Desert Beauty,Thursday 28th December 2017.

After hearing the male Desert Wheatear was still present at Whitby,Trace and myself made the journey north to one of our favourite seaside towns to go and see if we could get some good views and hopefully a few photos as well.
 The bird has been frequenting a series of fields just south of Whitby Abbey,so was in some stunning surroundings.
 We decided to park in the town as we were going to have some lunch later and after getting the kit together and traversing the abbey steps,we arrived at the birds chosen field.
 Unfortunately he was only showing distantly,but that was soon remedied as everyone walked around to the far side of the field he was in.
 At first he kept his distance frustratingly feeding in a ploughed field,but then bingo...he came closer and closer,until he was ten feet away from the assembled crowd...what a cracker!.
 This is my sixth sighting of this stunning species which breeds as close as North Africa,with this consisting of 4 males in Yorkshire and 2 females in Linc's,the last,a male being seen at Bempton Cliffs RSPB reserve in December 2011.

Humber WEBS Count,Sunday 24th December 2017.

After being on nights for the past 2 weeks,i eventually found time to complete my WEBS count today between Barrow Haven and Goxhill Haven.Thankfully the tides were just right and i managed to complete all my sections on a high and falling tide.

Barrow Haven - New Holland

Very little of note along the first sections of my count area,but a flock of 18 Curlew feeding on a grass pasture near New Holland was nice and also 68 Pink-footed Geese flew out east as well as a summer plumaged Great-crested Grebe on the Clay Pits.The only notable passerine was a single Coal Tit with a tit flock near Windmill Pond,a species i don't usually see along here.

New Holand - Goxhill Haven

After meeting up with Chaz we made our way through the bulk terminal seeing the lovely Whooper Swan flock along the way.Only 6 birds present today which consisted of 3 juv's and 3 adult birds,but they are always a privilege to see,what a lovely species they are.Also in the dock were a hand full of Redshank and at least 77 Mallard.
 After negotiating the terminal,we walked along the bank top seeing the first of 7 Rock Pipits seen between here and Goxhill Haven,with one bird beginning it's moult to spring plumage already with grey feathering being visible on the birds lesser coverts which was interesting.It was also a pretty confiding individual showing well enough to get some images of it.
 Other birds observed along here included a decent count of at least 175 Goldeneye in their usual wintering area off the bulk terminal.This is the highest count i have achieved for 2 winters,but is still way off the big counts we used to get off here in years gone by.
 As we neared the old boatyard near to Goxhill Haven,a quick scan of the horse field revealed a pair of Stonechat flycatching from the hawthorns distantly,no doubt the pair i had along here back in November.
 We decided to carry on walking past the haven up to Dawson City seeing a single male Marsh harrier as we approached the reserve and as has happened in the last few years,the Pink flock were watched nearby on the grass pasture they have been using.Today a guesstimate saw at least 2700 birds present and they gave the usual pleasing sights and sounds of a feeding Pink flock,just great!.

The return leg back to Barrow Haven was hard work to be fair in the strengthening south westerly blow and nothing of note was added to what i had already logged.
 Pretty hard going at times today and incredibly mild for the time of year,but some rewarding sightings all the same and i look forward to my next visit.

Juvenile Whooper Swan,New Holland.

Whooper Swans,New Holland.

Whooper Swans,New Holland.

Scandinavian Rock Pipit,New Holland.

Fabulous Filey.....Saturday 23rd December 2017.

Not really a trip out birding today,but a day out with Trace to Filey,always gives you the chance of seeing some nice birds and today was no exception.
 After some lovely lunch at the Coble Bar & Bistro we made our way along the beach and up to the Brigg seeing some very tame Sanderling which i took full advantage of with the camera.They came incredibly close and just walked past us,what a great encounter with these lovely little birds.
 A lovely male Kestrel showed nicely along the cliff edge as we made our way down the Brigg side and a quick scan of the sea saw a monster Great-northern Diver showing fairly well on the bay side of the Brigg and a couple of Common Scoter also.
 The light was fantastic today and gave us the chance to take some great photos of the brilliant scenery along this part of the coast.
 After a well earned cuppa we sadly headed back through the Wolds after another great visit to one of our fave seaside towns.

More Local Patching......Saturday 9th December 2017.

With the prospect of another full day,i headed for the patch again at East Halton.It was a pretty icy start and as i drove past Grange Farm a lovely Barn Owl hunted the set aside there,a nice start.
 I parked up in my usual place beside the floodbank,put plenty of warm clothes on and off i set.
 As on my last visit,i retraced my car journey walking along the side of the beck and up Skitter road.
 Another Barn Owl,which i was sure was a different bird to the earlier individual hunted around the rough grass field near the car,before crossing over the haven and hunting around the Skitter Pools.
 Plenty of activity along the hedgerows saw at least 8 Blackbird,6 Fieldfare,3 Bullfinch,1 Goldcrest,5 Stock Dove and 8 Long-tailed Tit being seen and a single Water Rail squealed along the beck with a lone Little Egret flying in from the direction of Thornton Abbey towards the pools and haven.
 A decent number and variety of species were seen around Grange Farm and included 16 Yellowhammer,25 Chaffinch,1 Jay,1 Great-spotted Woodpecker and the best of the bunch,2 Willow Tit.The latter gave some nice views as they fed alongside the road,before heading inland along a hedgerow with a couple of Blue Tit,a cracking record for here.
 I then checked the usual set aside near Red House Farm and sure enough at least 1 Stonechat was still present,a male and i managed a few shots before he promptly buggered off in typical Stonechat fashion.
 The Roe Deer gang were again in evidence today with a whopping 12 in the patch square,always great to see in my opinion.
 As i reached Winter's Pond the usual,wiley old Grey Heron was perched in his usual spot and also the Redhead Goosander from my last visit was still in residence,which was great to see.
 I then checked the pit which is not visible from the approach track,with some decent numbers of ducks which included 88 Mallard,20 Gadwall,6 Shoveler,35 Wigeon and the single Goldeneye.The only Grebe present was a single Dabchick,with the Great-crested's moving on.
 As i walked onto the bank top,a flash of yellow saw a nice surprise being seen,in the form of a lovely Grey Wagtail and i managed some nice views and a few record shots before it promptly flew past me and towards Killingholme.A bit of an unseasonal record along here i thought,but great to see all the same.
 A quick look around the Skitter pools saw 2 Water Pipits and a lovely CC Marsh Harrier being seen,the latter,the first i have seen down here for a few weeks,the Pipits giving the usual crap views.On the stubble field here,27 Skylark and 2 male Ruff were the highlights.
 As i headed along the bank top towards Dawson city,some decent numbers of Fieldfare were present,with approx 275 birds being logged,along with smaller numbers of Redwing and about 500 Starlings mixed in with them,making for an impressive sight.
 Further on the 'Wink wink' of Pink-footed Geese could be heard and at least 2500+ birds were using the grass pasture they spent so much time on last winter,which was great to see.After speaking to fellow birder Simon Brebner,who watches Paull Holme Strays on the north bank of the Estuary,it seems these birds are roosting there which is interesting.
 Dawson was quiet and the vandals have struck again,ripping the gate off the locked turnstile which the LWT had installed,there are some very sad people around!!!.
 A Common Buzzard became the fourth species of raptor for the day as it flew around near Klondyke and at Goxhill Haven a flock of at least 40 Redwing were feeding on a grass pasture there,a great sight to see.
 The final leg of the visit walking along East Marsh Road,saw more of the same being seen,with 2 Little Egret using one of the drainage ditches to search for food,as the Skitter pools were frozen over,another sighting of the Common Buzzard from earlier and amazingly another 5 Roe Deer added to the earlier animals.
 I eventually made it back to the car after a knackering 11 miles walked today,but what an enjoyable visit again.

Male Stonechat Near Grange Farm.

Male Blackie Taking Advantage Of The Local Hawthorn Crop.

Some Great Cloud Patterns Today.

Grey Wagtail,Near Winter's Pond.

Grey Wagtail,Near Winter's Pond.

Black-headed Gull,East Halton Skitter.

Black-headed Gull,East Halton Skitter.

Plenty Of Warm Gear On Today.

Part Of The Pink Flock Near Dawson City.

More Of Those Big Skies Near Dawson City.

More Damage At Dawson City.

Looking Towards The Ferry Terminal And Hull Docks.

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.