From Saltholme to North Lincolnshire to Scarborough

January 13th: a quiet day bird-wise due to the aggressive wind. Highlight for me was the pale Spotted Redshank seen next to a group of common redshanks in a howling gale - I could barely hold the scope still on the Salterns.

Only photo of any merit was a single waxwing at Saltholme visitor centre, just right of the main door! January 14th: Westwoodside for very distant Bewick's swans. These whoopers were in a nearby field. From there we headed to Pugney's CP near Wakefield. A glaucous gull was on the reserve lake. As was this lesser black-backed gull. We hung around in case the reported Iceland gull dropped in as it tends to do late afternoon. It did and I can understand how a Kumlien's type has also been reported. Were there two birds or was the same bird being reported by some as Iceland and by others as Kumlien's? I don't know. A bit dark for Iceland but by then the light was poor. Record shots of the gull as it was in the middle of the main lake. January 15th: 3 birds in Scarborough

A very good day.

I began by walking along Marine Drive [free parking till 28/2] looking for fulmars. Any white blobs were checked. Never saw one but whilst looking I found these two by pure chance. They put on a great flying display landing in various places. I tried to get some flight shots but no luck. However one or two of the perched shots are really pleasing.

Harbour next. I soon found the great northern diver just outside the harbour. Whereupon it swam in giving nice close views.

It caught something tasty! The morsel is half way down its throat! I spotted what I thought was a cormorant by the marina access ramp near the Luna Park. Looking more closely I realised it was a young shag! And it was happy to be the centre of attention! 
 

Favourite shot! 124 UK 2019