June 9th I called at Saltholme for birdseed and popped into Phil Stead's. An egret was among the equisetum [or similar] and another was inspecting the pylons.
Little Egret
Little Egret
Little Egret
Little Egret
June 11th took me to Billingham in the afternoon on the off-chance of a rose-coloured starling at number 45 Cayton Drive. It was photographed from number 37 - many thanks to all the hospitable folk at both addresses! A very unusual twitch! Here's the bird.
Rose-coloured Starling
Rose-coloured Starling
Rose-coloured Starling
Rose-coloured Starling
Rose-coloured Starling
June 13th at Bempton for a turtle dove that failed to show. So you'll have to make do with this fine fellow...
Rat
Rat
...and a pair of collared doves!
Collared Doves
Collared Dove
Tame jackdaw - I like jackdaws - must be those blue eyes!
Jackdaw
Jackdaw
June 14th at Blacktoft. First bittern of the year seen. Main purpose was to try to get good photos of marsh harriers. Didn't quite achieve the level of detail I should like but some of these are ok.
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Marsh Harrier
Later at Marshland I watched the avocets.
Avocet
Avocet
Avocet
Avocet
Avocet
Avocet
Avocet
A heron was catching tiddlers.
Heron
Konik pony.
Konik Pony
First meadow brown of the year.
Meadow Brown
16th June: Scaling Dam. I went for a very distant scope-only spotted sandpiper. Afterwards I went for a stroll down Boghouse Lane. I wonder what this is?
Curlew
Curlew
Curlew
A small trainer aircraft zoomed low overhead...
Trainer aircraft
...whilst meadow pipits kept a watchful eye on me.
Meadow Pipit
Meadow Pipit
I called at Fen Bog on the way home. Common spotted.
Common Spotted Orchid
Train spotted.
NYMR at Fen Bog
BR Standard Class 4MT 2-6-0 number 76079. 60 years old this year. Now, where's my anorak?
Last lap: June 18th - Open Day at Tophill Low - and no admission charge. However that wasn't why I went...
There were orchids, common spotted and bee...
Common Spotted Orchid
Common Spotted Orchid - white form
Bee Orchid
Bee Orchid
...and a pair of distant first summer little gulls on South Marsh East...
Little Gulls
...and a ragged common blue butterfly.
Common Blue
But there was another reason for going.
Tawny Owl
Tawny Owl
Tawny Owl
Tawny Owl