20th August 2018 ff
Thrice lucky at Fairburn!
I saw my first ever cattle egret at Fairburn Ings a good number of years ago and I've seen a few elsewhere since including Tophill Low, Marshside and Burton Marsh. Last year I saw one at Fairburn again so this year's bird is my third at Fairburn. Spoonbill Flash this time - August 20th
Initially the bird played hide and seek among some highland cattle.
From the tin can hide spoonbills flashed past over Spoonbill Flash as they are eponymously supposed to!
South Gare mixture
September 1st
Sheila and I headed up to Redcar to try and see the pomarine skua that has been hanging around thereabouts. On arrival I spotted the bird out over the dunes towards the low tide reefs. Then it landed on the beach giving great views in the scope. We set off across the sand but by the time we got there it had been 'dogged off' as we feared might happen. Sheila tackled the complex rock scramble to reach the breakwater and we headed down to the far end reassured by people saying the bird had been giving close views.
Here's the story in pictures...
Oystercatchers and bar-tailed godwits down on the beach...demonstrating depth of field of my camera settings!
Kittiwake on the breakwater - quite confiding, a genuine frame filler!
There were roseate terns flying around too.
First views of the pomarine skua were well out on the sea.
The pom was joined by an arctic skua - nice comparison shots. They flew off heading south: the arctic kept going but the pom swung back towards us...
Excitement grew as the bird kept coming closer...
Final views on the water as the wind carried it slowly further out.
A great afternoon's birding!