Wildlife and Landscapes: July 2013

Wednesday, 31 July 2013

Minke Whales

Minke Whales

31/07/2013

Marine Drive, Scarborough

Yeahhhhhh!!!!! Finally after a lot of searching, looking and waiting, in both Scarborough and Filey, I finally caught up with some Minke Whales this morning quite close to the Marine Drive, say 300-400 metres away, all before work. Shame I had to leave as they fed reportedly for another hour or so.

There were possibly 3 feeding at once, around the headland, chasing up to groups of sea birds feeding on sand eels, with I believe Mackerel feeding on the same.

Absolutely awesome to watch, me and Adele have been on many a route march to far flung headlands on the Isle of Skye to try and see these Whales, but nothing compared to this, a minutes drive from home!!!

Tuesday, 30 July 2013

Funnel Cloud

Funnel Cloud

30/07/2013

Scalby Mills, Scarborough

While in search of Terns, tonight at Scalby Mills, Scarborough, which was successful with Common, Artic and Sandwich Terns along with passing Artic Skua, a drenching was gained with a massive cloud burst and a funnel cloud??? out to sea near the Castle Headland.

Also note were returning Turnstone in partial summer plumage, Dunlin and Knot.

Seen also were 3 Heron, 2 Curlew, Redshank, Kittiwake, Black Headed Gulls, LBB Gulls, Oyster Catchers, Herring Gulls and Swallows

Not bad for an hour's fresh air!!!!!

RSPB Bempton Cliffs

RSPB Bempton Cliffs

27/07/2013

Bempton

Another fine day and a final wonder round Bempton Cliffs to see the final remaining breeding birds of the year before the holiday's.

The cliffs were fairly quite with many of the Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills
and juvenile Gannets having left, but there was a good scattering of all the above remaining, though not a great deal of movement due to very calm conditions

There was a Seawatch Foundation event on but even they had no sighting while we were around which was a shame as the sea was very still and made for good viewing, though there was a slight haze.

After Bempton a quick first visit to Thornwick Bay hide was made as good sighting were recorded during the week of incoming waders, but all that was showing was a nice summer plumage Dunlin and a few usual birds, such as Coots, Moorhens and Greylag Geese.

Gannet chicks are getting bigger

Hungry Tree Sparrow

Peregrine Falcon fly past, great to watch and see

Dunlin at Thornwick Pond

Sunday, 21 July 2013

Crossbill

Crossbill

21/07/2013

Filey Brigg

While in search of the recently seen Minke Whales, off our little patch of the Yorkshire Coast, which unfortunately was not very fruitful on my behalf, I managed to get a glimpse of a bird I was not expecting, an incoming early migrating Juvenile Crossbill and was helped in identification and re finding of the same by a couple of good guys and birders from down south (Lincolnshire!!!!!!!!).

Indeed we think there were two about as the close up shots are little different from the first bird seen in the one off distance shot about an hour previously (the odd sparrow bird!!!!!)

First bird