Pass?

A day off work enabled me to get down to Scarborough Castle Headland reasonably early, well ok it was after eight 'O' clock.

I was not disappointed after a few minutes looking up while still in the car there was a Peregrine returning to the cliff face holding onto a carcass that was well opened up and bloody.

I thought the Peregrine would not be going anywhere for a while and for ten minutes that was true but I was surprised to see it take off again carcass in its talons and circle out over the sea. The other Peregrinne went to meet it, I was looking through my viewfinder (no pictures) but was sure there was a pass or attempted pass.

The Peregrine then came back into the headland with the carcase held below, that's when I obtained the pictures. I am not sure what happened but it was great watching.

Water What!

A good day at Top Hill yesterday, we had a bit of everything torrential rain, snow, sleet, brilliant sunshine.

The notices in the visitor centre seemed to suggest that there was not a lot about. A volunteer warden said on arrival that Water Vole were busy under South Lagoon Hide so that's where we made off before lunch.

Peering into the rushes something was seen. Waiting and scanning eventually more movement, name was half right but not Voles, Water Rail. It moved accross in front of me fleetingly into the open and having been spooked took flight a few feet forward into short cut reeds never to be seen again. Only record shots in difficult light (straight at me) but a great sighting as it skulked into the reeds. This bird (or at least a Water Rail at THL) has been seen out in the open but this was a more satisfying traditional type of sighting.

Later in the day, late afternoon and pictured the Little Grebe again in South Lagoon in tremendous late afternoon sun. Distant shots but nice in the lighting. Did you know they smoke cigars (see large version, F11 of first two Grebe shots)!

Distant Gadwell too.

Another highlight was 3 Roe Deer on water pools near to South East Marsh Hide(1) .

End of the Pier

Following on from my previous posting looking for Purple Sandpiper the sole find was this lone Turnstone.

I thought people farther afield from Scarborough might like to see the recent sculpture addition beyond the lighthouse of a 'bathing belle'. I cannot remember the proper name for the piece. What do you think, please let me know.

The turnstone was a bonus heading away from the light tower, hope you like it, perhaps the composition is all wrong but I like it with the small 'dandelion flower'.

The only problem is that this is the second year running I have taken pictures of Turnstone at Scarborogh Harbour only to find one of the birds had one foot. Perhaps this is the same bird and I am going round in circles, the harbour is certainly a dangerous place with lots of fishing nets etc., I suspect that its discarded fishing lines and bait. If this is the case its a great pity for the sake of taking home what you came with.

A Good Week

Following on from our first Green Winged Teal we have had a good week (isn't it always when you are off work) culminating in another lifer.

On Monday we visited Old Moor RSPB in the Dearne Valley and despite greyish weather the picture juvenile Mute Swan was bathed in sunlight. Highlights from the day were a Pintail and four male Goosander and a pair of Goldeneye.

Wednesday we watched a pair of Peregrine Falcon on Castle Hill Scarborough and visited the Mediterranean Gulls at Holbeck for a short while. I took some shots in fairly grey conditions. The short time we were there I caused a feeding frenzy and the Med Gulls seemed the most aggressive of all the birds. I thought they would snatch the bread bag off the park bench!

We did look for the Purple Sandpipers and Icelandic Gull around the harbour but had no success.

Friday we again saw alone Peregrine on Castle Hill before taking off to Flamborough for the King Eider seen off North Landing and viewed the bird for a good while, distant out at sea, not a bird in the brilliant summer plumage like the one off Flamborough last year that we missed but a King Eider nonetheless, a first for us. Two Lifers in a week!

Friday was capped off by two Peregrine flying around Thornwick Bay. A brilliant display swooping over and around the cliffs.

A good week.

North Cave Wetlands, YWT

Visited this reserve in the hope of seeing a Green Winged Teal for the first time and we were not disappointed getting good views through the scope of the bird in the far corner of Island Mere from the Turret Hide. Watched the bird for a good time while it was swimming with Teal. No pictures at the distance but nice to see and to get a lifer and year tick.

The pictures of the Cormorant and Oystercatchers was typical of the view from the South Hide.

Managed some shots of Great Tit's close to the feeding station.

On the journey to North Cave we went on the road between Water and Nunburnholme to view some Red Kites. Immediately on stopping outside Warter there was Red Kites overhead, probably saw 5 or 6 altogether.

Also spotted a Little Owl in a tree just outside Warter.

Fieldfare and Party Pooper

Having walked in Wykeham Forest (nothing seen), we visited the giant bird feeder, a clamp where seed has just been stock piled over winter and the birds are now doing their worst to remove it. There are good numbers of Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch and Yellow Hammers here with Reed Bunting for good measure. Today Stock Doves were feeding in the field and droping onto the site. The local Pheasants must think lifes too easy!

We then had a ride around and came across a large number of Fieldfare and Redwings in a field at the back of Ayton with Starling also present and Linnets in the area.

I got my desire for Fieldefare in a tree (see previous posting of this bird) together with Redwing and Starling although too distant to get the quality shots I wanted.

A Kestrel then dropped onto the top of the tree holding the Fieldfare and most birds (not all disappeared). Bt the time I focused the Kestrel was airborne but I managed a couple of shots.

A Sparrow Hawk was sat on the top of the hedge to 400 yards up the lane as we left.

Filey Country Park

A few pictures from Filey CP last Saturday afternoon when the weather was bright one minute black the next.

Get out the car to take a picture in bright light and you got bown away with bitter wind, add rain and sleet/hail down your neck!

It was high ide and a flock of Knot with a few Dunlin kept flying around and coming to rest in the centre of the park. There is a circular access road and the birds kept landing in the grassed area in the middle.

I pursued a lone Rewing and got soaked and no picture for my trouble.

Quite like the Herring Gull and Black Headed Gull shots from the car.

Knot and Dunlin were then in good numbers feeding on the grassed area, plenty of wet pools in the location.