Cetti's warbler singing on the North path.
In the next two months, it should become easier to see this normally elusive bird, as they confirm their territories & start singing from visible perches in the pathside bushes

Song thrush by Dryham farm

Moulting male Reed-bunting, Crossland's lake

Redshank landing on Crossland's lake

Oystercatcher on Crossland's lake

Sunday,
A Dunlin was on Crossland's causeway in the morning,
3 Sand martins seen over the Turret hide,
Also seen was 4 Mediterranean gulls (East Holm), Red kite & Marsh harrier

Sightings:7th March 2026.
North Cave Wetlands.
@northcavewet.bsky.social

Managed to get a reasonable snap of a redwing at @northcavebirds.bsky.social @northcavewet.bsky.social yesterday. Very quiet in terms of both people and birds, but never not enjoy a walk round there (and a bacon butty of course)

Todays' surprise was a drake Common scoter on the Island lake. Obviously the result of an nocturnal overnight passage, it was in fact the 1st Common scoter to be seen on the Island lake,
Worth noting that the yellow bill was not as striking as they normally are

Redshank over the Island lake

Chiffchaff by the North path

Whooper swans migrating north over West Holm

Tufted ducks over East Holm

Saturday,
A drake Common scoter was on the Island lake,
2 skeins of about 100 Pink-footed geese flew north west over the reserve, with about 40 Whooper swans north over West Holm,
Adult Mediterranean gulls were on East & West Holm,
Also seen was 2 Green sandpipers (New workings)

Probably one of the two remaining Redwings on the reserve & definitely the most tame.
So close views of what must be my favourite thrush, as it patiently allowed close up views, showing the bristle feather just below the bill & emphasizing the worn red stripe (rather than glowing) as in the autumn

Oystercatchers on the Village lake tern posts

Adult Mediterranean gull on East Holm

Green sandpiper landing in the New workings ponds

Drake Wigeon on Cell 'A'

Friday,
A 2nd year drake Goosander was briefly on East Holm this morning,
Pink-footed & Eygptian geese were both on Crossland's lake,
A Bittern was seen to fly from the Reed-bed to the Island lake, with 2 Green sandpipers in the New workings,
About 50 Curlew flew onto the centre of the reserve,

Close up Wren on the East path

Male Reed bunting on the Maize field

Little egret on West Holm

The saying is 'Let sleeping Shoveler & Wigeon lie'

Thursday,
2 Little ringed plovers in the New workings,
2 adult Mediterranean gull on East Holm,
The Crossland's lake Eygptian goose pair were on Crossland's lake, with 2 Pink-footed geese,
Also 2 Marsh harriers, 2 Barn owls (by Crossland's hide & New workings), plus 3 Fieldfares ('Oak' avenue),

Drake Teal wing stretching on West Holm.
Showing the structure of the wing, the white of the leading edges of the wing feathers & the 2 blues of the speculum

Sightings:4th March 2026.
North Cave Wetlands.
@northcavewet.bsky.social

3 Green sandpipers fairly close together in the New workings, showing how important this area is on the reserve for this wintering species.
It good to see a species that is normally an autumn sighting

Single Redwing along Dryham lane

Oystercatcher pair with the Black headed gulls on West Holm

Adult Mediterranean gull with Black-headed gulls on East Holm

Continuing the 'Pochardfest', drake on East Holm

Wednesday,
The year's 1st Little ringed plover (East Holm) & Sand martin (from Crossland's hide,
Yesterday's 3 Mediterranean gulls were still present, with 3 Green sandpipers in the New workings,
Also seen was at least Avocet (Village lake), Grey wagtail (West Holm), Fieldfare (West End) & Raven

Little Ringed Plover - terrible photo but it was great to see the first of the year at NCW, it is also our earliest ever record by some margin.

Sightings:3rd March 2026.
North Cave Wetlands.
@northcavewet.bsky.social

Tuesday,
The 1st Chiffchaffs of the year (up to 6 present) seen & heard today,
10 Whooper swans north west in the afternoon, a single & 100 north west Pink-footed geese, the single Eygptian goose on Crossland's lake,
A Bittern was seen on the Reed-bed, with the Great white egret on Dryham Ings,

At least 70 were seen on one day in January this year

Good numbers of Pochard about today, with at least 50 counted.
As usual only a minority of females present with only 9 counted.
Hopefully some of these will stay & breed as they have done for the last 2 years

First Dronefly for me this year @northcavewet.bsky.social. So….front tarsi dark? rear tibia ‘banana shaped’? I’m going ❌ to both, & my first guess of 2026 is therefore… Eristalis pertinax (not sure it really matters though unless you’re another Eristalis 😂) Elsewhere: sparrowhawk, curlew, stoat

The morning's 6 Black-tailed godwits on Cell 'A' with a few Redshanks

Summer plumaged Little grebe from the South hide

Peregrine over East Holm

Wigeon on Crossland's lake

Monday,
6 Black-tailed godwits & 32 Redshanks in Cell 'A' & a Green sandpiper by the 'Bungalow' pond,
On East Holm, the adult Mediterranean gull was seen & an Eygptian goose on Crossland's lake,
Also seen was Marsh harrier & Peregrine (both West Holm), Great white egret (west over the New workings)

Sunday,
A pair of Grey partridge at the West End,
In Cell 'A', the Great white egret & 2 Black-tailed godwits were present,
An Avocet, 11 Curlews & a pair of Great crested grebes were on the Villag lake,
Also seen, 4 Marsh harriers, 2 Peregrines, plus 2 males & a female Stonechats on the Maize field

Yearlist to end of February 2026 at North Cave Wetlands stands at 108 species.
With new species seen during the month shown in Red.
@northcavewet.bsky.social

Saturday,
Yesterday's Great white egret was still in Cell 'A',
A good day fro Stonechats, pairs in Dryham Ings & by Dragonfly ponds, plus female on fence north of Reed-bed hide,
Also seen was adult Mediterranean gull (East Holm), Barn owl hunting the reserve centre in the late afternoon,

Bittern at North Cave Wetlands. Here's my blog for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust about trying to spot these elusive herons: www.ywt.org.uk/blog/rod-jon... #ThePhotoHour #birds #wildlife #nature #photography
@yorkswildlife.bsky.social @northcavewet.bsky.social @northcavebirds.bsky.social

There has been a roosting Great white egret on the reserve for at least 2 weeks.
Usually it flies off south at 1st light, but occasionally it will stay for the morning, as it did today,
So we were graced by it's presence on Cell 'A'

Great crested grebes contemplating the courtship process

One of the 2 pairs of Tree sparrows by Dryham farm

One of 3 Green sandpipers in the New Workings

Spot the odd 'Pochard' out!

Friday,
In the morning, a Woodcock on the North path by the Far lake,
A Great white egret roosted & spent the morning on Cell 'A',
Single Eygptian goose on Crossland's lake, with the near summer adult Mediterranean gull on East Holm, single Avocet (several spots) & 3 Green sandpipers (New workings,

My other delight this morning was to be able to listen to a singing Corn bunting (not a common listen recently) in the North hedge, complete with what I presume was it's non singing partner,
We have always had 2 or 3 breeding pairs, but they have retreated to the New workings in recent years

Finally got to see the near summer plumaged adult Mediterranean gull on East Holm (has been there for a week).
An unusually early date for the return of this species (with more to come).
Unfortunately at the moment the lack of mates, means that it is currently paired up with a Black headed gull

Teal pair on the Main lake

3 departing drake Pintails

Greta crested grebe on East Holm

Bathing & drinking time for the local Starlings

Thursday,
3 drake Pintails were briefly on West Holm, flying off to the south west,
The near Summer plumaged Mediterranean gull was on East Holm, with an Avocet nearby
A pair of Corn buntings (the male was singing) were in the North hedge, opposite the Reed-bed hide,
2 Great white egrets were seen

Beautiful Yellowhammer in morning sunshine - North Cave Wetlands, East Yorkshire 25/2/26