Mixed Fortunes...

I thought I would get out early this morning and head off back up to Filey for another crack at the surf scoter then head back down to Harpham for the reported black-bellied dipper.

Got to filey for around 7.45 and the drive up was pretty grim with thick fog for most of the way.

Looking over the cliff top the good news was that the sun was breaking through but the bad new was that there was no sign of the surf scoter.

I spent a good quarter of an hour deliberating as to whether I should make the perilous decent to the bottom of the cliff.

I noticed a birder in front of me had gone down so maybe he'd seen something.

As I got to the end of the cliff I had another scan before climbing down and this time I saw a duck less than 10 yards off the rocks and the birder had set his scope in from of it!

The decent was all the more quicker ! eventually getting down and across the rocks in double quick time.

The bird stayed feeding just off the rocks for a good twenty minutes before slowly drifting along and then back out into the bay.

An absolutely stunning bird, doubtful if I'll ever get this close to a surf scoter again.

I called in at Harpham on the way back and spent a good hour and a half looking for the black bellied dipper to no avail.Hey Ho!

Surf Scoter

I had news of a surf scoter at Filey Brigg this morning and I have to say they are one of my favorite ducks and the fact that it was a male soon had me on the way.

I called in quickly at Flamborough hoping for a quick look at the reported white fronted goose but no luck there.

Arriving at the Country Park at Filey, the tell tale sign of birders looking intently down into the bay told me it was still there.

I made my way down the cliff as it was swimming by on its way to the brig proper.

It stayed in the lee of the brig all the time I was there and never came really close (but closer than the one in the Summer of 2013).

The light wasn't great but I was happy with these shots plus the seals were a welcome distraction.

All in all not a bad day could be tempted again tomorrow.

Rough Legged Buzzard

I have been somewhat incapacitated for the last couple of weeks but fancied getting out and about for a relatively 'easy' target at the weekend.

I wanted something a bit more unusual than garden birds but also something that didn't involve a lot of walking so the rough legged buzzard at Grindale kind of fitted the bill.

I expected it to be around the skydive club so headed there at first passing a 'buzzard' in a tree close to the road, but headed on if nothing else to rule out the fact that it might have sill been loyal to its original spot.

As it happened it was the RLB feeding at the entrance to a small caravan site in an area of rough grass and immature trees.

At first views were distant and into the light, however it soon became apparent that the buzzard was remaining faithful to this relatively small patch and as the 'crowd' thinned out I decided to drive down the lane in the hope of getting closer and the sun being in the right position.

The rest really is history as the bird showed magnificently down to about 20m at times giving the most wonderful photo opportunities.

My best shots ever of an RLB might be tempted to pop back if there's some snow on the ground.