Monday 28 January 2013

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!!
 
 
 

Saturday 26 January 2013

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Lone Fieldfare in our back garden eating out of date apples.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.


 
 

Wednesday 23 January 2013

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!!!

 
 
 

Tuesday 22 January 2013

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.

 
 
 

Monday 21 January 2013

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
 

Saturday 19 January 2013

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
 

Friday 18 January 2013

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.

 

Thursday 17 January 2013

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