The HDNS field trip to North Cave Wetlands was attended by nine members. The weather was overcast but there were some hot sunny periods throughout the day.
The car park on Dryham Lane had a flock of Long-tailed Tits, a Chaffinch and a Chiffchaff as I arrived. Sand Martins and Swallows were over head. One member also heard a Cetti’s Warbler in the tall hedge. Also Woodpigeons, Jackdaws and Carrion Crows which were seen throughout the site.
Through the main entrance the first hide is East Hide looking over the Village Lake. The usual waterbirds included a Mute Swan family group, Mallard, Tufted Ducks, Coot, Moorhen, Little and Great Crested Grebes. Three Green Sandpipers flew over towards the Island Lake.
To the Turret Hide which overlooks the Island Lake with its shallow water, muddy margins and rocky islands. This was the favoured lake of the waders. Species present were 13 Common Snipe, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 14 Green Sandpipers, 2 Greenshank, 4 Ruff, 2 Ringed Plover and 1 Common Sandpiper. One member’s description was “Wader Fest”. Waterfowl included Shoveler, Mallard and Teal plus Coot, Moorhen and 2 Little Egret. With so many waders present it was helpful to compare the different species side by side. We then returned to the cars for our lunch break.
From here we checked the Main Lake from the South Hide. 12 Pochards, Gadwall, Kestrel, Herring Gulls fly overs and 1 Common Tern were added to the list. 5 Common Buzzards could be seen over the hillsides and fields off the reserve.
Crosslands Hide is a raised Turret Hide and looks over Dryham Ings. Two more Green Sandpipers were here plus 5 Mute Swans, a Black Swan, Little Grebe, Coots and a Cormorant. Distant views of two birds of prey on wires turned out to be two Kestrels with two Common Buzzards over. The quarry lake behind us had 37 Mute Swans with Tufted Ducks and Coot. A group of 6 Black-headed Gulls and 6 Common Gulls were loafing on one of the quarry stockpiles.
We then returned to the perimeter footpath round the main reserve. This had lots of Common Darters and with 6 Little Egret and 2 Grey Herons on the Far Lake.
The Reedbed Lake on the North side had a Mute Swan family, Lapwings, Coot and Tufted Ducks with Sand Martins and Swallows feeding over head. 2 Goldfinches and 2 Linnets were feeding on weed seeds along the hedge. Along this open foot path there were Common Blue Damselflies, Common Blue Butterflies, Brown Hawkers, a Meadow Brown and 2 Walls.
At the end of the hedge the view across a cultivated field gave us a Yellow Wagtail with 4 Pied Wagtails. Also 2 Red-legged Partridge flew across after being disturbed by the tractor. On the return to the cars we called in again at the Island Lake which added 3 Curlew to the list.
We returned to the cars at 4.00. The species total for the day was 46. I noticed a lack of small birds on our walk. Notably warblers, tits, and hedgerow birds.
Mike Smithson