Whooper Swan
Today was spent in Hornsea, starting at the Mere, retail therapy at the free port, fish and chips on the sea front and back to the Mere late afternoon. It was good to visit the Mere as it is a complete change from the cliffs at Bempton with increasing numbers of wildfowl. As we arrived and parked, the usual Geese were gathered expecting to be fed (no way!) when Heather said "that's not a Mute Swan"! It certainly wasn't, it was a Whooper Swan and certainly not a bird I expected to see! Of course it begged to be photographed and I was more than happy to oblige!
The Whooper Swan was not being tolerated by the resident Mute Swans and it was chased at every opportunity!
A good number of Little Gulls could be seen distantly over the water, actively performing their "Tern" like feeding. Well out of the reach of my camera so I had to make do with a couple of birds on the pontoons.
Distant, to the left of Swan Island was the eclipse Garganey, a year tick, and I felt really chuffed that I had located it! Scope views only. Other wildfowl was expected - Moorhen, Coot, Tufted Duck. Wigeon, Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Canada & Greylag Geese. Grey Heron and Little Egret were also present.
There followed a trip to the free port - nothing more to say!
Lunch of fish and chips on the promenade enabled some sea watching with many Sandwich Terns, Cormorants and a summer plumaged Red Throated Diver.
Back at the Mere, status quo had been maintained, but the Whooper Swan was across the water near Swan Island. The eclipse Garganey was slightly closer in front of Swan Island but stillout of camera range.
While scoping the Mere, I was aware of a small bird just feet away - a Dunlin.
The Dunlin was flushed by a low flying Grey Wagtail!
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