It seems like quite a few years since this time of year has brought Ice to some of the lagoons, but that's what greeted me on this cold, crisp but beautiful morning in early November, is winter upon us? But despite the conditions there was plenty to see and the visible migration over the site was on good form with bramblings, chaffinches, siskins, yellow hammers and redpolls all going south on a broad front. They must certainly be in a bit of a hurry this year as few if any of them are landing. 

Its always a good time to get great views of reed buntings who will also be moving south - this one was near Townend this morning

Fieldfares and redwings however are hanging around feeding both in the fields and hedgerows although it seems like not all the hawthorn berries despite the frosts have belted so are still hanging like a red blanked along the side of the reserve.

The hedges are covered in rosy red haw berries, its a pity a few more around the countryside aren't like them

Fieldfare in the car park hedge - such a handsome thrush

With the onset of a few colder days the pink-footed geese are hungrily feeding in the local fields with at times massive flocks of up to 1000 birds passing overhead, quite a sight the other day when they passed just 50ft above me as I was doing a bit of work in the reedbed.

A real gaggle of pinks

Now although we had ice on the lagoons there was still a good range of waders and ducks including 38 ruff, black-tailed godwits, snipe and gadwall, shoveler, wigeon, shelduck and teal. Unfortunately no sign of the green-winged teal though, it seems it was a one day wonder, but if you are visiting make sure you keep an eye out for it. A few whoopers still passing through but at the moment not landing nearby and this morning a few mute swans suddenly flying over eastwards.

Ruff standing in ice this morning at Singleton

Plenty of marsh harrier coming in to roost but oddly no reports of the hen harriers, (although we have been pretty busy with practical work to look and pick out the hens for people - see at the end of the blog), however there has been some consolation with regular short-eared owl, merlin and barn owl sightings. Just to say the hen harriers usually roost well out into the main reedbed to the right of Singleton hide, they often come in low and late and you need to stay and keep scanning the reedbed and harriers constantly to often pick them out, sometimes they perform well though but sometimes you have to be really on the ball! 

The kingfisher continues to perform superbly and allowing me this morning to video it (see our joint Old Moor and Blacktoft Sands facebook page to watch it), but often its in front of reception hide. Please note though that our reception building is now only open at the weekends for the winter although the reserve is open every day, for non-members please put your permit fee into the honesty box during the week, or alternatively join the Society on-line for free access.

Kingfisher Xerox this morning

 Diving for breakfast

Other birds of note include regular Sonechats with at least three pairs around the lagoons, also at least one possibly two water pipits often flying around Singleton lagoon, a fly over grey wagtail on Thursday and plenty of singing cettis warblers

Stonechat pair

Male

Female

As said above the regular Thursday volunteer team were in action yesterday with a group of seven all doing a superb job clearing willow on what ended (it was raining first thing!) in a lovely day, great to see everyone getting stuck in and making such a big difference to what we can achieve on the Humber reserves. I can vouch that it was pretty hard work felling willow by hand, I'm still recovering from helping them out!

Photo's of the work