Peregrine

Peregrine (Sunny Morning)

27/02/2013

Castle Headland, Scarborough

Finally!! a sunny morning !! saw me on the Marine Drive for 15 minutes or so before heading of to work and a good view of the Peregrines, as usual around lamp post 55.

Looking forward hopefully to a successful breeding season this year, after last years disappointment.

Mediterranean Gulls

Mediterranean Gulls

23/02/2013

Holbeck Car Park, Holbeck, Scarborough

At long last after a few good tips from a couple of local Scarborough Birders Steve and Mick, I can finally and hopefully spot the difference between the common Black Headed Gull and the visiting lovely Mediterranean Gull and thus submit my findings which are hopefully correct!!! Bloody Beginners!!!!

Hopefully next weekend there will be some Sunshine and I can get some better photographs before they migrate.

Mediterranean Gull

 Mediterranean Gull

 

Black Headed Gull



Waxwing Delights

Waxwings

24/02/2013

Dean Road, Scarborough

The second day of the Waxwing visit to Scarborough and in a brief spell of reasonable light, I managed to shoot a couple of pretty reasonable shots, particularly the 3 together, which was a lucky moment, for the three guys who were there at the time, along with some different shots of the Waxwings rummaging around the dead grass on the floor for the few remaining berries and rose hips.

 

 

Scarborough Mere

Scarborough Mere

23/02/2013

The Mere, Seamer Road, Scarborough

A very cold wander round the Mere to clear the chest, after sorting out the loft ready for the new roof next week, provided excellent views of the Drake Mandarin Duck, The Drake Red Crested Pochard, a number of Geese (Canada, Greylag, Pink Foot, and a few interbreed varieties of the same) a Grey Heron, lots of Black Headed Gulls, Pochards, a first on the Mere for me and a number of Gadwall Ducks.

Following a hot chocolate at the new cafe we ventured up to Holbeck Car Park in search of the Mediterranean Gull, another first for me, but that's a story for the next post.

 

Waxwings

Waxwings

23/02/2013

Dean Road, Scarborough

Waxwings, between 7 and 9 arrived back in Scarborough today and to the first spot some were seen in Autumn, it would be interesting to think they may be the same birds, remembering a food source on the way home to Scandinavia, but I very much doubt the fairytale story.

All the same a fantastic handsome bird and I look forward to seeing them next year.

Red Squirrels

Red Squirrels

18/02/2013

Near Hawes, The Yorkshire Dales

A great walk and fantastic sightings of our native Red Squirrel, though they were blooming hard to photograph, as they never sat still, seemed to love the shade and were frightened off constantly by a local hunt master, blowing his bloody hunting horn all the time, looking for lost dogs!!!

We will return to the same spot later on in the year, with a cunning plan to take a few of our own ground nuts to place on tree stumps in the sun, hopefully enabling better shooting possibilities.

Until then a few pictures of truly a lovely animal to have a glance at.

Malham Cove and Goredale Scar

Malham Cove and Gordale Scar

17/02/2013

Malham, The Yorkshire Dales

An excellent weekend in brilliant February sunshine, was spent walking, rambling and generally mooching about the Yorkshire Dales.

Nosey Swaledale Sheep

Malham Cove

 

 

Limestone Pavement at the top of Malham Cove 

 

View back from the top of Malham Cove



 



Gordale Scar

Top Hill Low

Top Hill Low

09/02/2013

Top Hill Low Nature Reserve, Watton, Driffield

A lovely sunny, but very icy and frosty start at Top Hill Low nature reserve on Saturday morning, gave views of lots of great wildlife though very little in the way of stunning photography, but there is always next time.

Bird views, included a rare visitor in a Ring Necked Duck, mixed in with the many Wigeon, Tufted Ducks and Golden Eye, a Little Egret and a number of Bullfinches. Also on view were the usual Barn Owls, Sparrow Hawks and Kestrels, unluckily I missed the now 4 Woodcock on display behind the Visitors Centre.

Animals on show included, Brown Hares, a number of Roe Deer including a Stag towards the North end of the Reserve, Grey Squirrels and a Stoat which was carrying a fresh Field Mouse away for lunch.

Again apologies for the quality of the photographs, but a just a reminder of an excellent visit.