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Early September 2025-Tophill Low NR Henge hide

2/9/25 Went to Tophill Low NR on Tuesday morning. Started in the D Res Centre hide, looking for the Black-necked Grebe I’d failed to see last time. There was no sign, so I moved to Middle Hide. Eventually, I picked it up, although it was very distant to the north. Also saw a juvenile Goosander fly in, but also remained distant. Again, Kingfisher was showing regularly on North Marsh, and a Hobby flew along the river.

Kingfisher-North Marsh-Tophill Low NR

Nothing at Hempholme Meadows, which was dry, nor any migrants walking back along “straight road”. A hummingbird Hawk-moth was again at the butterfly garden.

Hummingbird Hawk-moth; Red Admiral; Migrant Hawker-Butterfly Garden-Tophill Low NR

A pair of Common Blue butterflies was lingering over a “snake pile” near South Marsh East.

Male Common Blue butterfly-Tophill Low NR

A few Ruff and Curlew on South Marsh East, but couldn’t find anything else. Nothing of note at Watton NR.

3/9/25 On Wednesday, I took a walk around Willerby Carrs early afternoon during a break in the weather. Again, the hope was for Whinchat at Haltemprice Farm, but it was very quiet, not helped by the wind; however, I had a few Swift around the flood lagoon. They seem to be hanging on later this year. Walking back along Wood Lane, I had a mixed flock of tits, including a Goldcrest at Carr Farm, but very little at the Cottingham end of Wood Lane, but I did find a Green Carpet moth, surprisingly my 1st this year, as in the past they’ve been common both in the trap and field. Checking my records, this is my 1st since May 2022.

Green Carpet moth-Wood Lane-Cottingham

4/9/25 Got out on Willerby Carrs on Friday morning to beat the rain. This time the wind was light and I found a Whinchat at Haltemprice Farm. As usual, it was very mobile and I lost track of it, but did manage a few photos.

Whinchat-Haltemprice Farm-Willerby

Also a Whitethroat. A Grey Wagtail was in the ditch by the flood lagoon, likely the bird I saw in flight yesterday. A good number of Chiffchaff by Carr Farm. Also had a dead Mole.

Mole-Carr Farm-Willerby

6/9/25 Went to Tophill Low NR on Saturday morning. Had two drake Red-crested Pochards on D res, my first of the autumn.

Red-crested Pochard-D Res-Tophill Low NR

Two Ringed Plover were on South Marsh East as well as few Curlew, Ruff, Green Sandpiper and Snipe.

Ringed Plover-South Marsh East-Tophill Low NR

The highlight of the day was finally getting to use the new Henge Hide overlooking South Marsh West and O res.

The Henge-Tophill Low NR

Inside The Henge-Tophill Low NR-showing the central girder camouflaged by “bog oak”.

Good to see unfixed seating as the fitted benches in the older hides makes it uncomfortable using a ‘scope with a hide clamp. Higher than the old L-shaped hide it replaces, and even more from the open under level, which allows unrestricted viewing of the reservoir. Also gives a good view of the River Hull and the fields to the south and east. Unfortunately, nothing much to see.

South Marsh West; O res; River Hull-from The Henge-Tophill Low NR

There is a series of notices on the way up the hide that give information on its construction and the origin of its name.

Eristalis pertinax-a hoverfly-Tophill Low NR

The Belted Galloway were blocking the gate to South Scrub. Fortunately they are very placid.

Belted Galloway-South Scrub gate-Tophill Low NR

On Watton NR, I caught up with the Great White Egret I had seen earlier in flight, as well as a single Barnacle Goose with the Greylag.

Great White Egret; Barnacle Goose-Watton NR-Tophill Low NR

Common Darter-Tophill Low NR

A second visit to South Marsh East yielded my first Little Stint of the year, marking my first sighting in two years.

Little Stint; Green Sandpiper-South Marsh East-Tophill Low NR

7/9/25 Common Wainscot and Angle Shades were new for the year in the trap on Sunday morning, the latter in previous years more numerous.

Common Wainscot; Angle Shades

8/9/25 Went back to Tophill Low NR on Monday morning. Had my first returning Pintail on D res, where Red-crested Pochard had increased to seven.

Pintail-D res-Tophill Low NR

Sat by the Centre pond checking for Spotted Flycatcher, which I had missed on my previous two visits. Had at least one in distant trees, but they didn’t hang around.

Field Vole-East Pond-Tophill Low NR

Headed to South Marsh East where the Little Stint was still present along with much the same waders as Saturday.

Ruff-South Marsh East-Tophill Low NR

On Watton NR I had my first three Wigeon of the autumn.

9/9/25 With three Curlew Sandpiper turning up after I left yesterday, I had to go back to Tophill Low NR. Fortunately, they were still on South Marsh East. They were, however, distant and not long after I went round to the back-to-back hide, they flew off high south and weren’t relocated.

Curlew Sandpiper-South Marsh East-Tophill Low NR

Wader numbers were lower, with no sign of the Little Stint. I did, though, get Green Sandpiper and Dunlin on my Henge hide list. With the current massive influx of Gloss Ibises, I was on the lookout. Seems currently concentrated to the south, but one was seen flying over after I left.

10/9/25 Dark Sword-grass was new for the year in the trap on Wednesday. Only my 3rd, the previous in October 2013 and August 2022.

Dark Sword-grass moth

11/9/25 On Thursday morning, I visited High Eske NR for my first time in nearly two months. I preferred to avoid the site during the summer holidays, particularly as the weather was fine. Had hope for waders but the water level was high and only managed a Green Sandpiper and two Snipe, with six Curlew later.

Snipe and Green Sandpiper-High Eske NR on the permanent island.

High Eske NR with the summer islands just visible below the water

Also, nothing of interest among the small number of ducks, but my first Swift for a week [a few claims of Pallid Swift recently, but gave them a good grilling] as well as Sand Martin, House Martin and Swallow, which had been scarce in recent days.

Small Copper [they seem to have increased in the Hull Valley this year]; Ruddy Darter-High Eske NR

12/9/25 Walked to Haltemprice Farm late Friday morning. At least one Whinchat since present, but very mobile and distant in increasing wind. Didn’t go any further because of the wind.

Tags: Angle Shades, Barnacle Goose, Belted Galloway, cm, Comma butterfly, Common Blue Butterfly, Common Darter, Common Snipe, Common Wainscot, Curlew Sandpiper, Dark Sword-grass moth, Eristalis pertinax, Field vole, Great White Egret, Green carpet, Green Sandpiper, High Eske NR, High Eske/Pulfin NR, Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Kingfisher, Little Stint, Migrant Hawker, Mole, Pintail, Red Admiral, Red-crested Pochard, Ringed Plover, Ruddy Darter, Ruff, Small Copper, South Marsh West, The Henge, Tophill Low NR, Whinchat

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Categories Birding in Yorkshire, Birds in East Yorkshire, Butterflies, Cottingham, Dragonflies, High Eske NR, Hoverflies, Hull, Insects, Mammals, Moths, Tophill Low NR, Watton NR, Willerby

2022 in 12 pictures

1 Jan

With Covid fears receding I got back to long distance twitching for the first time since early 2020. However continuing improvements at my favourite site Tophill Low NR both to the works and reserve meant restrictions varying from total closure to the current situation with some areas at the north of the reserve still not fully open and some hides yet to be replaced. However I spent most of the year either on foot or relying on others for transport this only ending in October. Fingers crossed nothing beyond my control will prevent me enjoying 2023 to the the full.

January The first picture is the Baikal Teal at Tophill Low NR. I was the second person to see the bird on the reserve on the 12th [see here], Roy was checking the righthand side of D reservoir and me the left. The actual picture was taken on the 26th when I relocated the bird for John Hirschfield [see here].

Baikal Teal with Wigeon-D reservoir, Tophill Low NR-26/1/22

February One of the two Red Kites in Cottingham on the 9th [see here].

Red Kite over Millbeck Wildlife Area, Cottingham- 9/2/22

March Back to Tophill Low NR for drake Smew on Watton NR on the 8th [see here]

Drake Smew with Goldeneye-Watton NR at Tophill Low NR-8/3/22

April Maybe not the best picture but my first Brambling in Cottingham for many years on the 10th is a “green birding” mega [see here]

Brambling-Park Lane, Cottingham-10/4/22

May Another Tophill Low NR bird this time Great Reed Warbler, both a site first and my Yorkshire bogey bird, on the 20th. A bit controversial and I have already said something here but now more in the past I will say this bird was viewable from a public footpath and in my opinion even with the reserve itself closed the news of bird could have gone out. It was present 18 May until 12 June. It wasn’t my bird and I didn’t want to cause issues with the reserve management so I kept it to myself. I still get grief from a lapsed Tophill regular over this issue.

Great Reed Warbler-Watton NR at Tophill Low NR-20/5/22

June For a change a reptile. My first Adder which I stumbled across at Fen Bog YWT on the 22nd [see here].

Adder at Fen Bog YWT-22/6/22

July This time a damselfly. Small Red-eyed Damselfly breeding at a private site on Snuff Mill Lane, Cottingham [see here].

Small Red-eye Damselfly-Snuff Mill Crossing Cottages, Cottingham

August One of my few trips beyond Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The Cape Gull at Grafton Water, Cambridgeshire on the 7th [see here]. Now on the British List as Kelp Gull.

Cape Gull-Grafham Water. Cambridge-7/8/22

September I saw my first Willow Emerald Damselfly at North Cave Wetland YWT on 28/8/22 [see here]. I then found one in Cottingham, Millbeck Wildlife Area on the 30th [see here] followed by a few along Swine Bank, Hull/Willerby then more at Northcliffe Wood YWT on the 2nd of this month [see here] including the one below.

Willow Emerald Damselfly-Northcliffe Wood YWT-2/9/22

October My first Scilly twitch since dipping Great Blue Heron in April 2015 for Blackburnian Warbler on Bryher on 17th [see here].

Blackburnian Warbler on Bryher, Isles of Scilly-17/10/22

November This month it is a self found Bittern at Tophill Low NR on South Marsh West on the 27th [see here].

Bittern-Tophill Low NR on South Marsh West-27/11/22

December This month brought two new “green birding’ wader ticks with Black-tailed Godwit in Cottingham on the 6th [see here] and Greenshank in Willerby on the 20th [see here]. The former being the least likely so the last picture for the year. Worth noting that both birds were on flood prevention lagoons created after the 2007 flooding.

Black-tailed Godwit-Cottingham-6/12/22

Ten most viewed posts of 2022

The Baikal Teal on Swine Moor and the Cottingham area.

Baikal Teal on Swine Moor and the aftermath of Storm Eunice

Cottingham, Willerby and the finding of the Baikal Teal at Tophill Low NR

Willerby Carrs, Cottingham and Baikal Teal at Tophill Low NR

Twitching Cape Gull

Cape Gull at Grafham Water

First time back at Tophill Low NR after the summer closure.

12/9/22 Back to Tophill Low NR

Willerby, Cottingham and the Baikal Teal at Tophill Low NR

23-26/1/22 Willerby Carr, Cottingham and the Baikal Teal again

Twitching the Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler on Bryher

My first month back on the road including Tophill Low and High Eske NR’s

22/9-19/10/22 “On the road again” [High Eske NR and Tophill Low NR]

Cottingham, Willerby and the Smew on Watton NR in February

Cottingham, Willerby Carr and Smew at Watton NR

First week of 2022 including Tophill Low NR and Cottingham

First Week of 2022-Cottingham and Tophill Low NR

Twitching the Eleonora’s Falcon

Eleonora’s Falcon in Kent

Tags: Adder, Baikal Teal, Black-tailed Godwit, Blackburnian Warbler, Brambling, Cape Gull, Eleonora's Falcon, Fen Bog YWT, Goldeneye, Great Reed Warbler, Greater Bittern, Northmoor Lane Flood Prevention Scheme, Red Kite, Small Red-eye Damselfly, Smew, Wigeon, Willow Emerald Damselfly

Tales of the river (Hull) bank chapter 3-Ice and mud

20 Dec

16/12/22 Tophill Low NR On Friday afternoon I got my first chance to bird away from Cottingham this month when I went to Tophill Low NR with Roy. No surprise that the reserve was mostly frozen although there was some open water on D Reservoir.

Partly frozen D reservoir

After scrutinising some strangely marked female Pochard close in and discounting anything more interesting I located the drake Smew further up the reservoir. Walking past the lagoons we flushed a Woodcock.

A trench dug as part of the North Lagoon excavation which if it goes to plan should turn it back to one of the best sites to get close to passage waders.

Had my first chance to walk beyond back-2-back hides path and see the mound for the new South Marsh West/O reservoir hide close up.

The mound awaiting the new South Marsh West/O Reservoir Hide

The path through South Scrub to Watton NR hide now takes a different route.

The more accessible Watton NR hide. My first view from the back.

The view from the Watton NR hide is fine my only concern being the reduced screening necessitated by the lower position increasing disturbance by walkers along the drain. Only a small area of water was free so little to see today.

Watton Borrow Pit largely iced over.

A quick walk in South Scrub produced no Woodcock or Long-eared Owls. Next was South Marsh West which was also solid and no sign of the Bittern I saw late November although it hasn’t been reported since anyway, Did hear Water Rail and Cetti’s Warbler. Looking from the other back-2-back hide we had a male Marsh Harrier coming into roost.

19/12/22 High Eske NR Finally the freeze that had kept me off my bike so far this month broke and as isn’t unusual in the Uk it went from ice to spring. Admittedly overcast with some chance of rain and quite windy but I hurried the dog’s morning walk and was at High Eske NR late morning. Still largely frozen but as it is connected to the river it has some movement and thus some open water when other areas are fully frozen.

High Eske NR from the east bank with open water on the west side.

My last visit was on the 30th November when I had a Great White Egret, my first on the reserve proper with all previous being along the river to the north, and later two redhead Goosander.

Great White Egret and Goosander-High Eske NR-30/11/22

Looking through the duck I soon located possibly one of last month’s Goosander. I briefly saw a drake Smew but took a while to relocate it and was beginning think I had just seen a Black-headed Gull. I suspect this is the original Smew seen at Tophill Low NR that arrived as a redhead before moulting. It was originally on D reservoir but later moved to Watton NR to be replace by an adult drake then disappeared when the borrow pit freeze over.

Drake Smew-High Eske NR

Also along with the usual flock of Redshank was a Dunlin. Walked north to view the fields north of Leven Canal. Had a couple of distance female-type Marsh Harrier on Leven Carr as well as a decent flock of Lapwing and two Little Egret but again I failed to locate any Cattle Egret. The flock of c40 Mute Swan were still in fields west of the river and eventually I located the Whooper Swan. Also a few Curlew and a large Greylag flock but couldn’t find any other geese.

20/12/22 Greenshank on Willerby and Derringham Flood Prevention Scheme I’ve neglected Willerby Carrs recently as I’ve got into the habit of letting the dog pick the route but on Tuesday I headed that way with out any reluctance. Started from The Garth. I have recently seen this path labelled “Abbots Walk” on a map, which is the address of the two houses at the started of the path, so will use this in future. You wouldn’t think that two days ago the ground was frozen as it had reverted to the default winter setting of mud. Little doing as far as Haltemprice Farm except a small flock of Skylark. I walked the damp scrub to the north of the farm building but didn’t flush any Snipe. Also no wintering Stonechat yet. However with the amount of water in the “moat” I had hope that the flood lagoon might be interesting.

Water flowing well in Haltemprice Farm “moat”.

Not full but there was some water in the northeast corner and as I got near a pale long legged wader flew in. Approached with care and my initial suspicion, Greenshank, proved right.

Greenshank with Teal and Mallard-Willerby and Derringham Flood Prevention Scheme

My first in the area although Marc Rotherham heard one nearby in August. Got close enough to get a reasonable picture then after contacting Roy I back tracked.

Greenshank is a spring and autumn passage wader at similar sites to my recent Cottingham tick, Black-tailed Godwit, {see here] but in smaller numbers. It does also winter in small numbers, although can’t recall having one in Yorkshire, as well as a “less scarce” breeder in Scotland [1080 pairs-Hancock et al 1997].

I had hoped to continue on to check the wet paddocks at Willerby Carr Farm but the dog thought otherwise. Had a few Fieldfare just before I got back to The Garth.

Fieldfare-Abbots Walk, Cottingham

Tags: Fieldfare, Goosander, Great White Egret, Greenshank, Mallard, Smew, Teal, Tophill Low NR, Watton NR, Willerby and Derringham Flood Alleviation Scheme

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Categories Birding in Yorkshire, Birds in East Yorkshire, Cottingham, High Eske NR, Hull, Tophill Low NR, Watton NR, Willerby

6/12/22 My first Black-tailed Godwit in Cottingham

6 Dec

For a change on Tuesday morning the dog headed for Middledyke Fields, instead of up Park Lane to his favourite field. Nothing much there and we continued to the flood alleviation scheme.

Cottingham & Orchard Park Flood Alleviation Scheme

There had been some surface water last time we’d looked so I had some hope of something different. I wasn’t disappointed with fairly close wader which by its size and the length of the bill I immediately identified as my first Black-tailed Godwit for the village. Although mobile and flushed by a dog walker it remained on the flood alleviation scheme.

Black-tailed Godwit-Cottingham & Orchard Park Flood Alleviation Scheme

Black-tailed Godwit is a very rare breeder [c55 breeding pairs] in the Uk including a current reintroduction scheme on the Nene and Ouse Washes in Cambridgeshire (British Birds Vol.115 p648). Locally they can be seen in sometimes large numbers along the Humber particularly in late summer/autumn when smaller numbers appear inland. Also a smaller number overwinter including at North Cave Wetlands YWT were I saw two recently [see here]. This article discusses inland godwits although largely in France. The only wildfowl today were a Greylag Geese with a few domestic geese in two, the Mallards usually seen on the the adjacent Dane Park fishing pond and a single Moorhen.

Mallard, Greylag and Domestic Geese-Cottingham & Orchard Park Flood Alleviation Scheme

I had seen a few Teal back in November and Gadwall are seen in winter.

Also plenty of gulls.

Herring, Great Black-backed, Black-headed and Common Gulls-Cottingham & Orchard Park Flood Alleviation Scheme

I see Little Egret regularly here but none today.

I texted Ricky who fortunately had business locally so dropped by and although now distant I was able to show him the godwit.

Tags: Black-headed Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Gull, Cottingham and Orchard Park Food Prevention Scheme, Great black-backed Gull, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Mallard

Comments 2 Comments
Categories Birding in Yorkshire, Birds in East Yorkshire, Cottingham, Hull

Signs of Spring around the Cottingham area.

1 Apr

10/3/22

***Mistle Thrush singing on Station Road***

Had my first Chiffchaff singing on Middledyke Fields Thursday evening. Early so wondered whether it might have overwintered but only got brief views so couldn’t tell if it was of the Siberian race.

11/3/22 Had my first Small Tortoiseshell butterfly of 2022 on Canongate this morning. Too mobile but needn’t have worried as I encountered several more on my walk. Also a male Brimstone but they rarely stop. I had a singing Chiffchaff in Oppy Wood but no sign of yesterday’s bird so likely a single mobile bird. Only one other local sighting so far at Burton Bushes. No sign of any Siskin.

The emergence of butterflies today was the signal to put the moth trap out for the first time this year catching a single Common Quaker. A species expected early spring.

12/3/22

***Wild Primrose-N.of Haltemprice Priory***

13/3/22

***Sparrowhawk with Woodpigeon-Middledyke Lane***

14/3/22 Had at least two Chiffchaff on Willerby Carr this morning so now arriving in numbers. Also a good of Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstone butterflies on the wing.

15/3/22

***Common Green Shield Bug-Millbeck Lane***

Chiffchaffs singing at Millbeck Wildlife Area on Tuesday morning and a friend had several on Snuff Mill Lane fields.

A flock of Whooper Swan flying north at dusk near Waterworks Cottages were my first in the village but had seen a flock over Haltemprice Farm a similar time last year that would have flown over Cottingham.

Had Beautiful Plume moth on the kitchen door this evening.

17/3/22 A walk to Beverley Parks

***Buzzards displaying over Beverley Parks***

19/3/22

***Chiffchaff-Millbeck Wildlife Area . My best shot so far!?***

22/3/22

23/3/22

***Comma butterfly-Millbeck Wildlife Area***

24/3/22

26/3/22

A walked round Willerby Carr on Saturday evening added Red-legged Partridge at Southwood Farm, the only other record this year being along the approach road to Tophill Low NR and a Snipe over Carr Farm, again the only the records so far being at Tophill Low NR.

***Red-legged Partridge off Abbots Walk***

28/3/22 Having seen Canada goose occasionally on Northmoor Lane, just outside my Cottingham Patch, a pair over Park Lane on Monday morning could finally be added to the patch year list.

Heard what I assume was my wintering Blackcap in better song by Church View early evening. However I have yet to encounter any migrants.

29/3/22 Walked round Willerby Carr early Tuesday evening. Nothing note worthy bird-wise although there were no Wigeon at Carr Farm but they might not yet have departed [still present on Saturday] properly. Pete Scot among others had seen a Water Vole in the drain along Swine Bank last week. I had seen a large swimming rodent on Saturday but couldn’t exclude Brown Rat which I had seen in the area before, however today after seeing some disturbance in the water managed to get up close to “Ratty” the Water Vole. My only other records in the area were one along Willerby Low Road and another in Oppy Road, both in this decade.

30/3/22 A walk up Park Lane on Wednesday evening added Red-legged Partridge to my Cottingham Patch year list.

31/3/22 The end of March we seems to have returned temporarily to winter. However Chiffchaffs were still singing Middledyke Fields/Oppy Wood

Despite an early arrival of Chiffchaff I haven’t encountered any further migrants but hopefully after this brief chill early April proper spring bird migration should start along with the emergence of more butterflies and moth and maybe early dragonflies. Told there were two Blackcap at Millbeck Wildlife Area this evening but didn’t connect.

Latest update on Tophill Low NR access https://tophilllow.blogspot.com/2022/04/tophill-tours-limited-access-to-reserve.html?m=1&fbclid=IwAR26uAywHpzFb35rnSk2zqN8dwoZl7PZ6wg40nGg1g6ISCYjIVviCYU8aqY Basically no general access but booked escorted tours.

Tags: Beautiful Plume, Chiffchaff, Comma butterfly, Common Buzzard, Common Dog-violet, Common Green Shield Bug, Common Quaker, Little Owl, Middledyke Fields, Mistle Thrush, Peregrine, Red Fox, Red-legged Partridge, Rook, Small Tortoiseshell, Sparrowhawk, Water Vole, Wild Pansie

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Categories Birding in Yorkshire, Birds in East Yorkshire, Butterflies, Cottingham, Hull, Insects, Mammals, Moths, Willerby

Red Kites over Cottingham

9 Feb

3/2/22 More early signs of spring this morning with a few Chaffinch starting to sing, the odd Dunnock and a Greenfinch in display flight on Dunswell Road.

4/2/22

7/2/22 Monday morning managed to see a Little Owl at Burn Park Farm again but this time outside of its nest hole. Had a Siskin with Goldfinch in trees to the north and a large flock of Redwing flying over. Back at the farm both owls were showing, one in the nest and another on an adjacent branch.

8/2/22 A few Siskin still in Oppy Wood on Tuesday morning.

9/2/22 Had my first Skylark on my Cottingham Patch Wednesday morning with two over fields north of Millbeck Wildlife Area. Back in the Wildlife Area I saw a distant raptor to the north. Looked interesting and through my bins identified as Red Kite with a second bird nearly. Hung around for a good few minutes and got several shots but always distant. [Y=83, C=59] My first Red Kite in East Yorkshire were in the winter of 1999/2000 when two lingered at Risby Park. At the time these proved popular with birders but early in the 2000’s birds mainly from the reintroduction scheme at Harewood House, West Yorkshire spread out to nest at sites including Drewton Manor and the Wolds around Market Weighton and now it is possible in Winter to see a large number coming into roost near Nunburnholme. I now see small number most years around the village including a very low bird over the village centre in spring last year [see here]. I know of a very local breeding pair but will respect the landowner and not publicise, although I’m sure some reading this will have already seen them. Most of my records fit with wintering or migration but I can’t exclude local birds exploring.

Red Kite over Millbeck Wildlife Area, Cottingham

Reminder that Tophill Low NR is now closed until April. See here for details. I’ll try to give any updates in further postings. Watton NR is still viewable from Barmston Drain.

Y =year total of birds so far. C=Patchwork Challenge score for Cottingham.

Tags: Kestrel, Little Owl, Millbeck Wildlife area, Oppy Wood, Red Kite, Roe Deer, Siskin, Treecreeper

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Categories Birding in Yorkshire, Birds in East Yorkshire, Hull, Mammals

Smew! Second time lucky at Tophill Low NR

28 Dec

22/12/18 With the weather on Saturday forecast to be better than recently I had already decided to go out so when a drake Smew was reported at Tophill Low NR and Wilbur showing no interest in going out my plans were made. However on arriving in the visitor centre I learned there had been no further sightings since LJ had found it mid morning. After a look for myself over D res and seeing the lingering female Scaup also seen earlier I headed south. No sign on O res so headed for Watton NR. Although again no sign of the Smew there was plenty of birds including Little Egret and a pair each of Goosander and Pintail. However only a single Greylag Goose. Little on the South Marshes with only a Little Egret seen on South Marsh East.

28/12/18 Think I other estimated Saturday’s mildest and should have worn another layer as I spend the next few days fighting off a cold but was feeling better on Friday morning. Wilbur was also more lively than recently so took him out but only made it part way to Creykebeck power station. Getting back to the park early afternoon I got a message that the Smew was back at Tophill Low NR. This time on reaching O res viewing screen the bird was present and not too distant.

Drake Smew at Tophill Low NR on O Res.

After getting a few shots I headed for Watton NR but no sign of the Goosander or Pintail but there was again a Little Egret and a good number of geese, both Greylag and Canada as well as a Domestic Goose. Walking back through South Scrub I thought I could hear Whooper Swans but although I could still hear them there was initially no sign from L-shaped hide. However six Whoopers, a family party with four juveniles, shortly drifted into view from the cover of O res wall.

Whooper Swans at Tophill Low NR on O res.

Couldn’t see the Smew from either L-shaped hide or the viewing screen although the light is difficult near dusk from the latter. Again little on South Marshes with again only a Little Egret on East section.

Postscript on “Shag at East Park, Hull“.

After dipping the Smew on Saturday RL went to East Park to see the Shag. He found it now had a black plastic bag around its neck. MF didn’t see the bird on Wednesday.

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Shag at East Park, Hull-RL

Tags: East Park Lake, Shag, Smew, Tophill Low NR, Whooper Swan

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Categories Birding in Yorkshire, Birds in East Yorkshire, Hull, Tophill Low NR, Twitching, Uncategorized

Shag at East Park, Hull

17 Dec

17/12/18 Apart from twitching the Royal Tern on Anglesey last Tuesday the only birding I’ve done recently had been locally with the dog.

Royal Tern-Traeth Lligwy, Anglesey

Raven-Traeth Lligwy, Anglesey

This doesn’t mean I don’t get to see much, as a Little Egret has been seen on the north side of Cottingham a few times recently with another lingering in fields north of Springhead GC. Even better last Wednesday managed to see Peregrine, Merlin, Little Owl and Green Woodpecker.

This morning the dog wasn’t interested in going out so with a Shag in Hull at East Park Lake since at least late last week and the weather better, got out on the bike for the first time in a while. From the feeding area [although ‘feeding’ is no longer encouraged] the bird was visitable and although the guy I spoke to seemed to think it was a Cormorant, on closer inspection it was clearly an immature Shag.

First winter Shag-East Park Lake, Hull

Goosander-East Park Lake, Hull

A few Goosander were also in the area and after getting a few pictures set off round the lake to count them. Thirty had been reported earlier and my count was in the same ball park.

Black-headed Gull-East Park Lake, Hull

Didn’t see them myself but of interest Jay and Mistle Thrush are on site.

Tags: Anglesey, birding., Black-headed Gull, East Park Lake, East Yorkshire, Goosander, nature, outdoors, photography, Raven, Royal Tern, Shag, Traeth Lligwy, Yorkshire

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Categories American Birds, Anglesey, Birding in Yorkshire, Birds in East Yorkshire, Hull, Twitching Wales

Twitching Waxwing with Wilbur

20 Mar

20/3/17 Got a text from RL early afternoon about 23+ Waxwings in Hull at the Junction of Hotham Road South and Wold Road. Had been raining heavy all morning and Wilbur was restless for a proper walk so as it was only a small diversion to my Willerby Carrs walk [see here] took this route. Met another regular dog walking birder and thought he was going to follow me but he baulked at going down the very muddy Wood Lane. Got a message that the Waxwings had flown but on arriving found MU photographing some with his mobile phone through his telescope. Only four left and just got in one shot before they flew behind shops and didn’t return by 4pm.

Waxwings on Wold Road, Hull

Carrion Crow off Wold Road eating what appears to be a Woodpigeon squab.

Apart from a flock of Fieldfare that alighted near Haltemprice farm I had little else of note although there were still a few Wigeon and Teal on flashes north of Carr Farm and Lesser Black-backed Gulls were seen regularly.

Wilbur at the back of Springhead GC

Tags: Carrion Crow, Hull, Waxwings, Wilbur, Willerby Carrs, Wold Road

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Categories Birding in Yorkshire, Birds in East Yorkshire, Hull, Twitching, Uncategorized

2/1/17 Birding around Hull

2 Jan

2/1/17 Had a slow start to 2017, only managing a couple of hours around Cottingham on New Year’s day and had nothing unusual. Tuesday morning went out with RL with the intention of counting the Goosander in Hull. Started at East Park where we could only find five.

Goosander on East Park Lake in Hull

Great Crested Grebe on East Park Lake in Hull

Next to Costello Playing Fields [Peter Pan Park] where we had eleven then to nearby Pickering Park where we had another three.

Goosander on Costello Playing Fields Lake in Hull

As it was nearby we then checked with out luck, Hessle Sainsbury’s and Aldi car park for Waxwing. Thirty had been on Spring Street earlier but had flown off but headed that way incase they had returned. Hadn’t got far when twelve were reported off Hessle Road at Strickland Street/Goulton Street junction. Arriving, there was SM who had again found them. Got a quick record shot then joined him under the trees.

Waxwings Strickland Street/Goulton Street in Hull

There were no nearby berries but Steve had been getting them coming down to a puddle in the road. Managed to get a few clear shots of one through branches before they all flew off east and didn’t return.

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While hoping for their return we had a Peregrine over several times before disappearing off east in close pursuit of a feral pigeon. However it returned ’empty handed’ and sat on a distant lighting gantry.

Peregrine from Goulton Street in Hull

Five Waxwings were seen a little later at Hessle Sainsbury’s.

Getting in manage an hour with the dog in Cottingham KGV Rec and fields behind and added a few to the year list including Reed Bunting and Fieldfare.

Year List: 45

Tags: Costello playing fields, Cottingham, East Park Lake, Goosander, Goulton Street, Great Crested Grebe, Hessle Aldi, Hessle Sainsbury's, Hull, KGV Rec, Peter Pan Park, Pickering Park, Strickland Street

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Categories Birding in Yorkshire, Birds in East Yorkshire, Cottingham, Hessle, Hull, Twitching

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