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.
Erich's birding and biking blog 