Monday 27 February 2017

Half-Term Birds

Last week was half-term, so there were no classes, but some of my 'students' went out and tried to locate birds on their own.  Both of those who sent photos went looking for Goshawks.  None of them were successful, despite the perfect conditions.  Friday was beautiful with hardly any wind, and with clear blue skies.  It seems the first group may have gone out too early in the day.  Jane's party went out in the morning, and only had Red Kites, Buzzards, Greenfinches and a Grey Wagtail for their trouble.
Red Kite (c) 2017 Jane Robinson
 Ditto
 Ditto
Meanwhile a separate party consisting of Brian and Margaret arrived at midday.  They weren't able to find any Goshawks either, but their compensation was a smart male Kestrel and a stunning male Crossbill.   
Male Kestrel (c) 2017 Margaret Richardson 
 Ditto
 Male Crossbill (c) 2017 Margaret Richardson
 Record Shot of Crossbill (c) 2017 Margaret Richardson
 Ditto
Meanwhile, one of the top listers in Yorkshire was at the same location just a little earlier on the same day, and had good views of an adult Goshawk and an immature bird.
Goshawk (c) 2017 Steve Lawson
 Ditto
 Immature Goshawk (c) 2017 Steve Lawson
 Ditto

Goshawks aren't the easiest birds to photograph, but the next 6 weeks are probably the best time to connect with them as they perform their aerial display.  I've only ever managed to snatch record shots of this species.  The male below was taken 9 years ago, at a site I've never heard of them being seen, before or since.  However, their presence is often kept quiet, as they are one of the most persecuted birds of prey in the UK!  Will any of the groups see Goshawks in the next few weeks - keep an eye on this blog to find out.
Male Goshawk

Tuesday 21 February 2017

Not Scarborough

On Wednesday last week we didn't go to Scarborough, but went to our standby location, North Cave Wetlands, as Wheldrake wasn't quite the place to go after a lot of rain.  The morning started well with a Green Woodpecker 'laughing' in the large Ash tree on Dryham Lane.  We didn't get particularly close, but a humble bridge camera shows it throwing its head back to laugh!
Marsh Harrier (c) 2017 Tony Robinson
 Green Woodpecker (c) 2017 Aileen Urquhart
 Green Woodpecker (c) 2017 Lynn Hall
One of the most colourful birds seen was a Mandarin Duck which flew off Carp Lake, before returning a few minutes later.   
Mandarin (c) 2017 Aileen Urquhart
However, undoubtedly one of the highlights was the cream crown Marsh Harrier, which hunted within a few feet of the windows of Turret Hide for what seemed like half-an-hour.  It didn't manage to catch anything while we were watching, but it came close.  It was the nearest we've been to a Marsh Harrier at any of the other more renowned Marsh Harrier locations in our area.   By the time the harrier was a few feet away the day had turned very grey and drab, so the photos are amazing considering the available conditions.
Marsh Harrier (c) 2017 Tony Robinson
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
Towards the end of our time watching it, the Harrier settled on an island before attempting to drown a Moorhen.  It tried this several times, and for many minutes, but the Moorhen managed to escape in the end.  It's rather a shame it wasn't successful with a Coot, which pollute any location in which they are present!
Marsh Harrier (c) 2017 Aileen Urquhart
 Attempting to drown a Moorhen & terrifying a group of Shelduck
 Forcing the Moorhen under water
 Feeding the Wildlife

Monday 20 February 2017

3 Days at Scarborough

For the last week before half term we spent 3 days in Scarborough. We usually started in the harbour, where the best bird was a Black-necked Grebe, which showed well, especially early in the week.  Later, when things calmed down on Friday, it may have made its way onto the sea.
Black-necked Grebe
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 The Great Northern Diver appeared on the Tuesday, and was seen on the sea after that, but was very distant by Friday afternoon.
 Great Northern Diver
 With a crab, once the legs had all been removed.  
 Ditto
 Ditto
On one day we saw a Shag in the harbour, but on other days they were well out on the sea.   
Shag
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Ditto
 A Pair of Shags
Distant Shag showing the crest
On most days we saw a Guillemot around the harbour, but on Thursday a Razorbill took its place.  
Razorbill
 Guillemot (c) 2017 Mike Woods
Every day there were plenty of confiding Turnstones around the harbour.  We saw Purple Sandpipers on Friday afternoon, but the light wasn't right for photographs.
Turnstone
 Ditto
 Large Flock on the Jetty
 Final View of Black-necked Grebe
 Turnstone (c) 2017 Jane Robinson
 Coloured Leg Rings (c) 2017 Mike Woods
The Rock Pipits were usually seen on Marine Drive, but on Friday afternoon one was on a boulder under the harbour.
Rock Pipit (c) 2017 Mike Woods
 Rock Pipit on too high an ISO
On Thursday we found a young Grey Seal pup in the harbour, which was still present on Friday morning.  Unfortunately, when I took its photo on my mobile, a crowd gathered, and the general public attempted to do the same.  You had to lean right over the jetty to take its photo!
Young Grey Seal
Ditto - on a mobile
 Ditto
 Herring Gull (c) 2017 Mike Woods
After the harbour we walked along Marine Drive to try and see the Peregrines.  Occasionally we saw a pair perched only a few feet apart from each other.  They looked pretty inert perched on the cliff, but occasionally they performed exciting fly pasts.
Peregrine
Peregrine
 Ditto
 Female Peregrine
 Peregrine
 Ditto
 Peregrine (c) 2017 Jane Robinson
 Peregrine (c) 2017 Mike Woods
 Rock Pipit
 Ditto 
 Rock Pipit (c) 2017 Jane Robinson
 Fulmar
Once we had a good look at the Peregrines we moved on to a derelict cafe area to try & find the Black Redstart.  This was only really successful on Thursday, both morning and afternoon.  
Female Black Redstart
 Record shot of Black Redstart in flight
 Black Redstart
 Ditto
From the cafe area we moved to Scalby Mills.  There were hundreds of Wigeons and gulls here, but with nothing of scarcity value.  The best bird was probably a distant Red-throated Diver seen on Friday morning.   
Oystercatcher losing its winter plumage
 Wigeon
 Ditto
 Wigeon (c) 2017 Jane Robinson
 Curlew (c) 2017 Mike Woods
 Redshank (c) 2017 Jane Robinson
 Oystercatcher (c) 2017 Mike Woods
 Cormorant taking off 
 Ditto
 In Flight 
 Drying Itself
 Record Shot of Red-throated Diver
Cormorant (c) 2017 Jane Robinson
 Ditto
 Great Black-Backed Gull among Herring Gulls (c) Jane Robinson
 Ditto 
 Scarborough Castle from Scalby Mills
After classes some people went on to Forge Valley for the Nuthatches, whilst the Friday morning group went on to the raptor viewpoint where they had good views of Crossbills.  Meanwhile a couple from Friday afternoon found a female Scaup on Scarborough Mere.
Male Crossbill (c) 2017 Jane Robinson
 Crossbill (c) 2017 Jane Robinson
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Female Scaup (c) 2017 Mike Woods
Lack of Punctuation  (c) 2017 Mike Woods