Stunning Med's and the Big G......23.02.13.

Adult male Mediterranean Gull.

Adult female Mediterranean Gull.

Adult Female Mediterranean Gull.

Adult female Mediterranean Gull.

Adult male Mediterranean Gull.

Distant record shot of female Goshawk.

Distant record shot of Female Goshawk and Carrion Crow.

Male Yellowhammer.

Day two of my four days off,saw Chris and myself heading for the superb Scarborough area for a cracking days birding.On our journey over the wolds we saw a Peregrine near Langtoft as it began to get light,a nice start to the days bird sightings.We arrived in dull conditions at Marine Drive to the sound of displaying Fulmars and we watched as they wheeled around their cliff top home as we got our gear together.These birds are always the first of the cliff top nesters to arrive back to their spring and summer homes,a great sight to see.Also here were the expected pair of resident Peregrines,showing their aerial prowess as usual,as like the Fulmars,surveying their coastal kingdom and a single Red-throated Diver winged its way past north over the sea.We then made our way down to the harbour area seeing a few Rock Pipits on route and then visited the Harbour view cafe for the biggest fryup i have had in a long time.....but it was brilliant!.After the monster brekkie we had a brief look around the harbour,but as it was low tide nothing of note was seen so we made our way back to the car and headed over to Holbeck for the Med's.On arrival at Holbeck all the gulls were down on the beach,but unbelievably just after throwing some bread on the grass we were suddenly surrounded and treated to superb close views of at least 5 adult and 2 2nd winter Med's.Three of the adults were starting to acquire their stunning black hoods now and one of the 2nd winter birds was starting its moult into 2nd summer plumage.They gave some superb views and one of the adults,a male was displaying to the others with much strutting around and head throw back display,great to watch and fairly comical as he chased the females without much success.It was also interesting to note the distinct size difference between the male and female birds as they were observed side by side.We managed to get some decent images,but the light was dire,but it was great entertainment watching these beauties.By this time it was 11'o clock and we made our journey over to our second site of the day.As we arrived the weather began to break and we saw the first sun of the day and enjoyed some welcome warmth.After parking up we got the gear together and walked to our fave spot to scan the valley and forest,seeing along the road a lovely male Yellowhammer,which glowed in the sun,with his yellow head like a beacon,stunning!.It wasn't long before we saw our first Goshawks of the day,when firstly 1 male and then 2 were seen in the air together,displaying and sparring,the no doubt resident male seeing off his intruder after much chasing.After a false alarm of a Jay perfectly mimicking a Goshawk,a female was heard calling and after a short while appeared out of the forest to perch in full view in a dead larch,she was receiving some unwanted attention from a pair of Carrion Crows,but they stayed their respect full distance,this was brilliant,although too far for the camera,but great through the scope,but better was to come.She was flushed from her perch by a farm vehicle and disappeared,before reappearing on another Larch at the very top of it,calling her head off,attempting to get some attention from her mate,she then flew again and landed partially hidden,but every so often we would get a glimpse of her head and to our amazement she was then joined by the male,2 Goshawks,and a pair perched together,this was amazing viewing!!.These birds really take some beating and what a privilege to watch,the best views i have had yet of perched birds.Other raptors seen included at least 6 Common Buzzard,3 at the eastern end of the valley and 3 at the western end and a single female Sparrowhawk.No Crozzers or Siskin were seen today,but a north bound flock of 80 Redwing passed over the valley and 3 Mistle Thrush were seen close by.Another fantastic day out in this stunning part of the world.

Tophill re-visited....16.02.2013.

Grey Heron,North marsh.

The 'Unusual' Common Buzzard.

Goldeneye,'D' Res.

Snowdrops.

Hempholme Lock and the River Hull.

Hempholme Lock and the River Hull.

Redhead Smew,Watton NR.

Lesser Redpoll,North Lagoon.

Lesser Redpoll,North Lagoon.

A full day out today with Chris,saw us making another visit to the superb Tophill Low near Watton village in East Yorkshire and it again paid dividends with some excellent birding and wildlife watching on offer.On arrival along the approach road we saw a single Barn Owl perched along a hawthorn hedgerow,probably the same bird as on my last visit and 3 Brown Hare were on the fields.After purchasing our day permits,we decided to make our way to D-res hide first to see if there was a remote chance the drake Ring-necked Duck may have reappeared.After much scanning of the res all we could find was the Lesser Scaup type hybrid still with his Tufted Duck buddies,3 Pintail(2m,1f) and 54 Goldeneye.As we left D hide the weather was beginning to brighten up at last and as we made our way around to North marsh it was positively spring like with much birdsong and good numbers of Snowdrops on show.North marsh was as productive as ever,with the only birds of note an adult Grey Heron flying along the river and 4 Redpoll.Hempholme Lock was our next destination and by this time it was wall to wall sunshine,with more signs of spring here including singing Skylarks and displaying Lapwings.Another Barn Owl was watched hunting along the nearby meadow and a couple of Common Buzzard took advantage of the available thermals,this included the unusually marked adult which is often seen in the area and 3 drake Goldeneye were on the river here.Mammal interest here,as on my last visit,included Roe deer,with only one seen on this occasion,always nice to see.As we made our way back towards the car park,a juvenile type Marsh Harrier flew steadily west,a nice addition to the days bird sightings.After taking off a few layers and a chance meeting with our friend Martin,we all headed for 'O' res after a local birder had found a Great-northern Diver.After much initial scanning we all eventually connected with it,but it wasn't an easy bird to observe as it constantly dived for food,the first record here since 2002 and a great bonus for us on our visit today.The reservoir was carpeted with Wigeon and we managed to see the Leucistic bird which has been around along with at least 6 Pintail and a good number of Teal also.The final area we looked at was the excellent Watton Borrow Pits reserve and there were lesser numbers of wildfowl here than on previous visits,but we did manage to see the Redhead Smew which flew in and preened,before heading for the bankside to rest.Also here were 46 Curlew and further signs of spring in the form of a pair of Oystercatcher and 3 Common Buzzard soared over the surrounding farmland.As we made our way back to the car park a small flock of about 20 Lesser Redpoll were encountered feeding on the roadside and in the roadside alders,giving superb views and allowing some opportunities to obtain some images.There were a few interesting individuals,but on studying the images were probably just Lesser type variations,not the easiest of subjects at the best of times.So what a great days birding this cracking reserve provided us with today and i doubt it will be long before we are back again,a big thanks to Catkin for driving.

Tophill Low goodies.....

Record shot of 2nd calendar year Drake Ring-necked Duck.

Record shot of Woodcock.

After hearing that a 2nd calendar year Drake Ring-necked Duck has been present at this cracking Yorkshire Water reserve i decided to pop over for it today despite the dodgy forecast.As i neared the reserve as it was getting light,a nice view of a Barn Owl started the bird sightings off for the day.After purchasing my day permit i began by looking for the Ring-necked and within 20 minutes i was watching this dapper drake albeit at a bit of a distance.I first picked the bird out as it slept with a mixed flock of Tufties,Wigeon,Gadwall and Goldeneye by it's distinct,peaked rear crown and combination of dusky flanks and white spur at the front of the flanks.After a short while he became more active and was watched diving for food and also chasing a female Tufted Duck,which involved much displaying,excellent stuff.Also on the res was the Scaup x Tufted Duck hybrid,which almost looked good for Lesser scaup if you half closed your eyes and a pair of Pintail and 63 Goldeneye.After watching the 'D' i then decided to walk down to Hempholme Lock seeing 2 Little Egret en route flying down the river Hull,but little else in the way of birds.On the fields at Hempholme,3 Brown Hare and 2 Roe Deer added some mammal interest to the days sightings.As i journeyed back through D-res woods it began to rain,sleet,snow and rain and i made my way back to D-res hide,seeing a couple of Siskin through the showers.On my second visit to the hide the Drake Ring-necked Duck was far more distant and took quite a while before i picked it out asleep again.The only different bird i saw while scanning the res this time,was a Barn Owl watched flying along the perimeter of the reservoir.In the car park area,my first Snowdrops of the late winter/early spring were seen and a couple of male Great-spotted Woodpeckers had a drumming contest,great to hear!.Finally i had a look from the visitor centre and managed to see the 2 Woodcock which have been showing here.They were watched as they occasionally appeared from their hedgerow feeding area,really nice to see and not something you get the chance to observe very often.Another great day out and thanks to Richard for the cuppa.

MSQ And Ashbyville......

Goosanders.

2nd calendar year Long-tailed Duck.

2nd calendar year Long-tailed Duck.

Drake Gadwall.

Bathing Greylag.

Treecreeper.

Juvenile Great-northern Diver.

With the prospect of some decent weather today,i decided to visit Messingham first and then take the short trip over to Ashbyville later.After arriving at the car park at MSQ and before i left the car,superb views were had of 2 Willow Tit and a female Great-spotted Woodpecker feeding at the entrance to the reserve,a nice start.I had a quick look on the horse paddocks along the entrance track to the reserve and enjoyed some nice views of at least 65 Redwing feeding there.I then carried on around the reserve,seeing 3 Goosander fishing on the woodland lake,giving distant views and i then continued,making my way through this cracking reserve until i reached the duck hide.As i scanned the lake,imagine my surprise when a drake Long-tailed Duck swam across my field of view.This has to be the same bird which arrived in the area in the latter part of last year,what a great bird to see on an inland site.As i watched the bird it was apparent that it was an immature drake(2nd calendar year),with it developing grey scapular feathers and a pink bill and it gave decent views before,for some reason it flew off along with a drake Tufted Duck and i didn't see it afterwards.There were still 2 female Scaup present also today and another Goosander,a male was briefly here before flying off.It has been a proper purple patch for ducks in recent months here with 4 Scaup,male Common Scoter,Redhead Smew and the LTD,pretty impressive for an inland site.After viewing from the duck hide i walked around to the wader hide,en-route enjoying some nice views of a flock of Siskin and Lesser Redpoll feeding on the ground under the waterside Alders.One bird showed characters of a male Mealie Redpoll and i manged to get a record shot of this bird.The remainder of the reserve revealed little else apart from a couple of Jays scolding me as i walked past on my return journey to the car.After enjoying my visit to this cracking reserve i travelled over to Ashbyville.After getting the gear together for the second time today,i then walked down to the lake to see if the 'Big bird' was still present and after a quick scan there it was and thankfully still fit and healthy.This Great-northern left for a short while while the lake froze solid a week or so ago,but has returned and today it gave superb views again,but is a lot more wary of humans now,which isn't a bad thing going by some of the morons who visit this lake.The only other birds of note here were a couple of Lesser Redpoll.A cracking day out today.