Yorkshire

We started our Yorkshire week with a quick visit to Potteric Carr YWT. A few Orange Tips, Brimstones & Peacocks were on the wing around the reserve. From the hides we also saw the usual Wildfowl & Little Grebes, but not the star bird: the Black-necked Grebe. We then made our way to the lovely cottage we were staying in at Flamborough.

Brimstone [Male]

Orange Tip [Male]

Peacock

Bempton Cliffs RSPB 23rd April 2022

Our first full day in Yorkshire, began with a morning visit to Bempton Cliffs RSPB to look for the Black-browed Albatross. Unfortunately when we got to Staple Newk viewpoint, it was reported to have been seen flying out to sea & later past Flamborough Head. The Gannets, Fulmars, Common Guillemots, Razorbills, Puffins were all present around the viewpoint. Tree Sparrows were seen by the feeding station with a Male Common Pheasant.

Tree Sparrow [Adult]

We went to Filey Dams YWT to look for some Garganey. We eventually saw the pair from East Hide but still a little bit distant. We also heard some Tree Sparrows. We then went to Filey Country Park which overlooks Filey Brigg. Unlike at Filey Dams, we saw some Tree Sparrows in full view rather than just hearing the call.

Yorkshire
22nd April - 29th April

Our next port of call was Thornwick Pool. A Red Fox crept in along the bank & watched the ducks before going to sleep. A Female Goldeneye & Male Eurasian Wigeon were star Ducks viewable from the hide. A couple of Pied Wagtails foraged along the bank. The best highlight of the day was a Little Ringed Plover. A few Linnets were calling near the car park.

Bempton Cliffs RSPB

Gannet [Adult]

Garganey [Pair]

Filey Brigg

Tree Sparrow [Adult]

Tree Sparrow [Adult]

Little Ringed Plover [Adult]

Red Fox [Adult]

We went back to Bempton Cliffs RSPB in the early evening. The Tree Sparrows showed very well by the Visitor Centre. From Staple Newk Viewpoint the Common Guillemots, Razorbills, Puffins, Gannets, Kittiwakes & Fulmars were still present around the cliffs, but no sign of the Black-browed Albatross that evening.

Pied Wagtail [Male Summer]

Linnet [Female]

Kittiwake [Adult Summer]

Razorbill [Adult Summer]

Fulmar [Adult]

Fulmar [Adult]

Gannet [Flock]

Gannet [Adult]

Yorkshire

North Cave Wetlands YWT & Burton Agnes 24th April 2022

We went to North Cave Wetlands YWT. A Male Blackcap was singing near the carpark. A couple of Blackbirds were also seen near the carpark. Plenty of Orange Tips were on the wing. First Large Red Damselfly & Green-veined White of the year were seen. A Reed Warbler was singing & showed well at times from the Turret Hide. From the Crosslands Hide dozens of Sand Martins flew across the lake & a couple of Ruff were coming into Summer Plumage. We headed back towards Flamborough via Burton Agnes. We saw 3 Grey Partridges, 4 Brown Hare & 2 Red-legged Partridges in the roadside fields.

Blackcap [Male]

Orange Tip [Female]

Large Red Damselfly

Reed Warbler [Male]

Grey Partridge [Pair]

Red-legged Partridge [Pair]

Brown Hare [Pair]

Brown Hare [Adult]

Flamborough & Bempton Cliffs RSPB 25th April 2022

A Roe Deer was feeding near the garden of the cottage where were staying, in the early morning. We had a walk along the coast from North Landing. The birds seen included Linnets, Goldfinches, Carrion Crows, Rooks, Jackdaws, Kittiwakes, Razorbills, Common Guillemots, Fulmars, Greylag Geese, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks & Herring Gulls. Sadly the Hooded Crow that had been present for a few days wasn't seen.

North Landing

Roe Deer [Male]

Linnet [Female]

Common Guillemot [Adult Summer]

Razorbill [Adult Summer]

There was a good number of Grey Seals on the beach at Flamborough Head. Gannets flew past the headland, as did the Razorbills & Common Guillemots. From the carpark we had a brief view of a Barn Owl out hunting along the cliff. In the roadside fields along the approach road were a couple of Roe Deer.

Another visit to Bempton Cliffs RSPB in the evening. A few Brown Hares were seen in the fields. Another Barn Owl made an all too brief appearance hunting over the cliffs. From one of the viewpoints, we had a good view of a Puffin perched on the cliff. A Corn Bunting was singing & showed well in the evening gloom.

Meadow Pipit [Adult]

Skylark [Adult]

Kittiwake [Pair Summer]

Flamborough Head

Flamborough Head with Seals on the beach

Grey Seals

Grey Seal

Barn Owl [Adult]

Roe Deer [Male]

Roe Deer [Male]

Brown Hare [Adult]

Barn Owl [Adult]

Bran Owl [Adult]

Puffin [Adult Summer]

Blacktoft Sands RSPB & Bempton Cliffs RSPB 26th April 2022

In the morning, the Tree Sparrows were feeding on one of the bird feeders in the garden of our cottage. We headed to Blacktoft Sands RSPB. A couple of Roe Deer crossed over the road at Swinefleet. We had to go on a diversion, as the road to the reserve was closed due to road works in progress. When we arrived at the reserve, we went straight to the far end of the reserve. For this reason; a few Whimbrel had dropped in to feed up, before continuing their migration. The birds were seen in the field with the Koniks. We found the field but no Whimbrel. We went to the Marshland Hide, where a Common Redshank in full breeding plumage showed very well & a couple of Avocets were at the back of the lake. One of the Tree Sparrows was seen & was calling on top of the Xerox Hide. A Male Marsh Harrier flew past the hide & later was seen from First Hide with a Female. A couple of Little Grebes & Male Common Pheasant showed from the hide, but not much else. We had to leave Blacktoft Sands RSPB early, as a report of the Black-browed Albatross came in & said it was back at Bempton Cliffs RSPB.

Tree Sparrow [Adult]

We went straight to Staple Newk viewpoint to find Gannets, Common Guillemots, Puffins, Razorbills, Kittiwakes & Fulmars. The Albatross had disppeared, strange thing was nobody seem to know where it went. We had an explore around the other viewpoints. I spotted Double Square-spot Caterpillar crossing the path. We had close encounters with some Razorbills, and Gannets were collecting grass to line their nest. A Male Linnet was singing on the fence.

Koniks

Common Redshank [Adult Summer]

Tree Sparrow [Adult]

Marsh Harrier [Male]

Common Pheasant [Male]

Gannet [Adult]

Gannet [Pair]

Puffin [Adult Summer]

Gannet [Adult]

Gannet [Adult]

Razorbill [Adult Summer]

Linnet [Male]

Bempton Cliffs RSPB 27th April 2022

On this visit to Bempton Cliffs RSPB, we went early in the morning & we managed to see the Black-browed Albatross flying around the viewpoint at Staple Newk.

At this point my camera failed so we changed the body to dads, only to find a few minutes later it failed again. Which meant the lens was at fault, fortunately I had my old lens with me, so I used that. All ok, I was able to take some photos before it flew out to sea, where it did a bit of bathing.

We went back to the cottage for lunch & popped back in the afternoon. The Albatross continued to fly around Staple Newk. It landed briefly on a rock near the viewpoint for a second, before being seen off by one of the Gannets. As before, it was seen flying out to sea & lost to view. A couple of Kittiwakes were having a fight below another viewpoint. A Male Common Pheasant was seen near the Visitor Centre.

Bempton Cliffs RSPB

Black-browed Alabatross[Adult]

Black-browed Albatross [Adult]

Common Guillemot [Adult Summer]

Gannet [Adult]

Black-browed Albatross [Adult]

Black-browed Albatross [Adult] Headless Gannet in front.

Puffin [Adult Summer]

Kittiwake [Pairs Summer]

North Yorkshire Moors 28th April 2022

A Rabbit was seen in the cottage garden that morning. We went to Filey Country Park to look for Short-eared Owl & Ring Ouzel, but sadly saw neither. A couple of Skylarks foraged in the long grass. We headed up to the North Yorkshire Moors & Goathland Moor was the first one we explored. A Lapwing pair had 3 newly hatched chicks. A Curlew & a few Red Grouse were of note.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway were running 3 trains. No 80136 set off from Goathland for Pickering. A Stock Dove was perched on the wire. More Red Grouse was seen & unusually on the moor was a single Grey Partridge. A few Meadow Pipits called and perched on the heather. We headed for the pretty location of Darnholm, where we saw another train bound for Pickering headed by 5428 Eric Tracey and 63395 headed for Grosmont tender first. On Newton Moor were a couple of Stonechat & a couple of Red Grouse. We then finished the day at Levisham Station with 63395 on the last train of the day for Pickering. On our last evening, a Bank Vole paid a visit to the cottage garden.

Red Grouse [Male]

Rabbit [Adult]

Skylark [Adult]

Lapwing Chick

Curlew [Adult]

80136 at Goathland

Red Grouse [Female]

Red Grouse [Male]

Grey Partridge [Female]

Meadow Pipit [Adult]

Red Grouse [Male]

5428 Eric Tracey at Darnholm

63395 at Levisham

Bank Vole [Adult]

Spurn 29th April 2022

We start our final day in Yorkshire at Sammy's Point, Spurn to look for Ring Ouzel. We saw 3 birds in the first paddock, 2 Males & a Female. We put in a bit of time there & managed to get better views of the Males, the Female always remained distant. A few Fieldfares were also feeding up, before heading back to their breeding grounds in Scandinavia. A couple of Common Whitethroats were calling & singing near the carpark.

We popped to Kilnsea Wetlands YWT. The Spoonbill was still present at the back of the wetlands. It spent most of our visit asleep only waking up briefly to preen it's feathers. A few Dark-bellied Brent Geese were feeding in the fields & flew over to the wetlands. Although one of them looked darker, we couldn't make it a Black Brant. At the time of our visit, the Black Brant was still out on the Humber Estuary with the other Dark-bellied Brent Geese. Dad & I saw 3 Whimbrel feeding in the field while backe at the car, Mum was watching a Kestrel feeding on a post. It was a great week and I look forward to going again soon.

Ring Ouzel & Fieldfare

Ring Ouzel [Male]

Fieldfare [Adult]

Ring Ouzel [Male]

Eurasian Spoonbill [Adult Summer]

Dark-bellied Brent Geese

Common Whitethroat [Male]