RSPB Bempton Cliffs - 27th November 2016

Stonechat

I was only able to spend the morning enjoying the cliffs today, followed by an excellent afternoon tea celebrating the local RSPB groups 30th anniversary. It was interesting to see a large number of Fulmars on and around the cliffs with Gannets moving north and south, albeit in small numbers. A very obliging Stonechat visited me on Grandstand Viewpoint. Highlight of the day for me was a Kestrel hovering near Bartlett Nab being harassed by a Peregrine! Both were thankfully unharmed and sadly, no images!

Fulmar

Stonechat

Gannets passing by

Scarborough Harbour

Great Northern Diver

Having suffered several days of rather horrid weather (including not going to the cliffs on Sunday), I needed a birding fix! However, with it being market day, time was not on my side, so I decided to check out Scarborough Harbour. With only an hour(ish) to spend, I was rather pleased with four spiffing birds - Great Northern Diver, Red Throated Diver, Black Necked Grebe and Guillemot!

Great Northern Diver

Red Throated Diver

Black Necked Grebe

Guillemot

I really want to be a Wryneck!

Purple Sandpiper

Really nice to see a good group of 15 Purple Sandpipers this morning on Bridlington Harbour wall. Not good light but hey ho!

Waxwings!

Waxwings have to be one of my favourite birds so when they are in your area, it would be rude not to pay them homage! Also, they would be a three year tick and a Yorkshire tick (for me) thrown in. So with a reasonable weather forecast, we headed off to Pickering. Now, interesting birds do choose some "interesting" place to show - these were in the grounds of the swimming pool! Pointing large cameras in the direction of the pool could be misconstrued, but I think the staff are getting used to birders standing in their field! Although dry, the bitter wind did its best to chill those present to the bone and the light did its best to cause issues! The birds of course appeared when it was gloomy and were nowhere to be seen when the sun illuminated their favourite Rowan! The largest flock today numbered around thirty birds but often eighty to one hundred and ten birds can be seen.

They're behind you!

They're behind you!

Seconds?

YWT Filey Dams

Drake Gadwall

A quiet couple of hours this morning at YWT Filey Dams waiting / hoping for something exciting to drop in! While waiting, I took the opportunity to obtain images of the more common birds, which was good as the "exciting" didn't happen!

Gadwall

Black Tailed Godwit

Redshank

Drake Teal

Pied Wagtail

Shelduck