Little auk at Scarborough

 I started at Filey this morning, hoping to see a little auk, as several were reported yesterday.

Very picturesque but no sign of any birds.

Scarborough Harbour was my next stop. I parked my car on the Marine Drive, and as I walked towards the harbour I saw 3 little auks flying north. Although the tide was going out, there was still lots of water in the harbour but sadly no sign of any birds.

As I walked across one of the bridges in the harbour, I came across a small group of turnstones, sheltering from the wind.

Several cormorants swimming about in the harbour near the boats and this one was busy preening.

Shortly after taking this photograph I noticed a little auk in the middle of the harbour. I took a chance and walked towards the town end of the harbour and luckily for me it continued to swim in that direction.

Not the best of light conditions, but I was pleased to see the bird, as it was my 200th species of the year.

A ray of sunlight broke through the clouds and the bird became a silhouette and I lost the bird. As I walked back to my car, I saw several little auks flying north. I decided to go to Filey Dams, and on my way stopped in Sea Cliff Road Car Park. I have stopped here several times recently in the hope of seeing a Mediterranean gull, but once again no luck.

Heavy rain showers at the Dams plus the wind was blowing straight through the windows, so I did not stay long. Lots of canada geese, teal and herring gulls, with a few mallard sheltering under the vegetation at the waters edge.

 A short visit to the country park was rewarded with a group of oystercatchers  busily probing the soft grass for food. More rain showers, so I drove home.