For a few years now, I've made a habit of spending a week in Scarborough during the summer or early autumn. Having my main autumn birding trip booked for late September/October, a week in late July broke up the long summer break.
Just as I headed north news was breaking that the Bee-eaters had successfully bred (no prizes for guessing the front cover of the Notts 2017 Report.)
The first two days of the trip were blighted by various amounts of rain but a brief respite on the Sunday afternoon did allow a spell of my secondary passion - hoverfly watching and I was pleased to see a Helophilus trivittatus on the Asteraceae at Scalby Mills. Nearby a Pied Wagtail seemed oblivious to my presence as it collected flies.
Helophilus trivittatus
Pied Wagtail
On the Tuesday, I caught a mid morning train to Bempton and made the pleasant mile and a half trek along the road to the famous RSPB reserve at Bempton Cliffs. The walk was punctuated by a fine male Yellowhammer, which sang from a treeline by the road. It stuck resolutely to its perch and didn't seem to be bothered by my lingering to get some nice shots.
Male Yellowhammer
Arriving at the reserve, there were a number of Tree Sparrows around the shrubbery behind the picnic tables. Not a species that I see that often now days regrettably, so it was a good opportunity to get some images.
Tree Sparrows
Proceeding to the cliffs, one of the first birds I saw was a Fulmar, although they seemed to be in short supply and I managed just one record shot.
I visited the various viewing points, getting some half decent shots of the auks, although the experience seemed tame when I thought back to my weekend on the Farnes. Still, all very nice to see none the less.
Guillemots
Puffins and Razorbill
My main reason for visiting Bempton was to photograph Gannets and to that end it was a case of 'Fill your boots!' The light was perfect with light cloud filtering the high sun and the birds were available to capture from every angle.
3rd year Gannet
Adult Gannets
As well as the cliff nesting birds, I did a bit of sea watching, bagging a single Great Skua. Elsewhere around the reserve were at least two Northern Wheatears, a Corn Bunting, Song Thrush and a Barn Owl, which showed nicely, just as I was changing the battery on my camera!
The Wednesday was wet again - a rather annoying drizzle, but undeterred I set off to see what was about, going via Marine Drive where a Rock Pipit remained long enough for me to get a photo. They always look a bit worse for wear in the rain, but still nice to see up close.
Rock Pipit
As rain became heavier, I put my camera away until I reached the harbour. The precipitation eased a little, long enough for me to photograph the Cormorants that were sitting on a jetty. They remained, obligingly and I eased as close as I dare without scaring them off. Easily the best images I have of the species.
Cormorants
Following a trip to the local museum, which killed all of 40 minutes, the rain had returned to the earlier drizzle and the occasional dry spell. I had intended to wait for a nice day to attempt to photograph the local Med Gulls, but I decided I would chance my hand. Purchasing a fruit scone and a pack of cheese and pickle sandwiches I was armed with enough goodies to tempt any gulls on a wet July afternoon.
Positioning myself in front of the sea wall in south bay, below Holbeck, I began to toss pieces of bakery into the air. In about two minutes, I had three adult, two second summer and one 2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gulls flying and alighting close by. One of the adults was bearing a ring (3LAN). Following this up with Renaud Flamant, it was ringed as a 3rd CY at Antwerp on 14th May, 2015.
Second summer Mediterranean Gull
Adult and second summer Mediterranean Gulls
Second calendar year Mediterranean Gull
Adult Mediterranean Gulls
The afternoon became a lot brighter and I did a bit more hoverfly watching and eventually finished up at Scalby Mills. After a cool beer during which the heavens opened I sat by the sea wall to look for waders. Always keeping one eye on the sky, I was surprised to see a large raptor appearing from the north. A quick look in the bins revealed a Red Kite. Not a species I had expected on the trip at all and as the bird wasn't too high I obtained a couple of nice record shots.
Red Kite
Thursday was another day of variable weather, but with the sun well and truly out in the afternoon, I decided to head out to Holbeck with a couple of bags of Crawfords mini cheddars (other cheese-based snacks are available.)
It wasn't long before I was again surrounded by Med Gulls and skillfully scattering the goodies, managed to get some birds down to a few feet. There were two adults, but different birds to the previous day, these birds having less complete hoods. There was also a 2nd calendar year bird. An adult Black-headed Gull came very close, so I decided it would make the basis of a nice head and neck portrait.
Adult Mediterranean Gulls
Second calendar year Mediterranean Gull
Adult Black-headed Gull
Friday was the first of two brighter days. I spent the morning doing a spot of shopping and headed to Scalby Mills around lunch. Looking back towards Scarborough I noticed a wader with the Black-headed Gulls, feeding on the tide line. It was a largish bird but not a Redshank, and I suspected it to be a Knot. I walked the 300 metres or so to the first bit of beach after the rocks and was pleased to see it was indeed a Knot in virtually full summer plumage. I crept as close as possible and got one decent record shot before it was spooked by children and flew to the rocks.
Knot
I decided this was worth a drink, so I returned to the pub for a nice pint of Wainright's Golden ale.
Refreshed, I headed up the steps to the path that looks down to Johnson's Bay to the east and Scalby Beck to the west. Along the path was a pair of Linnets with young in the nest and I got a photo of the male. The sun was a bit strong but I thought it was a nice image.
Male Linnet
After an enjoyable walk along the Cleveland Way where I failed to photograph Sand Martin (too fast) and a pair of Stonechats (too dangerous) I headed back down to Scalby Mills. Here I spent a very pleasant hour watching a pair of Barn Swallows feeding young. I had seen them the previous day but in rubbish light. With the sun now behind me, I got one really nice and somewhat artistic shot of a juvenile Swallow.
Barn Swallow
Beer O'clock at Scalby Mills
The Saturday, being my last day, I thought I would check out the harbour in hope of photographing Turnstone, as there had been a full breeding adult at Scalby the previous evening. Alas, there were no birds around, but as I walked back along the sea wall, I saw the (Red) Knot from the previous day standing on the edge of the walk way. I stalked it on hands and knees to begin with, and eventually ended up on my belly, as I got the bird down to 10 feet! I obtained what I think are pretty good images! Even if I say so myself.
Knot
I headed back along Marine drive and joined Stuart Baines who was leading the weekend's cetacean watch. I was more interested in the cliffs behind me, and as I was watching a Peregrine, a Cuckoo flew out from the headline and did a semi circle and back over town. The Peregrine took a Kittiwake and ate it, disjecta membra and all and I got one dodgy flight shot, before I headed back to the B&B for my bags.
Peregrine
Andy Hall
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