8th September '10 Parish Wood & Old Tip

Warm, cloudy, breeze.

Parish Wood & Old Tip.

Thats the Old Tip site beyond the first hedgerow.

I read in the above link for site information, that they would not know if the objective not to use herbicides/ pesticides on the fields would be sustainable. Well when I went, the fields were being sprayed and I don't think it was water. Anyway the reasen for a blog on this site again is for another first sighting would you believe. Yes flittering out of the hedgerows catching insects were a pair of Redstarts. Its strange because I'd just left the Dams and a couple had been telling me where the best place in Derbyshire is to see Redstarts. Saves me a trip to Padley Gorge now. I was unable to positively identify the birds until much deliberation and rescanning of the photos I took. This coupled with identical sightings recorded at Filey Country Park Cafe for the same location clinched it. I will also add thatI saw dozens of Warblers along the hedgerow on the other side of the Old Tip. These must have all been migrants brought in on the strong easterlies the day before.

A small pond in the centre of Old Pit.

Common Redstart*, Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff, Linnet, Whinchat.

5th September '10 Brough Haven

Cool. cloudy, windy.

Brough Haven.

Looking west up-river towards Goole.

This area of low-tide mud along the Upper Humber Estuary is easily reached from the M62/A63 . Just head for Brough itself then at the first set of lights bear left and head for the Brough Aerospace factory. At the far end there is a nice little public carpark overlooking the estuary. From there a decent footpath heads eastwards to Welton Waters. We didn't go that far as the flood defences are being improved from where BAE finishes onwards. Besides we'll be paying a visit there shortly. Luckily we arrived with plenty of exposed mud and immediately spotted a Curlew. And thats all we did spot. There are small pockets of reed and scrub which at another time may have shown something. Still we enjoyed it very much. Its only now that I write this that it is already known that nearly a thousand jobs will be lost at Brough BAE.

Looking east towards the Humber Bridge.

Curlew, Cormorant, Canada Goose.

21st August '10 Carr Naze

Warm, sunny, windy

Carr Naze.

One of the two ponds on the Naze.

Carr Naze is the top of the penninsula that leads to Filey Brigg. I am only doing this blog in order to make public a 'first sighting'. The lucky bird is a Whinchat. Thats it folks.

The Whinchat was on the fence in the picture.

Whinchat *, Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Kestrel.

18th August '10 Wombwell Ings

Mild, cloudy, windy.

Wombell Ings.

Part of the pasture supporting a herd of horses.

This is a RSPB site within easy access of the A1. This is an open lagoon set in pastureland alongside the confluence of the River Dove and the River Dearne on one side and the Bulling Dyke on the other. There is ample parking and the walk to the lagoon is accessed in minutes. There is a small metal hide backing onto the Bulling Dyke with good views across the pastures. However we found that a telescope is essential. With the lack of rainfall the lagoon was a mere puddle but provided ample areas of marginal mud for waders. We had a pleasant couple of hours and met some friendly people. That reminds me. When we were looking for the Ings entrance a local dog-walker happened to be passing. She had no idea where the Ing was and she had lived in Broomhill, in which the Ing resides, all her life. You find this wherever you go. While we were having a laugh about it I happened to glance to my right and a large sign caught my eye, it read 'Welcome to Wombwell Ings'! I asked the lass if she would be alright finding her way home! Across the road from the carpark is the Old Moor Tavern! Just thought you might be interested.

The Lagoon.

Dunlin, Ruff, Ringed Plover, Snipe, Lapwing, Kestrel, Linnet, Goldfinch.

10th August '10 Barlow Common LNR

Warm, cloudy, windy.

Barlow Common LNR.

The Common in the shadow of Drax power station.

This is an amazing little reserve brimming with wildlife and wildflowers. In years gone by the land was used for common grazing, then when the railways could buy it for a pittance it was turned into a tip. Following the second world war the debris from the bombing of Hull was also dumped here. Finally all this rubble was covered with soil and the depression resulting from this allowed to fill with water. This is now the main pond. The site is now run by Selby DC and it is a remarkable example of what can be done with derelict sites.

The fishermans pond.

Again another little gem only a few miles adrift from the M62 and nestling in the shadows of Drax power station. The carparking is excellent and good paths take you around the reserve. Oak, beech, willow, alder, marsh and reedbeds provide ideal vegetation for all types of wildlife.

We thought that this site would be somewhere to come to fill in a couple of hours but having been round it, would love to come for much longer. With the reserve being so new, it was opened in 2002 it seems as though word has not gone out that it exists, hence the reason why the visitor centre was not open. Suits us, the quieter the better. We'll be back!

Everywhere was awash with colour.

Green Woodpecker, Coal, Blue, Longtailed and Great Tit, Tree Creeper, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch.

9th August '10 Long Nab/Crook Ness

Hot, sunny, breeze.

Long Nab/Crook Ness.

Tides out. Thats Scarborough Castle on the headland.

Next time you're passing through Burniston instead of calling into the Three Jolly Sailors for a jar or two take the first right just after it, if you've come from the Scarborough end, and you end up at a small carpark at Crook Ness. We came here to check out the scrub covered slopes of the gully, Crook Ness, and any convenient hedgerows in the vicinity bordering the arable fields. The promontary leading up to the birdhide is Long Nab. The ravine and the foreshore didn't throw up too much, but again its probably better to visit when migrant arrivals may turn up looking for shelter. And while you're here take time to look for brachiopods, plant fossils, in the cliffs below.
After a scorcher of a day we couldn't wait to cool down with a refreshing pint in the Three Jolly Sailors. Cheers!

Thats Crook Ness. Don't ask me what those holes are.

Peregine Falcon, Linnet, Green and Goldfinch, Wren, Rock Pipit.

5th August '10 Southfield Resevoirs

Cool, overcast, windy.

Southfield Resevoirs.

The bund that divides the resevoirs and Drax power station beyond.

The resevoirs are a couple of miles off the M62 near Goole. They were constructed in 1911 as compensation resevoirs for the Aire and Alder canals which run adjacent to them. We parked in the fishermens carpark which is reached by a decent track at the side of Beavers Bridge. We followed the tree covered bund running alongside the canal up to the dam from which the resevoir feeds the canals. Thats it in the picture below. I assume the concrete stancions supported a walkway at some time. We returned to the carpark and then took the path below the high bank following a hedgerow right up to the Beaver Sailing Club end of the resevoir. A good place for sightings. On the whole it was worth a visit. I suspect birdwise it will be more rewarding in the migration periods of spring and autumn. Nevertheless we still had an unusual first sighting. A mink. A dead mink! One of the fishermen told us at one time the place was overrun with them.

The dam which feeds the canal to the left.

Blackcap, Whitethroat, Green and Goldfinch, Linnet, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Tree Pipit.