2010 Review part 2

JULY



I spent a lot of my time at Patrington Haven, this monthwithout the true rewards I was hoping for.The waders were not particularly obliging, but the little egrets were some compensation and the med gull was a nice suprise.



Barn Owl

Little Egret

Little Egret

Mediterranean Gull

AUGUST

August threw up a couple of rare birds and I was pleased to finally get a shot of a common crane.I went up to Bewholme to catch up with the relatively long staying bird that was frequenting the Bewholme/Hornsea mere area.The white winged black tern was another nice bonus and although I took over 100 shots of this bird it was very difficult to digiscope, the one below was only one of 6 that were worth keeping.The undoubted highlight this month was the acquisition of my new camera and lens.

Common Crane

Pied Flycatcher

White Winged Black Tern

SEPTEMBER

September heralded the start of one of the best Autumns in recent history on the East Coast.rare bird after rare bird turned up and for me the best birds included citrine wagtail (Spurn) and eastern olivaceous warbler (Flamborough) but alas no pictures of either. There was a good mix of scarce birds and I was particularly happy with my shots of the red-breasted flycatcher.All photos below were taken at Spurn apart from the western bonellis warbler which was at Bempton.

Barred Warbler

Common Rosefinch

Great Grey Shrike

Red Breasted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Western Bonellis Warbler

OCTOBER

The superb Autumn continued into October with one particular Sunday being the most memorable.Favourable winds combined with right time of year and good light made for fantastic conditions.All shots below were taken around the Spurn area.The rose coloured starling signalled an abrupt end to what was a brilliant Autumn.

Goldcrest

Jack Snipe

Pallas's Warbler

Redstart

Rose Coloured Starling

Stonechat

Yellow Browed warbler

NOVEMBER

November was a fairly quiet month for me I got out on a couple of trips once to Hornsea mere to see a greta skua giving distant views and also to see the long staying rough legged buzzard at South ferriby.

Great Skua

Rough Legged Buzzard

DECEMBER

December brought one of the coldest starts to winter in living memory. not good news for the birds but gave some great photo opportunities.The barn owl was at Flamborough feeding over frozen fields, fieldfare at stony creek feeding on berries, the goldeneye was at Hornsea Mere in a small pool of unfrozen water whilst the peregrine stalked the gulls at the same site. The lapwing was feeding on frozen flooded fields at Kilnsea.

Barn Owl

Fieldfare

Goldeneye

Lapwing

Peregrine Falcon