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

Winter gets harder....

The recent wintry weather has given some great opportunities for photography.
I set off for Spurn last Sunday but only got as far as Easington before the snow got too bad.Whilst on the way back I went round Sunk Island and it was here that a row of bushes laden with berries held a flock of thrushes which at times were very obliging. The weather was a mix of snow showers and sunshine and this gave some greatlight.
Next I went for a couple of hours at Allerthorpe Woods. Just the usual common species here, very tame and starving hungry.Unfortunately there were mo bramblings.
Lastly I had a morning at Hornsea Mere there is a small area that is ice free and amongst the mallards and coots there is a small party of goldeneye.
Mostly theye kep their distance but evey now and again they venture quite close and again prove to be very obliging.
There is also a juvenile peregrine falcon and this was causing chaos amongst the gulls although it didn't take anything whilst I was there.
One thing is for sure -all the birds are starving and whilst it helps with the photos, it will be a lot better when it thaws so they can feed up for the next bout of cold weather and with the way this winter is going it won't be far away.

Winter waders

I set off for Spurn this morning for an outside chance of a male hen harrier.The day got off to a good start with a single waxwing perched at the top of a tree in Thorngumbald.
When I got to Spurn I noticed the massive amount of waders feeding in the flooded fields so using the car as a hide I stayed with them for a couple of hours.
Nothing unusual but the curlew,snipe,lapwing,redshank,dunlin,golden plover, oystercatcher, ringed plover and godwits made for some good photographic opportunities. I didn't actually get down to Spurn but called in via Sunk Island on the way home. A single pheasant in a snowy field was nice along with a mixed flock of thrushes including blackbird, fieldfare and redwing and finally a small flock of twite on the roadside.
The conditions are making things difficult for the birds and it looks set to get cold again next week.

Winter Bites!

The recent weather has hit hard and last week I only managed a trip to East Park, most of the wildfowl had disappeared and only common birds were present.
I had a trip up to Flamborough and Barmston today. Neither place held anything special the highlights being a nice barn owl at Flamborough and grey plover and purple sandpiper at Barmston.

Lincs Rough Leg

I managed at last to catch up with a rough legged buzzard yesterday. I went across the bridge for the relatively long staying bird at South Ferriby.
It was out of view at first but soon took up its customary perch on the fence line at the west end of the cement works. It was quite distant but showed very well and caught a vole whilst I was there (and another chap said he saw it catch another 4 after I'd left) so if there is plenty of foood around it might stay for a while.
After that I went on to Worlaby it was absolutely freezing I didn't see any close up short eared owls (although expectation levels were high) but true to form as a rattor hotspot I had distant views of hen harrier, buzzard, sparrowhawk, kestrel plus a couple of SEO's anfd a fly-by barn owl.
Definitely will be back this winter but calmer days would be best.