Roughing it!

Saturday 25th October

I got up ultra early and was in the seawatch hide at the Warren, Spurn, for 7am. Plenty of people there. I spent a merry couple of hours watching but failed to see any of my real targets. Nice group of 13 whoopers went south low and quite close, little gulls and a few duck but nothing really exciting. A peregrine showed well outside the hide later and, on my drive back to Easington saw more whoopers and a fair number of brent geese. The black brant was not too  hard to pick out in the fields just north of Kilnsea Wetlands. 

I headed for Grindale in the hope of seeing a rough-legged buzzard that had been reported on the road between Grindale and Bridlington. A couple of cars parked at the side of the road in the middle of nowhere in particular made me slow to a crawl as I assessed what might be going on. At that moment a large bird of prey began to hover over the hedge about 20m in front of Tiggy. Rough-legged buzzard. I crept low out of the car, got the camera and...well... have a look!

Rough-legged Buzzard Rough-legged Buzzard Rough-legged Buzzard Rough-legged Buzzard Rough-legged Buzzard Rough-legged Buzzard Rough-legged Buzzard Rough-legged Buzzard

Sunday 26th October

Barry and I headed off to Blacktoft for the afternoon. A redshank dropped in to Marshland.

Redshank

There were lots of little grebes about.

Little Grebe

The konik ponies were very active.

'I wish someone'd do something about this fringe!'

Konik Pony

Pinkfeet flew overhead.

Greylag Geese

A few pheasants were by the path to Singleton.

Pheasant

Marsh harriers entertained us at Townend.

Marsh Harrier Marsh Harrier

Finally a male stonechat gave the day a colourful conclusion!

Stonechat Stonechat

257 UK 2014