Identifying Wildlife in East Yorkshire
Kingfisher at Stone Creek - © 2009 Michael Flowers
Ten weekly visits to 10 different East Yorkshire nature reserves to primarily identify birds, but also mammals, butterflies, flowers and other wildlife.
Learn about one of the UK's most popular hobbies in a safe and friendly environment.
Courses start at three times: the second week of the New Year, after Easter, and in September.
Beginners will be given advice on suitable pairs of binoculars and the most convenient field guides to purchase. You will learn different aspects of fieldcraft, giving you a better chance to find birds when on your own. Many different aspects of birdwatching will be covered, so that you will discover what an interesting and rewarding hobby it is. The birds’ welfare will always come first. You can expect to see about 100 species during every 10-week course.
Some walking will be necessary most weeks, but this will be a maximum of 1½ miles taken at a gentle pace, and each class will last between 2 and 2½ hours.
You will need your own transport to get to the locations, and your own pair of binoculars, but you will be given the opportunity to use a telescope to observe birds at some sites.
During the winter months we should be able to see such iconic birds as Waxwings, Kingfishers, Barn Owls, Red Kites, and several other species of birds of prey as well as learning to identify waders and wildfowl along the Humber estuary and at inland wetland locations.
In spring we will begin to concentrate on areas of woodland and hedgerow to identify birds by their songs and calls. However, we will still find time to visit East Yorkshire's famous nesting colonies of seabirds.
In the autumn we will
travel to Spurn, Filey and Flamborough Head in an attempt to identify
migrating species. Later
we will visit relatively new sites, such as Paull Holme Strays on the Humber
to identify waders and wildfowl.
You will need warm and waterproof clothing, especially during the winter months, and stout shoes or Wellingtons are recommended at many locations. Always bring more clothing than you think you will need, as it is always easier to leave excess clothing in your car than watch birds without enough insulation!
Venues visited so far include: Allerthorpe Common, Askham Bog, Barmston, Beacon Ponds, Bempton, Blacktoft Sands, Brough Haven, Burswick, Burton Bushes, Burton Constable, Burton Riggs, Cherry Cobb Sands, Danes' Dyke, East Park (Hull), Eastrington Ponds, Fairburn Ings, Far Ings, Faxfleet, Filey Brigg, Filey Country Park, Filey Dams, Flamborough Head, Flamborough North Landing, Forge Valley, Fraisthorpe, Haverfield Quarries, Hornsea Mere, Houghton Woods, Howden Marsh, Hudson Way LNR, Humber Bridge Country Park, Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit, Leven Canal, McCann Nature Reserve, Market Weighton Canal, Millington Pastures, Millington Wood, North Cave Wetlands, North Cliffe Wood, North Duffield Carrs, Nutwood (Raywell), Old Moor RSPB, Patrington Haven, Paull Holme Strays, Pocklington Canal, Potteric Carr, Pulfin Bog & High Eske, Skipwith Common, South Cave, South Dalton Park, Spurn Point, Stone Creek, Sunk Island, Swinemoor, Thorne Moors, Thwaite Hall Gardens, Tophill Low, Wassand Hall Woodland, Welton Water, Welwick Saltings, Wharram Quarry, Whitton Sands & Wheldrake Ings.
Spurn Point - one of the best places in the UK to observe
migration
© Chris Cox 2006
Future excursions may include return visits to some of the above, plus: Beverley Parklands, Denaby Ings, Hodgsons Fields, and some newly-created wildlife-friendly sites.
Please note it is not appropriate to bring your dogs with you to these locations!
Classes run currently twice-daily Tuesday to Friday. The morning classes begin at 9.45am, and the afternoon ones at 1.15pm. The sessions are currently restricted to a maximum of 12, so we do not overcrowd the hides!
At the time of writing (September 2009) we have identified almost 200 species at the above locations. The class was present when I identified the first (and only) Little Auk at North Cave Wetlands. In a really interesting couple of days at Spurn Point (September 2008), the ‘students’ saw an amazing array of species, including: Great Grey Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Short-eared Owl, Redstart, Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Goldcrest, Little Egret, Snipe & Great Spotted Woodpecker (a local rarity at Spurn).
Barn Owl (c) 2009 John Batham
Special events are arranged during half-terms, and at the end of terms to visit new sites or see particularly unusual species. We have visited a Grey Seal colony, and have been on a Barn Owl Safari where we identified 10 different individual Barn Owls. Future plans include a visit to watch a Red Deer rut in safety; a trip in Spring to hear and hopefully see recently-returned Nightingales, and a visit to a secretive area of the Yorkshire Wolds to see Little Owls, Tawny Owls, Peregrine and Redstarts.
Comments from Course Participants
I did have some
experience in birdwatching before I joined, so I was a little apprehensive as
to whether the course would be of benefit to me. However, two years later,
thanks to Michael's expertise and recognition skills, I am still learning: new
venues, new sounds, new species. The sessions have everything for anyone with
an interest in birds." Les Fisher
“What
I’d say is that as a relative newcomer to birding, I’ve found the courses
incredibly informative: they have woken me up to a much keener awareness of
looking and listening, and how to pay attention to the immediate environment.
Invaluable.” Dr. Bruce Woodcock.
“I
have attended Michael's birdwatching courses now for several terms. New
venues are added each term so we visit new places all the time as well as the
many excellent nature reserves in our area. Over this time I have steadily
increased my knowledge about birds and birdsong and indeed wildlife in
general. As a professional wedding photographer, I had never really
considered becoming involved with wildlife photography, as the stumbling block
had always been tracking down the birds and mammals and being in the right
place at the right time. Thanks to the birdwatching course, I have had the
opportunity to photograph many species with some of my photographs
even having been published in the Yorkshire Post, as well as featuring in the
annual wildlife calendar produced by Michael. For those who combine an
interest in both photography and wildlife the birdwatching walks will reveal
many exciting locations to visit, as well as providing the vital information
about what you can expect to see and where you can expect to see it at
different times of the year. Highly recommended!” Maurice Gordon
Photography
“Michael provides generous
comprehensive birding knowledge making his seasonal excursions to very varied
locations throughout East Riding of Yorkshire very enjoyable and informative.
The locations range from woodland, lowland heath, farmland to coastal/rocky
cliffs/estuary all providing abundant birdlife for identification. In
particular gaining knowledge of diverse birdsong and identifying birds in
flight are a particularly enjoyable challenge.” Norma
“Michael identifies and locates
birds by calls and songs when I can't even hear them! He knows the best sites
and when to visit them. I learn something new each time we go out. Thanks to
his guidance I often see a new bird for the first time. I've really built up
my list of species. Great fun, I'm also learning to identify butterflies,
dragonflies and even fungi. It’s good to spend a couple of hours each week in
the company of like-minded people under Michael's expert and encouraging
guidance. Better than therapy. I've just signed up for my 5th Year! It
has really enhanced my enjoyment of birding as a hobby in retirement.” Miles
Mizon
“Four years of attending Michael's classes have transformed our walks in
the countryside and by the seashore. We can now recognise most hedgerow birds
by sight, and a great number by their song, also we can classify most ducks,
geese and waders. We have learnt to be a lot more observant about bird
behaviour - their modes of flying, nesting habits and mating rituals. Michael
is also a good all-round naturalist, and the information he gives us on trees,
berries, plants and insects makes us much more aware of the factors which
affect the habitats of birds and, indeed, of our own species. In short, these
courses have taught us to open our eyes and ears to the exciting natural world
which surrounds us. It is never too late to learn!” Tony and Margaret Knight
“Michael's knowledge of bird song and flight recognition are second
to none.
Come and join us. Some classes he even scores 12 out of 10!” Carol and
Eileen.
"I am now into my fourth year of birdwatching with Michael. His knowledge
of not only birds but all wildlife and fauna is excellent and the great
variety of sites visited during the year ensure an exceptional selection of
mainly birds, but also all forms of wildlife. If you are interested in nature
and birds in particular I can certainly recommend this course"
Tony Robinson, Nafferton, Driffield
“I enjoyed bird watching from an early
age but due to work and family I had a long gap before joining Michael on a
course he ran on an evening about 5 years ago. I am now a regular on a
Wednesday morning (this fits in with work). Michael's knowledge of bird
habitat, appearance and song and how he communicates this, as well as my
growing knowledge of the flora & fauna makes the visits to the varied
venues very enjoyable and informative.” Brian Sanderson
“We have enjoyed visiting lovely
venues in the East Riding (and beyond) most of which were new to us and we
have acquired new skills. The course has given us a new appreciation of
wildlife in general and of birds in particular thanks to Michael's enthusiasm
and commitment.” Peter and Kathleen Horrocks
“I was one
of the first to join one of Michael's groups five years ago. I shall never
forget that first wet morning in Burton Bushes. It is a credit to Michael that
we ever came back, as the non-stop rain poured down our necks and into our
shoes. However, we saw Bullfinches, Yellowhammers and Skylarks and I was in
awe of Michael's knowledge. In the five years with the group I have seen
Kingfishers, Bitterns, Cuckoos, Waxwings and birds I had never even heard of
before. Michael knows just where to go, and when.” Aileen Urquhart.
“A wonderful way to combine
walking and learning of our native wildlife with a knowledgeable tutor - not
just birds, I now recognise a Candlesnuff fungus and Yellow Stagshorn. The
term fees were worth it alone to see courting Green Woodpeckers and two
cuckoos in spring and a 2 hour soaring display of 4-5 Red kites in late
2008!” Dr John Batham
-----------"Why not come birdwatching with Michael Flowers ?", a friend
suggested. From the first day at Tophill Low, I never looked back. How come,
at 60, I had never seen a Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Gadwall, Teal,
Lapwing, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Shoveler or Goosander? I had of
course but never registered water birds, other than Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and
Swan. Once my eyes had been opened, I never stopped looking. Each habitat and
changing season brought to me more wonders of the bird species. The summer sun
stimulated and added another interesting study of moths and butterflies.
Autumn brought the fungi into our walks. Birdwatching has become an important
part of my life. I see and recognise different species each day, not only in
my local area but on my travels around England and abroad. -------------
Angela Wouters.
Flamborough Head (c) 2009 Maurice Gordon
This course began as a single session on Wednesday mornings in January 2004 with 10 students, and has now grown to 8 sessions a week, with just over 100 participants. The course was previously administered by the East Riding College @ Beverley, where it received an assessment of "outstanding" for the quality of its teaching. However, as with most non-vocational courses the funding subsidy was withdrawn. If you are interested in more information regarding the course, or if you wish to put yourself on a waiting list, please contact the tutor.
I always recommend that anyone
interested in wildlife in East Yorkshire should become a member of the
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust,
the
RSPB & Butterfly Conservation (Yorkshire).
Interesting Links
Local Wildlife Websites
Butterfly Conservation (Yorkshire Branch)
Local Walking Group
Link to my East Yorkshire 2010
Birdwatching Calendar
Pictures by Course Participants:
Pictures by Chris Cox a participant on the course
Images of Yorkshire by
Chris Cox
Links to my other sites of
Victorian Novelists:
Mrs. Henry Wood
Charlotte Riddell
Site created October 2006
Updated September 2009 Major
updates
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