Over the Bridge

Day off today and with nothing much about I decided to head over the Humber Bridge calling first at Far Ings, I was half hoping some Bearded Reedlings may be showing but it was probably a bit too windy and I failed to see or hear any, in fact the whole reserve was fairly quiet the only bird of note being a drake Pintail on Ness Lake. I decided to try my luck at Alkborough, there was a good selection of Waders that included a few late Ruff and a Spotted Redshank, a couple of Little Egrets worked the channels, two or three Marsh Harriers hunted over the reedbeds and a small flock of Pinkfeet flew over but there was nothing to get the pulses racing. Mid-afternoon I returned to Far Ings and entering the Ness Hide I discovered a Kingfisher was in attendance sat on the provided perches in front of the hide, I took a few photos of it as a couple of Cetti’s Warblers sang nearby but it wasn’t long before the light started to fade so I called it a day. 

probably a first winter moulting into adult plumage

hunting in pairs

putting the Lapwing to flight

a lone Spotted Redshank

Pinkfeet going over

afternoon poser

A Yorkshire Trio

There were strong winds on the East Coast again this weekend but unfortunately from a South-westerly direction, nevertheless I decided to brave the wind and rain and go see what was about, Scarborough Harbour still played host to a couple of Black Necked Grebes and two Med Gulls entertained at Holbeck, there was nothing of note in a very blustery Filey Bay and the Dams was also pretty quiet, I ended up at Flamborough where highlights were a drake Pintail on Thornwick Pools and a Peregrine flying over South Landing but all in all even though it was fairly quiet I had quite an enjoyable day just pottering.  

drying time in the rain

it seems Scarborough Harbour is to their liking, they've been around a while now

showing well at times

action shot

the only Auk this week was this Guillemot

although there was a Little Auk just not how I would wish to see them

they are such big brutes

not like the Holbeck charmers

at Filey Dams feeding station

drake Pintail at Thornwick pools

watching the watcher

Hartlepool Purple patch

A good Northerly blow this weekend and as expected a good few Little Auks and stuff were seen along the East Coast yesterday, I had been thinking of going to Scarborough this morning but a late report of a Little Auk in the Fish Quay at Hartlepool prompted me to go there instead on the offchance it may still be there, it wasn’t, just a few Guillemots and a Great Crested Grebe although some Purple Sandpipers and other Waders posed well on the little beach by the Pilots Pier and a Woodcock flew in off. I went off and seawatched for the rest of the morning, there was a steady passage of stuff some of it fairly close, several Red Throated and a single Black Throated Diver flew North, a few Scoter were on the move plus masses of Guillemots and I managed a couple of distant Little Auks, also a Med Gull was blogging. After lunch I went back to the Pilots Pier to see if anything had come in, nothing when I got there but I was informed there had been a report of a Little Auk some 15-20 mins earlier, no sign of that but a while later I picked up three birds flying directly towards the Pier, they unfortunately veered off at the last minute and carried on straight past but at least I got some good close flight views, a few more birders joined me and with more eyes several more fly pasts were noted then I saw a bird fly into the channel on the other side and having landed it drifted back out some 5 mins later, too far to photograph but we had good scope views. Finally accepting there was going to be no posers in Hartlepool today I went off to Seaton Common and ended the day with a couple of Short Eared Owls.

Arriving home and checking the news and pics on Birdguides I soon realised I should have stuck to my original plan, oh well nevermind. 

Waders showing well

particularly Purple Sandpipers

 

Little Auk flying past

SEO on Seaton Common although little light and distant

Big Bad Moon