It's A...Nice Day...For A...White Wagtail Day

A wander around Ulrome/Barmston was a pleasant change of scenery yesterday. The small scrape towards the sea usually has something lurking and yesterday was no exception - six White Wagtails no less.

White Wagtail at Ulrome scrape

Three of six White Wagtails

Also present on the large body of flood water in the fields were 2 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover and a Shelduck.

The small cliff faces are home to several Sand Martin colonies and about 20 or so birds were checking out the available properties.

Sand Martin

Numerous Skylarks filled the air with song all morning and Meadow Pipits joined in every now and then.

Meadow Pipit singing on the ground

This morning it was cool again and I went for a walk along the beach and sea front as the tide was ebbing. Nine Sanderling and a Turnstone along with a Common Sandpiper made the journey worthwhile.

This and two below - Common Sandpiper

Wednesday was a nice morning (but cold) and I managed to find a Grasshopper Warbler in Heslop's. No photos of course for this species, although I've managed some good ones in the past.

While I was listening to the Gropper a Roebuck came walking along the track. He obviously didn't see me as he got very close before deciding I wasn't part of the scenery 😂

Male Roe deer

 I took some video before I got a bit worried that he was coming right up to me, so I moved the camera and he got the message to move off.

The number of Shoveler has been quite impressive over the recent week or so, with up to 30 seen at any one time.

Shovelers flying east

Back to today for a final photo, this one from our garden and my first Dark-edged Bee-fly of the year. Lovely little insects they are too.

Dark-edged Bee-fly

Common Buzzard V Marsh Harrier

 A territorial dispute broke out over the Mere this morning with a Buzzard and a Marsh Harrier flashing talons at each other. Not sure who came out the winner though 😀

Marsh Harrier left, Common Buzzard right

Early butterflies are now being seen quite regularly, but are still scarce.

Small White

Speckled Wood

A Barn Owl was hunting along the south side again this morning. Enjoying the spell of dry weather I think.

Barn Owl

Grey Squirrels are not my fave mammal but when a photo opportunity arises one just has to go for it.

Grey Squirrel in Wassand

Blackcaps are not as numerous as I thought they would be yet, but there's time of course. Males arrive before the females in order to claim their breeding territories ready for the ladies.

Male Blackcap

Wild flowers are everywhere now and I found both Dog Violet and Early Dog Violet close by Weatherhill.

Dog Violet

Early Dog Violet

White Dead Nettle

Ground Ivy

I also came across a white Forget-Me-Not which I think may be Water Forget-Me-Not.

Water Forget-Me-Not

As well as butterflies there are now lots of bees and hover flies to be seen. Tricky blighters to id these insects.

Orange-tailed Mining Bee

Tawny Mining Bee

Furry Drone Fly

Tiger Marsh Fly

There is so much going on now that these blog posts could be very long indeed if I didn't take care not to outstay my welcome on your device of choice, so I'll end there and pick up the continuing development of spring here in Hornsea in a few days time.

End Of An Era

 Since June 2011 when I first started visiting the Mere on a regular basis I have been on a quest to get a decent, unobscurred photo of a Cetti's Warbler.

I've been close on many occasions but none of the images was just what I was after.

Until today.

This morning along the south side I got the one I was after.

Nearly...

come on...

singing too! But not quite out in the open...

Almost...

Yes!

Better!

Best. Got it 👍

I also thought I had video of the bird singing but it turned out the camera operator got it wrong and pressed the right button at the wrong time 😂

So what do I do next? I'm not sure but something will occur to me over the coming days. For now I can rest easy and just enjoy the Cetti's whenever I come across them.

Continued Rain, Continuing Arrivals

 Despite the cr@p weather and extremely soggy fields the welcome summer migrants continue to invade our lands.

If they had any sense they would hang around sunnier climes a bit longer, but then again they don't know what the weather is like until they arrive by which time it's too late 🤣

Willow Warblers are now an everyday occurence, joining Blackcaps and the well-established Chiffchaffs. Swallows are new in over the last few days, with Sedge Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat arriving this morning. No pics yet.

A Whooper Swan was found at last this morning, my first of the year at the Mere. By this time we've usually had several small flocks landing for a while, on their way north to their breeding grounds.

Whooper Swan with Mutes, taken through a hedge

Yet another Brown Hare came running towards me this morning and got very close before it realised I was in its way and diverted into the set aside.

Brown Hare approaching

Brown Hare just about to turn left

Yesterday morning (it was sort of dry for a while!) I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker preening atop a branch. It had a birds-eye view of me so I couldn't get close enough for a better image.

GSW sitting out in the open

The bluebells are out in the woods and copses along with their white counterparts. Just waiting for the Wood Anemones now. Note that bluebells are toxic to humans and dogs, so If you ignore best practice and pick bluebells anyway for whatever reason, do remember to wash your hands before you handle anything edible or you may end up being a bit sick.

Blue and whitebells

A few Roe Deer were making sure the crops don't get too high which is very helpful of them. I'm not sure everyone will appreciate their efforts though.

Roe Deer

Back to Saturday now. You may remember the last nice, warm, sunny day we had? 19 degrees if my memory serves me well, sodding different to today's 10 degrees!!

The Marsh Harriers were up and doing early on and while I was watching them the highlight of the morning flew by - a Brimstone butterfly. It was way too far away for a decent photo but when it landed on a bush I couldn't resist...

Brimstone (cropped)

Brimstone (uncropped)

As I was concentrating on the Brimstone I had not noticed a Common Buzzard that was in the long grass just 40 yards away. I soon took notice when it flapped into view but I wasn't quick enough with the camera 😂

Partial Common Buzzard

I spotted the Brimstone again on the wood edge and tried to get flight shots but it was too fast for me.

Brimstone in flight

Everything is bursting with life as the days get longer and the sycamore buds have morphed into leaves. It is a very wonderful thing to see new life everywhere - even if the leaves now make it more difficult to see the warblers that I have waited so long to see 😉

Finally we go back almost a week to last Wednesday for a couple of pics of another Great Spotted Woodpecker - a female this time.

Female GSW

Ooops - I think I made the nest hole too big!