Hornsea South Cliffs

It was a bright and breezy afternoon and a walk on the cliffs was most enjoyable. A sharp shower arrived but the sun continued to shine, resulting in a marvelous rainbow.

There wasn't much wildlife to look at, but the views were more than adequate compensation.

Bempton

It was a great, dry, bright day yesterday so we set off to Bempton Cliffs, my mate Robert G and I, to see what may turn up. Not much was the answer but it was brilliant to be out and about in the sun after so much miserable, grey and wet weather.

Robert had his Canon 400mm lens with him so I asked if I could borrow it for a while to get the feel of it as I'm after one myself.

The afternoon told me two important things about the lens - 1. it isn't too heavy to carry on a reasonably long walk and 2. getting birds into view and keeping them there to focus and shoot is more difficult with a 400mm lens than it is with a 250mm zoom due to the more restricted field of view. So it was a very useful exercise for me. I didn't take many photos but these were OK:

Gannets

Gannet

Filey Brigg

There were numerous adult Gannets, several Kittiwakes and a few Fulmars on the cliffs. The feeders had the usual Tree Sparrows and Greenfinches but there wasn't much else to be seen. Never the less it was a good visit and a hot chocolate at the visitor centre kept the chill at bay.

A Fine, dry morning at Hornsea

The weather was dry and sunny with only a slight breeze and chill in the air. A walk to Hornsea Mere and along the south side then? Certainly!

My first Tree Sparrow in the window feeder before I left boded well for the day and so it proved. A few Turnstones and Sanderlings along the beach were welcome additions to the usual Black-headed Gulls and Herring Gulls.

At the Mere 3 Grey Herons were fishing along the north side in the reeds and good numbers of Gadwall, Wigeon, Goldeneye and Pochard were showing well in the winter sunlight. A few Teal were dabbling in a new pond formed in a hollow by the recent heavy rain, watched by a local cat that was not about to get its feet wet by going after them. A nearby Mistle Thrush flew off, bored with the lack of action.

At Kirkholm Point there were 2 Egyptian Geese and a Pink Footed Goose mingled with the Greylags, seemingly posing as if to say " this is me compared to a Greylag"...

I spotted a Black-headed Gull with a leg ring so I took a few photos and reported the sighting to the guy in Denmark who is monitoring sightings and recoveries.

Up at the west end of the Mere a lone Buzzard gained height to soar away and 6 Whooper Swans flew over towards the Mere.

Turning back to return home, a pair of Bullfinch were calling and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming. In the hedgerow 3 Yellowhammers were the first of the year for me and a welcome splash of colour.

I got home dry - a pleasant change after the last few weeks of rain.