387 -388!

1: Autumn Sunshine 02.11.12

Barry and I managed to fit in an afternoon at Blacktoft, working around our other commitments like car servicing and shopping. Water pipts were on the menu but once we arrived they were off it again as far as we were concerned!

We called in briefly at Marshland hide. Apart from a group of shelduck it was deserted.

Shelduck On then to Ousefleet: the long drag you could almost call it! However we did have a pleasant couple of hours down at Ousefleet, where the pipit had been seen. As we walked down golden plover were in the field, in good numbers, on our right. I think this sort of shot improves in letter box format!

Golden Plover

Marsh harriers were active in front of the hide, battling with some crows after something in the reedbed. The harriers came back time and time again throughout the afternoon. The light was wonderful with an autumnal glow.

Marsh Harrier Not long after settling into the hide a group of pinkfooted geese came overhead.

Pinkfoot Pinkfoot Pinkfoot A wren was clicking away in front of the hide. I managed eventually to catch it on a post with the ISO rammed up high as the light in the shade where the sun wasn't reaching was poor.

Wren Wren Wren

The light was amazing. This shot across the reedbed captures it well.

Blacktoft - Marshland I'll end this posting with views of the harriers, including some less usual views as they sought to oust the crows from the spot where, presumably, something tasty was hidden from our view in the reeds.

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier Marsh Harrier Marsh Harrier Marsh Harrier

2: Scarborough fair but windy! 03.11.12

Sheila and I drove to Scarborough in search of a juvenile glaucous gull. I can't resist gulls even though it wasn't a tick. They are such attractive photogenic birds. like pink milky coffee. Anyway, half-way there the pager said it had gone. We carried on. I left the camera in the car, Sheila had her camera, a Canon 500D with a 70-300mm zoom. The following pictures were taken by her. Setting up in competition? Not really, if I'm the persistent birder, then she's the reluctant birder! But the images are ok.

We spotted a red-throated diver near the harbour mouth...
Red-throated Diver

...and a cormorant was giving exceptionally close views as Sheila looked down on it from the pier.

Cormorant Cormorant An immature gull was quite happy to let me talk to him whilst the photographer clicked away...

Great Black-backed Gull Razorbill We spotted a young auk on the sea. A little auk has been reported off the pier but I have a feeling this is a young razorbill - or was the little auk mistakenly identified? Or am I wrong? Here's a selection of her pictures of this bird.

Razorbill Razorbill On our walk a herring gull flew straight at us!

Herring Gull Eventually I said, suddenly: 'Keep an eye on that bird!' As it flew over I realised it had no dark markings. It landed. I ran towards it to check. The photographer caught me up. Here it is: Sheila's glaucous gull.

Glaucous Gull Glaucous Gull Glaucous Gull

The rest of the Scarborough photos - not many - were taken by yours truly!  I went to get the camera to photograph the glaucous gull. When I got back I couldn't find it! It reappeared on the pager on the way home. I photographed a great black-backed gull:

Great Black-backed Gull Great Black-backed Gull Lots [30+] of turnstones were running around in the car park. Only one was ringed, in fact he had 5 rings: 4 colour rings and one metal ring. I wonder what project is involved in this fellow. He's showing off his jewelery!!

Turnstone Turnstone

3: I had a dream... Sunday 04.11.12

Since I first started my website, the welcome page has included a few personal details, together with the fact that the bird I should most like to see is a bee-eater.

Well, on Sunday I had a dream. I dreamt that a bee-eater came up north and settled on a TV aerial in Dartford Street, Seaburn, near Sunderland. What's more, I dreamt I photographed it flying about and catching the wasps that were nesting in the chimney of number 22!

Yes, I had a dream.

Bee-eater

Bee-eater Bee-eater In my dream I imagined I was on Lesbos...

Bee-eater Silhouetted into the brilliant Mediterranean sunlight...

Bee-eater

Bee-eater This dream bird began to show off for me. A man, in my dream of course, with a giant lens on a giant tripod said: 'Too fast to get flight shots.' Ok, let's do an aerial display. Cue aerial!!

Bee-eater Bee-eater Bee-eater Bee-eater Bee-eater Bee-eater Bee-eater

Or just watch this, Mr. Wasp!!

Bee-eater Bee-eater Time to go!

Bee-eater Waxwings were reported at Blaydon railway station. 18 miles according to the satnav. Off we went. I parked and went up onto a footbridge linking the station to the town centre. It trembled every time an HGV went by [the bridge, not the town centre]. A bit scary but it was very high and gave good tree top views. Eventually I spotted a party of three waxwings.

Waxwing Waxwing Waxwing Waxwing

I finished the day with a trip to Elba Park, Houghton-le-Spring, a former coke works that is a recently established country park. We stood in a row in front of a hedge, in the fog, waiting. And waiting for an hour and a half. Eventually someone said it was calling. I couldn't hear a thing. Then, there it was, in the grass, on the floor, in front of me. A little bunting, my 19th lifer of the year and second of the day.

Don't wake me up.

388 UK ever; 277 UK 2012