Scarborough harbour/Divers

Within just 10 minutes of arriving, a superb 1st winter Black throated diver surfaced. Distinctive white thigh patch, thick, well defined neck pattern, domed forehead and large straight bill show well in the first 3 photos. In 2 hours this bird only caught 2 small crabs. The 4th photo shows the Red throated diver, present for a few days, a very different bird! The last photo shows a little auk, this flew into the harbour but was wary and nervous, lots of gulls about! Five others flew out of the bay.

Filey

Rotting seaweed and flies! yummy.







Another warm, bright sunny day with a light south westerly, is this October! A stroll down the brigg revealed the usual suspects. Lots of turnstone, knot, oyster catcher, redshank, 4 purps and 2 ringed plover. The sanderling still in bay corner along with juv cormorants. Carrion crows on the look out for scraps and 2 nice fieldfares on the top fields, what a pleasant way to spend the morning!

Whooper swans

Highlight of the morning were this probable pair of whooper swans at scalby mills. They were distant at first but came closer, one in particular looked tired and was often asleep. I think the male is the larger right hand bird, great to see them in good light and locally. Lots of redshank in the pools and turnstone. This bird was turning over quite large stones which can be seen in the picture.

Filey

Continental blackbird.

A wary ringed plover.



Nice to see the sanderling flock back in the bay corner, about 30 birds being harrassed by flocks of dogs! Quiet on the fields and hedgerows, just a few crests and lingering migrant blackbirds. This blackbird is a first year male and typical continental dark bill! A flock of about 50 knot on the brigg and 12 ringed plover of note.

Black Redstart

Just a short time to rest in the warm afternoon sun, but always highly alert.









Mid afternoon the sun came out so did this nice black red on Filey church. High up and actively feeding, superb camouflage against this stone, just a few records in spring and autumn.

Short eared owl

A quiet morning at filey top fields, lots of skylarks, linnets, tree sparrows, some yellowhammers and 6 lapland buntings but all flighty. However, this short eared owl just in off the sea is a typical october event. Its no wonder they do not hang around here, the crows, magpies and gulls mob them constantly.

Red flanked bluetail

Arrived late afternoon for this superb bird, after being ringed near flamborough lighthouse it was released in old fall plantation. With a low sun and difficult light conditions not an easy bird to get just right. However, just pleased to get shots. A new bird for me and so easy, fantastic.