Summer Waders

I had a superb couple of hours checking out the waders at Blacktoft last night.
I went to marshland hide to start but the sun was almost straight into the hide with not a lot to look at.
The walk back to Townend was pretty uneventful with just whitethroat,sedge warbler and reed warbler.
When I got to the hide the sun and light was perfect although the waders were pretty distant.
A good selection including avocet,snipe,redshank,spotted redshank,greenshank,green sandpiper,lapwing and ruff.
The tide was coming in and after a while the waders came closer to the hide and one particular ruff was spectacular in its summer finery.It also had some rings on each leg, I would welcome any advice on where it miht have come from.
I have checked out a couple of sites on the net but I'll put a couple of shots on BF to see if anyone knows any more gen.
I was pleasantly suprised by the amount of waders on show.
(in total contrast to Paull tonight where there were hardly any).

Spotted Sandpiper

I was on my way to Blacktoft today when news of a spotted sandpiper came on the phone.
A quick diversion and I was there within half an hour of it being found.
Quite distant at first and at one point looked as though it was going to fly away.
It then settled and appeared to go through a routine of island hopping occasionally giving fantastic views as it landed on the island nearest the hide.
A good supporting cast in the form of medtierranean gull and green sandpiper along with a showy stoat and a good crowd in the hide made for a very enjoyable evening.

A Trip To The Seaside

With a lack of target birds around just lateley I thought I would pay a visit to Bempton Cliffs for a shot at the seabirds.
My plan was to get there for dawn with a hope of some good effects of orange sun on white birds.
It almost payed off but for a big black cloud just in the wrong place at the wrong time.The cloud eventually passed but the light had gone from orange to pale yellow.
Back to the birds and it was a real spectacle with what appeared to be good numbers of most species, especially puffins.
Even the herring gulls looked quite dazzling in natural surroundings.
There were plenty of meadow pipits and the odd whitethroat amongst them plus a couple of sedge warblers near the visitor centre.
As the sun rose it became a little harsh for photography but as a spectacle there is nowhere better.
Puffin

Puffin

Puffin

Puffin

Puffin

Herring Gull

Herring Gull

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Razorbill

Juv Pied Wagtail

Gannet

Spoonbill

I have been after a photo of a spoonbill for quite a while so when a report of 3 came up for Blacktoft Sands during the week I hoped they would stayuntil Friday at least.
I got to Blacktoft for about 3.30 and spent an hour looking for them in the wrong hide!(although I did see a bittern while I was waiting)
One was particularly mobile and kept walking up and down continuously swiping its bill from side to side and occasionally skipping theough the water as it chased shrimps.
It was joined by a couple of little egrets later in the evening as it settled down to roost.
Not a lot more to report other than a couple of marsh harriers,4 greenshank and the bittern.
Quite lucky as they have apparrently flown off today.

Angelic Redstarts

I spent an hour with these beauties last night.
The weather forecasting has been lousy just lately, but yestarday's forecast was for bright spells in the afternoon, so I arrived at about 5.15 in nice evening light.
The 3 juveniles were noisily demanding food and the male was furiously catching insects to keep his brood fed.
They were on a slight hill surrounded by woods and bushes which gave some protection fom the cold northely wind, at times the male was landing within 3 feet of me and at one point I thought he was going to land on the tripod.
later on as I was about to leave the male began to sing and this attracted another male, there was no sign of the female so hopefully she is already sat on another clutch of eggs.
Although these shots were taken from a public footpath (which probably explains their tolerance to me),I'm sure you'll understand that these are some of the rarest breeding birds in east Yorkshire and their location must be protected.