England At Boulby.
