East Halton Highlights....Sunday 26th November 2017.

Today i decided to just walk around the area i have submitted for 'Patchwatch2018',which covers the area between the Skitter pools up to Winter's Pond and back along Skitter Road back to East Halton Skitter in a big square which covers the allowed 3km2.
 As i arrived,it was apparent that there were quite a few birds about,with Blackbirds & Fieldfares in the hedgerows,there had obviously been an arrival.
 I hurried to get the gear together and decided to walk in a reverse direction,retracing my car journey along the side of Skitter beck and along Skitter Road.
 The long stretch of hedgerow along to the small bridge that crosses the beck,was alive with birds and included at least 10 Blackbird,25 Chaffinch,2 Goldcrest,18 Tree Sparrow and 5 Bullfinch.The latter are no doubt migrants,as they are not usually observed in this area and are no doubt arriving with the Hawfinches from the continent.
 Further on,the usual herd of 6 Roe Deer were grazing on one of the ploughed fields near Red House farm and another couple were observed later near to the Skitter making for an impressive 8 animals recorded today.
 As i approached Winter's Pond,it looked like there were quite a few birds present and a quick scan saw another great species of wildfowl being logged,a lovely Redhead Goosander.As the Common Scoter on my last visit,it kept its distance,but i managed a few record shots for posterity.
 Other species here included the usual 3 Great-crested Grebes,3 Dabchick,adult Grey Heron,Kingfisher and another Bullfinch.
 Along the seawall back up to the Skitter,a few Redwing and more Blackbirds,saw me finishing on a decent total of 45 of the latter for the visit.
 As i neared the car i flushed a Pipit which on first views in flight looked like a Water Pipit,this was nicely confirmed as it landed in the open on the opposite side of the Haven allowing me to get a few distant record shots.This species winters in the area annually,but its always nice to see one on the deck instead of in flight.
 Other birds in the Haven included a nice flock of 205 Dunlin,30+ Redshank and 20 Ruff.
 A quick walk around the Skitter pools saw another Pipit,this time a Scandi Rock and a pair of Stonechat back near the car rounded off another brilliant visit to the patch.

Female Blackbird,One Of The 45 Birds Logged Today.

Five Of The Herd Of Six Roe Deer.

Redhead Goosander,Winter's Pond.

Adult Grey Heron,Winter's Pond.

Juvenile male Kestrel,Winter's Pond.

Juvenile male Kestrel,Winter's Pond.

Juvenile male Kestrel,Winter's Pond.

Pied Wagtail Along The Sea Wall.

Part Of The Dunlin Flock At The Skitter.

Record Shot Of The Water Pipit At The Skitter.

Female Kestrel At The Skitter.

That Concentration!.

Really Nice To Study At Such Close Range.

 

Donna Nook Visit & Superb Phalorope,Sunday 19th November 2017.

With an excellent forecast today,Lee and myself had planned to visit the Grey Seal colony at Donna Nook as Lee had never visited before and i was also hopefull we could visit Covenham Res on the way home to see if the Juvenile Red-necked Phalorope was still present also.
 We set off fairly early to get parked at Donna Nook,as it is always chocca at this time of the year with visitors going to see the Seals pupping,but as we arrived it wasn't too bad to be fair.
 Plenty of warm clothing was definitely the order of the day and we then headed along the viewing area to the sight of hundreds of Grey Seals.
 There were plenty of new pups which were fairly close and the usual disputes between females and over amorous males and also the odd territorial posturing from the half a dozen males present.
 This all made for some superb viewing and it was great to visit the colony again after a few years absence for myself.
 After we had both taken numerous photos,we had a VERY welcome Bacon sarnie and a hot cuppa...thanks Lee and then decided to head over to Covenham before it got too busy here.
 After travelling over to Covenham we had a nice walk around to where the Phalorope had been seen in the south east corner and sure enough as we approached some other visitors were watching it.Sadly,an idiot with a camera had climbed over the bank to try and photograph the bird,but thankfully it was still showing and this particular idiot left.
 Over the next 30 minutes we watched this lovely little oceanic wader as it bobbed about and sometimes came out of the water chasing flies along the bank.The latter piece of behaviour,was the first time i had seen any Phalorope feeding out of the water and it was interesting to see the partially lobed and webbed feet,just brilliant to watch.
 This is my first Red-necked Phal for a few years and is a pretty late record as well as the species should be well on its way to its wintering grounds off the coast off Arabia,what a smart little bird.
 So what a great day out today in some lovely weather for the camera and some great company,life is good.

Only One In 400 Grey Seals Have A Black Coat Like This Moulting Pup.

A Rose Between Two Thorns.....

A Bellowing Bull.

These Big Bulls Are So Impressive.

A Lovely Sleeping Cow.

High Five.

A Suckling New Born Pup.

Another New Born Pup,How Can You Not Love That Face!.

Another Dozing Cow.

Covenham Reservoir.

1st Calendar Year Common Gull.

Juvenile Red-necked Phalorope.

Juvenile Red-necked Phalorope.

Notice The Partially Webbed & Lobed Toes.

About To Catch Another Fly.

Loafing Cormorants On The Reservoir Water Tower.

The Patch.....Saturday 18th November 2017.

After a long week at work i was really looking forward to getting out today and as i travelled over to East Halton Skitter i wondered what the patch was going to offer up.
 I arrived just as it was beginning to get light and as i got out of the car i was greeted to the lovely sight of the local Barn Owl hunting the grass field at the Skitter,a lovely start i thought.
 It was pretty windy today,so plenty of layers were the order of the day,pack up in the ruck sack and i was off.
 It wasn't long before i saw my first nice bird,a female Stonechat in the hedge at the Skitter,sat preening in the dawn light,lovely.
 As i walked along the sea wall a few waders feeding in the haven included 35 Black-tailed Godwit  and 13 Ruff along with the local Shanks,with several flocks of Dunlin and Redshank heading west up the estuary.
 On the inland fields the first of 15 Roe Deer for the day browsed on their breakfast and included a group of 6 animals,great to see as always.
 I continued up to Winter's Pond and as i walked down off the bank top,the first thing i clapped eyes on was the big dog Otter as he dived for food.More superb views were enjoyed again today,but what a buggar to photograph due to him constantly diving for food,but just brilliant to see him again.
 A scan of the remainder of the pit revealed another nice bonus in the form of a female/imm Common Scoter loosely associating with a female Goldeneye,a great record and my first to be seen on here.Commoner fare included 21 Wigeon,5 Tufties,3 Great-crested Grebe,2 Dabchick and 226 Greylag.
 I then headed inland along the fields on my usual route back to the Skitter with another 2 Stonechat,a pair watched being harrassed by a local Robin along a Pheasant strip and a few other passerines included 20 Fieldfare,2 Redwing and a handful of Blackies. 
 After reaching the Skitter i walked up to the gas pipeline and headed inland along the long hedgerow up to East Marsh Road seeing a good sized flock of at least 121 Chaffinch,1500+ Starling,21 Skylark,4 Song Thrush,9 Meadow Pipit and the rarest of the lot,a single Willow Tit seen foraging with a roving Tit flock.If memory serves me correctly,this is a first for me here,so an excellent sighting.
 As i neared Goxhill Haven,2 Siskin and a Lesser Redpoll were seen along with at least 500+ Pink-footed Geese feeding on a Kale field just inland of the Haven.
 A few nice birds between Goxhill Haven and Dawson City included 220 Golden and 5 Grey Plover,6 Bar-tailed Godwit and a smart female Sparrowhawk hunting along the shoreline.
 The only notable on Dawson was a female Cetti's Warbler which appeared briefly and further along the bankside a single female Stonechat obviously different to the lone female at the Skitter in the morning,made a respectable 4 birds for the day.
 As i neared the Skitter pools,4 Pipits flew up from cover and promptly flew around in usual Water Pipit fashion and i was convinced they were all Water Pipits,but only saw one well enough to confirm it.Other species here included 2 Little Egret,109 Curlew and 19 Long-tailed Tit.
 Well what a great day again with another 10 miles walked in some pretty decent weather too,i love this hobby!.

Sunrise Over The Humber.

Greylags Over The Humber.

Some Lovely Light Today,Looking Towards North Killingholme Haven From East Halton Skitter.

Otter,Winter's Pond.

Otter,Winter's Pond.

Otter,Winter's Pond.

Distant Record Of The Female/Imm. Common Scoter.

Winter's Pond,East Halton.

Reed Bunting,East Halton.

Roe Deer Sheltering From The Wind At East Halton.

Some Lovely Autumn Colours Today.

Lesser Redpoll,Goxhill Haven.

Hunting Female Sparrowhawk,Goxhill Haven.

Golden Plovers,Goxhill Haven.

Dawson City LWTR.

Bonby Carr's....A Superb Visit...Sunday 12th November 2017.

With half a day free today,i decided to visit the Ancholme Valley and one of my fave spots,Bonby Carrs again.
 I arrived just after dawn in the hope of seeing some Owls,but unfortunately didn't see any again today,but the rest of the birding made up for it.
 After parking in my usual spot beside the Soak Drain,a 360 degree scan revealed 2 Grey Heron,35 Mallard and 2 Mute Swan feeding in and along the banks of the drain,while over towards Worlaby,the local Rooks were leaving their night time roost and spilling onto the fields to search for their breakfasts.
 As on my last visit there were decent numbers of passerines present and this included at least 3500 Starlings,350 Fieldfare,21 Yellowhammer,8 Corn Bunting,15 Reed Bunting and a bit of a rarity down here,2 Bullfinch.
 The Starlings and Felfares were scattered all over the place and i never did see the culprit which was upsetting them until i reached the river later.
 On the wet pastures there were still good numbers of Teal & Wigeon present and surprisingly a big flock for here,35 Mute Swan.It was a tad confusing at first,as i could hear Whooper Swans bugling,but couldn't see any at first,but then the 2 adults from my last visit were seen in amongst the Mute Swan flock eventually being joined by another 2 adults.The second pair were very vocal and put on a great show of head bobbing and bugling,what a great sound!.
 A sight i hadn't witnessed before was a Little Egret feeding at the same pool and it seemed a little strange seeing Whooper Swans and Little Egret together.
 As i carried on and eventually made it to the River Ancholme,a single Buzzard,juv type Marsh Harrier and a very brief Kingfisher made for some nice sightings to keep me interested,but better was to come.
 As i scanned the fields and bushes towards Appleby Carrs,first a Merlin was seen,no doubt the bird which had been flushing the Starlings & Fieldfares earlier,but i then turned around to see 10 Redhead Goosander go bombing past along the river,followed by another single.Eleven Goosander is the most i have seen along here and was a very welcome bonus and certainly made the trip out worthwhile.
 As i wandered back towards the car again,4 Little Egret fished on the pools and overhead at least 150 Pink-footed Geese flew north along the valley towards the Humber.
 More of the same was observed on the wet pastures and surrounding farmland and the only additions not mentioned before were 5 Roe Deer.
 So another nice visit to this local area was enjoyed again today and i headed home contented at another great trip out.

Sunrise Over The Carrs.

Rooks At Dawn,Leaving Their Roost.

Carr Lane.

A Slightly Muddy Juvenile Mute Swan.

Adult Mute Swan.

Part Of The 35 Strong Mute Flock.

More Lovely Mute Swans.

A Female Reed Bunting Trying To Hide.

Some Great Grassland Habitat Here.

The River Ancholme.

Redhead Goosander At The River.

The Noisy Pair Of Whooper Swans.