North Cave Wetlands

One of my favourite places to visit is the Wetlands, we managed to go when it was dull and damp but it was worth it! My husband decided to get a bacon sandwich and cuppa from the Wild Bird Cafe on site before we walked around . The lady there told us a Bittern was on the island so I went onto the platform but it had ducked down out of sight.

There's a Bittern there somewhere!

Lapwings

There were lots of Robins, House Sparrows and Tits around the viewing platform. Before we left the Bittern put it's head up again and we had distant views. We walked on to the East Hide and had a better view of the Bittern, it was still distant and quite hidden but still the best views i've ever had of one! We watched until it flew off into the reeds near the Turret Hide.

Bittern! 

There were a lot of smaller birds in the trees - Tits, Finches Song Thrush, my husband spotted a Treecreeper and a little further along a Marsh Tit was in the tree with a second at the feeders. 

Robin

Treecreeper

Tree Sparrows & Goldfinch

Long-tailed Tit

From the Turret hide we saw lots of flighty Lapwings, a small flock of Redshank and lots of Teal, a couple of Wigeon amongst them, a few Shelduck too and a single Little Egret.

Redshank

Teal

Lapwings

Little Egret

Walking further round we heard a Cetti's Warbler calling in the reeds and there were lots more Teal on the water too.There was a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust event in the Crosslands Hide and it was very busy so we didn't stay there long instead spending a little time watching Cormorants and Oystercatchers from the South Hide. 

It had been drizzling for most of the walk and we were feeling pretty damp and chilly by now so were glad to get back to the car and warm up! 

A very good visit especially seeing the Bittern and the Marsh Tits!

A Day Out

Last Saturday we spent the day over on the east side of Yorkshire first off at Blacktoft Sands and then on to North Cave Wetlands.

At Blacktofts, we chatted with the volunteer in the visitors centre for a little while when we arrived. We saw our first Marsh Harrier from there too, the first of many seen throughout the visit. It was fairly quiet at first and we headed right out of the visitors centre to the Xerox Hide.

We saw a couple of Ruff, lots of Lapwings, Greenshank and a few Mallard too. Onto the Marshland hide where a couple of guys in there pointed out one of the Barn Owls in the distance, too far for a photo but we could see through the binoculars. As we sat and watched the Little Egrets along the waters edge a pair of deer - female and youngster walked right in front of the hide! What a lovely moment that was!

Ruff and Lapwings

Roe Deer

Little Egret

Walking along the Ousefleet Trail we had to dodge a few Froglets hopping about in the grass, a few Butterflies were along the banks too. Looking through the viewing screen by the hide at the end we had to avoid what looks like a fairly fresh Barn Owl pellet.

Ringlet

Meadow Brown

From the hide itself there were quite a few Greylag Geese on the grass and a couple of Curlews too. Around the hide a Sedge Warbler was flying about and off to the side a Wren family were low in the bushes.

Now walking back along the trail we had a bit of drama. I, for some reason never ever get bitten by anything......ever, today that changed when I felt a bite on my leg and looked down to see a Horse Fly happily sat there!! I managed to get it off pretty quick but of course it wouldn't leave me alone so we quickly headed off the trail. My daughter was not happy though it didn't go near her at all and we weren't bothered again for the rest of our time there. 

Onto to Singleton hide to see the Spoonbills that have been on the reserve for a little while. Most of them were stood in a group but a couple moved off to sweep those amazing bills through the water.

In the Townend hide we saw Snipe, Ruff, Geese and Heron. A short heavy rain shower blew across the reserve so we waited it out before walking back to the car. My husband spotted a Treecreeper by the little pond in the car park.

Snipe

Ruff

Heron

We then took a very scenic route to North Cave Wetlands and actually saw a couple of Marsh Harriers as we drove. It had cooled off a little and was quite breezy by the time we got there and it wasn't very busy. 

There were a few Froglets on the path plus Damselflies and a few butterflies too. From the Turret Hide we watched Rabbits, Snipe, Shelduck, Pied Wagtails, Redshank and Little Ringed Plover.

Common Blue Damselfly

Meadow Brown

The reserve is covered in Ragwort and after a little search we found plenty of Cinnabar Moth caterpillars and one as yet unidentified caterpillar too. 

Lots of the Greylag Geese kept flying off the water and into a field by the reserve. I found in a spot where we have seen Thrush before a stone surrounded by broken up snail shells.

Gatekeeper

Speckled Wood

Not long after this the Horse Fly made itself known again, this time my husband was the victim! A quick walk on to inspect the damage - except we hadn't walked far enough and the damn thing attached itself to my leg and I practically had to prise it off. My daughter was long gone up the path and out onto the lane! Luckily none of the bites ended up being too bad though I still have a small lump even now - bit of a novelty for me, hopefully not one that will be repeated. I guess I might have to try insect repellent in future??

We sat in the hide a while till my daughter calmed down, I think flies are now added along with Butterflies/Moths to her list of things to be scared of! Still we did watch Terns fighting off Crows and a large Gull - Lesser black-backed I think, one of the Terns eventually chased it off and almost pulled a tail feather out.

Lesser black-backed Gull

Common Tern

Back towards the car and we watched Sand Martins flying over the water and I spotted an all white one - too far for a decent photo but you can see a white blob the pic below!

Despite the hungry flies we had a good day!

Blacktoft Sands

Last weekend became unexpectedly free after a change of plans so we made the most of it and headed out for two days of birding, we picked the right weekend for it - good weather and good birds!

First up Blacktoft Sands on Saturday, we were there just after 9 and it was nice not to have to layer up with big coats and gloves. The Tree Sparrows were all around the car park and in the fields around it lots of Greylag Geese. 

We stopped at the visitor centre first to see what is about and look out of the window. I spotted something moving in the water right outside - a Water Vole! A lot bigger than I thought, a few more people had come in and managed to see it too. I looked up and out across the water and saw a bird fly in and land on a log - a Wheatear! A new bird for me, I pointed it out and apparently it was the first seen on the reserve this year, so I got to fill in the date on the chart........it's the small things......

So a good start so far, then as we stepped out the centre the first Swallow of the year overhead. A couple more were seen during the day. We walked down to the right first and had some better views of the Wheatear on the log, though still distant for the camera.

My husband spotted a deer in the reeds

A flock of Whooper Swans flew over in the distance. Several Avocets were flying around and three Herons flew in. We saw Teal, Shovelers and Mallard, mostly all asleep.

The noise from the marshland hide the noise was a little overpowering, thanks to a surprisingly small group of Black-headed Gulls. 

A few more sleeping ducks - Gadwall, Teal and Mallards. Lots of activity from the Avocets, they couldn't seem to settle. 

Walking along the Ousefleet Trail Reed Buntings were in the trees with the odd Dunnock too. At the end we looked out by the fence and saw Skylarks. There were ships out on the river and a couple of flocks of ducks flew up including a Little Egret. Looking out towards the road a couple pointed out more deer in the distance and a Buzzard sat in trees. 

Overhead my husband saw another bird of prey which at a quick glance looked like it had jesses. I wasn't looking as i'd been trying to get a photo of a Skylark, I turned and grabbed a couple of photos. Showing them to one of the volunteers (whose name I should have got!) it was a Red Kite with a bent/damaged tail feather. Everyone was quite chatty as we walked around today. 

At the Ousefleet hide i've never seen it with as much water, there were lots of Shelduck, Shoveler, Teal, a couple of Oystercatchers, Herons, the Konick ponies across the other side. 

Walking back along the trail my daughter nearly jumped 10ft in the air when the ground leapt at her.......or rather a toad did. Once i'd stopped laughing I took a photo. 

Back to the car for some lunch, with Dunnocks almost hopping around our feet. Afterwards we went off the other side of the reserve. We'd been seeing Marsh Harriers from all the hides but the better views are from the Singleton Hide and we sat there a little while watching them and lots of noisy Geese. A Bittern boomed but only briefly.

I had to take a phone call from my mum when we were in one of the hides, I took it outside and was treated to a loud burst of song from a Cetti's Warbler.

Another couple of toads were along the path and Dunnock were singing in the reeds. It was nice to see the odd signs of spring around too.

We headed out mid afternoon, a great start to the weekend!