The final visit to the local patch today for 2020,saw another productive visit being enjoyed and the patch year list not gaining anymore new species and finishing on an impressive 157 species.This is even more satisfying when you take into account i have missed 14 weeks coverage,due to Covid 19 restrictions.
Obviously the best finds fell to the unbelievable duo of Olive-backed Pipit and Dusky Warbler found together in the same 200 metre stretch of Saltmarsh/Hedgerows near to Dawson City nature reserve,just east of Goxhill Haven on the 8th November,with the Pipit staying until 15th.This followed hot on the heels of the Pallid Swift i found in the same area on 11th November 2018.
Anyway,back to today's visit,starting at a pretty cold Winter's first thing with the Tufted Duck flock building up to 34 birds now and the 1st winter male Scaup still in residence along with the 2 female Pochard.
Other numbers and species here included the 12 Mute Swans still,54 Gadwall,225 Wigeon,a singing male Cetti's Warbler,146 Greylag and a lovely adult female Marsh Harrier,the latter being seen also hunting the mitigation area and the Skitter pools.Along the shoreline up to the old seaplane jetty,450 Lapwing,177 Teal and 300 Dunlin were watched feeding and resting.
The Winter's to Skitter area and Skitter itself held a few good birds also,which included a colour ringed Redshank,with the combo of black ring over black flag on the left leg and yellow ring over lime ring on the right leg.I suspect it may be a bird ringed at Welwick Marsh in Yorkshire by the Humber Wader Ringing Group,but i'm waiting on confirmation.
Also here were 67 Redshank,630 Dunlin,18 Black-tailed Godwit,1 Avocet,3 Stonechat,2 Water Pipit and 200 Fieldfare.
The area between the Skitter and Dawson City held some good numbers of birds and included 1 Short-eared Owl,2 Cetti's Warbler,43 Great black-backed Gulls,5 adult Whooper Swan,182 Wigeon,117 Bar-tailed Godwit,a further 300 Dunlin(Certainly not part of the Skitter flock),34 Ringed Plover,2 Knot and a female Stonechat.
A total of 1350 Pink-footed Geese also flew west,with 350 feeding in a pasture close to Dawson City.
A look around Goxhill Haven revealed a pair of Stonechat,80 Turnstone and 5 Common Scoter were seen distantly off Goxhill Tilery.
The return walk back to the car at Winter's saw no new additions to the above,but a very Spectacular,orange moon rise was seen over the Humber.
Another great visit and onwards and upwards to the new year list starting on the 1st January.
The Humber Sea Terminal In The Dark. |
A Stunning Full Moon This Evening. |
Sundown Over The Skitter Fields. |
Sunrise Over The Industrial Skyline Of Killingholme, |