I woke up feeling like my legs needed stretching this morning and with strong winds I decided to head to the Drewton Estate near North Cave where plenty of woodland in a valley provides shelter.

This proved to be a good choice. The first birds of interest were huge numbers of House Martins and Swallows hawking for insects over cut hay fields and woodland; along with these were 3 Swifts, possibly the last I’ll see this year? Whilst watching the Swifts a Red Kite flew over at low altitude: a rather ragged individual with its wings and tail in an advanced state of moult. I had heard rumours that the Kites in this area had moved on, but this was proof that they are still present.

Walking along the valley a family group of Bullfinches were tricky to see before they flew off, but a Marsh Tit gave a nice display of feeding upside-down on thistle seeds. A small hay field contained a good variety of plants, such as red clover, harebells and thyme (not sure which species though) which were being fed upon by a few butterflies including Large White, Small White and Wall Brown.

Walking further along another Red Kite passed overhead: a different individual to before as this one was rather smart. There is a small spring along this valley and it provided drinking water today for Blue Tits, a Great Tit and a Coal Tit. Further along, the path heads alongside some woodland and an old railway track. This path held large numbers of calcareous plants, with Field Scabious, Thyme, Wild Basil, Marjoram, Harebell and Agrimony all common.

Field Scabious

Marjoram

The woodland here contains a mixture of broadleaved and coniferous species and I came across a large group of Coal Tits and Goldcrests feeding in pine and spruce trees. Whilst watching these a Buzzard began noisily screaming from a little further along the path and I managed to get a view of it sitting on a tree just about 50 metres away. As it flew off and circled around over some pasture, another Buzzard joined it and they called to each other as they glided off, being mobbed by a Kestrel at the same time. This comotion flushed a Great Spotted Woodpecker into the open and it landed on top of a conifer and began feeding on the seeds from the cone.

With my attention back on the plants I noticed 2 Speckled Wood butterflies and managed to get some decent photos of the female.

Speckled Wood

Beginning to walk back to the car I quickly came a cross a family group of Marsh Tits which allowed me to approach closely and watch for some time. This site is really good for Marsh Tit, I have never failed to see it on my visits here, both in the woodland and in the hedgerows. Also on the way back to the car I saw a very bright, fresh plumage Willow Warbler along with common species such as Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon and Moorhen.