Spurn

A few days up at Spurn was fairly quiet as befits a cold January weekend but the long staying adult Black Brant was showing well close to the road along Easington Straight on Sunday.

Black Brant in with the Dark-bellied Brent Geese

and this Pale-bellied Brent Goose

This family party was on the dropping tide by The Crown - two 1st year birds at the front with the pale edges on the closed wing

Stonechat

Wigeon

The Wigeon in front of the hide at Venus Pool were very active this afternoon having a bath; the behaviour seemed to be contagious as whenever one bird started to wash and splash about, they all joined in chasing each other on, under and over the water.   Looked like fun!

Ahhh, finished!

Venus Pool again

The hides at Venus Pool have been ace for taking pictures recently with beautiful clear and sunny days combined with the half frozen pool pushing everything close in to the hides.   There have been big numbers of ducks present including 240 Teal (by far the biggest count I've had here), 90 Wigeon, 31 Shoveler, 10 Gadwall and 120 Mallard.

Busy in front of the hide!

Sorry about more Snipe pictures but they are posing nicely at the moment!

Gadwall

Teal

Wyke

Snipe

Wyke

Over the last few years Ravens have increased dramatically around Wyke to the point that now they are pretty much constantly around with up to 9 seen together; even though I'm never here in the breeding season I'm sure they nest in several places along Benthall Edge probably in a few of the many hidden quarries along the ridge.

Rave on

Reed Bunting

Song Thrush

Venus Pool