A New Year Begins........Local Patch Update,1st,2nd & 8th January 2023

A decent start to the new year patch list,saw me on a good 91 species after 3 visits,the following is what i saw.

Sunday 1st January

A pre-dawn search for Owls,was impossible today in the strong south westerly wind,so i moved over to Winter's and waited for Jon to arrive and for it to get light.

The marshes adjacent to Winter's were alive with birds and the faithfull Russian White-fronts were still here and 2 Barnacle Geese also,2 Whooper Swans didn't hang around after seeing the strange creatures watching them.

450 Greylag and a good count of 1650 Pink-footed Geese completed a great Goosey start to the new year.

Other birds here included a distant Barn Owl,5 Ruff,11 Black-tailed Godwit,4 Stonechat and an impressive 2500 Lapwing.

We carried on up to the Skitter and gave the area some good coverage,seeing more new birds for the year which included 4 Grey Partridge,Water Pipit,55 Stock Dove,a Peregrine and a cracking adult male Marsh Harrier.

A wander up to Goxhill Haven added Tree Sparrow and Coot to the year list.

Monday 2nd January

The last day of my holidays saw Tim and myself having a great start pre-dawn adding Tawny Owl and Little Owl to the year list,with 2 Barn Owl,(1 at WP and the usual bird at the Skitter) and a Short-eared Owl also at the Skitter making 4 species of Owl for the day a superb effort.

The Marshes held 5 Ruff again,the 19 White-fronts,2 Barnacle Geese and a few Redshank and Black-tailed Godwits.

On Winter's,2 drake Pochard were new for the year and really great to see.

We walked along the floodbank up to the Skitter seeing a nice flock of 43 Avocet and a lovely  Kingfisher adding some nice colour to the visit.

A walk along Goxhill Marsh saw us seeing 3 Marsh Harrier,7 Stonechat,2 Bearded Tit which were new for the year and the Aythya hybrid was still on Ruins Pond.

A prolonged watch from the shore infront of Dawson City saw several species being added to the year list and included Grey Plover,Bar-tailed Godwit,Rock Pipit and Water Rail,with a single Redhead Goosander heading west towards Goxhill Haven.

The final new bird for the year as we arrived back at Winter's was a Little Egret,a scarce bird of late here.

Sunday January 8th

The forecast for rain today by 2pm saw me just covering the East Halton square of the patch(Winter's to the Skitter,along Skitter Road,then Marsh Lane back to WP).

First thing at WP saw a female Pochard and Kingfisher on the main lake and also 4 1st winter Coot which have arrived.

I also gained some nice views of the regular Barn Owl which i presume is a female,going by the darker plumage tones,perched up along the far side of the main lake,a real beauty.

Next door on the Marshes,3 adult Whooper Swans,the 19 White-fronts and 2 Barnies were all still present and correct along with the 5 Ruff still.

A wander along Marsh Lane and then over Station Hill and along the horse paddocks nearby,saw me adding Mistle Thrush to the year list.

Nothing much along Skitter Road was seen,most probably due to Able UK digging the fields up and the local farmer ruining one of the best hedgerows along here.

A few nice sightings at the Skitter included a cracking male Bullfinch which was new for the year,a female Marsh Harrier hunting the pools,which in turn flushed 3 Water Pipit and a Rock Pipit.

Also here were 31 Avocet and at least 75 Stock Dove.

A solid start to the patch year list.

Sun Rise Over The Humber At Winter's Pond,Monday 2nd Jan.

Interesting Cloud Formation,East Halton,Monday 2nd Jan.

The Local Patching Year.......A Review Of 2022.

A record year on the local patch in 2022,saw me achieving a target i set myself of 160 species in 2017,i had come close on a few occasions,with me seeing 158 species in 2021,just 2 short of the target.

The following is a review of this amazing year,with not only birds,but some interesting wildlife and insects also being seen.

January

A flying start to the year on the 1st,saw the White-tailed Lapwing still being present thankfully after being found the previous day.

This bird had relocated from Blacktoft Sands RSPB and became the first record for Lincolnshire and was only the 7th record for Britain of this very rare wader.

Also in the area,was a Cattle Egret,feeding on fields near to East Halton village with Little Egrets,another first for the patch.

Also seen today,was a female Red-crested Pochard on Winter's Pond,to round off an unbelievable start to the year.

A visit on the 3rd,saw a visit by 2 Bewick's Swans as they flew east over the Skitter,the first here for many years.

Another new patch species on the 15th,saw me finding a very brief Glossy Ibis on East Halton Marshes before it flew off towards Killingholme and a lovely Long-eared Owl at Winter's next day was a very welcome sighting also.

February

The White-tailed Lapwing was still present when i visited on the 8th,on its favoured pool on the marshes,along with new year additions in the form of Treecreeper at Winter's,followed by 4 Ruff and an Oystercatcher in the Skitter area.

The 9th saw a surprise Chiffchaff showing well near Goxhill Haven and a pair of Goosander at Winter's before leaving for home.

March

A visit on the 6th saw a lovely Woodcock being seen near to Ruins Pond,with the White-tailed Lapwing still being in residence on East Halton Marshes.

The 12th saw a very smart summer plumaged 'Littoralis' Rock Pipit and Water Pipit at the Skitter.

On the 18th,the first signs of spring migration were observed,as 2 Red Kite were seen,1 which flew south along the Humber floodbank towards Killingholme and another which was found along Chapel Field Road at Goxhill,before being seen flying towards the village here.

Also the first arrival of Chiffchaff's,saw 4 birds being recorded.

April

Always a month filled with anticipation,as our summer migrants return.

The 3rd saw a Siskin fly south at Winter's and a pair of Grey Partridge being seen,both new for the year along with a Lesser Redpoll and 4 Small Tortoiseshell.

The 9th saw more migrants being seen,with 2 Swallow at Winter's,2 White Wagtail north along the Humber floodbank and a new species of Tachinid Fly at the Skitter for myself and the patch in the form of Gonia picea.

The latter species parasitise Lepidoptera Caterpillars and particularly those of the Antler Moth and Comma Butterfly,it was found nectaring on Blackthorn blossum.

On the 13th a really good arrival of migrants included new for the year species in the form of Willow Warbler(2),Blackcap(7),Common Sandpiper,Wheatear(6),House Martin(2) and a single Whimbrel.

More migrant arrivals on the 17th saw more new species for the year,which included Reed Warbler(2),Sedge Warbler(3),Whitethroat,Grasshopper Warbler,Lesser Whitethroat and Little-ringed Plover.

After a period of easterlies,a good look around Winter's on the 18th,saw me finding a cracking female Ring Ouzel,a new species for the site and also an added bonus was a Jay in the plantation.

April closed with a visit on the 24th,seeing my first Cuckoo of the year at Winter's along with 3 Arctic Tern which flew south towards Killingholme and a new insect for the patch in the form of a 10 Spot Ladybird at Redhouse Wood.

May

A nice find on the marshes on the morning of the 8th,saw me finding a cracking drake Garganey,the bird had located to Winter's in the afternoon and showed incredibly well.

Also here was my first Hobby of the year,a 2nd calendar year bird watched hawking St.Mark's Flies,what a beauty!.

A red letter day on 14th saw Winter's having one of it's best day's of the year,as the first hour of daylight saw me finding a spanking,singing male Redstart in the hedgerow down to the Humber,a Cattle Egret feeding on the grassland near the car park and a smart 1st summer Med Gull.

Overhead 2 Common Tern flew south and this brought the year list up to a decent 134 species.

The month ended on the 22nd with another decent find in the form of a singing male Quail on the edge of the marshes,my 3rd record for the patch and new insects also recorded which were new for the patch were the Hoverfly Tropidia scita,Pied Shieldbug and Lackey Moth.

June

After returning from a very enjoyable trip to the New Forest/Dorset it was back to local patching on the 19th,with the first returning Green Sandpiper of the autumn migration period.

Some nice insects today included my first patch record of the Hoverfly Meredon equestris,found along Skitter Road near East Halton Grange.Other Hovers seen included,Cheilosia illustrata,Scaeva pyrastri and a lovely Chrysotoxum bicinctum.

More insect finds on the 26th saw me finding another couple of new Hoverflies for the patch,Eristalinus sepulchralis and the striking Volucella zonaria.

Birds seen on the 26th included a Great-white Egret,Adult Med. Gull and now 2 Green Sands at Winter's.

July

The 2nd saw more waders seen and consisted of a male Ruff,Little-ringed Plover and 3 Green Sands at Winter's,with another Green Sand and the first 2 Common Sandpipers of the autumn at the Skitter.

But the 2nd's star find went to finding one of the most stunning flies I've ever seen,the Soldier Fly species Oxycera trilineata.

It was found at the Skitter sheltering from the strong south westerly wind on the edge of the plantation,what an absolute cracker!.

The 15th saw the most bizarre record of the year in the form of a Redwing at Winter's,watched feeding along the edge of one of the reedbed's,totally crazy for the time of year.

Other birds sightings today included new for year species in the guise of 2 adult Kittiwake and a lovely partially summer plumaged Spotted Redshank.

August

The month's sightings began on the 6th,with a huge count of 24 Little Egret at Winter's along with a Great-white Egret.

It was insects and mammals which stole the show on today's visit though,with my first record of Long-winged Conehead for the patch,along with the first 4 Sea Aster Mining Bees of the year,3 Harbour Porpoise,including a calf and a Grey Seal.

After a cracking holiday in Pembrokeshire,it was a return to the patch over the weekend of the 20th/21st with some quality birds being found in the form of an adult Wood Sand at Winter's and 2 juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls at the Skitter on the 20th and juvenile Wood Sand at Winter's,juvenile Whinchat on the marshes and a spanking juvenile Black Redstart at the Skitter on the 21st.

The latter showed impeccably.landing about 5 feet from me when i first found it.

The weekend of the 27th/28th saw a colour ringed Great-white Egret arriving at Winter's,with 2 Wood Sands around,8 Common Sand,Juvenile Hobby and 15 Common Tern being logged.

September

A good passage on the Humber after south easterly winds on the 4th,saw 119 Common and 7 Sandwich Tern off Winter's as they re-orientated along with a Grey Wagtail south overhead,the latter two species being new for the year.

The weekend of the 10th/11th saw some good birds being recorded,with 1 new species for the patch,a Pectoral Sandpiper which flew out of Winter's and north along the Humber towards the Skitter never to be seen again.

Other species seen,included Guillemot,Arctic Skua,Adult Kittiwake,Arctic Tern,17 Pintail,juvenile Hobby and 12 Common Scoter.

I also found the first Willow-emerald Damselflies for the patch,along the beck on 10th,an expected addition,but nice to find all the same.

The 17th saw the first big arrival of Pink-footed Geese for the autumn in good conditions,with 957 being counted,along with a Great-white Egret still,juvenile Hobby again and an Arctic Skua on the Humber.

The 24th saw one of the best birds of the autumn for me,as a superb pale juvenile Long-tailed Skua flew slowly north off Winter's,giving some cracking views,before it settled on the Humber.Also seen today were singles of Gannet and Red-breasted Merganser.

October

The month began on the 1st with a new for year species at Winter's Pond,a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper which spent the day feeding around the site.Other birds here included a juvenile Spotted Redshank,Great-white Egret,15 Ruff,Greenshank,3 Grey Wagtail and a Merlin.

A nice find from the insect world,was a colony of Hornets at East Halton Grange,the first records for the patch of this impressive insect.

The 8th of October saw a family party of 8 Whooper Swans arriving at Winter's for the day,along with 22 Ruff,3 Pintail,90 Shoveler and 6 Stonechat on the marshes.

After lots of searching this year,a BB rarity was eventually found at Winter's,a juvenile female Blue-winged Teal with the Shoveler flock.This was not only a self find tick for me,but a new bird for the patch,it was also the 14th record for Lincolnshire of this Nearctic species.

Also on site,but of much lesser significance,were a pair of Egyptian Geese.

A visit on the 23rd saw no sign of the Blue-winged Teal,but 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese were around.

The final visit for the month saw the Blue-winged Teal making a re-appearance at Winter's,with 5 Twite found at the Skitter,a nice surprise.

November

A visit on the 13th,saw a cracking Long-eared Owl seen hunting along Marsh lane at dawn,with other welcome highlights including an adult Spotted Redshank and 18 Snow Bunting at Goxhill Haven followed by a large flock for here of 22 Dark-bellied Brent Geese as they flew south along the Humber along Goxhill Marsh.

A good movement of seabirds on the 19th,saw me adding 5 new species for the year list in the form of a 1st winter little Gull,Red-throated Diver,3 Little Auk,Great-northern Diver and female Scaup.Other notable species seen on the day included 7 Kittiwake,Red-breasted Merganser,131 Common Scoter and 6 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

The Blue-winged Teal was also present along with a Great-white Egret at Winter's.

The 20th/21st saw the final weekend the Blue-winged Teal was present along with a single Dark-bellied Brent Goose.

The final visit of November on the 26th,saw the arrival of a flock of 19 'Albifrons' White-fronted Geese.They were first seen flying over me along Chapel Field Road at Goxhill,before being refound later that day on fields near East Halton Marshes.

Also recorded during the day was a stunning pale morph Common Buzzard at Goxhill,Spotted Redshanks at both East Halton Skitter and Goxhill Haven and a stunning adult Med.Gull to finish the day at Winter's.

December

After finally cracking my target of 160 species,by 6,it was great to relax and have some really enjoyable birding through the month and the first proper winter weather for some years.

Visits on the 3rd,11th,17th and 18th saw the White-fronted Geese at either East Halton marshes or on Winter's.They used the latter site for bathing and drinking and generally fed on the fields until the year end.

The final addition to the year list saw a Jack Snipe being seen along Marsh Lane,with a male Snow Bunting seen the same day at East Halton Skitter.

A total of 4 new birds for the patch life list this year,White-tailed Lapwing,Cattle Egret,Pectoral Sandpiper and Blue-winged Teal,putting it on a respectable 216 species.

Well what a year,with some real quality birds and birding being enjoyed,2023 will do well to follow this,but i will still keep visiting this cracking area aiming for 170 species as my target now.

East Halton Marshes January.

Winter's Pond,March 18th.

Tachinid Fly,Gonia picea,East halton Skitter,9th April.

Ruins Pond,Goxhill Marsh,8th May.

Winter' Pond Dawn,14th May.

Tropidia scita,Winter's Pond,22nd May.

Female Broad-bodied Chaser,East Halton Marshes,11th June.

Hoverfly,Scaeva pyrastri,Skitter Road,East Halton,11th June.

East Halton Beck,11th June.

Skitter Road,East Halton Skitter,19th June.

Eristalinus sepulchralis,East Halton Skitter,26th June.

Volucella zonaria,Skitter Road,East Halton,26th June.

Winter's Pond,26th June.

Oxycera trilineata,East Halton Skitter,2nd July.

Eristalinus aeneus,East Halton Skitter,2nd July.

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

Juvenile Black Redstart,East Halton Skitter,21st August.

Sea AsterMining Bee,Goxhill Haven,27th August.

Female Long-winged Conehead,Goxhill Marsh,27th August.

Sunrise Over The Humber At East Halton,24th September.

Comma,East Halton Skitter,24th September.

Willow-emerald Damselflies,East Halton Skitter,1st October.

Winter's Pond,15th October.

Juvenile female Blue-winged Teal,Winter's Pond,15th October.

Red Admiral,Red House Wood,East Halton,16th October.

Twite,East Halton Skitter,29th October.

Snow Buntings,Goxhill Haven,13th November.

Barnacle Geese,East Halton Marshes,26th November.