The Kites of Nunburnholme

On Tuesday 29/11 I went back to Nunburnholme near Pocklington to see the red kite roost again. The reason for going was the prospect of really good light. I found the light not just good but magical. However first of all some more of those white pheasants - plus a normal one!

Pheasant Pheasant If you didn't know what they were you might be puzzled to see this:- Pheasant Pheasant A common buzzard was dozing in a tree. Pheasant If there's a problem with this roost site it's that the birds come in low against the very dark forest background. Red Kite But you just need a couple of birds to circle round a bit in the afternoon light...Magic! Red Kite Red Kite

Red Kite Red Kite Red Kite Red Kite Red Kite Red Kite Red Kite

Saltholme & Hartlepool Headland

I headed up to Saltholme to attend a ringing demonstration. Although the local ringing group was well organised and informative, the birds must have been forewarned as very few were trapped in the nets. Just a few blue tits and goldfinch. I did learn, however, how to sex goldfinches! I also walked out to Haverton scrub to look for the long-eared owl but it had not been located. I headed back a trifle frustrated but enjoying the fresh air. As a firm believer that no day out birding is completely disappointing, I decided to head to Hartlepool hoping something would turn up.

Off Jackson's Landing a group of red-breasted mergansers let me get close. Red-breasted Merganser Red-breasted Merganser

I wasn't disappointed! 

A raft of eider was fairly close in across from the lifeboat station. Eider As I made my way along what they call the Town Wall the eider came in closer.

Eider Curlew were on the pebbled shoreline. Curlew Curlew Curlew Curlew Curlew Lots of oystercatcher on the ground often don't make a good shot so this individual looked rather good up on a ''rock'' away from the others. Oystercatcher It began to drizzle as I headed back towards the grassy beach area if you know where I mean. I sat down on the grass and hoped some purple sandpipers might come close.

A pied wagtail came to inspect me.

Pied Wagtail The sandpipers were very restless but I got some nice views and discarded many later! Purple Sandpiper Purple Sandpiper Purple Sandpiper Purple Sandpiper Purple Sandpiper Purple Sandpiper As the light changed to a watery sun I snapped a drake eider on a concrete groin. Eider Eider

A day in Scarborough

I began down by the harbour hoping for a great northern diver. A winter 'guilly' showed nicely...

Guiilemot ...as did the returning black-necked grebe. Black-necked Grebe

At first the great northern was hiding among the marina yachts but Carl knew roughly where it was and it duly reappeared. Great Northern Diver Great Northern Diver Great Northern Diver

Great Northern Diver Great Northern Diver Great Northern Diver A red-throated diver had been seen just outside the harbour but suddenly reappeared in the middle of the main harbour. Red-throated Diver Red-throated Diver Red-throated Diver Red-throated Diver These images were very monochrome so I converted this one to black and white and increased the contrast. Red-throated Diver Last harbour shot of a great black-backed gull. Great Black-backed Gull Holbeck for possible mediterranean gulls. Any regular reader will know I can't resist snapping a med. gull. Here's a few! Mediterranean Gull Mediterranean Gull Mediterranean Gull Mediterranean Gull

Mediterranean Gull Mediterranean Gull Mediterranean Gull I rounded off my day by calling at Victoria Road as two women birders stopped to chat and told me they'd been photographing them opposite The Spa pub. They only appeared fleetingly when I called but I managed a few shots. Waxwing Waxwing

Finally, here's one I failed to notice among some rather blurred photos taken from the car last March approaching the Lochaline ferry on the A884 en route to Mull. Red Deer