Bempton Circular Walk - 20th August 2019

Greenshank, Buckton Pond

I needed a good walk this morning so embarked on the Bempton circular (with Symphony in tow) in the hope of a few migrants. I was not to be disappointed, but a lot of what was seen didn't want to be photographed, so I ended up with quite a few heavily cropped images. Walking through Buckton a good number of House Martins were overhead, joined by Swallows at Buckton pond and both along Hoddy Cows Lane.

Arriving at Buckton pond, it was good to see that the hard work put in by Mark Thomas was paying off with a Greenshank and Green Sandpiper (per PR). It can only be a matter of time (and a little more water!) before a "biggy" turns up!

Greenshank

Hoddy Cows Lane produced Whitethroats, Willow Warblers, Linnets and Yellowhammers with Grey Partridges (3) near the trap, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits.

Three Roe Deer appeared distant near the cliff top

"Wait for me.....!"

The cliff path from Buckton to Bempton held good numbers of Yellow Wagtails (30+), although flighty

A Wheatear was seen on the RAF field

There was little change on the cliffs other than perhaps fewer Kittiwakes and little to excite me so I forced myself to take an image of this Gannet with its Guga!

The Bempton nature trail produced a Reed Bunting (fem)

Several Common Whitethroat

Linnet (male)

Half way up the nature, perhaps the biggest surprise was coming face to face with a Red Fox! My first sighting at Bempton. I'm not sure who was most startled, the Fox, me or Symphony! We all stood rooted for a moment before the Fox took off into the vegetation!

And near the feeding station, Tree Sparrows

I had high hopes for the Bempton Dell and was not disappointed with Lesser Whitethroat

And Spotted Flycatcher ( Although I have seen many this year, this was the first one I could photograph, albeit heavily cropped!)

And finally, some probably underestimated numbers:

Greenshank (1); Willow Warbler (8); Common Whitethroat (10+); Sparrowhawk (1); Yellowhammer (3); Linnet (20+); Grey Partridge (3); Skylark (6); Meadow Pipit (6); Yellow Wagtail (30+) Wheatear (1); Lesser Whitethroat (1); Spotted Flycatcher (1); Reed Bunting (1); Roe Deer (3); Red Fox (1).