Soil Hill; Isolation week 3

Spring continued to arrive on Soil Hill, and as a result this week was perhaps the best weeks birding I have ever had here, although since being at Spurn and travelling/working I have had little chance to do such consistant patching. That said, some of the birds enjoyed in a remarkable run really have been unprecedented. 

11 April

Visit from 07.30. Total 48 species observed.

This has to be the best days birding I have ever had on Soil Hill. To start, 48 species is my highest ever total for a single visit here. Things were fairly standard for the first half of the visit, all the regulars still on their territories and the gulley was fairly uneventful. A drake Goosander flew off Ogden, and that was probably the best (Only my second seen here).

I began working the tree line down to the NK pond and here things started to get interesting. There was a very distinctive tacking noise coming from the bushes, which could only mean one thing. And there it was, a female Ring Ouzel, my first of the year. Sadly it did not sit long before it was flushed by another bird. The previous days Wheatears had now increased to six, including two stunning males.

Pretty chuffed with the morning I made my way back up to the top. Aware I was on a high species list, I decided to try again around the gulley to see if any Swallows were hunting over the fields (There was one). A bird flew over and me and vanished over the top. The impression it gave was Nuthatch, but I did not believe there would ever be another after the remarkable 2015 bird. Still, I raced to catch up with it, and there sat right at the top of a stubby tree was a Nuthatch. I was stunned. It sat for a few minutes, calling, before flying off. A remarkable occurance. 

At this point I was buzzing at what an outstanding morning it had been. But the best was still to come. I was walking past the stone circle field when I spotted two large birds soaring over Ogden plantation. The first bird was obviously a LBBG but the second was puzzling me a bit more. The way it was holding its wings reminded me of Marsh Harrier but I thought more likely it would be a young gull. However, I was wrong! The pair drifted towards the hill circling the whole time and as it got closer I could make out the cream crown on the bird, a stunning Cream-crowned Marsh Harrier. It then flew right overhead before heading northwards. 

And then, to finish the day off right, another Ring Ouzel flew over Taylor Lane high. 

-Ring Ouzel

-Northern Wheatear

-Nuthatch

-Marsh Harrier

12 April

Visit from 09.00. Total 40 species observed. 

I treated myself to a small lie-in after yesterdays success. Todays visit was less remarkable but there was still good birding to be had. The highlight was another Ring Ouzel in the fields off Taylor Lane, although very distant. 

Willow Wablers numbers now up to 8, first Whitethroat back and a single Wheatear still lingering. 

-Ring Ouzel

13 April

Visit from 13.00. Total 29 species observed.

Cold and windy conditions made me decide on an afternoon visit, hopefully to coincide with some raptors. After the last few days success, there was unlikely to be anything notable today...

Wrong! Although the hill was fairly quiet with no raptors to speak of, I flushed a smart Grasshopper Warbler at the top of the north slope tree line. The bird sat somewhat as well, rather than vanishing into the scrub, which made for a few photo opportunities. This is only my second time seeing this species here. 

-Grasshopper Warbler

14 April

Visit from 06.30. Total 39 species observed

I think my spring might have peaked today! 

It was a fairly standard spring visit, with a particularly showy Willow Warbler the highlight. No wheatears at all, so decided that it probably was not a good day for migrants. Went about counting the bottom field waders as usual but one Curlew drew my attention. I only had my bins on me, and the bird was distant so decided to grab a photo and zoom in. It did nothing to dispell my suspicions, only seemed to confirm them. I decided to take a risk and jumped the fence to get closer. On closer inspection there was no denying it. Whimbrel! I grabbed a few photos and then rushed back to observe. A really unexpected Hill addition and probably the best bird I have found there in my time. What a day.

-Willow Warbler

-Whimbrel

15 April

Visit from 06.30. Total 46 species observed

Another remarkable day on the hill, although nothing to the standard of Whimbrel. It was fairly standard until I found two Wheatears at the bottom of the north slope. Clearly these were new birds, and the female especially was very showy. 

With birds new in, despite there being nothing earlier, I decided to check the gulley again and was rewarded with an absolutely spanking male Ring Ouzel. He even showed well at one point, although all too breif. Another bird was calling as well, but I could not find it. Two more Ring Ouzels brings my spring total of this species up to 5!

At the far end of the gulley I also found a pair of Stonechat which showed very nicely. 

-Northern Wheatear

-Ring Ouzel

-European Stonechat

16 April

Visit from 06.30. Total 43 species observed

Walk started nicely with Ring Ouzel in a field off Taylor Lane. Was in exact same area as bird on the 12th so possibly the same bird, although I have not seen it in between.

Peregrine flyover was a nice highlight, as was my first reeling Grasshopper Warbler of the year. Following the song I picked up the bird perched in the sedges, showing rather nicely.

Usual contingent of Willow Warblers and single Whitethroat. At least four Snipes present in the bottom fields, three in the air displaying at the same time.

-Peregrine

-Grasshopper Warbler

17 April

Visit from 06.45. Total 36 species observed.

The weather changed from the glorious warm mornings of late, instead the hill was shrouded by low cloud and a biting cold wind. I expected much less diversity as a result but was pleasantly surprised, although there was nothing particularly notable. The previous days Grasshopper Warbler was still reeling, although from a different location, and that was the standout.

Species List:

Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Goosander, Red-legged Partridge, Common Pheasant, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Western Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Long-eared Owl, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, Ring Ouzel, European Robin, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting, Red Fox, Stoat, Western Roe Deer, European Rabbit, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, 

June at Spurn

June carried on much as May had finished, working nearly full time in the pub and working on the trip report for Canada. On the occasions I got out birding there were a number of good birds still to be had. The Golden Oriole persisted into the start of June, but as before it had was mobile and difficult to get close to.

-Purple Cloud

-Eyed Hawkmoth

We went and ringed the Peregrine chicks at the Hull gas terminal on the 01^st. They were a bit bigger than we had thought they would be, and the whole process was long and slow as a result of the size of the chicks and a BBC film crew trying to have everything their way. They were good fun to ring though. I was fortunate in that they did not scratch and bite me whilst I was ringing them. Paul on the other had was bitten by almost every single one of the chicks. The adults were bombing us the whole time that we were removing the chicks, it was a really fun morning.

-Peregrine

On the subject of raptor chicks, we also did a nest of Marsh Harriers on the 11^th. We had been monitoring a site just outside Patrington to try and locate the nest to ring them. Once we made our move into the reedbed we immediately became lost and had to fight our way through looking for the nest. Eventually we made it, and found two very healthy chicks in place. We ringed both birds and then withdrew to reduce disturbance.

-Marsh Harrier

We continued to target pulli around the Spurn area, on the 12^th we chased after the Avocet chicks on Kilnsea Wetlands. After a short run-around we caught two of the three chicks. We also did another chick on Holderness Field on the 21^st. On the 25^th we also did the Barn Owl chicks at the Easington primary school. They were not the healthiest looking chicks, and we ringed 2 of the 3 given their condition. It was fun showing them to the children, who were very excitable about the whole thing.

Ringing was generally pretty slow, a Grasshopper Warbler that we targeted on the 5^th the highlight until the 24^th when a female Firecrest turned up in the high net. It was the latest spring record at Spurn by 20 days. Something of a real surprise when I checked the nets, and the ringing highlight for the month. On a couple of occasions we tried to catch the Marsh Warblers on Beacon Lane. Frustratingly one bird bounced out of the net, and neither bird ever came close again.

-Firecrest

The tern colony suffered a lot of damage as a result of a fox breaking through the fence. We went up on the 25^th to assess the damage and ring any wader chicks present. We managed 3 Ringed Plover chicks and a single Oystercatcher. On the way back we were able to get distant views of a Bee-eater that was flying over Holderness Field, a late migrant. 

-Oystercatcher

During the later days of the month a Turtle Dove was present occasionally in Churchfield. We set up traps to try and catch it but sadly it was extremely wary and not keen to go in. What did go in the trap was a Hairy Dragonfly, the third record for Spurn. I was pretty buzzing when I saw it settled on the woodwork of the catching area. I held it for half an hour for people to come and see, before letting it go. The first time I have found a rare dragonfly at Spurn, so I was pretty excited about that.

June finished with a real bang. On the morning of the 29^th Jonnie found a cracking Squacco Heron on Kilnsea Wetlands on the way back from his night-shift on Beacon Ponds. Paul and I had got up early to try and catch the Marsh Warblers, but had once again failed, so I had gone back to bed. Next thing I knew my phone was buzzing like crazy. When I checked I saw the messages about the heron. We raced up in the truck and got excellent views of the bird perched at the back of Kilnsea Wetlands. An awesome British and Spurn tick. It became more mobile during the day, and it flew past me at several points during the day.

Species List:

Spurn Bird Observatory: Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Tufted Duck, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Gannet, Cormorant, Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Lapwing, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Whimbrel, Curlew, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Redshank, Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Sandwich Tern, Little Tern, Common Tern, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Collard Dove, Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Swift, Barn Owl, Little Owl, European Bee-eater, Golden Oriole, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher, Robin, Wheatear, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Dunnock, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting,

Saltholme RSPB & Seaton Common - Double lifer day

I seemed to be at a bit of a loss today. With the dissertation all but wrapped up it was obvious that birding was on the cards, but exactly where to go was somewhat vexing. I settled on the seemingly settled Whiskered Terns at RSPB Saltholme but got the train late morning due to waiting on news before setting off. The day got an added boost when on the train up it became apparent that a Citrine Wagtail had also decided to set up in the area, leaving me with the possibility of a double lifer day, my favourite.

It was 13.00 by the time I arrived on site, but news of the wagtail was coming out sporadically, so with no news for two hours I decided to go to Saltholme first and gather up all the goodies on offer there. Classic of course that the wagtail came back on not 2 mins after I got off my bus. Upon arriving at Saltholme I went straight to the back Saltholme hide. Before I even reached the hide I could see the Whiskered Terns fishing close, so I set up to grab some photos.

I shouldn't have bothered, as the views were even better from the hide, with both Terns fishing only a couple of meters away and performing very nicely indeed. In the end I stayed for a couple of hours watching them show off. Its always nice when the birds you twitch put on a performance and these certainly did that.

-Whiskered Tern

The Whiskered Terns were fantastic, but they were not the only marsh tern on offer, as there were a handful of Black Terns around too. The numbers peaked at 4 but that was only for a short time, with only 1 seeming to have settled with the Whiskered Terns. It didn't show quite as well as the Whiskered but at the same time it was still my best view I have ever had of this species, a really smart bird to admire.

-Black Tern

The Terns were stunning, but there was a host of other goodies on offer too. The flock of 5 Spoonbills that had been reported present on site in the morning decided to give us a flyby having been settled out of sight at the back of the lake. It was only a brief flyby, only one bird actually landed in the open before it took off again and back round with the rest of the flock. Still, its always awesome to see Spoonbills, they are such good birds.

-Spoonbill

And talking of good birds, one of the many highlights was a pair of 1st summer Little Gulls that were dancing around the lake with the terns. They remained largely distant, with only one ever really coming close but always a pleasure to see such smart birds, especially in this plumage.

-Little Gull

Couple of other quick things. A nice male Garganey was also present at the back of the lake, distant, and then failed to stick around, flying off almost as soon as I had got optics on it. And towards the end of my stay at Saltholme a Peregrine came through and sent everything up. It took us a moment to work out what had done it but the bird decided to reveal itself when it flew straight through the middle of the lake, sending everything everywhere.

-Garganey

-Peregrine

News on the wagtail had continued to be sparse, but at half 2 news came out that it had shown again so I decided to make my move and by half 3 I was on site. The description from the birders on site was that it had not pinged it, but instead had walked out of sight as seemed to be its habit of doing.

So I set up and hoped it would play ball. I was in luck, as after only half an hour the bird walked out, showing for about 2 mins, and then walked out of sight again. It did the same thing about 5 mins later, but when it dissapeared next it failed to re-show until half 8 in the evening.

The Citrine Wagtail was a female, and had a lot more yellow on it that I was expecting. It was unfortunately quite distant but through the scope the views were fantastic when it was out in the open, as they usually are. I managed to grab a couple of record shots as it trotted around before its departure to who knows where.

-Citrine Wagtail

Given the wagtails poor showing record throughout the day I was buzzing to have seen it, especially since it did not show again for over 4 hours. Obviously it would have been nice if it had shown a little better but can't be fussy with a bird like that.

One bird that did show well however was the female Pied Flycatcher in the bushes nearby the Wagtail. It came absurdly close, so close in fact at one point I could have touched it. Perhaps it had just come in and was otherwise preoccupied but whatever the reason it was really something. One of the days many many highlights.

-Pied Flycatcher

Its hard to wrap up a day like that, but having got everything I wanted for the day, all with fantastic views and at least record shots. Its days like this which birding dreams are made of. 

Species List:
Saltholme RSPB: Redshank, Swift, Dunlin, Common Tern, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Ringed Plover, Herring Gull, Black Tern, Whiskered Tern, Little Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Gadwall, Mallard, Pochard, Great-crested Grebe, Reed Bunting, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Mute Swan. Meadow Pipit, Coot, Lapwing, Tufted Duck, Spoonbill, Shelduck, Starling, Red-breasted Merganser, Garganey, Little Egret, Feral Pigeon, Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, Peregrine, Reed Warbler, Avocet, Sand Martin
Seaton Common: Lapwing, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Pied Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Citrine Wagtail, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Swallow, Sand Martin, Woodpigeon, Herring Gull, Shelduck, Carrion Crow, Greylag Goose, Linnet, Goldfinch, Pied Flycatcher, Grey Heron, Sedge Warbler, Swift,