15-22 February 2015
A fairly quiet week at my office...
15th-22nd February
Eleven year ticks since my last post [including surf scoter adult male, skylark, black-bellied dipper, waxwing, black swan, taiga bean goose; woodcock] but not a lot of success photographically speaking.
Sunday 15th February
Early on we called at Forge Valley and put out seed. We saw nuthatch and then at Hackness Lake a group of about 6 mandarin. Grindale turned up the rough-legged buzzard within a few minutes. At Filey the surf scoter was great but [wisely as it turned out] I didn't take my camera down onto the Brigg which is good as I fell spectacularly on a slippery rock! Later that day we went to Buckton looking for SEO for Barry in unsuitable conditions. I took some shots of the seabirds and we saw skylarks but no owls.
Razorbill
Guillemot
Gannet
Gannets in flight are relatively easy from Bempton. Auks are more of a challenge... guillemot
Guillemot
Tuesday 17th February
A quick trip to Loscoe Lake near Normanton [wrongly 'advertised' as Normy Lake!] to see the american wigeon - a success but the yank was a bit skittish and distant for a photo. Then we drove to Flamborough for some quality geese - which we failed to locate. On the way home we dropped in on the black-bellied dipper.
Black-bellied dipper
Black-bellied Dipper
Thursday 19th February
During the week we had several views of a solitary waxwing on Beckfield Lane, York - about 200 yards from home. This year that was a very good sighting given the scarcity of waxwings. Barry and I went north on the Thursday and saw a taiga bean goose with pinkfeet. I don't mean the bean goose had pink feet!! We also saw my second green-winged teal of the year at Dorman's pool.
In Ward Jackson Park, Hartlepool we photographed goosanders and tufted ducks.
Goosander
Tufted Duck
Meanwhile back at home Sheila was photographing our new but increasingly regular garden visitor...
Pheasant
Later that day we set off on the Greatham Creek walk in the hope of a spotshank for Barry. We didn't need to walk far.
Spotted Redshank
Spotted Redshank
Saturday 21st February
After a trip on the Kirklees Light Railway...
Kirklees Light Railway
Kirklees Light Railway
A couple of videos too!
Kirklees Light Railway
Kirklees Light Railway
...Sheila and I went north to Nosterfield to see the Flask Lake starling murmuration. It was pretty impressive too.
Starlings
Sunday 22nd February
Another fruitless wild goose chase to Flamborough. One pinkfoot but no white-fronted geese seen. Woodcock seen and photoed at South Landing made my day!
Woodcock
Other attempts to locate key birds failed in worsening weather. Holbeck did hold a very tame med. gull. It had no intention of taking to the air however close I got. Uncropped...
Mediterranean Gull
Mediterranean Gull