2011 Year List

On Sunday 27th February 2011, I went with my friend Linda (aka Duckwomen) to Stillingfleet in North Yorkshire to add some more roving records to the BTO Atlas for square SE54. I had never been to the area before and so I was looking forward to a birding adventure. Having already complete 7 BTO Atlas squares in Cleveland I know that each walk can yield surprises and despite counting 'common' birds it is rewarding to know that a particular species is doing well or present in other areas/habitats.

We started at the village of Stillingfleet and a few minutes spent walking around the churchyard and village got us some nice birds. Our ears were filled with the calls of Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Blue Tit and Great Tit as the species list started to grow. A Kestral was hunting along the beck side and four Moorhen went about their business of searching for food. The final reward before leaving the village were a pair of Siskins which perched on the wires.

The next stop was the open fields where the winter crops and grass shoots were still relatively short following the harsh winter conditions. The beautiful sound of Skylark fill the air and despite a breeze a Corn Bunting sat proud on top of a tree merrily joining in the chorus. What a surprise, as Corn Bunting are a species that are in a steady decline. Grey Partridges could be seen in a distant field, before we turned a corner at the end of the field. A quick scan of the land, yielded a huge mixed flock of Fieldfare, Starling and a solitary Redwing. Then we spotted some Golden Plover, Lapwing, Red-legged Partridge and Grey Partridge on the field. Plus two Brown Hares sitting quiet enjoying a bit of hazy sunshine.

Then we went to the next habitat within the square, a small area of mixed woodland. Four Jays were spotted as we walked along the path, plus Bullfinch and Great Spotted Woodpecker. The small birds were an everpresent, so the trees and bushes were constantly moving as they flew from perch to perch. Approximately 8 Stock Dove were seen within a large mixed flock of Woodpigeon, Rook, Jackdaw and Carrion Crow. Then as we stood near a farm, Linda spotted a small falcon trying to catch a Skylark in the air. The birds twisted and turned up high in the sky, before the falcon plummeted to towards the ground at a fast rate of knots and out of sight. After a quick run back along the path we spotted the falcon again, who had managed to catch it's lunch. Now sitting up in the tree with its reward was a Merlin. What an amazing few minutes of birdwatching and the highlight of our walk.

Following our good fortune in Se54 we left the square behind and headed to North Duffield Carrs for a well earned sit down in the hides and the last bit of birdwatching before the light faded away.

2011 Bird Year List = 105 species (Red-legged Partridge, Merlin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Jay and Corn Bunting).