Burton Agnes Snowdrops and an Early Trip to Bempton

 After an overnight frost, we pulled up into Burton Agnes Hall car park in bright, clear sun at 11.00 am.  We had come with friends Brian and Heather to visit the magnificent snowdrop walk.  As usual the woodlands were thick with them and the main challenge for me was to select compositions from the mass.  Soon it was time to indulge in some lunch before heading off to Bempton.  Although it is early for a first visit, there is always a frisson on anticipation.  Gannets were plentiful, but none on the cliffs; they were all gliding past.  Fulmars, on the other hand, were on the cliffs but perching under overhangs and ledges and out of site as they so often do.  They were indulging in their usual pastime though flying out over the sea in a loop before swooping back in out of site and challenging the photographer to lock on in that brief moment when they are visible.  Feral pigeons were plentiful but I could see no rock doves among them.  Brian and I wandered along to join the twitchers looking for the lapland buntings, but we arrived late on in the afternoon when they weren't cooperating.  Back at the visitor centre there were large numbers of tree sparrows at the feeding station but the light was now very poor so photography was difficult.

All too soon it was time to take our leave but we had the pleasure of fish and chips at Papa's on the way home to look forward to.

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Fulmar

Tree Sparrow

Ambling with Aconites

 Retrieving my old waterproof from the car I gathered bins and camera with macro lens attached to go and do battle with the cemetery aconites.  The old waterproof because I was planning on some intimacy with the ground to get a low perspective on the aconites.  I was much more pleased with today's efforts; the birding lens is not ideal for aconite photography.  Moving on to the woodland burial ground I hoped to see the deer again but no luck today.  Having the macro with me, though, I did have a much more successful go at the lovely lichens; it was only when processing the images that I noticed the wintering ladybird.  No sign of the alder goldfinches again today but the snowdrops are coming on a pace.

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A Roe Deer Ramble Around the Woodland Burial Ground.

 Relishing my after breakfast coffee in the conservatory surveying the gloomy morning, I noticed the sky beginning to brighten.  Perhaps it would be worth a visit to the cemetery to try to photograph the goldfinches in the alders.  Getting changed for walking quickly and grabbing the camera gear we set off.

Walking around the ouside of the cemetery I was pleased to spot my first aconites of the year.  Typically I only had the birding lens with me but nonetheless grabbed a record shot before heading down to the alders but.......no goldfinches in sight.  Not helped by grave digging going on nearby and a very large noisy family close to the trees.  All one household; I think not, and what happened to social distancing.  Grrrrr!!!!

Having dipped out on the goldfinches the plan was to go back and walk around the woodland burial ground.  I was absolutely delighted to spot a roe deer out in the open close to a small clump of trees in which there was another.  I have known that roe deer were in there both anecdotally and having often seen their slots.  The deer out in the open stood and watched us watching it before they both turned and trotted off into the trees with their white rumps gleaming.  What a delight; my day was made!!

We continued around the cemetery circuit the weather becoming increasingly gloomy again.  I did spot a good clump of snowdrops so a visit with the macro is on the cards.

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A Yorkshire Day Out

Not having been to see the snowdrops at Burton Agnes for a few years a visit was overdue.  On arrival it was time for coffee and cake before investigation the snowdrop walk.  As usual there were swathes of plants all in the peak of condition.  It was a joy to walk amongst them  and I enjoyed photographing both wide views and closeups.

After a cup of tea we decided to continue on to Bempton Cliffs RSPB reserve.  I was not expecting many birds but felt that a walk along the cliffs would be invigorating nonetheless.  How wrong I was!  The cliffs were a hive of activity. Plenty of gannets were cruising along the edge of the cliffs and out at sea and substantial numbers were settled on the vertiginous cliffs along with hundreds of guillemots that had already returned from their winter sojourn at sea.  There were a few razorbills and puffins have yet to return.  Kittiwakes were present in good numbers and fulmars were plentiful performing their usual trick of flying out from the cliff and quickly back again, making them challenging to photograph.
It was cold on the cliff top so we headed over to Flamborough thinking of our evening meal.  As we were rather early for our booking we drove to North Landing for a while before enjoying an excellent meal at The Seabirds Bar and Restaurant.