This week the weather has become truly autumnal with brisk winds and a chill in the air, so I walked to High Eske in hope that some interesting migrants may have arrived.

It was interesting to note that the fishermen alongside the River Hull were now underneath their shelters, whereas a few weeks ago they were soaking up what little sun there was.

Quite a number of Swallows and House Martins were still hawking for insects along the river and just a solitary Meadow Pipit gave me something to look at on the walk to the lake. Further disappointment was at the lake where hoards of Greylag Geese had comandeered virtually all feeding and roosting space, although numbers of Mallard had greatly increased to about 70-80. Other ducks included just 2 Tufted Duck, the long-staying female Goldeneye and 7 Gadwall.

A single Redshank was roosting at the lakeside along with a Snipe and 3 more Snipe flew overhead. 4 Grey Herons were standing around the lake and the usual assortment of Cormorants, Coot, Moorhens, Great Crested Grebes and Mute Swans were also present. Another sign of the seasons were much larger numbers of Black-headed Gulls than a month ago, with a group of a round 100 present in the area. However, the best sight was a pair of Foxes curled up, asleep together on the far side of the lake.

On the fields to the north of the lake a group of 47 Lapwings were feeding alongside Starlings, Stock Doves and Rooks. Whilst watching these a juvenile Marsh Harrier flew across and scared the whole lot away. The Marsh Harrier was consequently chased away by an angry Skylark!

With the rain beginning I started off home, but my attention was drawn to anumber of small birds in willow trees at the water’s edge. 7 Tree Sparrows, 8 Reed Buntings, a Willow Warbler, 18 Goldfinches, a Robin and a Dunnock formed something of a feeding flock but it was the group of 30 Pink-footed Geese flying south that really brought home the fact that the colder weather is on its way along with the darker evenings.

How depressing.