18th June - 25th June 2014
A birder's week...
Wednesday June 18th
The day began with an early start for Redcar Stray, by the cafe, hopefully to see a black scoter. Not a lifer [seen at Llanfairfechan a few years ago] but a very rare duck nonetheless. Signs were promising when I arrived and I soon had a sighting only to lose track of the bird as the waves rose and fell or the birds dived. Anyway I gradually became accustomed to picking it from the midst of the raft on the seaward side [where it seemed to prefer to be]. The digiscopers had their day as far as photos were concerned.
I drove the short distance to South Gare. En route I spotted some opium poppies papaver somniferum on waste ground. Apparently in our climate [currently!] little of the active chemical is produced... They were rather splendid...double pinks...
...and single reds.
While photographing the poppies I spotted a cinnabar moth flying around. I hadn't photographed one before only the similar burnet moths. Here's a cinnabar.
Next stop: Greatham Creek to look for orchids and butterflies. A pyramid orchid was by the roadside on the bridge.
I saw many meadow brown butterflies and a few common blues. A female common blue posed for me...
...as did another cinnabar moth.
The marsh orchids on the stony ground were going over...
...as were a pair of angry avocets!
In the shelter of a bush I did find a nice northern marsh orchid still in flower.
This pale spike looks more like a common spotted.
A pied wagtail kept an eye on me.
A pair of mute swans had 3 cygnets.
More orchids in top condition were found in the dip just south of the road bridge as I made my way back.
On the way home I called at Sutton Bank to look for their turtle doves [2nd attempt!] without luck but did discover another feeding station which was apparently the one they [a pair] visit.
Thursday June 19th
Sheila and I went late morning to Wykeham raptor watchpoint. No sign of turtle doves there nor for that matter of any honey buzzards. One possible goshawk was seen: definitely not a buzzard. A peregrine flew over too.
There were a few common spotted at the viewpoint.
Saturday 21st June
Sheila spotted this amusing sight: wood duck with wood pigeon! Making friends.
Sunday 22nd June: The Farne Islands
Decided to try for the bridled tern. Whatever happened, the weather was set fair and I hoped for some nice images. I just missed the tern but otherwise I had a wonderful day, visiting Staple Island as well as Inner Farne. I'll start with the trip out to the islands...the party of of guillemots soon dived out of sight...
I tried to photograph the guillemots as they flew past using my 150-500mm Sigma lens that I take on boat trips.
Surprise! It's a razorbill. Puffins soon made their appearance.
When they are taking off the guillemots seem to run on the water.
As we approached Staple Island and the boat's engine was cut the birds seemed less anxious and swam close by [fish in bill].
First views on Staple Island.
The shags.
I expect dinosaurs made a nest like that. They do look prehistoric, especially the youngster!
More shags later.
'I'm not a tourist. I live here!!'
Fulmars and kittiwakes were nesting too.
It's puffin time. I spent a long time on Staple Island [you get two and a half hours on the all day bird cruise] trying to get flight pics of these charismatic little brothers. At some spots you can get really close!
Time for something else. Fancy a shag?
Sometimes the parent regurgitates the food straight into the youngster's throat. No it's not trying to eat its young. But it did look rather gruesome!
Guillemots. A ranger pointed out the very rare orange-billed guillemot.
Spot the chick and 2 bridled birds in the above photo?
More guillemots.
Unbridled beauty!
Bridled beauty. I like the bridled variety. Apparently, a ranger said, 5% of the Farne birds are bridled.
We left Staple Island to motor round Longstone Island and Grace Darling's lighthouse. She's still flashing!
Eider flew past. Grey seals watched us with mild amusement, I feel.
Shags, lesser black-backs, oystercatchers and razorbill.
Eventually we reached Inner Farne - about 20 minutes after the bridled tern left. It left a note: 'Gone fishing!'
I happily watched the arctic terns and suffered their attacks. It must have been a sensitive time in their breeding season as they were especially aggressive! One chap's head had more than just a peck!
When mating one pair seemed to show a degree of affection - or am I romanticising? Nice image though...
I like to photograph the sandwich terns as they hover over the nest area on Inner Farne.
It was time to leave. I took a few more sandwich terns from the jetty.
At sea we passed an eider creche.
Monday June 23rd
Sheila drove me up to Saltholme. To cut a long story short I saw the Temminck's stint but Sheila had to walk back from where her car was parked and missed the bird because it was flushed [or trodden on] by the belted cattle that all trendy reserves seem to have these days!
I photographed a pipit and a black-tailed skimmer dragonfly.
Later we called at Sutton Bank to look for the turtle doves. Five minutes before closing time Sheila said she was going back to the car. I was watching the feeder station from inside the shop. She said 'You won't see them now.' I did. They came! Brilliant!
Thursday 2th June
Adwick Wetlands near Old Moor for green sandpiper. Nice lapwing portrait.
No green sandpiper luck but tracked one down at Wombwell Ings. Passed a butterfly sunning himself on the path.
The End!
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