Greys in too!

Rock Dove


Wood Pigeon

Continuing the new season colours theme.

I always think grey goes with pink, so more from Sunday.

The Rock Dovewas at Bempton and the Wood Pigeon and Grey Heron at Filey Dams.

The young Heron was havinga field day catching fairly big fish in little or no water in the pool in front of the hide on main pool.

Pinks In

New season colours!

Great to see some Pink Footed Geese flying high over and around Filey Dams YWT yesterday, I made it 23 in the flock. We had seen and more correctly heard a flock whilst in Scotland but it was good to see these locally.

Unfortunately, they were never down on the deck, fairly high up in bright light but I think worth showing.

Scottish Blankety Blank

Half way up the beautiful Glen Roy


Wren at ISO1600!

Sorry, for the recent lack of posts but we have been away to the Scottish Highlands for a week.

Unfortunately, it was a very wet week and it prevented us getting to some of the places we hope. We had to mostly travel east 60 miles or so for fine weather, but the scenery is fantastic (my favourite place). Dalwhinnie Distillery was a nice diversion one day.

I had high hopes to see one or two of Scotland's special species, when ever we got the chance scouring the hill tops for a glimpse but we drew a blank, complete blank. Oh, we did see three Red Squirrels not being elusive in the tree tops but running across the road and sitting on fence posts.

I did manage this Wren shot nicely framed in the birch, can I call it a Scottish Wren!

You never know _ _ _ _ _!

Yesterday was absolutely glorious here, temperature up to 27C, no wind, beautiful light but not too hot. No birding, a few small jobs to do.

Today was supposed to be cloudy, yes it was very cloudy, dark, light showers. Having set off originally for a walk, the weather slightly dampened our enthusiasm (whimps). Having ridden around a bit we find ourselves sat on Holbeck Car Park eating our lunch, it brightened slightly no birds around.

Having no bread Pat put out her Pork Pie crusts (not mine - no way) and a broken digestive. Fear not, having begun to get dejected and thinking of a blank weekend in come the Med Gulls which have been back a few weeks. Three adult birds and a second winter bird.

So I have a good time getting flight shots of these birds without even leaving the car. Just getting ready to go and we spot a Common Kestrel at the top of the hill quite close. I managed to get some shots before it flew off.

It just shows you never know what to expect.

Beach Babes

I became a beach bum yesterday firstly walking on the South Bay Beach at Bridlington where there was a few gulls the usual suspects. It was a really pleasant morning and after walking over some hefty (ish) streams to get nearer the waters edge we did see a lot of gulls in the distance but too far to walk to given the amount of time we had on our parking ticket.

Returning to the car we went down the coast to Fraisthorpe and whilst the gulls were there for a while more interesting was the Sand Martins flying low over the cliff tops. Down on the beach I was lucky enough to see two chicks in one nest hole, I thought this was quite late but they look as if they will fledge in the next week so hopefully they will migrate ok. Brilliant birds.

Weekend Picture Post

Greenshank at Saltholme RSPB last Friday.
Pictured from the wildlife watching hide. a little distant and in dull conditions.

Gold Finch at Saltholme

Herring Gull at Flamborough today

and again

& again in flight.

Great Black Backed Gull, Flamborough today.

Strewth!!!

What strength we found this Great Silver Beetle (Nicrophorus vespillaides) turning the body of this poor old shrew.

The beetle kept moving underneath the shrew and physically lifting it and moving it. One of our reference books describes exactly what it was doing. It is a distinctive Sexton Beetle which buries the corpses of small mammals and birds on which eggs are laid and larvae feed.

I also love the colours of the flies on the corpse.

Can you tell that I cannot find many birds at the moment!