Saturday 29 November 2014

East York's Coast 29 - 11 - 14

With Jacqui over visiting for a long weekend we decided on today we would visit the coast seeing as she was missing the sea,with Mandy arriving we was all set and on our way our first port of call being Grindale for the RL Buzzard but no sign of any raptors apart from a single Sparrowhawk being mobbed by the corvids.
So we headed off for Flamborough head here I settled down out of the wind and watch whilst Mandy and Jacqui went off doing their own thing but missed out on about 6 Little Auk,2 Common Scotor and a flock of 4 Eider 1 Male and 3 Female but did manage the usual suspects and Mandy spotted a Little Auk just getting up off the sea,after a hour or so we had to settle for a coffee in the cafe.
We then headed back for round 2 with the RL Buzzard but again no sign and then made our way up to Scarborough calling in at Holbeck for the Mediterranean Gull with 3 birds present and then headed down to the harbour where we picked up Cormorant,Shag and Guillemot in the actual harbour,walking around the harbour we stopped to photograph the Turnstones and just off the outer wall I spotted a Red-throated Diver which swam round and came in to the harbour which was nice.
With time getting on we grabbed a drink and food and made our way back to the car just as the Warden was putting a ticket on the car next to us !!!
A great day had by all I'm sure Jacqui will miss us over here but I'm also sure she will be back for more
Hope you enjoyed your stay Jacqui














Sunday 16 November 2014

Sunday 9 November 2014

Self found Hoopoe 6 - 11 - 14

Well what started off as a normal work day and being on lates this week,I set off about 12.55 for work as I like to get there early so can have a sit down and a coffee ect before starting work,I reached the visitor centre when a Crow caught my eye down the bank what looked to be mobbing a small Jay as I though but they went out of sight and just as quick went out of my mind,didn't even click what it was I actually did see until I past the goat field and got nearer to the first path to lead off the bank into the country park when a bird shot up out of the grass and flew around me and then straight away seeing them white wingbars and the de-curved bill it hit me Hoopoe as it flew over the smaller trees and out of sight,my problem now was no internet to put news out and no birders around to be told what do I do carry on to work or rush back to Andy Sharp and see if he was in and risk being late for work,well I took the latter decision and rush back I had only reached the caravan park in Waterside Road when the bird flew in front of me so I stopped and watched it for a couple of minutes whilst it flew along the gardens in Far Ings road towards the Humber bridge where it went out of sight then a carried on to Andy's house but with no answer I had to leave a message with his next door neighbour,Then I made my way to work a happy bunny finding my only second UK Hoopoe.
Right time right place shame I wasn't birding so could have got some photo's but a friend of mine
Richard Willison kindly let me use his photo's from the following day thanks again mate !!!







Monday 3 November 2014

South Ferriby 1-11-14

Greenshank

Wigeon



Common Redshank

Wader murmuration

Teal

flock of 2000 Dunlin