A week is a long time in politics birding!

Well Mr. Cameron probably is thinking just that. Meanwhile I'm ready to report a varied week when the promised easterlies didn't quite deliver - although they did send us a few 'goodies'. Let's tell the story!

Friday 23rd August: Blacktoft

An afternoon visit to Blacktoft in hope of a reported little stint that had left when I arrived. Arrival and departure probably linked to the tides. I made do with a greenshank...

Greenshank Greenshank Greenshank ...a snipe...Snipe ...an unusually close spotshank still in [fairly] summer plumage [and ruff in the background]...

Spotted Redshank Spotted Redshank ...and a few black-tailed godwits.

Black-tailed Godwit Oops!Black-tailed Godwit

Saturday 24th August: Acomb, York: the sparrowhawk dropped in to visit!

Saturday was to be a day at home sorting various bits of paperwork. Bills and receipts etc. From up in my study I heard my wife shouting 'camera' and something else indistinguishable. I grabbed camera. No memory card. Grabbed memory card. Assumed by the time I had done this the bird would have disappeared. By now I gathered the cat was in the conservatory looking up at a sparrowhawk on the fence at the side of the conservatory watching the cat. The cat had gone back to sleep knowing it was safe. It understands the concept glass and the safety it affords.

By now I had reached the back bedroom window to see if the bird was there. It was unbelievably close. At 13 feet just within focus range of my 400mm DO lens. Aim, focus, shoot! Through the double glazing too! So, given the deterioration I expect through glass here is what I think is a great set of images. But I would, I suppose...

Sparrowhawk Sparrowhawk Sparrowhawk Sparrowhawk Sparrowhawk Sparrowhawk Here's looking at you!

Sparrowhawk

The green is next door's lawn if you were wondering, slightly overexposed.

Sunday 25th August: Spurn calling!

An early start, I was hoping for a good seawatch and although things were not that 'busy' I was pleased to see pomarine skuas, one sooty shearwayer, some manxies and, probably best of all, three arctic skuas flying along the shoreline. Incredible views.

As for photographs... There were whinchats everywhere. Here's my best shot from Canal Scrape.

Whinchat Rumours attracted me to move on to Sammy's Point where wryneck was reported along with some warblers. Wheatear were seen and more whinchats. No sign of a wryneck other than a fleeting glimpse. A painted lady posed. I suppose painted ladies would do that!

Painted Lady A chiifchaff probably.

Chiffchaff I returned to Canal Scrape to watch the swallows who were nesting in the hide. They perched on the barbed wire waiting to come in, made nervous by the numbers of birders present.

Swallow Swallow In the car park I snatched this wall butterfly as it paused ever so briefly with its wings open.Wall A wryneck was entertaining the crowds at the Rose & Crown. I went along. I'll end this day's report with the wryneck images.

Wryneck Wryneck Wryneck Wryneck Wryneck

Monday 26th August: Blacktoft &

Barry and I had a day's local birding. No especial targets - just a nice day out!

Blacktoft had insects and birds. We walked down to Ousefleet where we saw this greensand on the pool from the screen.

Green Sandpiper On the way back we were 'buzzed' by various dragonflies. Common chaser.

Ruddy Darter Speckled wood at rest. Usually they rest with wings open as in all of my previous photographs of this species.

Speckled Wood The scrapes were quiet but we found an attractive greenshank in good light.

Greenshank Greenshank A heron was preening but with one wing draped over its body to catch the warmth of the sun.

Grey Heron A little grebe plus chick.

Little Grebe Little Grebe A larger, great crested grebe drifted past the hide.

Great Crested Grebe A very late [juvenile, I think] avocet.

Avocet A final dragonfly and a nice butterfly image to round off the day. Common Darter?

Small Tortoiseshell Tuesday 27th August: Flamborough Failure?

Well not quite failure after looking at lots of photos we decided we had seen an icterine warbler along Old Fall hedge. Otherwise we saw spotfly and some willow warblers. Photographically it was more a case of trying to get far enough away from the butterflies as I had the 400mm lens on. Still, it worked out all right.

First red admiral photo of the year.

Red Admiral Red Admiral This wall looks quite different from the pictures in my books.

Speckled Wood It's a male from the dark sex brand running down the forewing.Wall Speckled wood.

Speckled Wood We saw the Yorkshire Belle from the cliff top. I'll look forward hopefully to a cruise this autumn...

yorkshire Belle

Wednesday 28th August: Spurn beckons again

Barry and I had a day at Spurn. We found hirundines gathering at the Warren. Not a great photo but I like it because it shows a sand martin [blurred, top right], swallows and a house martin sandwiched between the two foreground swallows. Full set!

Hirundines A barred warbler was to be released in 10 minutes. We got there!

Barred Warbler Barred Warbler The wrynecks were still present. Nice views coming up! On the rock armour...

Wryneck ...Crown & Anchor car park...

Wryneck ...roadside near Cliff Farm [all the same bird]

Wryneck Wryneck Wryneck Waders came down the Humber in a long line.

Waders On to Kilnsea Wetlands. Golden plover whirling round.

Golden Plover Golden Plover A few dunlin came close to the small hide.

Dunlin Dunlin Dunlin Dunlin A curlew drifted past over our heads. I was a bit slow to get onto it.

Curlew I'll finish with a few late butterflies. Wall.Wall Painted lady.

Painted Lady Common blue.

Common Blue Common chaser? Very red one.

Ruddy Darter Common Darter UK 252