February 2019

THE WORK ON THE FLOOD BANK APPEARS TO BE DELAYED AND IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE EARLY SUMMER 2019. STILL NO ACCESS TO POND OR PATH TO THE HIDE

Please see ‘Annual Summary’ tab for a brief summary of 2018 sightings compiled by Paul Martin

Monday 4th – A single avocet on the strays and a hunting barn owl near Paull Farm, 140 greylag, marsh harrier, grey squirrel was the 6th species of mammal recorded over 2 days.

Lapwing – Paul

Sunday 3rd – 11 distant goldeneye, marsh harrier, merlin, peregrine, short eared owl, 3 common buzzard, kestrel and a sparrowhawk all recorded. Yellowhammer flock still present in good numbers, also 20+ fieldfare, mistle thrush, a weasel and a fox.

Saturday 2nd – A single fieldfare, 2 marsh harrier, hunting peregrine, 120+ greylags, Simon had 42 common snipe, a single jack snipe and a flock of 40+ twite around Paull Holme ponds.

January 2019

THE WORK ON THE FLOOD BANK APPEARS TO BE DELAYED AND IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE EARLY SUMMER 2019. STILL NO ACCESS TO POND OR PATH TO THE HIDE

Monday 28th January – 2 moorhen on Hedon Haven, 10 roe deer on salt marsh, common buzzard, 6 common snipe, 2 yellowhammer, 3 redwing.

Sunday 27th  January– A single knot flew down the river, hooded crow seen again among corvid flock, several common buzzards seen, a distant harrier, merlin briefly, peregrine and a flock of 69 bar tailed godwit. A fox seen briefly. 100+ pink feet geese seen, 9 roe deer.

Mute swan – Hedon Haven – Paul

Saturday 26th January – 2 bullfinch near Fort entrance, hooded crow seen, good numbers on common buzzard and marsh harriers present, also kestrel, sparrowhawk and a short eared owl. 4 pintail landed on strays, close views of a pale-bellied brent goose, flock of around 30 yellowhammer seen.

Monday 21st January – Quiet with a few common waders present, a hooded crow showed well briefly before flying back to a large mixed corvid flock on the far bank, 30-40 yellowhammers feeding near lighthouse and in scrub.

Record shot of Hooded Crow – Paul

Saturday 19th January – Large numbers of teal and wigeon present, 2 pintail, common buzzard, marsh harrier, peregrine, a single pink feet goose, 70 bar tailed godwit, odd redwing on paddock.

Monday 14th January – Pink feet goose on strays, 30 bar tailed godwit, approx. 20 yellowhammers feeding around lighthouse, a short eared owl on the far bank, marsh harrier and a kingfisher on the main drain. A common seal in the river.

Probable Siberian Chiffchaff – Paul

Probable Siberian Chiffchaff – Paul

Saturday 5th January – 1000’s of golden plover and lapwing around strays, common buzzard, little egret and a hen harrier hunted along flood bank, also a grey heron.

Tuesday 1st January – A couple of fieldfare present, coal tit, 2 yellowhammer, rock pipit, approx.. 2000 lapwing around strays, 12 bar tiled godwit, 1 black tailed godwit, distant merlin, marsh harrier, 10 turnstone and good numbers of pink feet geese heading west.

December 2018

REPAIRS TO FLOOD BANK – RESERVE CAR PARK CLOSED AND NO ACCESS TO FLOOD BANK FROM HORSE RIDING SCHOOL TO STEPS NEAR FARM – NO ACCESS TO HIDE FROM PAULL END OF STRAYS – EXPECTED TO BE CLOSED UNTIL EARLY 2019

Not a lot of bird photos about at the moment so a few mood shots!!

Early morning over River Humber – Pete

Lighthouse – Pete

Early morning wader flock – Pete

Sunday 30th December – Paul – 250+ pink feet geese East, 2 yellowhammer and close views of a hunting short eared owl.

Thursday 27th December – 7 yellowhammer present

Monday 24th December – Marsh harrier, common buzzard, little egret, 27 redwing, a flock of 11 yellowhammer.

Sunday 23rd December – Simon – adult Mediterranean gull, 700 pink feet on saltmarsh, peregrine, leucistic lapwing

Saturday 22nd December – Simon – 16 goldeneye, c. 2,000 pink feet, mute swan, 2 marsh harrier, 218 bar tailed godwit, barn owl, short-eared owl, redpoll east.

Friday 21st December – Simon – 2 bullfinch, chiffchaff

Sunday 16th December – 2 marsh harrier, hen harrier, merlin and a peregrine.

Saturday 15th December – Marsh harrier, common buzzard, hen harrier and a single avocet.

Friday 14 December – Simon – female pintail, male goldeneye, hen harrier, 4 marsh harrier, peregrine, merlin, 2 short-eared owl, 6 avocet,

Monday 10th December – 2 marsh harrier, 2 little egret, 30+ goldeneye drifted East along the river.

Sunday 9th December – Paul – At least 3 marsh harrier, interacting with 2 peregrine, also a common buzzard and a merlin seen by Simon. Other then this quiet with good numbers of common waders, little egret and a few redwing around the woods.

Saturday 8th December – Simon – 1 pintail, 1 shoveller, 2 gadwall, 19 goldeneye, 1 ring tail hen harrier, 2 marsh harrier, 1 peregrine, male merlin

Monday 3rd December – Paul – 1000’s of waders on the strays, mainly golden plover but also hundreds of lapwings and good numbers of dunlin. A flock of 40+ pink feet went west, odd redwing around the woods, 2 yellowhammer over and a very vocal chiffchaff near the carpark.

Sunday 2nd December – Paul – 90+ pink feet geese west, a flock of 140+ fieldfare over Fort Paull, odd redwing, 2 rock pipit, small numbers of skylark overhead, little egret and 2 marsh harrier.

 

November 2018

Tuesday 27th November – Simon – 1 Avocet, 1 Spotted Redshank, female Merlin, 30 Fieldfare dropped in, 1 Mistle Thrush in the paddock, 2 Chiffchaff at the Fort
Snow Bunting still present

Snow bunting – thanks to Roy Lyon

Wednesday 28th November – Simon – 7 Pintail, 3 Com Scoter east, 1 Merlin, 1 S E Owl, 2 knot, 1 Chiffchaff, Also 1 leucistic Lapwing

Monday 26th November – The tame snow bunting still present along the bottom footpath, several flocks of goldenye heading west, 70+ in total, 7 goosander also west, perched merlin and the  still in residence.

Snow bunting – Paul

Sunday 25th November – Snow bunting again, 40+ goldeneye west, 2 gadwall past, marsh harrier, odd redwing, bullfinch and a grey seal.

Saturday 24th November – Snow bunting still present and showing well, a single avocet, 4 whooper swans east, including 2 juveniles, a female eider drifted past, a distant great crested grebe, large flocks of pink feet geese, marsh harrier, common buzzard, 6 roe deer and a weasel. At Hedon Haven a pair of black redstart showed well, the male in summer plumage.

Black redstart -Paul

Friday 23rd November – Simon – 8 Eider east, 1 Peregrine, 1 Woodcock over the Strays, Ring-neck Parakeet at the paddock, 2 Fieldfare at Paul Fort, 37 Redwing, 50+ Blackbird, 5 Siskin, 1 Snow Bunting on lower riverside path

Snow bunting – Paul

Thursday 22nd November – Simon – 2 male Pintail, 3 Velvet Scoter west, 12 Eider east, 1 Woodcock flying around near the open hide, 1 Fieldfare at the Fort, 24 Redwing + 150 on Hedon Haven, 60+ Blackbird + 40 on Hedon Haven, 1 Chiffchaff at the Fort, 4 Redpoll east, 1 Snow Bunting on lower path but flushed over the river to Lincolnshire by a jogger, Male Black Redstart on Hedon Haven

Black redstart – Simon

Wednesday 21st November – Simon – 1 brent goose, 7 pintail, 2 peregrine, A blackcap with tit flock in Fort wood, 3 siskin, 2 redpoll, 1 snow bunting on lower path from car park

Monday 19th November – A single white-fronted goose landed on the strays, a few redwing and the parakeet still present around the paddock area.

Sunday 18th November – 8 tree sparrow over the fort, a flock of 40+ eider high over the river heading west, stonechat, 2 siskin, woodcock, 6 fieldfare, 12 redwing, peregrine, chiffchaff and a ring necked parakeet over the lighthouse. Another late red admiral seen.

Saturday 17th November – At least 3 woodcock present with a predated bird on a nearby field, 7 shoveller, 4 tufted duck, merlin, 2 brent geese, a guillemot east, 4 yellowhammer, red breasted merganser, a single snow bunting flew past the lighthouse and landed nearby, 4 siskin, 200+ pink feet geese, a flock of 40 common scoter on the river, a single adult kittiwake, buzzard, marsh harrier and a late red admiral. Simon also recorded red throated diver, 21 eider, redpoll, 2 pintail and 12 red breasted mergansers.

Monday 12th November – Woodcock in woods, a flock of 4 yellowhammer present, 2

marsh harrier and 400+ pink feet geese over.

Yellowhammer – Paul

Sunday 11th November – Single goldcrest, 2 common buzzard, 3 marsh harrier, merlin chasing a dunlin, 4 red throated divers east along river, 8 goldeneye west, 2 pintail, 2 redwing, brambling and a roosting tawny owl. A single red admiral also seen.

Saturday 10th November – 4 goldcrest, a siskin over, 2 rock pipit, 2 marsh harrier, common buzzard, merlin, 18 fieldfare, spotted redshank, brambling and a pintail. Highlight was a hunting male hen harrier which gave good views also a red admiral and a peacock.

Hen harrier – Paul

Friday 9th November – Simon – 1 whooper swan, 1 brent goose, 2 pintail, 1 goldeneye, 4 marsh harrier, 1 peregrine, 3 brambling, 1 siskin, 1 bullfinch

Curlew – Paul

Monday 5th November – Paul – A single siskin overhead, stonechat, marsh harrier, common buzzard.

Sunday 4th November – Paul – 2 woodock flushed, 2 marsh harrier, 2 common buzzard, good views of a merlin.

Saturday 3rd November – Paul- First short-eared owl of the autumn, red breasted merganser, 3 marsh harrier, 2 common buzzard, peregrine and a roosting tawny owl.

Friday 2nd November – Simon – 2 red-breasted merganser west, male merlin, 4 brambling

October 2018

Wednesday 31st October – Small numbers of redwing and fieldfare, 2 siskin and 2 redpoll over, a single blackcap, marsh harrier, brent goose, a drake goosander west, and good views of a perched merlin.

Tuesday 30th October – Simon – 3 velvet scoter east, great crested grebe east, immature shag east and a kittiwake west.

Monday 29th October – Good numbers of grounded thrushes, especially redwing, aslo 30+ brambling feeding in small flocks around the woods, 2 bullfinch, 2 redpoll, a brent goose on the river and a late red admiral.

Redwing – Paul M

Sunday 28th October – Great day for once which started with very close razorbill flying east from the carpark, at least 23 pomarine skuas mainly off the Hull Marina / BP area, a distant glaucous gull seen several times, the first of 2 puffins seen, 100+ common scoter, 4 brent geese, flocks of goldeneye mainly west, 2 long- tailed ducks, a great crested grebe west, good numbers of immature gannets, red throated divers, including a flock of 3, a kittiwake, at least 5 guillemots, another razorbill sighting, a distant little auk west, a goosanderwest, 500+ fieldfare, 100+ redwing, 27 tree sparrow, bullfinch, marsh harrier,  siskin, yellowhammer, 3 brambling, 2 white wagtails, 3 common darter and a small tortoiseshell. (73 species recorded)

Saturday 27th October – Paul & Simon – A woodcock flew close past the lighthouse also a drake goosander past, goldeneye over the strays, a few common scoter, 40+ kittiwakes, a flock of 18 common snipe and excellent views of a ringtail hen harrier, a guillemot and pintail seen from the carpark.

Friday 26th October – Ringtail hen harrier over saltmarsh, merlin, pintail and 86 common scoter west.

Monday 22nd October – Paul – Odd siskin, redpoll and brambling over, also small numbers of redwing, goldcrest, 8 black tailed godwit, 1000 + golden plover and a hunting merlin. Near the church 2 red admiral, comma and a hornet.

Comma – Paul M

Saturday 20th October – Dozens of redwing and fieldfare, bullfinch, 40+ brambling, 22 tree sparrow, woodcock, marsh harrier, 4 siskin, redpoll, common buzzard, little owl, tawny owl and a red admiral. Simon recorded a single crossbill low over the lighthouse heading East. Also a red admiral.

Fieldfare – Paul M

Friday 19th October – Simon – 1 Gannet west, 2 Pintail, female Merlin, 1 Woodcock in fort wood, 12 Snipe west, 1 juv Common Tern west, Tawny Owl fort road, 55 Skylark west, 2 Rock Pipit, 383 Redwing west, 257 Fieldfare west, 10 Song Thrush west, 26 Brambling in fort wood, 15 Redpoll west, 3 Siskin fort wood, 1 female Stonechat on Hedon Haven. Also a Stoat on fort road 2 Hornet 2 Red Admiral 1 Peacock 1 Small Copper

 

Starling – Paul

Starling – Paul

Monday 15th October – Paul – Odd brambling over, 50+ lapwing, marsh harrier, 2 common buzzard, stonechat, 2 redpoll, 4 swallow, chiffchaff and 4 bearded tits dropped into the reedbed near the white lighthouse.

Bearded Tit – Paul

Sunday 14th October – 3 swallows.

Saturday 13th October – 20+ brambling, good numbers of skylarks through, 9 pintail on the strays, 2 swallows.

Monday 8th October – Paul – small flocks of redwing and fieldfare over, a rock pipit showed well, a single swallow, as the sun came out 2 red admiral and a comma present near the church.

Sunday 7th October – Paul – 900 plus thrushes over, mainly redwing but also good numbers of fieldfare, odd song thrush and 2 mistle thrush also seen. Odd brambling over as well as small numbers of siskin and a redpoll, grey wagtail also seen, good numbers of skylark passing South, 4 coal tit, tree sparrow flocks around the Fort, 9 gannet West, 6 swallow, a single flock of 16 cormorant, a great skua West then settled on the river, spotted redshank, juvenile Mediterranean gull, a pair of stonechat, marsh harrier, 3 little egret, a hen harrier spent 10 minutes around the strays, 21 turnstone and finally a roosting tawny owl.

Saturday 6th October – Simon – 30 gannet west, (11 back east), great skua, 2 arctic tern, 2 common tern, 1greenshank, spotted redshank, 6 knot, 109 snipe, 4 swallow east, 42 redwing, 14 fielfare, goldcrest, blackcap, siskin.

Friday 5th October – Paul – 26 gannets West, 2 porpoise feeding off the lighthouse. From Simon – 1 merlin, 2 peregrine, 1 rock pipit, 3 redwing21 tree sparrow, 1 bullfinch

September 2018

Sunday 30th September – Simon – 249 pink feet, 8 pintail, 6 gooseander

Saturday 29th September – Paul Goldcrest, 7 swallow, whimbrel, 4 chiffchaff, tree sparrow, siskin, stonechat, 900+ pink feet geese, 7 snipe, 120 wigeon, kingfisher, 2 pintail, hornet again seen, devouring a wasp, speckled wood, red admiral. Simon also recorded 2 gannet, peregrine and a sanderling.

Hornet – Paul

Friday 28th September – Paul Chiffchaff, avocet, 2 house martin over, 6 gannets, 7 common buzzard, 17 black tailed godwit. Also hornet, small tortoiseshell, small copper and migrant hawker.

Great spotted woodpecker – Paul

Monday 24th September – Paul – 3 chiffchaff, grey wagtail, 250+ wigeon west, 10 gannets, 25 common scoter, flocks of teal, more pink feet geese, a distant odd looking black bird which flew west at 10.06 was probably the sooty shearwater reported from Barton 4 minutes later. Also a small tortoiseshell migrant hawker and large white.

Sunday 23rd September – Paul – 9 tree sparrow, 5 Canada geese, good numbers if pink feet geese, 60 lapwing, 30+ common scoter, grey seal, common seal, kingfisher, arctic skua west, 9 mute swan, siskin and a few skylarks over, 2 gannets east.

Saturday 22nd September – Paul – 4 siskin over, chiffchaff, 2 stonechat, 2 whinchat, wheatear, common snipe, marsh harrier, peregrine, merlin, buzzard, small flocks of pink feet geese totalling at least 200, a single pintail. Simon also recorded curlew sandpiper, 2 grey wagtails and a brambling.

Tuesday 18th September – Paul – Quiet with a few butterflies including 3 speckled wood.

Monday 17th September – Paul – Good numbers of common whitethroat and blackcap with a single lesser whitethroat, singing chiffchaff, odd siskin over, a comic tern east followed at 11.10 by a adult summer plumage Sabine’s gull which spent 10-15 minutes off the lighthouse, flying and on the river before heading east. Soon afterwards a great crested grebe and a black tern headed in the same direction.

Sunday 16th September- Paul – Good numbers of swallows and house martin still present with one swift seen, whimbrel, pintail, 4 marsh harrier, 200+ pink feet geese.

Saturday 15th September – Paul – 6 tree sparrow, 2 common whitethroat, spotted redshank on the strays, small numbers of siskin and yellow wagtails over, adult mediterranean gull east and on the strays and a kingfisher. 2 porpoise feeding near the lighthouse.

Friday 14th September – Paul – 17 wigeon, 150+ pink feet geese, 11 pintail, whimbrel, a single juvenile gannet east, 4 siskin, shoveller.

Monday 10th September – Paul – Goldcrest, the hobby took a meadow pipit, reed warbler, good numbers of meadow pipits and yellow wagtails on the move, a flock of 500 golden plover high overhead and a single swift.

Sunday 9th September – Paul – Coal tit, curlew sandpiper, immature bullfinch, a single sandwich tern east, 22 wigeon, 5 buzzard, 2 marsh harrier, 80 teal, 3 Arctic tern, 2 willow warbler and the hobby again. A late burst of butterflies with many large and small whites, 2 commas, 4 red admiral, holly blue, small tortoiseshell, 2 speckled wood, also a hornet.

Saturday 8th September – Paul – 5 Arctic tern and a common tern past, willow warbler, peregrine, grey wagtail, siskin over, bullfinch, swift a another hobby. Also common seal and porpoise.

Friday 7th September – Paul – a common restart present all day along the edge of the Vicarage feeding in the field with several yellow and white wagtails, also 2 willow warblers, marsh harrier, hobby, coal tit and a pale-bellied brent goose west along the river.

Monday 3rd September – Paul – 2 lesser whitetroat, at least 9 wigeon, 20 greylag, marsh harrier, common sandpiper again, a single black tern drifted slowly east along the river.

Sunday 2nd September – Paul – 2 or 3 blackcap, 11 tree sparrow, 3 little egret, 6 wigeon (first of the Autumn), curlew sandpiper, little stint, 4 pintail, common sandpiper.

Saturday 1st September – lesser whitethroat, 9 knot, 4 shoveller, tufted duck, 2 pintail, 30+ teal, Arctic skua west along river, small numbers of Arctic and common terns, a flock of 35+ common scoter, marsh harrier, common sandpiper, reed warbler and small flock of tree sparrow. Small copper also seen.

House martin – Peter M

August 2018

Friday 31st August – Simon – 6 Tree Pipit 1 Knot 2 Sanderling 11 Snipe 11 Bar-wit 23 Black-wit Hornet and 2 Painted Lady. 1 Comm Sand & 1 Whimbrel on Hedon Haven

Monday 27th August – Paul M – Much quieter with a single comic tern past, 20+ teal and a few common warblers, bullfinch, marsh harrier and a flock of 250+ golden plover. Simon saw a spotted redshank near the screen.

Sunday 26th August – Simon – Marsh Harrier Hobby west along Humber off football pitch 1 Whimbrel 2 Snipe 1 Arctic & 1 “Commic” Tern east. Green Sand & Wheatear on Hedon Haven

Saturday 25th August – Paul M Good numbers of willow warblers, also common whitethroats, blackcaps, at least  6 lesser whitethroat, singing chiffchaff, 6 tree sparrow, 2 swift, 3 buzzard, a pied flycatcher at the fort entrance, a osprey flew south across the strays and over the river, a merlin later went in the same direction. Also a spotted flycatcher seen at the edge of the paddock.

Friday 24^th August – Simon – 26 Teal west 1 Avocet 1 Whimbrel 1 Yellow-legged Gull 5 Common Tern east 1 Lesser Whitethroat 9 Willow Warbler. 1 Green Sandpiper & 2 Wheatear on Hedon Haven

Thursday 23rd August – Greenshank, green sandpiper, 2 bullfinch, singing reed warbler and a single common tern past.

Swallow – Paul

Swallows – Paul

Wednesday 22nd August – 6 swift, singing willow warbler, hobby around the church and paddock area, little owl perched on the Fort wall, lesser whitethroat, 25 teal West, wheatear. Also a big increase in hirundines with approx 180 house martin and swallows in the area, also better numbers of common warblers passing through. A brimstone was near the church.

Hirundines – Paul

Saturday 18th August – Lesser whitethroat, Arctic tern, black tern, 12 teal, 14 turnstone, marsh harrier, 13 black tailed godwit. Simon recorded whinchat and a hobby briefly.

Friday 17^th August – Simon – 13 Teal west 1 Spotted Redshank 1 Whimbrel 5 Snipe 1 juv Yellow-legged Gull west 7 Common Tern east 1 Lesser Whitethroat 3 Willow Warbler 1 Bullfinch & 1 Yellowhammer at Fort

Willow warbler – Paul

Willow warbler – Paul

Thursday 16th August – 4 yellow wagtail, 4 snipe, whimbrel, peregrine, marsh harrier, greenshank and 3 avocets.

The Marco Polo – Paul

Meadow pipit – Paul

Monday 6th August – Paul – 3 lesser whitethroat, willow warbler, bullfinch, several yellow wagtails, good numbers of black tailed godwit, dunlin and ringed plover, whimbrel, a few turnstone, 6 grey heron, 9 little egret, common sandpiper, the first snipe of the ‘Autumn’ and 3 common tern East. Porpoise were feeding of the lighthouse and 3 wall browns along the paths.

Small copper – Paul

Saturday 4th August – Paul – 3 common sandpiper, 2 whimbrel, 20+ black tailed godwit, sanderling, 2 little egret, green sandpiper, 2 lesser whitethroat, 2 bullfinch and a willow warbler. Insects included small copper, 3 comma, holy blue and a few common blue, also a pair of stoats. In the church a buddleia had a hornet mimic hoverfly, also hornet dismembering some prey, both recent colonists from the South.

Stoat – Paul

Sanderling & turnstone – Paul

Sanderling and turnstone – Paul

Turnstone – Paul

Hornet mimic hoverfly – Paul

Friday 3rd August – Simon 11 Teal west 1 Avocet 1 Common Sandpiper 1 Knot 3 Whimbrel 7 Snipe 136 Black-wit 1 Bullfinch 23 Tree Sparrow

1 Hornet Mimick Hoverfly, 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth, 1 Brown Argus 3 Holly Blue 1 Brimstone 5 Painted Lady