April Sightings

30th April – Southside pm (MR,GB)

3 Hobby from 1st/2nd field
3 Arctic Tern at west end of Mere then north
1 Curlew over
Red-necked Grebe elusive at times off 1st/2nd field

Red-necked Grebe off 2nd field

KP – pm (GB)

13 Pied Wagtail
2 White Wagtail
9 Yellow Wagtail
20+ Swift

KP – am

2 Shelduck
11 Pied Wagtail
2 White Wagtail
7 Yellow Wagtail
4 Swift
350+ Sand Martin
120+ Swallow
30 House Martin

local Grasshopper Warbler – Jeff Cox

Tunstall – (TI)

1 Whooper Swan

a late Whooper Swan at Tunstall – Tim Isherwood

29th April – KP in evening (LI)

12 Yellow Wagtail
5 White Wagtail
20 Pied Wagtail
Common Sandpiper
1 LRP

KP – am (GB,BMJ)

2 Shelduck
5 Common Sandpiper
9 Pied Wagtail
2 White Wagtail
7 Yellow Wagtail
4 Swift

Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk – pm (GB,BMJ)

4+ Common Buzzard
male Marsh Harrier
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
14 Gadwall
8 Shoveler
350+ Sand Martin
45 House Martin

1st Field – late aft

25+ Swift
250+ Sand Martin
120+ Swallow
50+ House Martin

28th April – Southside in evening (LI)

Grasshopper Warbler
Arctic Tern
3 Common Sandpiper
2 LRP Swan Island spit
4 Common Swift

Cowden – (AJ)

1 Green Woodpecker – quite possibly a first for the Cowden area!

Green Woodpecker at Cowden – Ade Johnson

KP – am (GB,DB)
Sparrowhawk
Shelduck
Common Sandpiper
2 Yellow Wagtail
4 Swift

Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk – am (GB,DB)

Grey Heron
3 Marsh Harrier
2 Kestrel
6 Great Crested Grebe
2 Teal
10 Gadwall
12 Shoveler
160+ Tufted Duck
6 Pochard
2 Goldeneye
Swift
Green Woodpecker calling

1st Field – late aft

Slavonian Grebe off Swan Island
2 Common Sandpiper
32 Swift
450+ Sand Martin
250+ Swallow
80+ House Martin

27th April – Mere (GT,GB)

Slavonian + Red-necked Grebe still present from KP
2 Hobby early aft feeding over Decoy
Whimbrel over Decoy
Redshank from KP
Common Sand 1st field
Kingfisher Swan Island briefly
2 Lesser Whitethroat from KP
Cetti’s Warbler heard from KP
14 Pied Wagtail
2 White Wagtail
8+ Yellow Wagtail
400+ Sand Martin
60+ Swallow
20 House Martin

26th April – KP/Southside in am (LI,RW,SB et al)

1 sum’plumaged Black-necked Grebe from KP early am
1 sum’plumaged Red-necked Grebe from KP/1st field
1 sum’plumaged Slavonian Grebe off KP/Bull Hole mid morning
Arctic Tern
2 Common Sandpiper
Yellow + White Wagtails on KP
9 Pink-footed Goose

Slavonian Grebe off KP – Rich Willison

Slavonian Grebe – Rich Willison

Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk – am (GB et al)

2 Grey Heron
4 Common Buzzard + 5 birds flying high to NNE
7+ Marsh Harrier + 2 birds flying high to NNE
4 Sparrowhawk+2 birds flying high N
2 Kestrel
10 Great Crested Grebe
22 Teal
24 Gadwall
16 Shoveler
260+ Tufted Duck
5 Pochard
11 Goldeneye
Arctic Tern flew E
Dunlin flew E
120+ Sand Martin
22 House Martin
16 Swallow
2 Swift flew E
Treecreeper
2 Jay

KP – late aft

Slavonian Grebe heading towards south side of Swan Island
Common Sandpiper
12 Pied Wagtail
7 Yellow Wagtail
2 White Wagtail
300+ Sand Martin
20+ House Martin

25th April – Mere early am-late aft (MR,GT,GB,BMJ)

KP in am

2 Sparrowhawk
2 Grey Heron
8 Gadwall
60+ Tufted Duck
4 Swift
40+ Sand Martin
10 House Martin
flava Wagtail over
Arctic Tern

1st/2nd Field – am

2 Yellow Wagtail
5 Grey Heron over Hornsea then south
Whimbrel
Green Woodpecker over Heslop’s

Wassand Hide – am

Grey Heron
4 Common Buzzard + 2 flying high NE
7 Marsh Harrier + cream-crown flying high N
3 Sparrowhawk
2 Kestrel
Peregrine flew west
Hobby
8 Great-crested Grebe
Teal
16 Gadwall
15 Shoveler
135 Tufted Duck
5 Pochard
17 Goldeneye
32 Black-tailed Godwit flew high SSE
3 Swift
2 Jay

1st Field – early aft

Red-necked Grebe in full summer plumage
probably recently arrived and constantly diving

KP – early/mid aft

Arctic Tern on buoy flew east
fem Blue-headed Wagtail
3+ Yellow Wagtail
12+ Pied Wagtail
3w Iceland Gull around carpark
1 Common Sandpiper

1st Field/Swan Island – evening

Shelduck
35 Teal
Arctic Tern
650+ Sand Martin
1500+ Swallow
60+ House Martin

Iceland Gull off KP carpark

Red-necked Grebe off 1st field

phonescoped Red-necked Grebe

Black-tailed Godwits over Decoy

24th April – Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk in am (MR,JC)

8+ Common Buzzard
4+ Marsh Harrier
Kingfisher
3 Green Woodpecker
Brimstone
Grasshopper Warbler reeling 3rd field in evening (LI)

1st/2nd Field – early am (GB)

Shelduck
16 Gadwall
5 Pochard
Lesser Whitethroat
2 Common Whitethroat
6 Blackcap
4 Willow Warbler
Grasshopper Warbler
2 Long-tailed Tit
Yellow Wagtail

KP – am

2 Grey Heron
Sparrowhawk
2 Common Buzzard
White Wagtail
40+ Sand Martin
8 Gadwall
24 Goldeneye

23rd April – KP in am (GB)

2 Common Sandpiper

Cowden – (JC)

Whitethroat
Sedge Warbler
Willow Warbler
Grasshoper Warbler
Barn Owl

Whitethroat – Jeff Cox

KP – am (GB)

2 Common Sandpiper
2 Shelduck
adult Little Gull

Wassand Hide – am

2 Grey Heron
2 Common Buzzard + 2 more flying high to N
5 Marsh Harrier
2 Sparrowhawk
2 Kestrel
10 Great-crested Grebe
26 Teal
22 Gadwall
24 Shoveler
240+ Tufted Duck
5 Pochard
29 Goldeneye
Greenshank flew east
2 Jay

22nd April – Southside in am – (JC)

Cetti’s Warbler
fem Marsh Harrier
Common Buzzard
Kestrel
Reed Warbler 1st field

Kestrel – Jeff Cox

Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk-am/pm (GB,DB,SB,IA,CMcG)

2 Grey Heron
6+ Common Buzzard + 2 flying high to N
7+ Marsh Harrier
4 Sparrowhawk
2 Kestrel
12 Great Crested Grebe
24 Teal
18 Gadwall
14 Shoveler
270+ Tufted Duck
54 Goldeneye
Snipe flew W
Greenshank over
5+ Great Spotted Woodpecker
70+ House Martin
22 Swallow
Blackcap/Chiffchaff well established
2 Jay

1st Field-evening (GB,LI)

adult Little Gull
2 Marsh Harrier flying high to NE at 1925hrs

21st April – KP late am (TI)

a minimum of 9 Marsh Harrier over Decoy
several Yellow Wagtail on KP
White Wagtail on KP (AE)

White Wagtail on KP – Alan Elkin

KP – am (GB)

Little Gull
White Wagtail
5+ Yellow Wagtail
2 Marsh Harrier flying high to NE
70 Tufted Duck
40+ House Martin

Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk – pm

3 Grey Heron
6+Buzzard
8 Marsh Harrier + 3 birds flying high NNE
4 Sparrowhawk
2 Kestrel
8 Great Crested Grebe
16 Gadwall
14 Shoveler
64 Goldeneye
70+ House Martin
Cetti’s Warbler
2 Jay
Ring Ouzel at Wassand

20th April – 1st Field early am – (GT)

3 Avocet on 1st field edge
1 sum’plumaged Black-necked Grebe off Swan Island
Greenshank at Bewholme

distant Black-necked Grebe off 1st field

Mink in Wassand – Simon Pugh

KP – am (GB)

White Wagtail
60+ House Martin

Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk – pm

2 Grey Heron
6+ Common Buzzard
7 Marsh Harrier + 2 cream-crowns flying high to NE
3 Sparrowhawk
2 Kestrel
12 Great Crested Grebe
14 Gadwall
16 Shoveler
5 Pochard
270+ Tufted Duck
68 Goldeneye
70+ House Martin
2 Jay

1st Field in evening

Black-necked Grebe still
2 Little Gull

19th April – Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk in am (GB,CD,BMJ et al)

2 Grey Heron
5+ Common Buzzard
7 Marsh Harrier including a cream-crown heading high to NE
3 Sparrowhawk
2 Kestrel
10 Great Crested Grebe
9 Teal
16 Gadwall
18 Shoveler
4 Pochard
c400 Tufted Duck
130 Goldeneye
adult Little Gull
Green Woodpecker heard
4 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Swift
40+ House Martin
35 Swallow

18th April – Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk in am (GB)

Hoopoe – one flushed by a low-flying Helicopter was seen briefly in flight along the north side of the Mere as viewed from Wassand Hide at 10.04 hrs.
The bird disappeared behind a willow tree and unfortunately was not seen thereafter despite extensive watching and subsequent searching of more suitable habitat later in the day in the extensive farmland owned by Wassand Estate in Seaton and Bewholme.

Southside/Wassand in aft – (LI,JC)

3 Arctic Tern late afternoon off 1st field
1 Little Gull off 1st field
Cetti’s Warbler
2+ Lesser Whitethroat Heslop’s + Wassand (MR)
good no’s Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler + Sedge Warbler
Yellow Wagtail at west end
30 Linnet Ouzel Hedge

Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk – (GB)

2 Grey Heron
6 Common Buzzard – 1 heading high to N
7 Marsh Harrier (3 males)and a cream-crown heading high to NE
4 Sparrowhawk
2 Kestrel
10 Great Crested Grebe
16 Teal
18 Gadwall
Wigeon
28 Shoveler
7 Pochard
370+ Tufted Duck + Scaup/Tufted hybrid
204 Goldeneye
Green Woodpecker heard
5+ Great Spotted Woodpecker
10 Swallow
12 House Martin
Chiffchaff and Blackcap well distributed
Cetti’s Warbler heard

Bewholme in pm

4 Shelduck
4 Teal
16 Shoveler
2 Oyster Catcher
White Wagtail
32 Swallow
14 House Martin

Mere in evening

2 Shelduck
420+ Sand Martin
160+ Swallow
60+ House Martin

KP early am
Whimbrel flew E
8 Lesser Black-backed Gull
Green Woodpecker heard

17th April – Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk in am (MR,JS,GB,AE)

3 Whimbrel over Decoy and out NNW during morning
2 Common Swift
6 Marsh Harrier (incl returning 2014 ad male)
6+ Blackcap
Sedge Warbler
Cetti’s Warbler
Jay
pair Green Woodpecker
300+ Tufted Duck inc Tufted x Scaup type hybrid
120 Goldeneye
26 Shoveler
14 Teal
5 Pochard
18 Gadwall
5 Great-crested Grebe
1 Little Egret Swan Island

Whimbrel over Decoy

Whimbrel

2014 male Marsh Harrier back in Wassand today

Gadwall

2nd Field early aft – (GB)

2 Common Buzzard over
cream crown Marsh Harrier heading high NNE
Little Egret Swan Island

Grimston – (TI)

Hooded Crow flew north, relocated in afternoon at East Newton/Ringborough (AJ)

Cowden – (AJ,MR)

Grasshopper Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Whitethroat
White Wagtail
imm male Marsh Harrier north (TI)

16th April – Southside/Wassand Hide in am (MR)

Whimbrel over north
fem Common Scoter off 1st/2nd field/KP
6 Shelduck
1+ Oystercatcher
Cetti’s Warbler
4+ Sedge Warbler
2 Common Swift over Heslop’s
500+ hirundines, mainly Sand Martin, 80+ Swallow, 6+ House Martin
1 ad Little Gull off/around KP (GT,GB)
male Wheatear 1st field edge (JC,LB)
80+ Linnet Ouzel Hedge
8 Greenfinch Ouzel Hedge
9 Meadow Pipit Ouzel Hedge
5 Marsh Harrier (2 male, 2 fem + 1cy cream crown) from hide
Tufted x Scaup type hybrid off 1st field early am and late am in Decoy

male Wheatear 1st field – Jeff Cox

1st/2nd Field in pm (MR,GB)

1 Redshank at East End/1st field edge
1 Reed Warbler singing from 2nd field
3 Common Swift over northside
fem Common Scoter off Swan Island
ad Little Gull
1 Pink-footed Goose
1 White Wagtail + 4 Yellow Wagtail on KP (GB,LB)
2 LRP Swan Island spit late evening (GT)
1 Red Kite NNW over Mere 15:47, 25mins after 1 north over Grimston (TI)

Red Kite – over 1st field

Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk – am (GB)

2 Grey Heron
3 Common Buzzard
4 Sparrowhawk
4 Marsh Harrier + 2 cream-crowns flying high NNW
Kestrel
12 Great-crested Grebe
12 Teal
22 Gadwall + 4 at KP
4 Wigeon
26 Shoveler
4 Pochard
210 Tufted Duck + 68 at KP
38 Goldeneye+24 at Swan Island
Green Woodpecker heard
5+ Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Mistle Thrush
40+ Sand Martin
8 Swallow
4 Chiffchaff
6+ Blackcap

15th April – 1st Field in pm (GB)

42 Sand Martin
4 Swallow
House Martin
2 Yellow Wagtail + 2 White Wagtail on KP in aft (GT)

14th April – Mere (GT)

fem Common Scoter off Swan Island
2 White Wagtail KP
Wheatear KP + 1 Bewholme
1 LRP Bewholme

KP/1st Field – in am (GB)

60+ Tufted Duck
44 Goldeneye
2 White Wagtail
Wheatear
12 Meadow Pipit

Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk (GB,DB,SP,CNC)

2 Grey Heron
4 Common Buzzard
4 Marsh Harrier
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
6 Great Crested Grebe
24 Teal
6 Gadwall
28 Shoveler
4 Wigeon
6 Pochard
200+ Tufted Duck
24 Goldeneye
Green Woodpecker heard
5 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Mistle Thrush
3 Redwing
10 Sand Martin
8 Swallow
3 Chiffchaff
4+ Blackcap
Goldcrest

Great Spotted Woodpecker in Wassand – Chris Cox

1st Field – pm (GB)

2 Wheatear
20+ Sand Martin
4 Swallow

Grimston – (TI)

1 Ring Ouzel in am
drk Mandarin on sea then south (2nd Grimston record!)

13th April – Mere in am (GT)

2+ Little Gull
1 Yellow Wagtail on KP
3 White Wagtail on KP + 1 at Bewholme
Marsh Harrier flew high SE
2 Willow Warbler Wassand nr hide
1 Ruff briefly around KP early aft
1 Whimbrel over late aft (LB)

12th April – Mere in am (EH et al)

3w Iceland Gull
2 Little Gull
4 Wheatear in evening by Heslop’s (LB)

Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk – pm (GB)

Common Buzzard
male Marsh Harrier
6 Teal
6 Gadwall
Wigeon
18 Shoveler
14 Goldeneye
170 Sand Martin
65 Swallow
4 House Martin
adult Little Gull flew east
2 Redwing
2 Mistle Thrush
2 Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Jay

Bewholme – (GT)

1 Little Ringed Plover

Mere late aft

several House Martin + good no’s Swallow + 200+ Sand Martin

10th April – Wassand in am (TM,FLDM)

3 Little Gull from Wassand Hide
1 Wheatear at west end
Common Tern over Mere in aft (LB)
Sand Martin
Comma
drk Garganey (BMJ)

9th April – Southside/Wassand Hide (MR,JC,DB)

Cetti’s Warbler
1 Swallow
Yellowhammer
Fieldfare
Redwing
Redshank east thru Decoy
drk Mandarin west thru Decoy
Little Grebe
Tufted x Scaup type hybrid still present
Teal hybrid again present
3 Marsh Harrier
Common Toads again evident along Wassand Walk/Hide
2 Blackcap

Little Grebe

phonescoped image of the Tufted x Scaup type hybrid

local Little Owl

Grimston – (TI)

Green Sandpiper north early am
Wheatear – first of the Spring in the Grimston area

8th April – Southside in am (MR,JC)

Cetti’s Warbler
3 Common Scoter off 1st/2nd field
1 Black-necked Grebe middle of Mere
1 Shelduck
1 Sand Martin
c80 Fieldfare north over Heslop’s
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
Chiffchaff

Black-necked Grebe on Mere

Common Scoter off 1st Field

3 Scoters and the Black-necked Grebe

Kestrel in 1st Field

Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk late am-mid aft (MR)

236 Tufted Duck, Tufted x Scaup type hybrid still present
198 Goldeneye
60 Teal
23 Shoveler
15 Gadwall
5 Pochard
4 Great-crested Grebe
2 Marsh Harrier ad male + ad fem over
24+ Common Toad between the Old Boathouse and the Hide
Grass Snake by the pines
male Blackcap
Chiffchaff
5 Swallow
2 House Martin
13 Sand Martin

Common Toads along the Walk

Blackcap singing by the Hide

Cowden – (TI)

Ringtail Hen Harrier over the range WNW around 13:00 towards Hatfield

Grimston

3 Swallow + 2 Sand Martin
2 Brambling
cream crown Marsh Harrier
Peregrine

7th April – Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk in am (MR)

4+ Chiffchaff
4 Coal Tit
2 Goldcrest
Cetti’s Warbler
4 Grey Heron
6 Pink-footed Goose from hide
180+ Tufted Duck, incl a Tufted x Scaup type hybrid
86 Goldeneye
30 Teal
24 Shoveler
9 Gadwall
8 Pochard
3 Marsh Harrier
4 Common Buzzard
pair Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
2 Grass Snake on Woodland Walk

1st Field late am (TI)

Noctule Bat
Blackcap
Cetti’s Warbler
Sand Martin
3+ Chiffchaff

Tufted x Scaup type hybrid

male Marsh Harrier over Decoy Bay

Merry Christmas

Grass Snake on the Woodland Walk

Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell in 3rd field

6th April – Southside/Wassand in am (MR,TM,JC,CD)

Snipe 1st field edge
1 Shelduck
1+ Oystercatcher
22 Pink-footed Goose Heslop’s area
Cetti’s Warbler
Chiffchaff
Jay
Little Grebe – 1 off Heslop’s, 1 off Wassand hide
60+ Teal Wassand, inc the Teal hybrid (last seen 13th March)
1+ Swallow – 1 over west end Decoy late am, 1 over KP/East end early aft
1 Sand Martin east thru Decoy
3 Marsh Harrier
2 Common Buzzard
Stoat – Ouzel Hedge + Decoy
3+ Roe Deer + Hare – Ouzel Hedge

5th April – Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk in am (JC)

Little Grebe 2 to the left of the hide
Treecreeper 2
Goldcrest 2
Great Crested Grebe 2 courtship display
Shoveler 4
Teal 6
Gadwall 2
Green Woodpecker
Song Thrush
Coal Tit
1 Dunlin on KP (AE)

pair Little Grebe from the hide – Jeff Cox

Little Grebe – Jeff Cox

Dunlin on KP – Alan Elkin

4th April – Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk (TM)

Little Ringed Plover flew thru Mere
Kingfisher
Green Woodpecker
4 Marsh Harrier
pair Common Buzzard
21 Pink-footed Goose Heslop’s
1 Pink-footed Goose on KP (AE)

Kingswood Cineworld/Sewage Works, Hull early am (MR)

1 Swallow
Chiffchaff
2 LBbgull

3rd April – Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk – am (GB)

Common Buzzard
6 Great-crested Grebe
12 Teal
2 Gadwall
16 Shoveler
Green Woodpecker heard
5+ Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Mistle Thrush
2 Fieldfare
Treecreeper
3 Chiffchaff
42 Siskin
16 Goldfinch
2 Bullfinch

2nd April – 1st/2nd field early am (MR)

15 Pink-footed Goose
2 Curlew west
2 Oystercatcher
1 Shelduck
Cetti’s Warbler singing
2 Chiffchaff

Pink-feet over the Mere

Curlew over

Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk late am

287 Goldeneye
358 Tufted Duck
8 Pochard
16 Teal
34 Shoveler
4 Gadwall
6 Great-crested Grebe
2 Little Grebe
1 Sand Martin west
4+ Chiffchaff singing
3 Marsh Harrier
2+ Common Buzzard
Cetti’s Warbler singing
2 Redwing

Marsh Harrier over Wassand hide

male Marsh Harrier high over Wassand late am

Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk – pm (GB)

Common Buzzard
2 Marsh Harrier
6 Great-crested Grebe
14 Teal
33 Shoveler
280+ Tufted Duck
10 Pochard
60 Goldeneye
2 Chiffchaff
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker

1st April – Wassand Hide/Woodland Walk in am (MR,GB,JC)

c27 Fieldfare in the woods
5 Common Buzzard
2 Marsh Harrier
Jay
12 Teal
35 Shoveler

Fieldfare

Mere late am/early aft (GT)

19 Pink-footed Goose Heslop’s area
1 Sand Martin

Pink-footed Geese in 2nd field – Jeff Cox