Erich's birding and biking blog

22/10/22 High Eske NR/Leven Canal My first Saturday at High Eske NR since early 2020 and was expecting the worse as on weekend the the reserve is often trashed by so called fisherman, however this time despite a few at the northern end displacing the wildfowl to the other end things weren’t too bad. Nothing different among the reasonable number of ducks present but had a Dunlin and three Snipe on the summer islands. My intension anyway was to walk Leven canal. Good to see plenty of water but only Greylag Geese, Teal and Little Egret seen but at least one female-type Marsh Harrier was in the area. Walking further I had several Jay and Redwing then on reaching Waterloo Bridge two Cattle Egret flew up onto the cattle pen by the road to the airfield. Managed to get a few shots off before they flew into deep cover. I had been aware of Cattle Egrets in the area since summer but this was my first chance to see them. Possibly bred in the area but not heard officially.

Cattle Egret-Leven Carr near Waterloo Bridge

As well as two Marsh Harrier there was a Peregrine causing havoc. Walking back there were still good numbers of Common Darter and Migrant Hawker.

Common Darter-Leven Canal

Yellow-browed Warbler in Cottingham On Sunday 23/10 there was a good movement of birds through my garden including Goldcrest and Redwing but these were eclipsed by a Yellow-browed Warbler for a few minutes late morning. Wet in the afternoon but I saw it again on Tuesday 25/10, a day I also saw a Chiffchaff. This time it was closer and got a few shots through the window.

Yellow-browed Warbler in Cottingham

I hoped to see it again and get better shots but I’ve not seen it since.

24/10/22 Tophill Low NR Start off checking Watton NR from Barmston Drain where two Ruff were still present along the regular female-type Marsh Harrier. Continued on to Wilfholme Landing but had nothing much apart from c40 Pink-footed Geese flying south. Had intended walking further up the drain to get a look at Hempholme Meadows but the weather look threatening so went onto the reserve proper. A choice as it became very wet although drier when I set off home. Caught up with Jeff and Chris Barker then checked D res and managed to see three Arctic Tern as well as the Black-necked Grebe and three Red-crested Pochard but the Smew was again elusive. Walked down to South Marsh East where the Avocet and a moribund Pink-footed Goose were still present.

Avocet and Pink-footed Goose on South Marsh East

For a change there was something see from South Marsh East hide with several hundred Starling in a pre-roost gathering over the reedbed and tens of Redwing coming in to roost in South Scrub. Also Cetti’s Warbler singing and a female-type Marsh Harrier over. From back-2-back hide I had 2 Green Sandpiper and a Curlew but the best was at least three Marsh Harrier coming in to roost.

Curlew, Green Sandpiper and male Marsh Harrier on South Marsh East

26/10/22 Leven Canal The plan had been to park in Leven and walk at least as far as Waterloo Bridge but failed to find the car park and end up at the airfield where I parked up and walked the track to Waterloo Bridge. It says no public access at the gate but we used to drive down a few years ago and people still walk it. Kept an eye out for vehicles though. Nothing much on the marsh at the end of the road so continue walking west finding an elusive Great White Egret in tall vegetation then a bit further on five Cattle Egret in an area of open water.

Three of five Cattle Egret on Leven Carr

I walked east as far as Fox Covet Bridge but the land beyond look rewarding so headed back to the airfield. Still a female-type Marsh Harrier in the area and Common Darter, Migrant Hawker were still on the wing. There been a far amount of rain recently so thought it worth a look at Swine Moore from Weel Road the way back.

Swine Moor from Weel Road

As hoped there was some standing water with several hundred Greylag Geese, 100+ Wigeon, 50+ Lapwing and a few Pied Wagtail but no other waders or Teal.

Failing to see Eastern Yellow Wagtail at Kilnsea Wetlands On 27/10, but too late to do anything about it, an Eastern Yellow Wagtail was identified at Kilnsea Wetlands. Still there on Friday morning but with rain forecast I thought I’d wait for Roy. Getting there early afternoon we learnt it had last been seen about an hour ago before flying off. Checked the field then went to the Wetlands Hide. There were a fine interesting birds to see including my first Lapland Bunting for several years. However it was at the back of the scrape and sometime took an effort to relocate.

Distant Lapland Bunting-Kilnsea Wetlands

Also a couple of Stonechat were flitting about just below the hide then later a Whooper Swan and a Spoonbill flew in.

Also seen were a good number of Black-tailed Godwit, an Avocet, a few Mediterranean Gulls and a Barn Owl. Late afternoon Roy found a Fieldfare at the back of the scrape which was joined by an identified small passerine. He tried to get me on it but directions weren’t too good then almost as it disappeared, never to be seen again, someone identified it as the wagtail.

30/10/22 Aike to Watton NR On Sunday morning I went to Aike then took the path to the river bank where I saw my first Short-eared Owl for a few years.

Short-eared Owl-Aike Carr

Walked north along Barmston Drain to Wilfholme Landing then continued to Watton NR but nothing of note so back tracked. Had a Grey Wagtail at Wilfholme Landing then walked back to Aike along the road.

Grey Wagtail at Wilfholme Landing

31/10/22 Tales of the River [Humber] Bank chapter 1 I was getting a bit tired of travelling through/round Beverley so on Monday I went to Welton Waters. A few changes since I had last been but I’ll maybe cover these in a later blog dedicated to the area. One change, and the main reason I stopped going, was the main pit [watersports pit] had in recent years since the use of a dye to suppress weed, been devoid of wildfowl, but today it was packed. Mainly Wigeon which numbered circa a thousand but also 50+ Coot and 15+ Little Grebe. Reaching the river bank I walked west to the airfield. Had two Water Rail calling in the ditch and three Marsh Harrier over the marsh. Walking back I continued along the river bank to the southeast corner of the pit where I found a male Scaup with 16 Pochard and only three Tufted Duck. Also on site were several singing Cetti’s Warbler.

Male Scaup-Welton Waters on watersports pit.

4/11/22 High Eske NR On Friday I walked to High Eske NR from Hull Bridge.

Fieldfare at Eske Manor

Getting there found little wildfowl due I was told by two girls on paddle board earlier although there were also a good few anglers on site. However did have a family party of Whooper Swans.

Whooper Swans at High Eske NR

Walked north and had a Jay at the top end then continued to the canal but had very little from the river bank except a Stonechat again and the usual Buzzards and Marsh Harrier. Back at the pit had two Redshank and a Kingfisher.

Tales of the River [Humber] Bank chapter 2 Went to North Cave Wetlands on 6/11 primarily to get a new bins strap from In Focus but thought it would be daft not to have a look round. A Long-tailed Duck had been found at Welton Waters but with out a tripod decided to leave it until another day. Along the western path, although I saw the soil moving on a mole hill, I failed to see the animal. The only other picture I took was of a Robin.

Made it to Welton Waters on 8/11. Again there were a large number of Wigeon on Watersports pit. No initial sign of the Long-tailed Duck but walking east along the river bank I eventually located it feeding with Coot. By this time the wind had become strong not helping with a duck that was underwater much of the time but got a few shots then headed back before the wind got too bad.

Probable 1st winter drake Long-tailed Duck-Welton Waters

9/11/22 New Ings, Cottingham The dog has been lacking in enthusiasm recently but on Wednesday he was happy to walk the length of Northmoor Lane to New Ings. As usual for a large area of “wilderness” with little regular disturbance it was unusually quiet but did have a nice Stonechat.

Stonechat-New Ings, Cottingham

12/11/22 Tophill Low NR Went to Tophill Low NR with Roy on Saturday afternoon. Started in the members hide where we finally managed to see the Smew reasonably close. It was also not constantly diving probably because it was moulting into a drake causing it to preen regularly. We got a few shots but the light wasn’t good. Then lost it likely having flown to the river.

First winter drake Smew on D res, Tophill Low NR

No hide yet but railings on the D res middle hide mound

We headed south but met John coming back having only seen Green Sandpiper of note on South Marsh East so did Watton NR from Barmston Drain. The Great White Egret was showing well. Also eight Little Egret flew in.

Great White Egret and Little Egrets on Watton NR, Tophill Low NR

A female-type Marsh Harrier was again in the area.

13/11/22 Swine Moor Set out on Sunday morning not sure if it was a good idea because of fog. Parked at Hull Bridge and walked south along the river bank to view Swine Moor. Although a little murky it was good enough to see everything on the ground although maybe not flying over. There were several hundred Greylag Geese but nothing else among them. Even better were over a thousand Wigeon which I scanned without luck for American. Further on I had several hundred Lapwing among which were 26 Golden Plover, 6+ Snipe and a single Redshank, as well as 30+ Teal. Walked back along Barmston Drain having Kingfisher over both river and drain.

14/11/12 Leven Canal Monday morning I went to Leven and this time manage to park near the beginning of the canal. Although I wanted to cover the whole canal [although not in one day] I was bothered that the section between Leven and Fox Covet bridge might be a bit dull [although I thought summer would be interesting with singing migrants] and but it was interesting from the start with singing Cetti’s Warblers and as I continued west good numbers Redwing, Fieldfare, finches and tits. In fact it was the area near Waterloo Bridge that was let down with the only egrets being a small number of Littles. From the track to the airfield I managed to find 6 Redshank and seven Teal but no sign of any Marsh Harrier in the area. Walking back had a few tens of Pink-footed Geese at Hall Garth but many behind the hedgerow and using my camera as a “scope.

Pink-footed Geese at Hall Garth, Leven

Tophill Low NR is again open all week but with some areas still off limits. See the Tophill Low NR blog for details.

Unfortunately another birding War and Peace but now I’m up to date and with long dark nights I should be able to post more regularly.

Tags: Avocet, Cottingham, Curlew, Fieldfare, Green Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, Kilnsea Wetlands, Lapland Bunting, Little Egret, Long-tailed Duck, Marsh Harrier, Mole Hill, Pink-footed Geese, Pink-footed Goose, Robin, Scaup, Short-eared Owl, Smew, Spoonbill, Stonechat, Swine Moor, Tophill Low NR, Welton Waters, Whooper Swan, Yellow-browed Warbler