Again just a quick blog today ready for the weekend as again its been a busy week of practical work and report writing that's just flown by! Not too many photo's either as I've mostly been working away from site.
Main headlines are a ringtail hen harrier was seen late yesterday afternoon from Singleton hide, two kingfishers were also present and then late on a mystery small stint like wader flew in and back out to the estuary late in the evening but the light was too dark to get an ID in the very short time it was seen by our Warden Mike. Its going to be a series of high tides towards the end of the weekend so maybe it will return!
Kingfisher from reception - Mike Pilsworth
Certainly a few signs of renewed migration this morning with the first multiple arrival of goldcrest on the reserve, a couple of swallows passing and then a few more meadow pipits and chaffinches. Also of note was 120 linnets out on the grazing marsh. Still the odd chiffchaff passing through but little else on the warbler front apart from off course the resident Cetti's warblers.
Reed bunting on the grazing marsh
Birds of prey seem to be becoming active at the moment with marsh harriers, merlin, sparrowhawk and buzzards to add to the hen harrier. Watch out for raven too as up to four have been seen together over at Alkborough, only a stones throw away from the reserve.
While wildfowl numbers are certainly increasing day by day with a spectacular 1800 teal this morning coating Marshland and Xerox alongside 37 wigeon, and a few shoveler and mallard. Plenty of beautiful pink-footed geese passing over often for most of the day. Its good to see the waterfowl numbers increasing as this is really what is important in terms of our conservation objectives here on the Humber.
Wall to wall teal on Marshland
Some are even attaining their full winter plumage
Teal, shoveler and wigeon - obviously the island is well appreciated by the teal!
This poor old pink-foot seems none too well on Marshland, I suspect that it has been shot out on the arable
At least these ones are safe
Wader numbers continue to be low with only small numbers of lapwing, snipe, redshank and ruff using the site regularly, while about 100 golden plover, the odd curlew and ringed plover are still flying over the site. Maybe this northerly blow and rain may at last get a few waders moving again!
Ruff feeding on First lagoon
Bearded tits were erupting but there were also a couple of birds along the lagoon edge at First hide, water rails are squealing and possible too where the water has dropped. Watch out for the kingfishers that have been pretty active recently
Beardies - Also First lagoon
Fox on the grazing marsh - see true story below
Strange but true! Probably the strangest sighting recently was a fox this morning that was carrying a large 'prey item', mm, maybe a young hare or rabbit I thought? A little while later I could hear a crunching coming from the long grass, was it the sound of cruching bone as the fox devoured its prey. Well when the fox moved away I went and had a look out of curiosity. An utter sight of carnage as the large root of sugar beet lay on the ground part eaten!
It seems like old Reynard has developed a rather sweet tooth! No wonder foxes are so successful! Its got several tonnes of waste beet to go at in the field next to the reserve! But more on a serious note, maybe its also a sad reflection of the lack of voles and rabbits in the surrounding countryside too?
The beet in question