Well todays forecast was, Mist, however I walked out of the door to, sunshine. I was travelling back home today and I was making stop off’s at Hornsea Mere and North Cave Wetlands.
The Long tailed Duck was the attraction at Hornsea Mere, I arrived to no birders on site, only fishermen, who had just landed a magnificent Pike, I’ve never seen one of these, so it was a spectacle to see. Returning back to the birds, which there were a lot, I knew this was going to be long process in finding this bird, I started scanning.
Lots of Goldeneye were here, more than I’d ever seen in one place, a fantastic number. I started by looking thru the many Tufted Duck for the Scaup that were here, but it was becoming a pointless exercise, as they were all mainly at a great distance from where I was standing. Other birds around were, Gadwall, Mallard, a couple of Pintail, Shoveler, Wigeon, Greylag Geese, with Barnacle Geese way over in the far field, Gulls about were Black headed, Herring, Gret Black backed, and Common Gulls, by this time I hadn’t located the Long tailed Duck.
I kept scanning, moving around the area, after about an Hour and a half hours, it popped up pin front of me, couldn’t believe how close it was, I watched it for a good long time whilst it was feeding, then it finally settled down, it was good to have good views of it.
Setting off again, home bound, North Cave Wetlands was going to be my next stop, before the final leg of the day, Brambling were the attraction at North Cave. On arrival my first port of call, of course, was the Little Butty Van, food was needed. After food I got the gear together and moved out towards the feeders, stopping in a couple of places before hand to see House Sparrows, Bullfinch and then a fly thru Curlew.
At the feeders were Blackbirds, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Woodpigeon, Dunnock and eventually after the wait the female Brambling, then after what seemed an age the male Brambling showed up, sadly they weren’t together at the same time, a single Red Kite also flew thru.
I then decided on moving down to Crosslands hide, where Egyptian Geese had been reported, as I got nearer, I could see most of the pools were frozen over, I couldn’t see anything about, until I got nearer to the hide where there was a wood pile and a few small birds about Reed Bunting, Blue Tit and Great Tit. It was here that I met another couple, we got talking, they were out looking for the Little Owl, I took them down to where I had seen it last I was on a visit, it wasn’t there, we eventually found around the back, in a tree. Walking back to the car a Kestrel flying thru was the last been seen of the day, whilst a Water Rail was to be the last heard.
Video of the Day can be seen HERE
35 species seen today with 7 species added to the list Barnacle Goose/Brambling/Curlew/House Sparrow/Little Owl/Long tailed Duck/Red Kite
Birds at Hornsea: Barnacle Goose, Black headed Gull, Common Gull, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Great Black backed Gull, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Long tailed Duck, Mallard, Mute Swan, Pintail, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Wigeon
Birds at North Cave Wetlands: Blackbird, Blue Tit, Brambling, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Greylag Goose, House Sparrow, Kestrel, Lapwing, Little Owl, Long tailed Tit, Pheasant, Pink footed Goose, Red Kite, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Shelduck, Teal, Wigeon, Woodpigeon (89/200)
Blue Tit
Brambling ♀
Brambling ♂
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Greenfinch ♂
Reed Bunting ♂
Huddsbirder 