Saturday, 2 March 2013

Scarborough

With plenty to see and do in Yorkshire I decided to spend two days in the Yorkshire. Early Tuesday I got up and headed across the Humber Bridge. My first port of call was Hornsea Mere. I managed to miss the Bittern in the hour and a half I was there. I did manage to connect with the Black-necked Grebe though which was a year tick for me. Headed up to Scarborough to check the whole area. 6 Fulmers and 2 Peregrines at Marine Drive and 1 Shag on the sea of note. 6 Mediterranean Gulls at Holbeck car park including two with nearly full heads. Onto the Mere where I managed to connect with the Male Red-crested Pochard. Also of note was a single Pink-footed Goose. A grey day but the day gave me some good photo chances so I snapped them up.
 
Mediterranean Gull Wide angle

I call this image. Keep calm and eat bread.

Another wide angle shot

Male Red-crested Pochard


Male Tufted Duck with evil eyes!




More stunning eyes.

Peregrine Falcon
 
Herring Gull

Roosting Purple Sandpiper

Tunrstone


Juv Great Black-backed Gull

 
Wednesday was set to be a lovely day for photography and it didn't disappoint. started off with a drive to forge valley for some year ticks in the form of Marsh tit, Willow Tit and Brambling. Then headed through Troutsdale where I saw 3 Goshawks, 1 of which was in full hunting mode! Back to Scarborough and to the Med Gulls again but it was low tide and they spent a lot of time down on the pools. couldn't locate any Purple Sandpipers down there either. Onto the Mere again to try for some more shots of the RCP but it didn't show well. Still played around with Tufted Ducks. Headed back to Lincs to see if the SEO were showing at Worlaby 5 birds showed at a distance as well as a pair of Stonechat. And I saw my first Male Hen Harrier!! Well worth the quick stop off and being late for football. 9 Year tick over the two days and some nice pictures, a good trip.

Angry wife!

Female Tufted Duck

Adult Mediterranean Gull





Tufted Duck
 
Stonechat