Beacon Ponds

East Yorkshire Wildlife February 6, 2011

I was in two minds as to where to go today-I knew the weather forecast wasn't great but I still wanted to get out and have a go at some shots.
I decided to head for Beacon Ponds with the prospect if nothing else of a record shot of the recently reported slavonian grebe-a bird I have yet to photograph.
I headed along the beach towards the hide and apart from a few fly by gulls, cormerants and oystercatchers I didn't see that much.
When I arrived at the hide I spooked some wigeon and then started to view what was on the lagoon.
The wind was howling making the water really rough.
There were a few wigeon, teal, pochard and a couple of distant goldeneye and little grebe.
From time to time the odd wader flew by as well as a few gulls but the gale force wind kept everything low.
After a while I saw a very distant slavonoan grebe and took some record shots that were next to useless.
The grebe kept disappearing from view until it appeared in the calm water directly opposite the hide. I thought I would try to get round the other side for a shot from the bank top.
Fortunately there were no other birders about along long bank and the grebe remained in about the same spot.
I crept to the top of the bank and there grebe was there about 50 yards out.
It kept coming closer then backing away feeding all the time on sticklebacks.
I stayed with it for a couple of hours until it started to swim further north along the edge of the bank.
There was a massive flock of brent geese with a few waders on the flooded field opposite the listening dish on the way back, but I didn't se a single bird down beacon lane.
In the end I was happy with these shots- just a shame the sun wasn't out.

Worlaby Owls

East Yorkshire Wildlife January 30, 2011

I went out to worlaby yesterday and it was third time lucky for me when the short eared owls put on a magnificent dispaly.
there was one perched almost motionles on a tree stump for quite a while before going into a fantastic display.
As it got nearer to dusk the light was fading rapidly and unfortunately there wa some cloud cover, but the owls kept on hunting and displaying right until it got dark and it looked as thought there might have been about 6 or 7.
apparrently they hang around while march so hopefully we be back again in better light.

North Yorks

East Yorkshire Wildlife January 2, 2011

I set off this morning with the intention of targetting 3 species, velvet scoter, mediterranean gull and iceland gull.

I started at Filey Brigg and got there for first light.

there were a few common waders on the car park including oystercatcher, redshank, knot, dunlin and bar tailed godwit.

Once on to the beach and heading for the brigg I saw some common gull species, grey plover, curlew,purple sandpiper wigeon and great crested grebe.

On the brigg itself it was quite rough and the scoters were keeping their distance as were the eider.

I also saw a small flock of snow bunting fly north.

I did not see a velvet but some of the guys down there spotted a couple.

next it was on to Scarborough and dodging between the squalls I managed some nice shots of the mediterranean gulls with a rainbow in the background.

Then it was on to the harbour.First thing I saw was a large seal then the great northern diver.

I threw some bread into the harbour and almost immediately a small group of large gulls appeared including the iceland gull.It posed nicely for about 20 minutes before disappearing.

After that I had a quick look at Scalby Mills at the wigeon flock but they were quite distant so headed for home mid afternoon.