My plans for Tuesday were changed so I had some spare time to go birding. Due to the roadworks in various parts of York I decided to head west and go to Staveley. For a change I was able to find a space in the car park.
Not a lot of birds on view from the first hide. I was surprised to see a family of mute swans, about this time of year the adults usually have chased the cygnets away. A couple of goldeneye were with some tufted ducks.
Similar story from the next two hides, although there were a few birds using the feeders at the 3rd hide.
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As I walked to the fourth hide on the other side of the reserve I passed a group of volunteers who had come to help with maintenance work on the reserve.
A lot more birds here. Greylag and canada geese. Cormorants, lapwings, shovelers, teal. mallard. wigeon, great crested grebe etc. My list for the visit totalled 41 different birds.
According to the weather forecast I saw. Thursday was supposed to be a reasonable day so I set off for the coast. Scarborough harbour was my first stop at 0830.
It was cold and very windy.
High tide was not until 1pm, so I was hoping that there were some divers in the harbour. I managed to see two almost straight away.
The younger great northern diver came much closer than the adult, which was a shame as the adult still had some of its striking summer plumage.
Just outside the entrance to the harbour. shags and cormorants were fishing
It was windy in the harbour, I could hardly stand when I walked along the sea wall, and only just managed to get a picture of this cormorant
I do think that they look a bit like reptiles! Some purple sandpipers were trying to stay out of the wind and spray.
After a couple of hours I decided to go to Filey. The adult great northern diver was out in the bay and there was no sign of a black throated diver. Just as I was leaving this red throated diver appeared.
This turnstone came along to show of its leg rings!
It was still very windy as I walked along the top of Carr Naze. Not too many people about which gave me a chance to get some photos of the 3 female snow buntings.
The birds were feeding in the long grass and then would appear on the path before going back into the grass. I tried to find the twite and lapland bunting that had been reported earlier without any success so went to Filey Dams.
Like most places the water level is high, so no sign of waders. Grey herons were standing on the edge of the lagoon
A family of long tailed tits were just outside the central hide.
The male teal looked smart in afternoon sunshine.
Then it started to rain so I drove home.
My hospital appointment for Monday has now been cancelled, will the weather be good enough for me to go out birding. Like other birders I am finding it difficult to reach 200 species this year. Granted hospital appointments and family commitments have reduced the time available. So from my list of possibilities which 7 birds, if any can I see?
corn bunting, twite, redpoll, red grouse, jack snipe, black-throated diver, glaucous gull, shorelark, little auk, long eared owl.
Roll on Monday.
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