Well last Sunday has got to go down as one of the best days for wildlife watching I’ve ever had.
I was in the car park for just before 7, the temperature in the car said -3 and the forecast windchill temperature was -9! Good job I brought my big coat!
I set off on the track towards the humber and a thin veil of deep orange light was just appearing. Light wasn’t an issue as the overlying snow was magnificently lit up by the Wolf Supermoon-it was as close to a winter wonderland as they come in the flatlands of East yorkshire.
The first wildlife sighting didnt take long to appear as 3 short eared owls circled in the silvery light.
Next up a barn owl closely followed by a grey heron and the distant call of a large flock of curlew-all this an hour before sunrise.
I carried on walking and reached my chosen spot to be greeted by a couple of woodcock. A field vole scurried back into its burrow as I passed by.
I’d brought some extra layers with me so I didnt get too hot and sweaty on the way down. Three jackets, 2 fleeces with 3 layers of trousers including a pair of skiing trousers. I was well prepared for the cold.
I got set up and a flock of golden plovers passed over in front of me shortly followed by a pair of sparring merlin.
Once the sun came up the great white egrets became active with 4 passing almost overhead. A pair fo mute swans passed distantly in beutiful ealy morning light. A fox hurried along the line of a nearby ditch but unfortunately was on the opposite side and was mainly obscured by vegetation.
Hen harriers were my quarry for the day and I hoped to photograph one hunting over the snow field.
By 11 no hen harriers had shown but by the I had seen kestrel, peregrine falcon, marsh harrier, common buzzard and sparrowhawk.
As I headed back I saw a small flock of yellowhammers feeding in the snow which looked quite photogenic. It was while I was watching these I was treat to some prolonged views of a weasel-something I have never got a decent phot of, made all the more special by being in the snow.
By now it was 12.30 and I had a feeling there would be deeper snow on the coast so I headed towards Spurn. I was hoping a flock of geese might have been on show but there was no sign. Kilnsea Wetlands was frozen over as was Canal Scrape. I carried on and noticed a small pool to the east of the road which was full of gulls and waders. Mainly curlew with the odd snipe, lapwing, black-tailed godwit and redshank. The gulls were common and black headed. For the next couple of hours I was treated to some superb views (and photo opportunities) for the waders probing the ground in search of earthworms. One interesting behaviour was that of the common gulls. They just sat on the snow watching the curlews and as soon as one caught a worm that it couldn’t immediately swallow, the gulls took flight and started mobbing the curlew until it dropped the worm. These arial duels were great to watch. Also some close views of snipe in the snow-again very photogenic.
The day ended with a magnificent sunset. despite the harsh weather I never felt the cold all day-I felt priveledged to have had such a wonderful day.
Until next time, thanks for reading.
