A lovely solitary walk

Just us two and the sounds of nature all around. Such peace and tranquility.

Plenty of frogs giving it their all. The frog spawn was so thick it formed a crust ! 

A chiffchaffing chiffchaff 

and a couple of Willow Tits  

Fresh air, blue sky, a few rays of sun and Simon just couldn't keep his eyes open !

Don't recon we will have any bother self-isolating with walks like this on our doorstep. 

Common Scoter

A good local find by JH.

MEGA !!!!!!!

Found a rarity today at Messingham NR, a Green-fronted Swan-tail. Almost extinct in the UK.

The head and body are open to offers but the cats say the tail isn't for sale !!  😀😀

Black-throated Thrush, Grimsby

With not a lot else to see at the moment we thought we would take a last look at the black-throated thrush before it departed. There was no-one around when we arrived so was unsure if the bird had been seen that day. Simon soon spotted movement in the trees and there it sat. Another couple of birders joined us after a while and the bird came down to feed a couple of times, alot closer than before so perhaps it was the crowds of folk that put it off. We couldn't work out what it was eating but thought it must have been seeds from the sycamore trees along with a juicy worm. With a full tummy it was soon back snoozing in the trees. 

But you really couldn't make this up......a women appeared from nowhere with a dog and proceeded to throw a ball towards us (and the thrush) for the dog to chase, which it did. But it wasn't too keen on returning the ball to the owner and with her constantly yelling 'fetch and bring' in a high pitched voice, Karen picked the ball up and threw it like a fielding cricketer a mile away. The women was told to go away and to take both her ball and dog with her !  Words failed us at the stupidity of people.

A few flowers this week, a butterfly and an adder or two

Primula

Coltsfoot

Small Tortoiseshell, our first butterfly of the year

Adders

Scarlet Elf Cups, Messingham Nature Reserve

Found a whole new patch of Scarlet Elf Cups this year, always special to see but even better when they are self found !

Waxwings, Hessle (Monday)

I have posted a couple of short videos from our trip on Monday to see the Waxwings in Hessle. I have a few pics (sorry, quite a lot actually!), hope you like them. 

Lots of photographers there on Monday, but not a pair of binoculars in sight. One women stood directly underneath the tree so obviously the birds flew up and down the road, very unsettled and skitty, hardly suprising. Not being allowed to feed, drink or settle. The toggers chased the birds up and down the road constantly. One togger was laid on the floor in the car forecourt next to the puddle trying to video from his phone. One walked right up to the puddle and simply stood there until another photographer told him off and then things got interesting ! They nearly came to blows, it was hilarious. Then there was talk of putting apples down.......so we beat a retreat. Afraid this behavior and company isn't for us. Home to a lovely long walk, just us two in peaceful solitude.