Soil Hill; Isolation week 7

The week started with a bang but sadly a northerly weather system arrived on the 10th significantly reducing activity on the Hill for most of the week. Despite this, at the end of the week my Soil Hill yearlist stands at 87, with a few species still possible before the summer sets in.

09 May

Visit from 07.00. Total 54 species observed.

It was a remarkable morning with my highest ever species total for a visit to the Hill, the first time I have ever breached 50. And what timing, since today was the eBird big day, and I was locked in a race against my girlfriend in Brazil to see who could score the most species.

I managed a full house of commoner species with a few nice additions as well; my first Blackcap of the year on site and a flyover Red Kite, for which I managed to completely botch my camera settings. The Sedge Warbler was still in place and showing nicely, as was the Stonechat and a single Wheatear. Three Collared Dove were also a nice surprise as I wandered up Taylor Lane early morning. 

-Red Kite

-Meadow Pipit

10 May

Visit from 07.15. Total 35 species observed.

Today was a slog in cold wind and drizzle. There was one redeeming feature, and that was a Hobby that came bombing over Taylor Lane as I was walking up. The bird never stopped and sadly continued powering through and headed south. There was still some activity from established migrants, with the Sedge Warbler still uttering a few notes in between strong blasts of wind.

11 May

Visit from 07.15. Total 35 species observed.

Another cold and windy day, with a light dusting of snow during my walk. Very little to report as the cold conditions clearly took their toll on activity. 

12 May

Visit from 07.00. Total 39 species observed.

The wind continued but the overall conditions were warmer and more pleasant than the previous days. Stonechat, Wheatear and Sedge Warbler were all present, but otherwise it was a fairly standard assortment of species on offer. 

-Jackdaw

13 May

Visit from 07.15. Total 38 species observed.
The composition on the Hill continued to remain consistent with no notable change in the species seen. A Sand Martin was the first I had seen since the wind changed to northerly on the 10th, but activity of this species seems to have taken a hit due to the weather change.

14 May

Visit from 07.00. Total 41 species observed.

The wind finally dropped and with more consistent sun there was a boost in activity. Notably in the sky with a smart group of 10 Swift blogging over the Hill all morning, coming low at times. A Coal Tit singing in the top plantation was a surprise having not heard one here since the end of April. Sand Martin numbers bounced back to at least 10 birds blogging around. A flyover Mistle Thrush was also of note, since the birds seemed to have vanished from Taylor Lane around the end of April. Was nice to bump into JJL.

-Oystercatcher

15 May
Visit from 09.15. Total 43 species observed.
I decided I could not be bothered with the early start today, and so headed up to the Hill later in the morning. With the sun already out and established I has hopeful of a raptor but sadly it was not to be. The standout of the morning was finally seeing the Green Woodpecker that has been yaffling from the valley below Taylor Lane. It perched very nicely along the fence line of former Koi farm. A distant Raven was nice, but sadly too distant for a photo. Nice to bump into NK at the bottom of the Hill.

-Green Woodpecker

Species List:

Soil Hill: Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Red-legged Partridge, Common Pheasant, Rock Dove, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Swift, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Red Kite, Little Owl, European Green Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Hobby, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Sedge Warbler, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting, Western Roe Deer, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Orange Tip,

Whitehaven & St Bees

Whilst working in Cumbria I have had a little more time to head out birding. I visited RSPB st Bees a couple of times and also been around Whitehaven Harbour. Bird wise there was nothing particularly out of the ordinary, although a Spotted Flycatcher in the sycamores around the farmhouse was very nice. There are also a few Stonechats as well as a single Wheatear. As for the harbour, there was a limited array of species but some Rock Pipit were nice, as was a small group of Redshanks. At both locations we found hybrid Hooded x Carrion Crows. 

-Carrion Crow x Hooded Crow

-Redshank

-Meadow Pipit

-Stonechat

Species List:

RSPB St Bees: Common Scoter, Common Pheasant, Grey Partridge, Rock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Black-headed Gull, European Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Red-throated Diver, Northern Fulmar, Great Cormorant, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Barn Swallow, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Wren, Common Starling, Blackbird, Robin, Stonechat, Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Common Linnet, Goldfinch, Yellowhammer,

Whitehaven Harbour: Mute Swan, Rock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Common Guillemot, Black-headed Gull, European Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Magpie, Jackdaw, Starling, Robin, Rock Pipit,

Filey

Now that lectures are finished I can go and twitch anything I want. Having found a new cheaper train to get to Filey I decided to go and have a look at the Surf Scoter there. last years visit had been in torrential rain so I hoped to be able to get some better photos in better light, as this time there was not a cloud in the sky.

So when I arrived the scoter took some picking out due to the very strong glare over the bay, and the fact that it was distant. It did come closer and I had hoped the glare would drop but sadly it did not and all I managed were photos of its silhouette. At least it made for a nicer day out than last time. From the photos you can see the white behind the head but the colours on the bill are lacking. That being said, they are somewhat lacking anyway due to the bird only being a 1st winter male.

Its nice to be able to connect with this species again, but I think I will be back for the next one too in an attempt to finally get a decent photo of one. 

-Surf Scoter

One of my reasons for coming to Filey besides the Scoter were the Purple Sandpipers. I love this species and with the spring arriving I knew I might not get some this winter. Fortunately there were still plenty on the brig, including a pretty sweet flock of around 60 birds accompanied by a solitary Dunlin. I managed to get some nice shots as they were on the right side of the light. It really brought out the purple sheen on some of the individuals. A real treat.

-Purple Sandpiper

This was my first proper trip to the coast besides Hartlepool so I was keen to knock off a few coastal yearticks. I managed to plow through 5 additional yearticks; Razorbill, Fulmar, Gannet, Kittiwake and Rock Pipi, as well as Red-legged Partridge from the train. Not a bad haul. In addition to that there were nice views of other coastal species, particularly Red-throated Diver when an individual I had not noticed popped up right in front of me as I was watching the Scoter. There were also signs of spring everywhere, particcularly on the cliff tops where there were at least 10 parachuting Meadow Pipits.

-Eider

-Fulmar

-Gannet

-Red-throated Diver

-Meadow Pipit

-Kittiwake and Guillemot

The weather was fantastic and it made it a really pleasant day out, with awesome birds too. What a way to start my months off from work...

Species List:

Filey: Red-legged Partridge, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Redwing, Fieldfare, Black-headed Gull, Collard Dove, Feral Pigeon, Pied Wagtail, Lapwing, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Mallard, Rook, Pheasant, Skylark, Graylag Goose, Grey Partridge, Herring Gull, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Turnstone, Gannet, Oystercatcher, Purple Sandpiper, Guillemot, Cormorant, Razorbill, Surf Scoter, Shag, Dunlin, Meadow Pipit, Eider, Redshank, Curlew, Red-throated Diver, Rock Pipit, Great Black-backed Gull, Linnet, Stock Dove, Kestrel, 

Spurn Weekend Day 3

It all started very quickly today. Ed and I were walking back from the pub down canal bank when we heard 5 seconds of song coming from the reeds. Obviously it was dark but we both immediately turned to each other knowing that this was not something either of us had heard before. We waited but it did not sing again so I went to the Collins app on my phone and played a couple of songs of birds that I thought it could have been. We did not find one that was an exact match but we could eliminate a lot of possibilities just from that.

We went back to charge the phone and discuss it, where we reached the conclusion that, based on song, location and time of day, that it was either a nightingale (Eds thoughts) or a marsh warbler (my thoughts). We waited for Pete to get back before we went up again, but it did not sing again.

At first light the next morning I went up canal bank hoping it would be singing, but it was not. There were other birds singing now, including Whitethroat and Reed Warbler. Sadly this will be the one that got away, though I am almost certain that its a marsh warbler.

Having got up so early I then headed to numpties where there was a steady stream of Swifts trickling down, presumably the remnants of yesterdays movement. A few other hirundines were also moving but nothing major. A flock of Bar-Tailed Godwits came over, which was a yeartick for me and I was very pleased with that.

After a while the movement dried up and so I decided to head to the ponds to finally have a look at my little terns again after so long away. Beacon lane was quiet, and there was no sign of the phalarope on holderness field. The only bird of note really was a Common Buzzard circling quite low being mobbed by crows.

I did however get my first dragonflies of the year in the hedge near the wetlands. I saw a medium sized dragonfly take off from the grass and land on the hegde, where I got bins on it to see that it was a Broad-bodied chaser, a superb adult male. I grabbed a few photos (a lot) and then saw that there were a few females around as well, at least 3, so I took a few snaps of them too. Its a dragonfly tick for me at Spurn this one, so I was pretty chuffed with that.

-Broad-Bodied Chaser

It was at this point that I checked the bird news app to see what was about. I was distraught to see that a possible pacific swift had been reported up the coast and was coming south, about an hour ago. Panicked I went to the ponds for a quick look, saw my terns and then rushed back down to numpties praying that whatever it was, it had not gone over yet.

When I got back to numtpies there was already a crowd assembled there, but they had obviously been there a while as some of the guys were calling it quits already. It was not difficult to see why, as the steady trickle of swifts from the morning had now dried up completely, so that if any unusual swift were to come down it would be the only bird in the sky. But I did manage a yeartick here, and it was another finch with a Lesser Redpoll blogging about. In fact it was so quiet I helped pass the time by photographing the Meadow Pipit parachuting on the wires in front of us, serenading us while we waited.

-Meadow Pipit

By mid afternoon there were only a handful of birders left so I decided to head down to the new numpties behind the warren to see if there was anything about. Of course there was not but if anything had of come past I would have been able to see if, unlike yesterday. Another birder had come with me but he could pick up nothing either.

We headed back to numpties, where now only Pete and Rob were. Pete said that there was a good chance we would be leaving pretty imminently due to the fact that it was so dead. At this point the other birder came over to say goodbye when he pointed to a bird behind me and said, in the rushed tone when you know what it is but can't take it in, 'whats that'. At which point we all spun around. The image I saw them I will never forget, as a big brown swift with a distinctive white belly was flying down about 5 meters away from me.

Pete was onto in like a shot and began crying 'Alpine Swift, Alpine Swift' before radioing it out. It all happened so fast and I tried to get the camera out of the bag it was well on its way by the time I had managed it, leaving me with only a stab at a record shot.

But like I said, the image of that bird when i first saw it was remarkable and I will never forget it. Once it had gone it all began to settle down, Rob was thrilled, he had been waiting there for years to get one and he finally had it, and it more than compensated for yesterdays bee-eater for me, what a bird, superb.

-Alpine Swift

That gave us the boost to stick around a little longer but it returned to a state of nothing happening. Ian and Steve both arrived to chat about the swift but then they both left, though Rich and Graham set up at numpties. Were it not for the swift we would have left early but as luck would have it we stayed.

But late afternoon things had still not picked up until the guys at numpties shouted that they thought they had a bee-eater near the bluebell. Rich ran off to drive to where it was to confirm, and the rest of us sat scoping the bird from a long way off. As soon as we had received confirmation that it was one I jumped in Robs car and we raced up to find a small gathering already assembled from the news, and a superb bee eater chilling on the wires.

I only got a couple of shots with the light and the bird moved further away along the wires as we watched. It was fantastic to see, at long last after a weekend of dipping the species here I finally saw one and it was sat down so I could properly appreciate it, and a stunning bird it was too, there are not many better looking birds on the British list that this.

-European Bee-Eater

It had been quite close but gradually moved along the wires until it was only really visible through the scope. As a result we drove round to the other side of Kilnsea where we could watch it, not as close as it had been but clear enough views, and we got to see it in flight and catching bees, what more can you ask for than that?

After maybe half and hour to an hour of watching it dropped over the hedge and that was that. I was thrilled to bits about it, superb bird. We drove back down to the warren and I went to bed for a bit as I was knackered. Given the form of the day I did not miss anything, with hardly any birds having been present, but those that were were nothing short of exceptional, what a day. Its one of the best days birding I have had for a long time. Fantastic.

Species List:
Numpties Watchpoint: Swift, Swallow, Siskin, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Woodpigeon, Starling, Goldfinch, Herring Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Dunnock, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Collard Dove, Common Gull, Carrion Crow, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, House Martin, Mallard, Curlew, Little Tern, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Feral Pigeon, Oystercatcher, Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Jackdaw, Shelduck, Magpie, Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, Grey Plover, Tufted Duck, Ringed Plover, Spotted Flycatcher, Knot, Whimbrel, Great Tit, Kestrel, Common Buzzard, Dunlin, Cormorant, Lesser Redpoll, Tree Sparrow, Alpine Swift, Sand Martin, Gadwall, European Bee-Eater, Gannet, Lesser Whitethroat, Puffin,
Holderness Field and Beacon Ponds: Avocet, Shelduck, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Starling, Swallow, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Little Tern, Dunlin, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Grey Heron, Broad Bodied Chaser,

Orgreave Lakes

With nothing outstanding anywhere that required any major attention, my focus remained firmly on the patch. I made my way over for 9.00 for another lovely morning in the sun, the only difference from yesterday being that there was a chilly breeze putting an edge on the temperature.

We starting by making up where we had left of yesterday. As soon as I reached the river I heard a Blackcap from the far side of the river, which soon became 2. This time though I managed to get glimpse of them as they moved along the bank. Sadly it was not much and the record shot of this year-tick reflects that. A massive bonus was a Kingfisher that I must have flushed as I descended the bank to get closer to the Blackcaps.

-Blackcap

The small lake was quite quiet and I was unable to see any of yesterdays plastic. The usual suspects were all present though but nothing much had changed. Further round it was much the same story. The Little Ringed Plovers had been put up and were not really settling anywhere to get a proper view of them. There were 3 Redshanks moving between the 2 lakes depending on where the dog walkers pushed them.

Over by the rocks the male Wheatear was still present and looking absolutely fantastic in all his glory. This time I set up the scope to try and get some digiscoped shots of him to see how they came out. I think they came out very well, and it certainly allowed me to get probably my best shots ever of the species (Which is my fave!!). What a fantastic bird.

-Wheatear

While I was watching the Wheatear I heard a Curlew calling and looked to see it flying overhead, before looping back round and doing the same again. Its the first time I have seen one on the patch this year, and is not a common species here. Its probably the only major difference between today's and yesterdays species count.

-Curlew

I had caught a brief glimpse of at least 2 gyppo geese still from the far bank but they had drifted out of sight. With that in mind it came as a shock when I rounded the point to where I should have been able to see them... and they were not there.

As I continued round though I realised I could not see them as they had taken up on the bank and were merrily feeding on the plains. I approached steadily over around a 15 min period until they were between 10-15 meters away. All the while I was taking snaps of them through the scope. And then horror! A dog walker was coming from behind, and this would undoubtedly push them back into the water. In one sense the dog walker stopped to ask what I had, and had an interest in the birds, but still carried on his way and the birds flew off. Never mind, it was great to still see the plastic around!

-Egyptian Geese

All the digiscoping had given me a thought of trying to upgrade my record shots for a number of common species that I always struggled to get close to, namely Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. I had some fantastic chances with Skylarks but it always flew off at the last second, and the pipits were generally too skulky. I did manage one effort of Meadow Pipit which worked quite well. I reckon I'm getting the hang of this digiscoping lark.

-Meadow Pipit

I finished my walk round and came back to the small lake for a scan before I headed off. I was pretty pleased when I saw the Maned Duck was indeed still present. It had come down to the eastern side of the island and was drinking from the lake. I took a few more shots of it, for even though its totally plastic its still a rather smart looking bird.

-Maned Duck

So it was another lovely morning on the patch with some great species, including yearticking Blackcap. Now why can't soil hill be as productive as this?

Species List:

Orgreave Lakes: Kingfisher, Reed Bunting, Blackcap, Long-Tailed Tit, Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Egyptian Goose, Common Buzzard, Goosander, Herring Gull, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Graylag Goose, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Robin, Dunnock, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Black-Headed Gull, Wheatear, Coot, Moorhen, Great Crested Grebe, Curlew, Magpie, Cormorant, Linnet, Carrion Crow, 

Spurn Day 54

Having wandered down the point yesterday I was unsure of what to do with myself for today. It was due to rain all morning, so I was tasked with cleaning the Warren which I took to with relish. I have to say the Warren has never looked so clean and tidy!

After I was finished I headed over to canal scrape to have a look since it was not far. There were odd bits and pieces including the Redshank with only half a leg. There were a couple of snipe, but you only really saw them when they flushed. As for none water birds, there were a couple of Willow Warblers and a pair of Whinchat on the fence line at the back. On Redshank, not the limpy one, came and landed very close to the hide, so I decided to grab a few photos.

-Redshank

The weather continued to be quite grey so I decided to return. On the way back I called in on Paul and Tim who were ringing. They had caught a Meadow Pipit (They had caught a few but were dealing with one when I arrived). I got to take a few pictures of this bird that is subtly very beautiful.

-Meadow Pipit

when up close. I was then offered the chance to release it which was a fantastic experience.

The final tern task was to be complete in the afternoon, the removal of the gear from the beach. So that’s where I headed after lunch. It only took an hour, but it was hard going. In the end though we cleared it all and left the hut for another year.

While up there I had a look at the ponds but there was not much going on there, though there was a Little Grebe, which is a nice record, if not rare but not common. I arrived back at the warren absolutely finished and fell asleep until the tern count.

I may as well have stayed in bed as the count was poor and nothing else was moving. As such we called it a night early and rounded off a quiet days birding.

Species List:

Canal Scrape: Whinchat, Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Coot, Mallard, Redshank, Snipe, Willow Warbler, Meadow Pipit,

Seawatching: Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Arctic Skua, Common Gull, Gannet, Fulmar,