Scalby Mills

Scalby Mills In Full Flow

27/01/2013

Scalby Mills, Scarborough

The sea cut at Scalby Mills, usually a gentle shallow flow, emptying into the sea after the quick snow thaw.

Note the inquisitive Grey Seal approaching the weir for a quick look, before turning back and heading for the sea.

 

Note the Seal, bottom right!!

 

 

 

Mandarin Duck

Mandarin Duck (Drake)

26/01/2013

Peasholm Park / Glen

Drake Mandarin Duck still in Peasholm Park / Glen.

Bit lighter today so better pictures.

Fieldfare

Fieldfare

26/01/2013

Back Garden

Lone Fieldfare in our back garden eating out of date apples. A second sighting of this bird, but much better light for photography.

Water Rail

Water Rail

26/01/2013

Northstead Manor Gardens

Early walk out on Saturday morning in the snow provided a good, if not brief showing of the Water Rail, which was probably the same one seen by many before Christmas.

 

 

Kestrel

Kestrel

23/01/2013

Brompton Ponds and Butts, Brompton By Sawdon

On my usual lunch time walk round Brompton Butts and Ponds, I was lucky enough to shot, though at long distance and in the current, murky, grey light, a kestrel feeding on a fresh mouse (a mouse I think!!).

Though the shots are grainy due to the distance and high ISO (1600) I was really pleased with the sighting.

It's great what you can see in a twenty minute lunch time and beats sitting in the office!!!

 

 

 

Heron

Heron

22/01/2013

Brompton Ponds, Brompton

A quick lunch time dash to Brompton Ponds today, again saw the usual amounts of local Mallards and tufted ducks, along with a couple of Herons around looking for easy food in the fishing lake.

 

 

 

Forge Valley Feeding Area on a Grey Sunday

Forge Valley Feeding Area on a Grey Sunday

20/01/2013

Forge Valley, Ayton

After a lazy Sunday morning, nursing a hangover, (to much single malt!!!) I ventured out for an hour to the above feeding station, as my good lady was at the pictures seeing 'Les Mis'.

I was hoping for better weather and am now sick now of grey, dull and cloudy weekends, which is generally rubbish for photography.

On the plus side I did see a Jay and a couple of Treecreepers, in the woods adjacent the feeding station, nothing unusual but a little different.

I was hoping to see a couple of Brambling, that have been seen recently but to no avail, though that is a good excuse to go back soon.

 

Nuthatch

 

 

 

Treecreeper

 

 

 

Marsh Tit

 

 

Jay

 

Snowy Saturday Morning

Snowy Saturday Morning

19/01/2013

Peasholm, and The Back Garden

Early wander down Peasholm Glen and Northstead Manor Gardens in search of the Drake Mandarin Duck, reported by Scarborough Birders, along with hopefully a sighting of the local Kingfisher and reported Redwings. The Mandarin was spotted along with the usual ducks and moorhens but no sign of the Kingfisher or Redwings.

A walk on the sea front in front of the Beach Chalets did produce a number of sightings of Rock Pipits, a lone Fieldfare and a Pied Wagtail all foraging for food in the washed up seaweed.

On a sad not I did see a washed up dead Guillemot which looked as though it had not managed to stay alive in the very fresh rough seas.

The garden produced the usual variety of birds along with a unusual but exciting view of a couple of Redwings and a lone Fieldfare all eating rotten apples thrown on to the snowy lawn.

A cold North Sea and Scarborough Castle

 

 

Mandarin Duck

 

 

Fieldfare

 

 

Redwing

 

Mistle Thrush

Mistle Thrush

18/01/2013

Brompton Butts, Brompton By Sawdon

Seen during my usual lunch time wonder around Brompton Ponds and Butts, a Mistle Thrush, fluffed up trying to keep warm on a cold snowy day.

 

Forge Valley Feeding Station

Forge Valley Feeding Station

17/01/2013

Forge Valley, Ayton

Quick lunch trip for twenty minutes of snowy fun at Forge Valley bird feeding station which produced a good variety of birds in a short time with the added sighting of a Jay, though it never returned during my brief visit.

Also though photographed I was unfortunately on the wrong side of the car park to get a really good view of the Nuthatches, but this makes an excellent excuse to go back!!

Long Tailed Tits

 



 

Great Tit

 

 

 

Blue Tit

 

 

 

Marsh Tit

 

 

Chaffinch

 

 

Robin

 

 

Blackbird

 

 

 

Coal Tit

 

 

Nuthatch