Hornsea, South Cliff this morning

A walk on the cliff top in the calmer conditions following a blustery weekend was a real pleasure. The sun was shining early on and brightened up the whole place. It also provided good lighting for viewing the birds. Although nothing spectacular turned up, 4 Redwing flew in off the sea and joined about 10 Reed Buntings and the many Blackbirds in the hedgerows.

The Stock Dove was in its usual place and a Kestrel was on the look out for breakfast. Nowt much on the beach apart from 3 Common Gulls and the usual Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls.

Winter Thrushes

I walked up to Walshaw Dean today looking for winter thrushes hoping that they had arrived this far inland following the mass arrival on the East coast on Monday.

Although the mist was stuck at about 700 ft, visibility was OK horizontally, but I didn't go up any further than the lower reservoir as the mist closed in too much.

Walshaw Dean house
Blackbird - 4
Song Thrush - 2
On the water
Canada Goose - 5 and Mallard - 15 (incl 2 hybrids)
Little Grebe - 1 (first one I've seen up here as the habitat isn't exactly ideal with open water and no vegetation at the water edge)

Red Grouse - 2 calling

Walshaw Plantation
Coal Tit - 4
Treecreeper - 1

Blake Dean
Grey Heron - 1 preening by the stream and doing a good job of trying to tie itself in knots
Fieldfare - c.35 overhead, flying to and fro but not landing or calling. There are plenty of Rowan trees here all of which have berries but obviously the birds weren't hungry. Perhaps the mist had forced them down and they couldn't decide which way to go?! They eventually disappeared downstream in the direction of Hardcastle Crags.

No Redwing although plenty were seen and heard locally this morning.

Oktobermist

Walked over to Withens Clough reservoir this morning. I set off in the all-enveloping mist but the sun broke through as I gained height over the hill.

On the way back 45 Pink-footed geese went over flying West.

Mankinholes just clearing of mist while Todmorden in the valley is still covered

It isn't often Withens Cough is like a mill pond...

The Te Deum stone at Withens Gate

Sparrowhawk

The weather here in West Yorkshire has been appalling recently with torrential rain and strong winds. Here is one of our local Sparrowhawks doing its best to stay upright in the teeth of a gale. It landed on the wall at the back of our house where we haven't seen it before - it usually lands in the tree or swoops through the garden past the bird feeders lookng for prey.

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 -