It was impossible to resist a walk in such sunny and calm weather yesterday afternoon so I headed along the River Hull to Eske. The sounds of summer didn’t disappoint; Skylarks, Yellowhammers and Meadow Pipits in song and the screeching of passing Swifts.

At the lake I decide to just sit and wait for the birds to turn up. Male Wigeon and female Goldeneyes both still present – it really doesn’t look like they are going anywhere now. The pair of Oystercatchers are still tending their almost fully grown chick and a family of Pied Wagtails were feeding at the water’s edge. Three Little Ringed Plovers were present and it appears that one is sitting on eggs -they are very difficult to see on the stony “beach” that is revealed when the water is low. As I stood chatting to another birder a number of Black-headed Gulls settled on a small island and were joined by a sub-adult Little Gull. A soaring male Marsh Harrier, a Kingfisher and a male Great Spotted Woodpecker all put in an appearance too.

Walking a little further north a male Yellow Wagtail perched on the same fence post as I photographed it upon about a month ago and a Hobby was hunting along the river.

Unfortunately I had to dash back to the car in order to collect my wife from work, cutting short this most productive trip.