YWT Strensall Common - 24 February 2013

A quick afternoon walk at Strensall Common in a cold northeasterly wind. A flock of c50 Fieldfares flew north reminding us that we are still in the grip of winter. A pair of Tree Sparrows were chirrupping in the bushes by the level crossing where we parked. We headed across the track and turned left through a kissing gate after the cottages. Heading right, we looped round back on to the track. The heath was wet with not much signs of life, though the vibrant cushions of green moss were attractive. On the way back to the car we spotted some splendid Birch Polypore fungi, growing like brackets perpendicular to the trunks of a dead Silver Birch. A little closer to the level crossing some larger brackets were the well-named Horse's Hoof Fungus. A scan over the large MOD heath on the other side of the road failed to reveal any Stonechats or the Hen Harrier seen here last month, though I wasn't too expectant!

Birch Polypore above and Horse's Hoof Fungus below.

YWT Moorlands - 24 February 2013

Moorlands is a lovely little woodland nature reserve a couple of miles out of Skelton, close to the York ring road. The site was planted in Victorian times with a collection of rare and beautiful (if you like that sort of thing) rhododendrons and azaleas and a number of exotic trees notably a fine snake barked maple. The site has a level circular path so is great for all visitors though it can get a bit muddy at this time of year.

On arrival we were greeted by a singing Skylark in the field opposite the nature reserve, the first I have heard this spring. The woodland was alive with birdsong, with Blue, Great and Coal Tits all singing vigourously. We enjoyed a real adventure; the kids loved seeing what they could find in the leaf litter and climbing on the various logs and stumps. Plenty of Snowdrops were flowering and many shoots of Daffodils were poking up through the leaflitter. A calling Nuthatch near the acer glade was the highlight birdwise.

YWT Hodgson's Fields - 20 February 2013

A dusk visit to this grassland site near Spurn, revealed a couple of Woodcocks flying out of the scrub to feed in nearby fields. A pair of Tawny Owls hooted from the small copse in the field known intriguingly as Bettywells.Who Betty Wells was I do not know! A Barn Owl flew over in quite a direct manner, presumably heading from its roost site to a nearby feeding area. A few Teal arrived with the gathering dark to feed in the two small pools hidden away in the grassland.

YWT Calley Heath - 13 February 2013

Third YWT site of the day, this heath lies next to the busy A1079 Hull - York road. It is hazardous to access as you have to pull on to some hardstanding next to the gate immediately next to the Hull road. Great care is needed! The site was quite wet and we had a quick walk round, mainly to check on the Belted Galloway cattle on site. They are being used to keep a check on the rank grass growing on site and one of the cows has recently had a calf. And very sweet it was too! We christened it Thunderbolt due to the lighting flash-shaped white belt round its flank. Not much wildlife noted apart from a few Siskins flying about.

Rifle Butts Quarry YWT - 13 February 2013

Not looking it's best on a dreary February day, we popped in here after spending the morning at North Cave. A tiny site with the large ant hills hinting at its heritage. At the far side of the paddock, a large exposed rock face exists which is of great interest to geologists showing as it does a Jurassic non-conformity, whatever that means! It looked pretty cool anyway and the Trus has a shelter erected to protect the face. It was pleasing to see a small group of nervous Hebridean sheep cowering under some scrub at the top of the bank. It is the first time the Trust has managed to get this site grazed and the rare plants will benefit from this.
I must come back in June to witness the results!

YWT North Cave Wetlands - 13 February 2013

An enjoyable walk round this developing site with Caroline and Steve Lewis from the York Press. Freezing cold but pleasant nonetheless with signs of spring including a displaying pair of Oystercatchers on one of the islands and a little bird song. Tree Sparrows and Redwings skulked in the bushes along Dryham Lane but we failed to see the reported Hawfinch. On the water, several duck species were present including Shelduck, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Teal and Wigeon. Close views from the excellent hides allowed good views. A Kestrel dispatching a vole on a post and a small flock of Redshank were the only other birds of note. See Steve's article here.

The Living Seas Centre YWT, 10 February 2013

Cold, raining, windy.

A perfect day for the beach and a nosey at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's brand new Living Seas Centre at South Landing, Flamborough. On arrival we wrapped up in several hundred layers to try and insulate ourselves from the howling easterly blowing straight up the valley from Bridlington Bay and headed down the road to the beach. Progress was difficult, but we eventually made it on to the beach were the Trust's Ant Hurd was leading a suprisingly-well attended (given the weather) rockpool safari. The guys had done well finding an Eelpout, a fairly unusual fish.

Eelpout (photo borrowed from britannica.com)

 

A Limpet's-eye view of the cliffs

We had a mooch about the seaweed until the cold and wet forced us to seek shelter back up the valley. On the way back a kind lady showed us two Woodcocks huddled down on the valley side allowing us a rare opportunity to see these birds in broad daylight.

 A Woodcock hunkers down out of the biting wind

The Living Seas Centre sits in the footprint of the former heritage coast centre that was burnt down a few years ago at the entrance to South Landing car park. The original building had been a heritage centre but was then turned into a cafe for a few years before an arsonist destroyed it. Thanks to the vision of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, they entrusted YWT to reopen this as a base for its Living Seas work. A few months on and the centre looks fabulous. It is brilliant for families, with lots of activities and wonderful displays to enjoy inside, plus very friendly staff and volunteers and a great coffee machine! The kids enjoyed a couple of hours inside, making cardboard crabs, colouring and checking out the bubble booth and interactive floor! The Trust will be running loads of outdoor events from here - like today's safari - so there will be lots of stuff to get involved in. Here are a few views...

YWT Wheldrake Ings - 9 February 2013

A quick hour at my favourite YWT nature reserve revealed a lot of water and a lot of birds! The new sign at the top of the lane was much more visible now that the nettles had died down and will hopefully be useful for people who have not visited before.

Entering the flood just before the car park I wondered if I had made the right decision, but remembered that if I took the foot off the gas water could sucked up the exhaust pipe, so I pressed on. I arrived with shiny washed wheels safely on the hard standing before the bridge.


Over the bridge, the nature reserve was very flooded still, with only bushes poking out of the water and an occasinal berm of higher land. As is usual with Wheldrake in winter, birds teemed across the wide vista and the sound of Wigeon, Teal and gathering gulls filled the air.

 

The view east from the Bailey Bridge

A large gang of gulls was loafing on a strip of land not too far away so I made my way on to the Bailey Bridge and put my 'scope up. Shortly, a smart adult Iceland Gull dropped in and began preening. Late winter seems to be the best time to pick up these white-winged Arctic gulls and later on a younger bird, a first winter arrived to roost along with a much larger first winter Glaucous Gull. The gull roost was impressive with several thousand large gulls, mostly Herring and Great Black-backed, and a few thousand Common and Black-headed Gulls also present.

 Adult Iceland Gull (centre), with a preening Herring Gull and a Carrion Crow.

Among the hordes of gulls, several Goldeneye displayed, tossing their heads back to ambivalent females. Flights of graceful Pintail passed by and large groups of Teal dabbled in the shallows. As I peered through the gloom as 5 o'clock approached, a Little Owl called from the lane and a couple of Water Rails squealed from the marshy vegetation behind the car park. A fine Barn Owl flew in front of the car on they way back to Crockey Hill, a fine end to an enjoyable hour at Wheldrake Ings.