Red Necked Phalarope, Bridlington Harbour - 29th September 2018

I was walking Symphony in Bempton when a message came through stating that a Grey Phalarope had been seen in Bridlington Harbour. Having missed the last bird a few months ago, I was keen to see this one and made all speed back to Bridlington! We have a stall on Bridlington market so I was due to help take it down and therefore was able to park for free! The original message had come through an hour earlier, so would the bird still be there? The harbour was crammed with tourists and all manor of pleasure boats entered and exited. No birders could be seen so a search for the Phalarope ensued. Eventually it was located near to the harbour entrance but had chosen to challenge me remaining in direct sunlight! Using my camera and 400mm lens it was difficult to identify the bird so many images were taken, most of which were deleted as of no use! I messaged the local bird groups even though the harbour is outside of the Flamborough recording area. Duties called and I returned to take down the market stall. Eventually, other birders located the Phalarope and it was re-identified as Red Necked! When I eventually looked at my images it was obvious that the bird was indeed a Red Necked Phalarope, a Yorkshire tick for me and my first in ten years! Well pleased!

A walk from Scalby Mills to Scarborough Harbour and back - 26th September 2018

Peregrine

It had been a while since I'd had a good walk in Scarborough, so I drove to Scalby Mills where I was able to roadside park for free! The aim was to walk with Symphony to the harbour and back, checking out any interesting birds / wildlife on the way. Arriving at Scalby Mills promenade, the tide was high and very little was to be seen, save a lone Wigeon in flight, the only one seen on the walk! Walking towards North Marine Drive, the atmospheric sunrise and light just begged to be captured on camera and I was happy to oblige!

Many times we have seen the large sculpture of "Freddie" while driving through, but today I was able to take a proper look:

"Freddie Gilroy and the Belsen Stragglers’ is an outsized steel sculpture by Ray Lonsdale.  It is situated on North bay in Scarborough and was gifted to the people of the town by Maureen Robinson after it had been on temporary display in late 2011". 

The sculpture is of an elderly Freddie Gilroy, a retired miner friend of the sculptor, who, at the age of 24 was one of the first soldiers to relieve the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

The inscription on the sculpture's plaque reads:

‘They said for king and country
we should do as we were bid,
They said old soldiers never die
but plenty young ones did.’

Along the promenade, I was drawn to this brutish Great Black Backed Gull, but the Gull was not at all taken by me!

Near to the skate park, I managed to take a "grainy" flight image of the local Kestrel before it landed on a post

Arriving at the "famous" lamp post 55, I had a look for the local Peregrines. One was seen on a ledge high up the cliff before taking to flight - a much better option for an image!

It was near here that I met facebook friend Stuart B of Scarborough Porpoise Fame for the first time, watching the Porpoises! Great to meet you Stuart, sorry you had to go to work!

An immature Great Black Backed Gull was seen with a large object in its bill, I'm not sure what it was but the bird obviously wanted to retain it from other Gulls desperate to capture it!

A bacon butty and latte at the harbour was the only excitement experienced at this end of North Marine Drive! The tide was turning as we returned to Scalby Mills with only common waders to be seen.

Curlew

Juvenile Ringed Plover

Oystercatcher

Rock Pipit

Redshank

I just love the way the Redshank's reflection shows up the underwater pebbles so well!

Tomorrow we will have a wonder on Flamborough Head!

Sunrise on Carr Naze, Filey - 25th September 2018

I decided to head out to Carr Naze before sunrise this morning to walk the dog and, of course to capture the sunrise! I don't think it was far off a frost so on went the heavy coat, warm hat and gloves with absolutely no regrets!

Scarborough and it's castle also showed well in a golden glow

Of course, birds were not missed out, although not a lot about. Concentrating around Carr Naze pond, my list included Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Rock Pipit, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting and three Dunlin. One of the Dunlin was ringed, showing three red rings on it's right leg and a yellow above a blue ring on it's left leg (plus a silver ring). I have been informed that this bird was ringed on Filey Brigg on 14th September 2018 and is a long billed Alpina race (thanks Dan L).

Dunlin

Meadow Pipit

Tomorrow, we will have a wonder in Scarborough!

A Mesmerising Wow Day on Bempton Cliffs - 23rd September 2018!

Wheatear

Early autumn coolness was the order of today on the cliffs with a moderate northerly blow and long sunny intervals and blue sky. The Gannets continue to dominate with many more Gugas (young Gannets) fledging but still many more on the cliffs, some still with several weeks to go. The cool northerly wind was just right for a mesmerising "wow" display of Gannets in the air! They were above you, at eye level, below you and "hanging" in the wind. A photographers delight!

So what did we see today?

Todays Sightings:

My day started walking around the nature trail where these rabbits caught my eye

The lower part of the nature trail showed a distant male Stonechat, several Meadow Pipits and rather tatty Reed Buntings.

Meadow Pipit

Reed Bunting

On the cliff path, I came across this rather splendid and unphased Wheatear

Later in the day, I was stood looking out to see on Staple Newk viewpoint with both of my hands resting on the fence, when in off the sea came a very exhausted and tatty Wheatear! It landed about a foot from my hands, looked at me while I looked at it, where it remained for several minutes! Eventually it flew down to the path and rested. I didn't want to stress the new arrival so I left it in peace so no images.

I decided to try and get some images of the immature Gannets

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

A large number of mature breeding Gannets were observed to be collecting cliff top vegetation and seaweed, to be presented to their partner as a gift. This gift will be graciously received and will eventually be used in their nest. If only human females were as content!

Gannets being Gannets!

Not to be outdone by the Gannets, the Fulmars also performed well!

And a Peregrine catching me unawares and unprepared!

During the morning, the Filey lifeboat (Keep Fit Association) was on exercise below the cliffs

And in the afternoon, a Coastguard aircraft toured the area