19th March to 3rd April 2024
North Cave to Lockwood Beck
March 19th: North Cave, Scarborough and Bempton
Let us begin at North Cave Wetlands. Coltsfoot and a cattle egret - increasingly common at reserves these days.
Black-headed gulls.
Peregrine on the cliffs on Marine Drive, Scarborough.
Razorbill, fulmar on the cliffs at Bempton.
Kestrel near the Visitor Centre.
March 25th: Visits to Blacktoft and St. Aidan's. Marsh harrier, black-tailed godwits and garganey at Blacktoft.
Sand martins at St. Aidan's.
When I arrived one of the little owls was visible but was partly masked by wires and metalwork of Oddjob. When I returned it was more in the open.
Blackthorn blossom.
April 2nd: Tophill Low. In Search of a kingfisher... View of reception hide, chiffchaff nearby, goldeneyes.
I met a man who told me the kingfishers were nesting up at Hempholme again so I didn't turn off for North Marsh but carried on through the woodland. Petasites hybridus or Butterbur.
Fritillary growing in a damp part of the woods.
Imagine my surprise when suddenly I spotted a large brown pig! The fencing for the enclosure for the two pigs is very low and one could easily imagine the pigs are simply on the loose. However it had no interest in me and grunted along quite happily.
When a bulrush finally explodes to shed its seeds the result is reminiscent of an eruption of toffee flavoured ice cream [a bit over the top perhaps!]
I reached the hide and waited about half an hour.
Male with an all black bill.
Rather pleased with the next two shots even if the tip of the bill is missing.
Changeover time. Female with orange on the bill.
April 3rd: Kildale and Lockwood Beck
Parked at my normal spot at Kildale. Wheatear seen briefly but no sight or sound of ouzel or red grouse. Lots of meadow pipits. This one seemed quite pale.
Back in the car and two grouse flew past me then, later, on the Three Howes Rigg road approaching Lockwood Beck from the South a red grouse was walking in the road as I approached. It flew off safely.
Lockwood feeders. Bramblings, siskins and greenfinch.
I had a two hour wait for the mealy redpoll. Only seen in the cage of this one feeder. When it flew it didn't perch within view so my photos are not as I would have liked. But it was good to see a mealy redpoll.
In the kitchen window
