Filey

rabbits sunning themselves after a cold night.







A quiet autumn morning, not many birds about but just a hint of things to come. A juvenile male great spotted woodpecker and young reed warbler on the move, overhead two skeins of noisy pink feet moving south, a small flock of goldcrests, a few brambling, blackbirds and redwing, all migrants heading south. Even the kestrel could originate from northern europe.

Buff breasted sandpiper

A well watched and obliging rarity for a change. However, trying to photograph this bird under dull skies and a howling gale was difficult. When it did come close enough it was constantly active and buffeted by the strong winds. Such a confiding beautiful bird.

Mediterranean Gull

Back to holbeck car park again, just one bird on the grass, a superb adult winter med gull. I remember seeing my first in Bridlington harbour years ago, they are far more abundant now but still a suberb bird!

Scarborough harbour

Another overcast showery day, strong northerly winds still raging. This partial albino guillemot was sheltering in the harbour along with about about six normal ones, quite a striking bird. A small group of sanderling, a few divers, bonxies, arctic skuas, terns, 2 sooty shearwaters, many auks, gannets, kittewakes and 7 dark bellied brent geese all within 30 minutes off the castle headland. Nothing like a good seawatch from the comfort of your car.

House Martins

The parents and siblings from the first clutch still feeding this brood. They are coming back less frequently now, mainly to roost, soon be off to warmer climes. We miss their constant presence and noise but yet another good year for them. See you next spring boys!

Scarborough harbour

Just a short look around the harbour, lots of auks in the bay and a few in the harbour, some lingering kittewakes lazing about and the ever present turnstone waiting for scraps.

Filey

This barnacle goose had a bloody drooping wing a week ago but seems ok, hit the wires possibly. The male blackbird still moulting head feathers feeding up on plump blackberries. Up to 5 dunlin and a ringed plover feeding in ideal wader mud! This years young dabchick not as terrified as the parents, feeding right in front of the hide. A flock of long tailed tits busy themselves through the hedges, a redshank drops in for 5 minutes and a male teal is almost in pristine condition. Summer is over,and you can feel the change, birds are restless, autumn migration is under way.

Filey

A common hawker keeping territory over the top scrub pond, not a common dragonfly, only a few records from filey.

Scarborough

The QE2 passing scarborough on its final voyage, quite a sight.

Wykham

A small flock of typical forest birds on a dry, sunny and still warm autumn morning. Chaffinch, chiffchaff, coal tit, goldfinch, long tailed tit and siskin.

Bempton Cliffs

A hot calm day and thousands of gannets, lots of birds of varying ages showing well in good light, still some fulmars around the cliffs in heavy moult and an obliging meadow pipit at a very quiet Flamborough.