Can you have too much of a good thing?

55 days ago I first saw this bird...

Barry and I headed north early to Skinningrove hoping to make contact again with the eastern black redstart or to see for the first time for Barry. Not to disappoint, the bird was preening from the stone wall. Eastern Black Redstart Some fluffing up of feathers today in the strengthening wind. Eastern Black Redstart Eastern Black Redstart Eastern Black Redstart Eastern Black Redstart Eastern Black Redstart Eastern Black Redstart Eastern Black Redstart Eastern Black Redstart Eastern Black Redstart Eastern Black Redstart Fulmars were still on the cliffs. Fulmar Stonechat seen too. Eastern Black Redstart Eastern Black Redstart Barry spotted a nice group of waders I had completely missed. Sanderlings Sanderlings

Eventually the rising tide caught my shoes and drove the waders to seek another place. Sanderlings Sanderlings Sanderlings Sanderlings We moved on to Saltholme to walk to Haverton for the long-eared owl. Very distant but we saw it!

Long-eared Owl

On the walk back we were surrounded by some friendly sheep. One in particular stood his ground while I chatted to it! Picture title: the Sheep Whisperer!

Picture © Barry Bishop Chris at Salthilme

Part One of my album of my best bits of 2016 will appear spontaneously at 7a.m. on Christmas Day!

Too close to focus!

Sheila and I went to Scarborough on Monday. After lunch we walked along Marine Drive spotting auks and a red-throated diver quite easily on a flat calm sea. Razorbill Razorbill Razorbill Razorbill Razorbill Red-throated Diver But before lunch we went to Peasholm Park to see another bird...

It came within three feet of us and was quite clearly very curious to weigh us up! An unbelievable encounter.  Red-throated Diver Red-throated Diver Red-throated Diver Red-throated Diver Red-throated Diver Red-throated Diver Red-throated Diver Red-throated Diver Red-throated Diver Red-throated Diver Red-throated Diver Red-throated Diver

Opportunist birding

December 15th: Seaton Snook and thereabouts!

I planned to go look for twite but the pager having announced a sizable flock of waxwings at Norton Grange [Billingham] Barry and I headed there first. The light was mediocre at best. I tried a few flight shots and would probably have been pleased with the results if the sun had shone... Waxwing Waxwing Waxwing We headed off to Seaton Snook. At the car park I spotted a pair of male stonechats. Stonechat Stonechat

On our walk out to the estuary twite were seen along with a mix of other species on the water. Twite The twite weren't easy to approach. This shot is cropped from the same standpoint as the one above:- Twite

The next two photos were from a closer position before they flew off across towards South Gare. Twite Twite

We only planned a short outing and at this time of year the light soon fails - or never gets going at all!!

Saturday 17th December: Swillington Ings and Welwick Saltmarsh

Again Barry and I headed out for the day. We began at Swillington Ings and walked round the peripheral path. Quite early on we saw a group of 3 pintail and a goldeneye. Pintail Goldeneye Goldeneye Also seen were reed buntings... Reed Bunting ...and shovelers... Shoveler

...and a great crested grebe. Great Crested Grebe

At Welwick we dipped on the pallid harrier but enjoyed good views of sparring short-eared owls plus marsh harrier, hen harrier and a few other more everyday birds.

Marsh harrier and mute swan. Marsh Harrier Mute Swan The Queen of Holderness [St. Patrick's Church - Grade I listed gothic] from the saltmarsh. St. Patrick's, Patrington

The light was rather good for a change - as long as the birds were coming from the right direction as the sun was soon low in the sky. Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Short-eared Owl A robin bade us farewell in the fading afternoon light. Robin