Previously “Diary of a Birding Medic”; “Rugby Birder”; "Bempton Birder”. All views expressed in this blog are my OWN and do not represent the opinions or policies of any organisations or entities whatsoever with whom I have been, am now or will be affiliated. Reference to Bempton Cliffs in NO way promotes the organisation known as RSPB Bempton Cliffs, but rather the FREEdom of the cliffs.

Thursday, 20 December 2018

Around Scarborough - 20th December 2018

Great White Egret, Seamer Tip Pool

A good trawl around the Scarborough area with Symphony this morning, pleasant sunny intervals but cool. Starting at the harbour, quite early, in poor light and a low tide produced a winter plumaged Guillemot. My main aim was to walk around the Mere, something I had not yet done. Parking at the café, many species of waterfowl and gulls were accumulated in the hope of an easy meal, something I do not partake in! Walking the muddy and sometimes underwater path around the mere, this Cormorant caught my eye in the still poor light.


A single drake Goldeneye appeared but my ISO remained very high


A group of Goosander flew overhead  and circled the Mere before landing close to the opposite side! Two males and five females, distant and again in a dark area as can be seen in this image of three females


Two distant Dabchicks and a flyover Grey Heron were pleasing to see.

Leaving the Mere, I headed round to the retail park near B & Q hoping that he Waxwings would have returned, availing themselves of the still abundant berries. They hadn't! However, two of the Mistle Thrushes showed reasonably well


Next stop was to be the Seamer Tip Pool which perhaps produced the best birds of the day!

The first was the long staying Great White Egret








Seamer tip pool also held two Shoveler, several Tufted Ducks, Mallards, Gadwall, territorial Coots and a fly past of c20 White Fronted Geese.

Shoveler




One of the territorial Coots


Some of the c20 White Fronted Geese



And finally, a Reed Bunting


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