Access updates with effect from Jan 25th

Work continues apace on the scheme we conveyed a couple of posts back. 

Regretfully the tunneling scheme under the river Hull is delayed.  As such that means the current access restrictions continue.  

Coupled to this the forestry work is moving on to the shelter belt around South Marshes.  As such none of the hides on the O reservoir end of the reserve will be accessible this week with effect from the close of play on Jan 24th;  

Our apologies.  Unfortunately this is unavoidable given the machinery working on site. We will be keeping a tally of lost weeks this winter and our intention is to prolong the current membership period accordingly; So cards which were due to expire on the 31st of March will instead be extended into April / May time accordingly as we get a full picture of closure durations.  

As such no need for renewals as yet - normally in late Feb we'd be starting to think of such, but this year I would suggest that'll be in early Summer.  

North Lagoon, Reception hide, East Hide, North marsh hide remain open around the D reservoir - still giving sporadic views of the Baikal teal gracing us in recent days; 

Early suggestions are it is a promising bird with clean legs and pristine primaries - certainly suggesting it is no recent escapee from a wildfowl collection - on the assumption it does nothing silly like over summer in East Park or Hornsea Mere duck feeding area, final decision will go to the rarities committee; With currently positive views as to its authenticity as a genuine vagrant from Siberia.  

If so, that'd be species 272 for Tophill Low since 1959 - so worth a look no doubt.   

I didn't get chance to update on the bird race of the 2nd of January; 

Team Tophill scored a very respectable 75 species placing us 5th out of 23 for a walking only team covering one of the lowest distances logged.  It was a hard slog with some species like grey heron only materialising at about 3:30pm and others like tree sparrow, barn owl, linnet and collared dove not at all.

The pintail let us down badly having been here every day before and subsequently, likewise the great white egret laid low.  Equally our first 'spring migrant' shelduck appeared the following day.  But the drake smew did his bit wowing onlookers; 

The most unexpected birds were a chiffchaff in the reserve car park (we've had them before on a bird race but they aren't easy) and an unseasonal for us dunlin on SME.  

Given we're two years out of practice and with all the upheavals on site it fairs well against our all time 81.  We raised £54 in donations (with the East Yorks RSPB team operating separately on Tophill scoring an independent 57 and additional £100) for the North Yorkshire Turtle Dove Project.  

Hopefully with upgraded facilities and vantage points for next Jan we can improve on that.  With a bit of luck they'll accept robotic records too given our new MOTUS array arrived last week - now we just need to get it working!!