HORNSEA MERE 2022
(PLUS ADDITIONAL SIGHTINGS FROM THE SURROUNDING AREA)
MUTE SWAN The highest count was 349 on 17th July including 31 cygnets. 183 on 16th December.
WHOOPER SWAN Recorded on 5 days in January and once in February (7 on 8th). Present on 56 days in the autumn, with the first being 9 on 27th September. In October, peak counts were 44 on 8th (plus a further 27 on the sea) and 125+ on 18th. 79 on 3rd November.
PALE-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE 1 on 8th May.
BARNACLE GOOSE The wintering feral flock numbered 160 during January and February. Returning birds arriving on 14th September, peaking at 136. Most had departed by late December.
CANADA GOOSE 233 on 5th July, 221 on 17th December.
PINK-FOOTED GOOSE The highest count in the early months was 500 on 12th February. The best autumn counts were in October with 7000 on 8th and 5600 on the 9th. The majority of the birds on these 2 days roosted on the mere then flew north early morning.
GREYLAG GOOSE Approximately 1100 roosting during October.
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE In November 2 adults on 17th and a 1w on 18th.
EGYPTIAN GOOSE The only sightings were of 1 – 2 birds between 7th – 15th March.
SHELDUCK Seen on 59 days, highest count of 10 on 1st July.
MANDARIN Seen on 49 days, mostly during the summer months. 6 on 12th and 13th July.
BAIKAL TEAL A drake on 9th January, which then relocated to Tophill Low and Swinemoor. Last seen at the latter site on 5th April. (DRM, SR, JCL, DGH, MI et al).
GARGANEY Seen on 16 days during the early spring and 41 days late summer/autumn. 2 on 18th March, increasing to 5 on 20th and remaining to 3rd April. 2 on 7th April. In July 1 on 14th, 2 on 20th and 1 – 2 seen occasionally during August, early September. 3 birds were seen regularly between 13th September to 8th October.
SHOVELER The highest count during the early months was 44 on 16th March. A good presence during the autumn with 133 on 29th September.
GADWALL Peak counts of 235 on 16th January and 308 on 15th December.
WIGEON Peak counts of 760 on 18th January and 1070 on 10th October.
MALLARD A post breeding count of 340 on 22nd July. A period of sub zero temperatures resulted in 563 on 15th December.
PINTAIL Recorded on 115 dates, the highest counts being in October with 34 on 16th.
TEAL The highest count in the early months was 106 on 18th January. Peak counts in the autumn were 176 on 26th August, 260 on 4th September, 320 on 10th October and 511 on 13th October. Cold weather resulted in 390 on 19th December.
RED-CRESTED POCHARD The only sightings were 2 on 6th January, 1 on 14th January and 1 on 10th August.
POCHARD The peak count in the early months was 192 on 18th February. Fewer numbers at the year end, the highest being 87 on 27th December.
FERRUGINOUS DUCK A female from 30th June to 3rd July (JCL, DRM, MRad, MRo, DGH et al).
RING-NECKED DUCK A juvenile on 8th October (JCL, MI, DRM, DGH et al). 3 females/juveniles on 2nd November (JCL, JC, LI, MRo et al)
TUFTED DUCK The highest count in the early months was 256 on 25th February. Higher numbers at the year end with 512 on 20th December.
SCAUP Recorded on 114 days and probably involving 20 birds. The 4 overwintering birds stayed to 27th February, with 1 remaining to 5th March. 2 on 14th March, with 1 remaining the following day. 2 on 20th March, remaining up to the 26th. In May a drake between 5th – 11th was joined by a female on the 7th. A drake from 11th to 19th July. In October 2 between 7th – 9th, with 1 remaining to the 10th. Singles on the 20th and 28th. In November 3 on the 15th, reducing to 2 on the 16th, thereafter 1 until the 19th. In December a 1w drake on the 1st and a female from the 21st to the year end.
VELVET SCOTER 3 from 19th November to 15th December, with 1 remaining to 31st December.
COMMON SCOTER Recorded on 15 days. In March, a female on 18th, drakes on 20th, 22nd and 29th. Singles on 18th April and 17th June. In October 1 on the 19th, 14 on the 20th with 1 still between 21st – 23rd. In November 1 on the 18th, 3 on the 19th, with 1 remaining to the 20th. A drake on 30th December.
LONG-TAILED DUCK The overwintering female stayed until 12th March. A drake flew over on 16th October. A juvenile arrived on 9th December and stayed up to the year end.
GOLDENEYE The highest count in the early months was 389 on 26th February. Highest at the year end was 286 on 30th December.
SMEW A drake present at Tophill and local gravel pits during the winter was presumably the same bird seen at the mere on 4th January and 10th March. In December 2 drakes on the 1st and 2nd and a redhead on 16th.
GOOSANDER Seen on 38 days, mainly in low single figures. The highest day total was 10 on 25th October.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Singles on 5th January and 25th October.
PHEASANT
RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE 2 occasionally seen.
CORMORANT A count of 376 on 7th February.
FULMAR Singles on 19th April, 28th and 30th May, 4th and 25th June.
BITTERN Only 1 sighting in the early months on 24th January. A further 16 sightings of mainly singles late summer to December with 2 on 27th August.
CATTLE EGRET 1 on 16th August on Swan island, then flew north (JCL, MRad, RK, LB)
LITTLE EGRET Seen on 176 days, with 10 between 3rd to 8th August the highest count.
GREAT WHITE EGRET Recorded on 27 days, all of singles apart from 2 on 26th May, 14th August and 22nd October.
GREY HERON Seen most days. 9 recorded on 20th and 24th August and 6th September.
GLOSSY IBIS 1 on 28th October (MRo, JCL, RT)
SPOONBILL Seen on 15 days. In April singles 1st, 6th, 13th – 14th, 2 on 18th, singles 24th and 25th. In May singles on 17th and 26th. 1 between 1st – 4th July, another 18th July.
BLACK-THROATED DIVER 1 on 19th November (DRM, JCL).
RED-THROATED DIVER 1 between 27th February – 3rd March, 3 on 20th October, 1 17th – 20th November.
LITTLE GREBE Up to 4 birds present during the year.
GREAT CRESTED GREBE Becoming scarcer at the mere. 7 on 6th July was the highest count.
SLAVONIAN GREBE In January singles between 4th – 17th and on 29th. 1 on 9th Dec.
BLACK-NECKED GREBE 1 present from December 2021 remained to 2nd April, a duration of 112 days. It was joined by 3 more between 17th – 19th March. 1 between 28th June – 3rd July. 1 between 5th – 15th October.
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE An immature flew north on 8th October (PW, DRM, MRad).
OSPREY Singles 16th and 26th April. In May, singles on 13th, 21st and 23rd. In June, singles on 1st, 2nd and 5th. Some of these sightings may have involved the same birds, as up to 2 were seen and videoed by anglers at Brandesburton fishing ponds for a while during late spring. 1 on 5th July. 1-2 on 7th September. A juvenile was present for 14 days between 22nd October – 4th November.
RED KITE 15 sightings between 14th March and 11th November. All singles other than 2 on 18th May.
MARSH HARRIER
HEN HARRIER An exceptional year with 5 records. Single ringtails seen on 18th May, 1st September & 24th October. On 24th November an adult male flew south whilst a ringtail was present late afternoon and may have roosted.
SPARROWHAWK
ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD 1 flew south on 22nd October (MRo).
COMMON BUZZARD Up to 8 on 18th March and 29th April.
KESTREL
MERLIN 1 on 17th April.
HOBBY First sighting on 19th April, last on 4th October. 5 on 28th May.
PEREGRINE 1 – 2 seen on 40 days.
WATER RAIL
MOORHEN
COOT 261 on 14th February. A post breeding count of 161 on 30th July. An increase in the autumn with 275 on 24th December.
COMMON CRANE 4 that flew south over Mere View Avenue on 1st Oct were earlier tracked through Northumberland south to Cleveland (JS).
OYSTERCATCHER Highest counts were 13 on 22nd July and 12 on 9th August.
AVOCET A single on 25th March. In May 2 on 25th and 2 on 30th. In July 2 on 11th and 1 on 20th.
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER Singles on 7 days.
RINGED PLOVER Recorded on 31 days. Highest count was 15 on 1st September.
GOLDEN PLOVER Highest count was 110 on 19th February.
GREY PLOVER Recorded on 12 days including 5 days in October and 4 in December. All singles except for 2 on 10th October.
LAPWING Maximum count of 330 on 24th December.
KNOT 2 on 27th April, singles on 1st October and 20th November.
CURLEW SANDPIPER 1 on 11th September.
LITTLE STINT In September 1 between 4th – 7th, 2 on the 12th, with 1 remaining on 13th.
DUNLIN Maximum count was 32 on 9th September.
RUFF Seen on 49 days, maximum count of 10 on 1st September.
SNIPE Highest count was 8 on 27th August.
WOODCOCK Low single figures during the winter months.
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Seen on 54 days. First on 17th May. Highest count was 32 on 14th July. Last sighting on 2nd December.
BAR-TAILED GODWIT Seen on 9 days, mainly singles except for 2 on 22nd April, 3 on 28th April, 2 on 18th July and 2 on 20th August.
WHIMBREL Recorded on 45 days with a maximum count of 25 on 14th August.
CURLEW Recorded on 87 days. 14 on 21st June.
COMMON SANDPIPER Seen on 63 days. Maximum count was 15 on 13th August.
GREEN SANDPIPER Recorded on 14 days with 3 on 22nd August.
SPOTTED REDSHANK Singles on 15th May, 22nd August and in September on 25th and 29th.
GREENSHANK Recorded on 39 days. First on 17th April. Maximum count of 6 on 5th September. Last record on 18th November.
WOOD SANDPIPER Singles on 10th May, 29th July, 14th August and from 19th to 23rd August.
REDSHANK Maximum counts were 47 on 9th July and 33 on 26th August.
TURNSTONE 1 on 11th April. In August 2 south on 26th and 2 south on 27th. In September singles on 3rd and 23rd.
KITTIWAKE Singles on 6th February and 11th March. 2 on 30th March. Singles on 11th July, 1st August and 19th September.
BLACK-HEADED GULL
LITTLE GULL Recorded on 142 days and in every month except January and December. 1st on 19th February. Seen on 27 days in May with 11 on 19th. After a slow build up, 452 on 25th July. August was disappointing with fewer birds than in previous years. In September 680 on the 8th. During a period of easterlies 20 were present on17th November. Most counts relate to early mornings which are generally smaller than evening counts. Last seen on 29th November.
MEDITERRANEAN GULL Only 3 sightings during the first 6 months, but seen on a further 46 days in the final 6 months of the year. October was the best month being recorded on 16 dates with 3 days having 4+.
COMMON GULL
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Juveniles on 23rd and 30th July and in August on 23rd, 24th and 30th.
HERRING GULL
CASPIAN GULL Seen on 10 days in August and 11 in September. Mainly singles except for 3 on 25th August and 2 birds seen on 27th and 28th August, 2nd and 7th September.
GLAUCOUS GULL Juvenile on 26th November (JCL, DRM, JC).
ICELAND GULL Adult on 19th January (JCL).
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL 218 on 25th December.
SANDWICH TERN 5 on 28th May and 2 on 29th June.
COMMON TERN First seen on 23rd April. Highest count was 24 on 12th July. Last sighting on 9th September.
ARCTIC TERN 1 on 19th April, 3 on 22nd April, 1 on 29th April. In May 8 on 2nd and 3 on the 3rd.
BLACK TERN 2 juveniles on 28th August, juvenile on 4th September.
ARCTIC SKUA Singles 20th June, 25th August and 25th – 26th October.
FERAL PIGEON
STOCK DOVE 15 on 31st January.
WOOD PIGEON
COLLARED DOVE
CUCKOO First on 2nd May. Regularly heard and seen through to 6th August.
BARN OWL
TAWNY OWL
SHORT-EARED OWL 1 on 18th January, 2 on 19th October.
COMMON SWIFT First seen 28th April. 400 18th June. Last seen on 12th September.
KINGFISHER Mainly seen late summer and autumn.
GREEN WOODPECKER 2+ at Wassand.
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER
MAGPIE Highest count of 17.
JAY
JACKDAW
CARRION CROW
HOODED CROW 1 on 17th June (MRad).
ROOK
WAXWING 2 flew NW on 9th December (JC).
GOLDCREST
BLUE TIT
GREAT TIT
COAL TIT
LONG-TAILED TIT
BEARDED TIT Regularly seen during the summer and autumn, with a count of 15 – 20 on 30th June. Low single figures through to the year end.
SKYLARK
SAND MARTIN The earliest sighting was 3 on 5th April. 220 on 24th April.
SWALLOW The first on 5th April.
HOUSE MARTIN Earliest sighting on 7th April.
CHIFFCHAFF No wintering birds seen.
WILLOW WARBLER First sighting 3rd April.
YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER 1 on 29th September.
BLACKCAP
GARDEN WARBLER First sighting on 13th May. At least 3 juveniles on 11th July.
LESSER WHITETHROAT Earliest sighting on 19th April.
WHITETHROAT Earliest sighting on 16th April.
CETTI’S WARBLER Double figures of singing males distributed around the mere in suitable habitat.
SEDGE WARBLER Earliest sighting 13th April.
REED WARBLER First sighting on 25th April.
GRASSHOPPER WARBLER Singing bird from 13th May through to July.
TREECREEPER
WREN
NUTHATCH Several sightings of 2 adults in the first 6 months, and at least 1 recently fledged juvenile in June.
STARLING 14000 23rd October.
RING OUZEL In April 1 on 15th/16th. 3 on 1st May with 1 remaining the following day.
BLACKBIRD
FIELDFARE c100 9th December.
SONG THRUSH
REDWING c100 on 13th February.
MISTLE THRUSH
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Only record of 1 on 28th August.
ROBIN
WHINCHAT 2 on 6th May. In August 2 on 16th, singles on 20th and 24th. 1 1st/2nd September.
STONECHAT 1 22nd March. 2 between 19th September and 17th October with 3 on 16th October.
WHEATEAR Recorded on 10 days in the spring and 2 days during the autumn. 4 on12th May.
DUNNOCK
HOUSE SPARROW
TREE SPARROW
YELLOW WAGTAIL Low single figures in spring and autumn.
GREY WAGTAIL
WHITE WAGTAIL 1 on 30th April.
PIED WAGTAIL
MEADOW PIPIT
ROCK PIPIT Singles on 23rd March and 4th October. 3 on 14th October.
CHAFFINCH 45 on 20th February.
BRAMBLING Up to 2 January to March. Small numbers passing through during the autumn.
HAWFINCH 1 on 3rd April (DRM)
GREENFINCH
GOLDFINCH
LINNET c100 on 14th February.
SISKIN 40 on 14th February.
LESSER REDPOLL Small numbers late autumn.
BULLFINCH
YELLOWHAMMER 22 present In March.
REED BUNTING
SNOW BUNTING 4 flew south over the south side on 13th November.
HORNSEA SEAWATCHING & SURROUNDING AREA SIGHTINGS
PALE-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE 1 on 5th January, 8 north on 18th September and 8 north on 19th September.
DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE 7 on 19th October. In November 14 south on 15th, 4 south on 16th and 5 south on 18th.
BARNACLE GOOSE 16 Rolston 18th December.
EIDER 31 on 6th Oct. A drake inland near Great Hatfield on 15th November.
SURF SCOTER A drake photographed off Hornsea on 10th September (RL).
COMMON SCOTER c1500 off Ulrome on 29th July.
VELVET SCOTER Singles Ulrome 2nd May and 1st October. Off Hornsea: 1 south 28th September and 2 south 19th October.
LONG TAILED DUCK Singles off Hornsea on 27th January, 10th March, 2nd April and 20th November. 1 off Ulrome on 21st April.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Highest count of 5 off Hornsea on 19th October.
GREAT SHEARWATER 1 north 17th August (DGH).
SOOTY SHEARWATER Only low single figure counts with 3 on 17th August and 3 on 29th August the highest.
MANX SHEARWATER 514 north on 17th August.
CORMORANT 480 north on 5th March.
SHAG Singles on18th April, 30th May, 29th August and 10th September.
GREAT NORTHERN DIVER 1 on 5th March, 2 on 31st March. In November 1 on 11th, 3 on 18th, 1 on 19th and 1 on 20th. 1 on the sea at Ulrome on 27th May.
BLACK-THROATED DIVER Singles off Hornsea on 28th September, 19th October and 18th November.
RED-THROATED DIVER In March early morning northerly movements of 290 on 5th and 277 on 6th.
RED-NECKED GREBE 1 north 18th November (DGH).
GREAT WHITE EGRET 2 in the Aldborough area 1st – 3rd January and 1 on 27th December.
HEN HARRIER A ringtail at Cowden on 24th October.
MERLIN 1 off Hornsea seafront on 16th September.
GOLDEN PLOVER 230 North Cliff on 1st March.
WHIMBREL 20 south on 30th June and 20 south on 1st August.
SABINE’S GULL An adult north 29th August (GT, JCL).
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL 1 on the seafront 23rd August.
CASPIAN GULL 1 – 2 seen on several days on the seafront during August/September.
ICELAND GULL A juvenile south on 6th March (DRM).
LITTLE TERN 1 off Cowden on 9th May, 2 off Hornsea on 12th May.
BLACK TERN 2 on 17th August.
POMARINE SKUA In September 3 on 15th, 1 on 16th, 2 on 26th and 1 on 28th. 8 on 19th October.
LONG-TAILED SKUA 4 on 29th August. In September 3 on 15th, 1 on 16th, 2 on 18th, 2 on 19th and 1 on 26th. 1 on 19th October.
LITTLE AUK 1 on 31st January. In November 2 on 19th and 8 on 20th. 1 on 15th December.
LITTLE OWL Birds seen in several areas bordering the town.
LONG-EARED OWL 1 on the old railway line on 19th November (DRM, JL, MI).
SHORT-EARED OWL 2 at North Cliff and another south on 19th October. 1 North Cliff the following day.
PALLID SWIFT 1 over North Cliff boat yard, then again over Morrow avenue 30th October. (LCB, DRM, JCL, DGH, GT, LI). A Swift sp over Hornsea seafront 24th November was likely to be this species (DGH).
RED-BACKED SHRIKE A juvenile on the old railway line 23rd September (NL, LC et al).
WAXWING 2 Hornsea garden centre 6th December (LI).
HOODED CROW 1at Cowden on 13th May (MRo).
MARSH TIT 1 at Rolston 30th/31st August (GR).
WHITE WAGTAIL 1 Goxhill 25th April.
BLUE-HEADED WAGTAIL 1 at Bewholme Hall on 14th April.
WOOD LARK 1 in/off Hornsea seafront 12th October (RL).
SHORE LARK 1 at Aldborough 7th November, 2 there the following day (AJ).
YELLOW BROWED WARBLER 1 at Mappleton on 20th October.
FIRECREST Singles at North Cliff and Mappleton on 20th October.
BLACK REDSTART A male at North Cliff boat yard 21st October.
FIELDFARE 475 at Goxhill on 6th November.
RING OUZEL 1 North Cliff 20th October.
MEALY REDPOLL 2 North Cliff 21st October.
TWITE 7 on 9th November at Aldborough.
SNOW BUNTING At North Cliff singles on 4th March and 29th September. 3 at Cowden on 24th October. At Aldborough in November, 4 on 7th, 2 on 13th, and 5 on 14th. 6 there on 10th December.
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
W. ATKINSON
L. C. BALL
S. BROOK
D. BRYAN
S. BRYAN
L. CARTWRIGHT
J. COX
A. ELKIN
B. M. JACKSON
C. HINE
D. G. HOBSON
I. HOWARD
M. IBBOTSON
T. ISHERWOOD
L. IVES
A. JOHNSON
R. KING
J. C. LAMPLOUGH
M. LONSDALE
N. LUTHER
R. LYON
P. MARTIN
T. MARTIN
S. MASON
D. R. MIDDLETON
M. RADFORD
M. ROBINSON
S. ROUSE
G. RUSSELL
P. SCOTT
J. SMITH
G. TAYLOR
R. TOMLINSON
P. WEBSTER
R. WILLISON
Merebirders 