Seabird Wreck (harrowing)!!!

Seabird Wreck (Harrowing)!!!!

 

North Bay, Scarborough

27/03/2013

Farne Islands

02/04/2011

Awful sightings today on Scarborough's beaches.

Due to the very very poor weather, strong winds and heavy seas, many seabirds are being washed up dead, probably due to starvation and drowning due to lack of energy.

This is happening all over the East Coast from Scotland down to Bridlington, where the birds are congregating ready for their return to their breeding grounds, such as locally, Bempton Cliffs, or further a field, places like the Farne Islands in Northumberland

Today's reports by local Scarborough Birders state 43 Puffins, 10 Guillemots, 3 Razor Bills, 2 Kittiwakes and a Gannet all washed up in 2 bays

My 5 minute roam early this morning from the Sea Life Centre to the old Chair Lift Station located 12 Puffins and 2 Guillemots without looking very hard, truly awful.

The photographs below show some birds from this morning, along with photographs from the Farne Islands, taken 2 years apart but at the same time of the year give or take 3 or 4 days.

Oh for good weather soon please!!!!

For more information:

http://cehsciencenews.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/puffin-wreck-in-scotland.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-21941240

Forge Valley Feeding Station

Forge Valley Feeding Station

24/03/2013

Forge Valley, East Ayton

Another grey cold day and a quick visit on the way home to the feeding station at Forge Valley, which provided good views of 19 varieties of birds viewed from the car window in 45 minutes which was good considering the weather.

 

 

Seafront Stroll

Seafront stroll

17/03/2013

Scarborough

Poor weather again for photography over the whole weekend in general, but still Scarborough a great place for an hours wander to see what's about.

First off a stroll round the harbour and nice view of Cormorants, Turnstones and Purple Sand Pipers, then round the corner to see the Peregrines which unfortunately were not providing too much action but did sneak a couple of glimpses of Harbour Porpoises and a couple of Rockpipts.

A little later stroll with the good lady to Burton Riggs and Seamer Tip Ponds, provided no photographs due to the weather, but Burton Riggs showed, lots of Geese, Cormorants, Gulls, and a couple of Pochard, with Seamer Tip Ponds providing, Little Grebe, Shelduck and Gadwall, along with a number of Skylark around the waste land and a group of around 20 Magpie.

Rock Pipit

 

 

Peregrine Falcon

 

Turnstone

 

Purple Sandpiper (photograph take on the 02/03/2013)

 

Barn Owl

Barn Owl

14/03/2013

Around East Ayton, Scarborough

A quick stop on my way home from work proved fruitful in confirming that the Barn Owls are still about, where I saw them last year a couple of times in the summer.

Hopefully this year and with a little patients, better photographs will be taken of this, I think, my favourite bird.

Oiled Sea Birds

Oiled Sea Birds

12/03/2013 (5.00 pm)

Holbeck Car Park, Scarborough

A horrible sight of mainly Black Headed Gulls, but with a Mediterranean Gull as well, all with varying degrees of oiling from the yet unknown oil slick, off our coastline.

Generally posted to supply evidence as requested by North Sea Wildlife Trust.

Pink-footed Goose

Pink-footed Goose

10/03/2013

Scarborough Mere

A lone passing Pink-footed Goose, which has been at the Mere for a few days mixing well with the mass of the usual and mostly resident Greylag Geese.

Goosanders

Goosanders

10/03/2013

Scarborough Mere

Pair of fine looking Goosanders seen on a very cold Sunday morning at Scarborough Mere, for once seen in good light. They were very jittery and flew from the water ski end to the main mere after being disturbed by our friendly local dog walkers.

Whooper Swans

Whooper Swans

11/03/2013

Sherburn Ings

First sightings of the migrating Whooper Swans at Sherburn Ings today, at lunchtime, in the snow, for about 10 minutes. It was extremely cold and they were at distance, but for me well worth the 5 minute drive from work as they are a lovely looking bird.