A few days in Flamborough

I had a few days in Flamborough with a couple of friends to catch a little of the Autumn migration last week. The weather wasn't too bad with rain Tuesday afternoon but Wednesday and Thursday were dry and breezy. Wednesday was the best day as when Thursday dawned it became apparent that there had been a clear out of birds.

I had two lifers in Yellow browed Warbler (at Old Fall) and Firecrest (showing well at Bay Brambles) with Jack Snipe a year first for me. I didn't get too many photos as the birds were either not showing well enough or were in deep cover so the auto focus wouldn't function, and manual focus is too slow with me operating it :)

I was in a camping pod up at Wold camp site and the pod was comfy enough and dry enough to keep the worst of the elements at bay.

sunrise over Flamborough Head

South Landing

Kestrel

Meadow Pipit

Adult Guillemot in winter plumage

Strait Hey, and a Siskin

Took a walk over Strait Hey before the rain started yesterday morning and it was a superb morning with the sun shining and high white clouds. There was the usual chilly wind blowing to make sure you didn't enjoy it too much - we are after all, high in the West Yorkshire Pennines!

In the garden at home we had a Siskin on the feeder. This is the first Siskin we've seen in the garden in September of any year.

A Redpoll also visited the feeders briefly but it didn't stay long. The Redpolls desert our garden for about 6 weeks each year after the breeding season and I still don't know why, or where they go. More research needed here.

A walk on the beach

The beach looked so invitingly empty that I couldn't resist a walk so I set off to walk down to Mappleton, just a couple of miles south.

There were a few gulls on the beach just black-headed, herring and great black-backed -

and a few Linnets were coming down off the cliff tops -

I thought I'd take a self timed photo but I set the timer a bit short, so here's a view of my best side :)

Long-tailed Tit at Hornsea Mere

Very quiet around the Mere this morning but a small flock of Long-tailed Tits were feeding along the hedgerow and presented themselves for a few photos -

Black Swan at Hornsea Mere

Had a walk around the Mere this morning. Not much about apart from 3 Little Gulls and a couple of Black Swans that gave good photo opportunities as they took off and landed on the Mere.

Red Grouse

Myself and my friends Dave and Jeff had a walk around the 3 reservoirs at Walshaw at the end of last week. The weather was fine and we enjoyed the walk, followed by a pint or two at The Ridge. There were several Red Grouse about that had successfully negotiated the start of the shooting season, although this may only be a temporary reprieve...