| Drewton
Manor by Nick Upton |
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Drewton
Manor and surrounding estate has a mixture of
habitats which include broadleaved and coniferous
woodland along a disused railway line along a
chalk valley. There are small patches of calcareous
fen and a small stream in the valley bottom and
both pastoral and arable farming along the valley
sides.
This
is a great place for small passerines and raptors:
I have visited this location occasionally since
2004. |
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| How
to get to Drewton Manor |
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Drewton
Manor is a failry easy place to find. The easiest
acces is from the A63; take the turning for South
Cave and continue through the village along the
A1034. About half a mile further along a small
right hand turn heads towards Drewton Manor -
park here.
For
those coming from Beverley or Market Weighton,
Drewton Manor is approached on the A1034 from
the north. The turning for Drewton manor is on
the left, about 500 metres after the turning for
North Cave village. |
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| Birdwatching
at Drewton
Manor |
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A
number of interesting species can reliably be
found along this small, wooded valley, throughout
the year. Red Kites breed here, having colonized
from Harewood House where they were released and
can be seen all year round as can Buzzards which
also breed in the woodlands. Another highlight
of this location is the breeding population of
Marsh Tit; a species that is becoming increasingly
uncommon in the UK.
Spring
is a good time to visit Drewton Manor when various
warblers arrive and begin singing, making them
conspicuous and easy to see.
Winter
is also good here as large flocks of finches and
tits seek refuge from the harsh weather in the
wooded valley and Bullfinch is regularly seen. |
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Marsh
Tit
(Photo by Steffen Hannert) |
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1.
Park the car in this lane, ensuring not to block the
track for farm vehicles. To the left is a wooded ridge;
it is worth waiting and scanning over this for Red Kites
which breed in the area and area regularly seen. Common
Buzzards also breed and are sometimes seen here.
2.
A small spring in a dip surrounded by trees is a source
of water for small birds and is a good spot to see Bullfinch,
Marsh Tit and other, more common, small birds. In the
winter months this is an excellent spot for finding
flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares and the slope above
the spring gives a good view over the trees for an opportunity
to find many woodland species.
3.
Mixed woodland is home to a variety of species including
Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common
Buzzard, Goldcrest and Bullfinch. The trail and old
railway track here are both rich in flora.
4.
In the autumn and winter these exposed fields are covered
in Lapwings and Golden Plovers; hares are also common.
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| There
is an excellent selection of wild flowers along
this chalk valley, with many herbs such as Thyme,
Wild Basil and Marjoram in grassy places. Harebells
are common and some unusual sedges occur in the
small calcareous fens created by spring water.
The woodland also contains some plants characteristic
of ancient woodland including Dog's Mercury.
With
such a profusion of flowers, this is also a good
location for insects, particularly butterflies
with Speckled Wood, Wall Brown, Chalkhill Blue
and Brimstone all present.
A
number of common mammals are often seen including
Stoat, Fox, Grey Squirrel and Badger. |
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Speckled
Wood
(Nick
Upton's Royalty Free Photos) |
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| Birds
Species recorded at Drewton
Manor |
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Blackbird
Blackcap
Blue Tit
Brambling
Bullfinch
Buzzard
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff
Coal Tit
Collared Dove
Common Gull
Cuckoo
Dunnock
Fieldfare
Goldcrest
Golden Plover
Goldfinch
Goshawk
Great Black-backed Gull
Great Spotted Woodpecker |
Great
Tit
Green Woodpecker
Greenfinch
Grey Heron
House Martin
House Sparrow
Jackdaw
Kestrel
Lapwing
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Lesser Redpoll
Lesser Whitethroat
Little Owl
Long-tailed Tit
Magpie
Mallard
Marsh Tit
Mistle Thrush
Moorhen
Peregrine Falcon
Pheasant |
Pied
Wagtail
Red Kite
Redwing
Robin
Rock Pigeon
Rook
Siskin
Skylark
Song Thrush
Sparrowhawk
Starling
Stock Dove
Swallow
Swift
Tawny Owl
Treecreeper
Whitethroat
Willow Tit
Willow Warbler
Wood Pigeon
Wren |
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| East
Yorkshire Wildlife Links |
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East
Riding Dragonflies - Everything about Dragonflies
and Damselflies in East Yorkshire.
Flamborough
Wildlife Group - Bird Observations from Flamborough
Head.
North Cave
Wetlands - All about the reserve.
Spurn
Bird Observatory - Recent sightings and visitor information. |
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