Bird Lover

The biggest surprise today was something seen right towards the end of the afternoon. We had set off from the Humber Bank shortly after seeing a Kingfisher. Shortly afterwards the Kingfisher's call rang out again. We stopped to see if we could glimpse it, but the vegetation and bank hid it from sight. Then, I spotted a rather erratic small object working towards us across the water. It appeared to be heading straight for the Kingfisher's perch. It was a Grass Snake. The first I've ever seen at Welton Waters. I wonder how much of the massive lake it had swam across? Hopefully, it didn't go on to eat the Kingfisher! Grass Snake photographed through annoying vegetation!

On Saturday, 13th May 2017, two Norwegian Tolkien scholars, two Tolkien Society members from Liverpool and Birmingham respectively, and 2 interlopers from East Yorkshire were guided around all the East Yorkshire Tolkien locations to see where Tolkien went and follow in his footsteps as far as is possible.  I believe that they were most impressed by the beauty of the Cow Parsley under the trees in Roos churchyard, and they could understand why it impressed Tolkien so much.  Unfortunately, this is not a universal view, as a new gardener had to be restrained from cutting back the Cow Parsley until after our visit, and it seems unlikely that it will look as pristine as we saw it, as very soon much of it will be trimmed back in the churchyard.  Many people who are not aware of the Tolkien connection, simply see the Cow Parsley as “untidy”, especially when a burial or wedding is pending.  If the Tolkien connection was more widely known in the local community then perhaps m...

On Saturday morning my nephew and I came across about a dozen Yellow Wagtails in the Sunk Island area, so everything looks healthy there.  Only one stayed long enough to be photographed.  It is one of my favourite colourful summer migrants, possibly just behind Redstarts, which I've yet to find this year.   Male Yellow Wagtail [MJF]   With a Male Linnet, bottom left   My sister informed me that it would be warm enough to use the moth trap for the first time last night,  After checking it wasn't due to rain we thought we'd give it a go.  It was switched on around 9.45pm, and switched off at 4.10am, and checked about 7.30am.  Only 3 specimens were found inside.  One was a micro-moth on the perspex of the cover which I released immediately.  The most visible was a drab individual, which could be seen as I walked towards the trap.  I searched my book without success, but Pete Mella was able to let me know that it was almo...

On Tuesday we risked Welton Waters despite rain threatening most of the day.  One of the highlights was a very confiding pair of Yellow Wagtails, which allowed us to walk directly underneath it.  A Yellowhammer was singing nearby.  Other birds either seen or  heard included : Kingfisher, Marsh Harrier, Cetti's Warbler, Linnet, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Swift, Swallow, House Martin etc. Not bad considering the threat of rain, but cameras remained in  cars. Reed Warbler [MJF]   Reed Warbler Close-up (c) 2017 Dick Watson   Ditto   Reed Warbler [MJF]   Ditto   Ditto No photos were taken on Wednesday, for some reason.  The following day was a lot brighter and we trekked out following the zigzag route to Wheldrake Ings.  Other birds we saw included:   Garden Warbler, Kingfisher, Marsh Harrier, Heron, Little Egret, Gadwall, Skylark, Lapwing, Sedge ...