Local Patching Update.....23rd July,6th,20th & 21st August 2022.

A very productive spell of visits with some great birds,mammals and insects seen over the four visits,the following is what i saw.

Saturday 23rd July

A good start at first light at Winter's saw a cracking Great-white Egret feeding on the edge of the main lake right in front of the car as i arrived.

A crept out of the car as to not disturb it,but it didn't seem that bothered,so i duly took a few photos as it waded about in the shallows catching several small fish.

It was apparent as i walked,that there were a few waders on the main lake and i soon located a colour-ringed Iclandic Black-tailed Godwit,Red over black flag and green over white.This bird had been ringed by the Humber Wader Ringing Group at Welwick Saltmarsh and is a bird i have previously recorded here.

Also around the main lake were 2 juvenile Little-ringed Plover,2 Green Sandpiper,a single Whimbrel which passed overhead along with a lovely juvenile Common Tern.

Some added interest from the mammal world,saw a lovely doe Roe Deer with her 2 gorgeus fawns,such pretty animals.

After enjoying all the good birds at Winter's,i wandered down towards the Skitter,seeing a few nice bits along the way which included another Whimbrel.

The Skitter itself held some nice birds,which included 5 partially summer plumaged Knot,really nice to see,a Grey Plover,2 Common Sandpiper and 2 Kingfisher.

Three adult Common Tern flew south and a Harbour Porpoise and Grey Seal were also seen adding some flavour to the sightings here.

Saturday 6th August

Another visit today starting at Winter's saw a fairly quiet start with a bumper count of 24 Little Egret being the highlight.

A cracking juvenile Peregrine was watched landing on the mitigation area at one of the small,remaining pools for a drink,which was great to see.

The Skitter area proved the place to be today,with the highlights including another Great-white Egret,definitely different to the bird from the 23rd July,with a more extensive black tip to the bill.

It was watched perched up in one of the hedgerows alongside the beck and then in a stubble field with a Grey Heron and Little Egret for company.

Other niceities around the Skitter included a single Greenshank,4 Common Sandpiper and 18 Avocet.

It was also particularly good for insects here,with the best including a female Long-winged Conehead,Roesel's-bush Cricket,30+ Lesser-marsh Grasshopper and at least 4 Sea Aster-mining Bees.

On the Humber the lovely sight of 2 adult and a calf Harbour Porpoises and a Grey Seal,made for some great viewing.

Saturday 20th August

A short visit to Winter's Pond today,saw another good bird found here,a lovely adult Wood Sandpiper.

It was watched feeding around the edge of the main lake near the car park,until it was unfortunately flushed by a fisherman and flew high south.

Other bits around the main lake included 3 Common Sandpiper,14 Teal and an adult male Marsh Harrier.

A watch from the floodbank,saw 2 juvenile Yellow-legged gulls fly north,a Wheatear feeding along the seaawall and a Harbour Porpoise seen briefly as it passed by.

Sunday 21st August

A really good visit today,saw a good start from dawn at Winter's,with another Wood Sandpiper,this time replacing yesterday's Adult,so 2 in 2 days was pretty decent.

Other bits here included 2 Common Sand,2 Whimbrel,a juvenile Marsh Harrier and the previous days Wheatear still here feeding along the seawall.

A walk along the mitigation area up to the Skitter,saw me adding Whinchat to the patch year list as a single juvenile was found and showed briefly,before disappearing into the sea of Thistles.

Also along here were another Wheatear and a good count of 21 Small Heath,with 7 Brown Argus also.

The best bird of the day was found next,as i stood at the lock gates at the Skitter watching another Wood Sandpiper feeding in the outfall,a bird landed about 2 feet away from me and i turned my head to see a juvenile Black Redstart looking back at me.

This was a bit of surprise for the time of year,but a most welcome one and i spent the next few hours watching this little cracker along with a few visitors.

Other birds here included a Green and 4 Common Sands,3 more Whimbrel,2 each of Kingfisher and Bearded Tit and at least 40+ Sea Aster Mining Bees.

So what a productive few visits to this cracking area,local patching at it's finest!.

Great-white Egret,Winter's Pond,23rd July.

Phonescoped Kestrel,East Halton,23rd July.

Great-white Egret,East Halton Skitter,6th August.

Orb Web Spider,Araneus quadratus,East Halton Skitter,6th August.

Male Lesser-marsh Grasshopper,East Halton Skitter,6th August.

Male Roesel's-bush Cricket,East Halton Skitter,6th August.

Sea Aster Mining Bee,East Halton Skitter,6th August.

Dawn At Winter's Pond,21st August.

Juvenile Whinchat,East Halton Marshes,21st August.

Wheatear,East Halton Marshes,21st August.

Juvenile Black Redstart,East Halton Skitter,What A Little Beauty!.