Albert is back!

 While I was at Blacktoft yesterday I saw a tweet informing people that a black browed albatross had been seen at Bempton. I presume that this is the same bird that was there last year. A couple from Southend on Sea visited Bempton on Tuesdaym but did not see any puffins. They were not impressed when I told that the albatross is back!

This is my picture from last year when I saw the bird fly. Today it was sat on the cliffs.

It is the 4th bird from the right with the black wings. Chris was there and he told me where to look to see the bird, He had been there for a while and was starting to feel the cold, he was waiting to see the bird in flight. I had called in on my way to Scarborough to take my granddaughter shopping, so had to leave after a short while.

After doing the shopping I went to Filey Dams.

The wind and rain was blowing into the hides so I had to choose where to sit to stay dry and warm.

Not sure if this greylag was sheltering from the wind or was on its nest.

Most of the birds were sheltering from the wind and sleet and there were no waders to be seen.

Blacktoft tomorrow.

Wintry Wednesday

 

A different kind of weather yesterday at Blacktoft. On Sunday I was able to sit on a bench outside the visitor centre and listen to a chiffchaff singing. Yesterday it was a day for sitting in front of the wood burner. The rain was obscuring the view out of all of the windows so I could only see blurry images of birds flying past.

In the intervals between the showers I managed to visit some of the hides. Marshalnd had the most birds.

Lots of teal sheltering from the wind and rain, there were over 200 teal on Ousefleet lagoon.

A grey heron thought about landing on Marshland lagoon but the avocets had other ideas.

The avocets are becoming more active and are starting to squabble with the black headed gulls for nesting sites on the islands.

A single black tailed godwit arrived at high tide.

a flock of about 30 dunlin also flew in but took off almost as soon as they landed.

a male peregrine flew over the lagoon which I presume caused the birds to fly off. Two oystercatchers arrived.

A chiffchaff was singing from a tree near Xerox hide.

Mostly greylag and canada geese on Singleton lagoon.

Smart looking pochards on Townend lagoon.

 

3 snipe were on the waters edge

A bumble bee was feeding on the willow

Lets hope for better weather on Friday.

Bridlington and Flamborough

 A day out with my wife and her younger sister. Bridlington was our first stop where we were lucky enough to be able to hire a chalet. This was a stroke of good luck as we had somewhere to shelter during the many showers of rain.

I had a walk to the harbour. Lots of redshank on the harbour wall.

On the grass in front of the chalet, turnstones were feeding.

The tide was coming in which allowed birds to get a bit closer, On the sea I saw a red throated diver, a red breasted merganser, a great crested grebe and several cormorants. On the shore line sanderlings were runnng along.

After we handed the chalet key back we drove to Flamborough.

guillemots, gannets and eiders were flying south. On the cliffs were razorbills

kittiwakes were on the sea and cliffs

lots of seals were on the beach

Mothers Day at Blacktoft.

 

First of three days at Blacktoft this week. A bit misty in the morning but after lunch the cloud gave way to sunshine.

Avocets at Marshland and Ousefleet along with blacktailed godwits and dunlin. Teal were the most numerous duck with about equal numbers of wigeon, shoveler and shelducks. Marsh harriers were active. One male caught a vole and did a food pass with his partner, while others were sky diving over the main reed bed, 7 of them at the same time. At least 5 cettis warblers singing, and several visitors managed to get a glimpse of one as it flew across a footpath.

A water vole was active in front of the reception hide.

A very pleasant day, lets hope for good weather on Wednesday and perhaps a garganey!

Rawcliffe Lake

 Taxi duties took to this part of York this morning, so I decided to explore the area.

Sensible advice on what to feed the birds. Shame that there is no notice about stopping your children and dogs from chasing the ducks and geese. Oh for a white tailed eagle to swoop down on them!

Signs of spring 

As I slowly walked anti clockwise around the lake, I met another birder. We both spent some time watching the 7 goosander that were present on the lake.

The birds swam slowly around the edge of the lake diving for food on a regular basis. They did not come too close to the path due to the number of people.

2 pairs of bullfinches were active in some trees behind us.

A grey heron was in the wildlife refuge area and watched the goosnaders swim past.

High above us a chiffchaff was singing.

As I walked along the path I heard and saw other birds, a robin and several house sparrows.

A pleasant 90 minutes in the sunshine.