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!
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