Idle Birding around Scarborough - 31st October 2019

Rock Pipit, Harbour

I usually have a wander around some of the birding areas of Scarborough  after dropping Heather off at the indoor market. With Symphony in tow (on her waist lead), I decided to stay clear of areas where dog walkers and birders can come into conflict and restricted the walk to the harbour followed by Scalby Mills, the Open Air Theatre and Peasholm Park. Secretly, I didn't want to find anything "controversial", with my head still spinning post Lesser Kestrel! So, an idle wander was appropriate and very enjoyable!

Around the Harbour area, I started off with this Cormorant

Followed by this Great Crested Grebe making its way towards the harbour mouth

Close to the lighthouse, a couple of Rock Pipits toyed with me before I was able to get clear images

In the absence of my hoped for Little Auks, I aimed my camera at something much larger in the form of Greater Black Backed Gulls (birds that often feed well on the tiny Little Auks!)

And finally for the harbour, Turnstone

Before I left the harbour, my eye was drawn to a cyclist checking out the harbour wall, no doubt looking for Purple Sandpipers. Was this a cyclist or could it have been a Porpoise?!! (Not everyone will understand this!)

Leaving the harbour, I headed to Scalby Mills, taking the top path past the golf course. Very little to see until I walked towards the Open Air Theatre where three Roe Deer followed the railway track.

The pools at the back of the Open Air Theatre held a Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail. This Grey Heron was the only bird within camera range

Over in Peasholm Park, this Grey Heron was regarded as an unwelcome intruder and mobbed relentlessly by Black Headed Gulls!

The Peasholm - Scalby Mills railway must be having a Halloween event, either that or the delays and cancellations on mainstream railways is taking its toll!

The view from Scalby Mills towards Scarborough Castle was rather spectacular!

A very enjoyable, idle wander around Scarborough, and (hopefully) no controversy! I don't know why, but I have found myself fixated on the colour of birds claws and the lengths of their primary feathers!

Tomorrow, I can do it all again!

An Interesting Kestrel! Fraisthorpe - 22nd October 2019

Today dawned fine and bright in East Yorkshire, a real bonus after quite a long period of wet and windy weather.  Our daughter was home for a few days holiday, so, having a lunch appointment for an early celebration for her birthday, we decided to head for the beach at Fraisthorpe to give the dog a good run.  As usual, even a non-birding outing necessitated the carrying of binoculars and an assortment of cameras!

We arrived at the beach side car park at about 0915 and walked towards Barmston, attempting to keep Symphony, our cocker spaniel/golden retriever cross from rescuing a dead rabbit, a dead seabird of unknown species (yes that decayed) and from digging up a dead fish.

Birds seen as we walked included a pair of Great Crested Grebe on the sea, several Red Throated Divers, a small group of Sanderling as well as the usual expected species for the habitat.  2 Whooper Swans flew north.

After a good walk, refreshments were in order, in the form of tea, coffee and cakes from The Cow Shed Café situated just off the beach at Fraisthorpe.  Replete we returned to the car and began the slow drive along the single- track road back to the village.

 After about 800 metres we noticed what we believed to be a Common Kestrel perched in a bush on the right- hand side of the road   Opening the driver’s door window, Heather inched the car forward, bringing it briefly to a stand, allowing me to capture several images of the bird.   After a few seconds it few to a nearby bush, but perched higher, meaning the angle was too acute to obtain any more images from inside the car. We commented however, on how close we had been to the bird. My intention was to crop features from the Kestrel for all to enjoy.

I thought nothing more about the images until late in the afternoon, when as is usual, I looked at all the photos that I had taken, predominantly family images and a series of the dog running towards the camera, (remember – this wasn’t a bird watching trip!), and uploading the images to social media.

John Judge (@Draycote Birder) was the first to comment, stating that the bird had pale claws, reminiscent of a probable Lesser Kestrel, and a real rarity in the UK. Social media immediately sprung to life, expressing many and varied comments about the bird’s identity.  My thanks must go to John, a bird watching colleague from our many years of living in Rugby.

There follows an interesting and informative experience and I’m grateful for all the input from other birders. The debate is still continuing on social media (Twitter and Facebook) and on BirdForum.

As would be expected, birders headed to Fraisethorpe from early doors the next day with some excellent flight images being recorded.

An excellent learning paper is offered by raptor expert, Jack Ashton-Booth and is published as follows Click HERE

Debate on Birdforum can be found Click HERE

Finally, in the words of my daughter "It's only a bird"!

Bempton Cliffs - 27th October 2019

Peregrine

After three continuous Sundays of getting soaked in rather horrible heavy rain, today...……..

"The sun has got his hat on

hip-hip-hip-hooray

the sun has got his hat on

and he's coming out today

Now we'll all be happy

hip-hip-hip-hooray

the sun has got his hat on

and he's coming out today"

Sorry, but it had to be done! Blue sky all day and sunshine but a strengthening blow keeping it cool.

So, what did we see on this rather pleasant autumnal day?

Today's Sightings:

You may recall that I have been following what I think is the last Gannet Guga on the cliffs. This is an image taken last Sunday

And what a difference a week makes! This is the same Guga this morning! Not long now!

It is always a pleasure to see a Peregrine at the cliffs. This one cruised past Bartlett Nab.

The nature trail, dell and car park areas seemed  rather quiet but did produce Chiffchaff

And two Stonechats frequented the lower part of the nature trail

With the sun shining, images of the cliffs were called for. Bird wise, unfortunately, they are now showing their naked glory!

It was great to see the brave lads and lasses (can I say that these days?) from the RNLI out on a training mission below the cliffs. Here, the RNLB Keep Fit Association is put through its paces. Great respect!

Remember "Keep 'em peeled"! 

Also, if you see a Kestrel, check out the colour of its claws and the size of its 7th and 10th primary feathers!!!

Bempton Cliffs - 20th October 2019

Gannet Guga on Staple Newk

In the words of Victor Meldrew "I don't believe it"! The third Sunday in a row on the cliffs and it rained! The weather forecast was indicating cloud and sunny periods but we got rain! Why do we bother with weather forecasts? The only accurate part is the summary of what the weather has done. The best part is the weather photograph. The rest is rubbish. They can say anything and then update their apps with whatever is happening. Perhaps "Mystic Meg" should be brought back or a visit to a Romany fortune teller! Anyway, despite the prediction of sunshine, I got wet - again! On the plus side, it brightened for a while early afternoon!

On the cliffs (in the rain!), things have dramatically thinned out. Only a small proportion of the Gannets are still on the cliffs. Also, the remaining Gugas are nearly ready to depart, but some still have several weeks until they can fledge.

Probably the youngest Guga on the cliffs (Bartlett Nab)

And nearby,

Greater Black Backed Gull

With migration well under way, attention is turned to the sky, the grassland and wooded areas, less frequently visited by the public who head down to the cliffs. Some good birds are being seen, not often by me!, and of those I did see, obviously didn't want to be photographed!

Lesser Whitethroat

Brambling

Siberian Chiffchaff

And today's sightings were

Hopefully, some dry weather will arrive soon! In the meantime "keep 'em peeled"!