The Annual Pilgrimage to Seabird City.

 It is always a pleasure to visit Bempton Cliffs RSPB reserve on the Yorkshire coast between Bridlington and Filey. It was a real juggling act this time, though, to decide on the day as the weather forecast was continually changing, usually for the worst. As it turned out we had an excellent day: overcast but bright with very little wind. As it was a Saturday we were expecting it to be busy and we realised we were correct as we were directed to the overflow car park for the normal overflow one! It is amazing, though, how as soon as you get out on the reserve, the crowds seem to be absorbed, apart from in the visitor centre which was very busy. We followed the usual format for the day: south to Staple Newk first for the gannets and flight shots and then north for the auks. My appetite for the birdwatching and photography is bottomless but when Heather has had a surfeit she gets her drawing stuff out and records the views in beautiful sketches. In fact I often move on and leave her drawing and we catch up with each other later.

As always the gannets were spectacularly majestic and we were lucky to find them collecting nesting material on the cliff top. As they negotiated the cliff top air currents to come in to land, they provided endless opportunities for dramatic flight photography. I was pleased today to capture some really pleasing flight shots of kittiwakes which I generally find very challenging; perhaps it was trying out different camera settings which helped. On the way back up to the north end of the reserve the barn owl was out hunting which was a particular thrill. As always it was a delight to watch and photograph tree sparrows which we don't see at home.

As always an excellent day which finished with fish and chips at Pappa's in Willerby on the way home.

Distant Barn Owl.

Distant Barn Owl.

Fulmars

Fulmar

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Guillemot

Guillemot

Guillemot

Guillemot

Herring Gull

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Linnet

Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon

Razorbill

Razorbill

Razorbill

Razorbill

Red Campion

Tree Sparrow

Tree Sparrow

Green Hairstreaks at Donna Nook

 For a change,Tuesday 9th May turned out to be potentially favourable for photographing the tiny green hairstreak butterflies at Donna Nook on the Lincolnshire Coast. Green hairstreaks are the only British butterfly to have green wings and with a wingspan of only 30mm are very small, in fact the UK's smallest butterfly is the small blue which has a wingspan of 27mm.

Roger and I arrived in the car park at the same time and were soon heading along the dunes to search for our target. Disconcertingly the sky had clouded over since leaving home but we were encouraged by the blue sky to the north from where the weather was coming and the sun soon appeared. Green hairstreaks are very faithful to territory and, as it is an annual pilgrimage for us to find these beautiful butterflies, we knew where to go. Although they can be found all along the Lincolnshire coast, their favoured location at Donna Nook is only about 50 square metres.

Nearly as soon as we reached the spot we found our first individual and as the sun warmed up and they became more active, we eventually found 10. Despite having emerged a couple of weeks previously most were in superb condition. One or two, though, were starting to look worn so we had only just got there in time.

There followed a couple of hours of delightful photography. Keeping half an ear out for birds as well, I enjoyed hearing the scratchy song of the plentiful whitethroats and my first cuckoo of the year elicited the usual thrill.

Family Get Together at Potterick Carr

 When Heather and I arrived in the car park at Potteric Carr Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserve Beth and Thomas were already waiting for us. It being bank holiday Monday, we had arranged to meet up. In view of the weather (heavy overcast and light rain), we had settled on Potteric Carr as it had a cafe which is to be highly recommended, except it stops hot food at 2.30 which we didn't take into our calculations. We did however enjoy tea and stickies when we first arrived before launching out into the wet which, in the event, didn't turn out too bed. 

Potteric Carr nestles between the M18 and the railway and is a remnant of the vast fenland that once stretched all the way across the Humber basin to the coast. It is a mosaic of wetlands, reedbeds and woodland. As we walked along the woodland paths the sound of bird song was everywhere. We headed to a hide overlooking a mere where a pair of black-winged stilts had bred, but sadly they had gone walk about. As we headed back towards the reserve centre and cafe I looked foward to some lunch which is where our miscalculation came in; it was 3.00 pm!! Still we had recorded 33 species and had a good catch up and were quite happy to make do with the nearby Pizza Hut.

Lapwing

                                                                        Lapwing

Mallard and family

Jay, Potteric Carr 2009

Jay, Potteric Carr 2009

Shelter From the Storm

 As soon as I entered the cemetery I could hear the local chiffchaffs calling. Again they are here in good numbers. It was not long before I heard the rich mellow tones of a blackcap coming from the depths of some scrub and later, the very similar song of a  garden warbler from the woodland. I left the cemetery early via one of the 'illegal' holes in the fence and walked round the outside and crossed the 'plank bridge' over Gooseman's Drain, searching, unsuccessfully for butterflies. Unsuccessful, perhaps, as black clouds were drifting in from the north east. Once over Gooseman's Drain I was delighted to hear and have good views of my first of at least three whitethroats. I was too slow with the camera though, although returning later I had some success. Walking along the thick bramble hedge, good for birds and butterflies, I was overtaken by my first shower. Having not bothered with a coat as I had trusted the weather forecast, I scuttled along to shelter under the thick hawthorn hedge at the end. It soon passed over and I emerged only to be caught by a second shower and had to shelter again. There was plenty of activitiy from the whitethroats, though and I was pleased to capture some images. On my way home I was delighted to come across two female roe deer in the woodland burial ground. An excellent morning.

Blackbird

Chiffchaff

Roe Deer

Whitethroat

Whitethroat

Whitethroat

Whitethroat

Whitethroat

Yellowhammer

Freshney Valley Dog Walking

 We used the need to take Jet for a walk as an excuse to visit one of our favourite local sites: The River Freshney and Town's Holt. As soon as we left the road we could hear the chiffchaffs calling loudly and behind them one or two very vocal wrens. Chiffchaffs seem to have arrived in good numbers this year as they are all over the place. Blackcaps soon joined the chorus and I was pleased to be able to secure some shots. Sedge warblers as usual were vocal and I was pleased to be able to pinpoint at least one reed warbler; both sound very similar. Two cetti's were singing their explosive song, but, as usual, they were not to be seen. Surprisingly I only saw three butterflies: a distant white that I was unable to identify and two speckled woods, one of which posed perfectly. I was delighted to find my first whitethroat of the year, although it didn't stay for photographs, either that or I was too slow!

Blackbird collecting earthworms

Blackcap

Speckled Wood

Damp Walk and Wonderful Cowslips

 Although we had driven through hill fog and drizzle, when Brian and I pulled into the car park at Goulceby's Three Horseshoes pub it was at least dry and calm although misty. Soon Dorothy and Steve arrived and we set off on our circular walk taking in Asterby Top and Red Hill.  On the way up to Asterby Top it was amazing to see that the road had been closed. There is a huge badger sett on the hillside here and the badgers have dug under the road and caused it to collapse. On a better day there would be good views  across to Lincoln Catherdral and over the Bain Valley.

Our route took us down into the valley and then steeply up to the nature reserve at Red Hill. Here we had a quick look at the pasque flowers that have now started to go over somewhat.  The cowslips in the festival field, however, were looking superb.

Our walk finished by walking down into the valley and over fields, where we met 'The Heathers', back to the car and pub.  It was, of course, beer o'clock: Batemans Yella Belly for me; nectar.  The food was also superb and to be highly recommended.