Since late September, as previous years, privileged to witness the great flocks of geese coming and going. Most seem to be interrupting their migration by spending some time roosting on (Reed’s Island) or around the Humber Estuary (mostly on north bank), flying south (inland) at dawn and returning at dusk. In their V formations (often these seem to be breaking down and re-forming while in flight) the geese herald their coming with loud cries as opposed to the great flocks of gulls which ‘commute’ each day all year and are silent in flight, giving no indication of their presence unless the viewer looks skyward. Teal, heron (very timid), swans, coots, moorhen and other wildfowl make local clay-digging pits and especially the mouth of the River Ancholme areas of bustling, multi-breed communities.
Heard recently a brief news item that Iron Age artefacts have been found at the site of the Norman ‘motte’ at Skipsea in north Holderness. Presumably found in the lower part of the motte rather than on or near the surface these may indicate that the motte was superimposed on a much earlier high status site, a not uncommon event. No further details at present but will tie-in with evidence from Humber Wetlands Survey in a day or two.