12th January
A very wet visit today in some horrible conditions it has to be said,but i still managed to add three species to the year list in the form of a single Tree Creeper in Redhouse Wood and a Knot and Black-tailed Godwit at Goxhill Haven.
Highlights today went to the resident drake Red-crested Pochard at Winter's Pond and 4 Water Pipit and a Barn Owl at the Skitter.
A good count of 49 Gadwall at Winter's just before leaving for home was a whopping count for the patch.
18th January
A much better visit today in some lovely winter sunshine saw a single addition to the year list,as a single Dark-bellied Brent Goose was watched flying north along the estuary off Winter's Pond early a.m..This species seems to be annual here,no doubt visiting from the estuary mouth where good numbers are wintering.
2 Barn Owl had hunted the mitigation site at dawn and highlights at the Skitter today saw the usual 4 Water Pipit being seen and a single female Stonechat.
The lovely sight of 5500 Lapwing and 3200 Golden Plover in a mixed flock down Goxhill Marsh was great to see and hear as the birds wheeled around at any sign of danger and a flock of 2500 Pink-footed Geese showed nicely nearby.
The drake Red-crested Pochard is still present on his home at Winter's Pond,decimating the local pondweed.
25th January
A cracking start to today's visit saw a Great-white Egret arrive at Winter's and do one circuit before slowly heading off north west,until i lost it in the distance over the beck.This is only my second record here,the first being in November 2018.It really is great to see these birds becoming more common as their diminutive cousins the Little Egret have and the species is beginning to get a good foothold in this country now.
Also at Winter's were the drake Red-crested Pochard,a singing Cetti's Warbler and a lovely second calendar year male Marsh Harrier.
Two further Marsh harrier were observed hunting the mitigation site,a second calendar and adult female.
At the Skitter,an increase in Water Pipits saw 6 being seen,with 4 Rock Pipit along the shore also.Singles of Barn and Short-eared Owl were also logged here and H9,the colour flagged Avocet,was seen in a flock of 22 birds.
A concentrated effort to count species on the large sandbank off Dawson City today revealed 74 Carrion Crow,419 Curlew,2200 Golden Plover,2500 Lapwing and a minimum of 1400 Dunlin making for an impressive sight indeed.
Three great visits as always to my little part of the Humber Estuary,the year list now standing on a respectable 98 species.
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| The Moon Over East Halton Taken On The 12th. |
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| The Humber Floodbank Near To Dawson City On The 18th. |
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| A Distant Shot Of The Dark-bellied Brent Goose From The 18th. |
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| Part Of The Pink-footed Goose Flock From The 18th. |
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| Dawson City LWTR From The 18th. |
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| Adult Common Gull From The 18th At Goxhill Haven. |
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| Grange Farm Near East Halton,Taken On The 18th. |
