Forge Valley Feeding Station

Robin

Chaffinch

Nuthatch

Long Tailed Tit

Marsh Tit

Coal Tit

Great Tit

Blue Tit

Blackbird

Grey Squirrel

A cold frosty morning in February and where better to visit then Forge Valley Feeding Station, why, because I can stay in the car and keep warmish (got to put the window down of course). At this time of year the feeding station is buzzing with bird life with 5 species of tit, nuthatch, Chaffinch, Robin, Dunnock, Blackbird, Treecreeper, Wood Pigeon and the ever resident Grey Squirrels.

Common Seal

Dropped in to Scarborough Harbour for a check of any possible white winged gulls in the area and to my surprise I found this little Common Seal pup taking a rest on the slipway. At first I thought the seal didn't look well, its eyes constantly closed, not really gaining its balance on the slipway. I was just about to give the Scarborough Sea Life Centre a call for them to send out a member of staff when the little chap came to life and swam off in to the distance. We do get the occasional seal in the harbour but not usually out of the water, they are magnificent creatures.

Black-Bellied Dipper

A Black-bellied Dipper has been showing very well on the river opposite the turn off to Top Hill Low on the A163. Probably the closest I have got to a Dipper for a long time, this bird was constantly swimming in the river looking for food. Don't know much about this bird, have nothing in any of my field guides, I do know it is a sub-species of the Common Dipper, so any information oabout this bird would be appreciated.

Top Hills Smew

The Smew have returned to Top Hill Low Nature Reserve on Watton Pits, 2 drakes and 1 redhead are now present. Both drakes have started displaying at the female, all the above shots taken at extreme distance hence the quality of the blown up shots.

More Peregrines

At last I have managed to get a couple of flight shots of the Peregrines, but on a dull day, note the white sky. On one sunny day last week I was watching them hunting, as you can see from the above shot, the male had a go at a passing Fulmar. I was actually taking a picture of the Fulmar and didn't even see the Peregrine come in to the frame of the camera, hence the bird being out of focus, thats how quick this amazing falcon attacks its prey.

Return of the Gannet

Gannet

Fulmar

Stonechat

Its approaching that time of year again when the "Seabird City" at RSPB Bempton Cliffs Reserve is starting to welcome back its residents. The Gannets have returned already in big numbers and have started nest building, the cliffs are still very silent with no calls of Guillemot, Razorbill or Puffin which are still yet to arrive, with the later being the last to return, normally around mid march.

Also on the top fields and scrub you can find Stonechat, Tree Sparrow, Reed Bunting and birds of prey such as Short Eared Owl, Kestrel, Merlin, Sparrowhawk and Peregrine Falcon.

If you haven't visited Bempton before you are missing a true spectacle of nature, you have to make the effort and I can guarantee that you will be amazed with the sights and sounds of this truely amazing reserve.

For more information on RSPB Bempton Cliffs click on the link below:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/index.asp

Winter Visitors

Fieldfare

Redwing

A large influx of Fieldfares and Redwings have recently visited the Scarborough area with over 70 Fieldfare and 30 Redwings seen in fields north of Flixton and similar numbers also seen in the fields at the back of the wireless station off racecourse road.

Glaucous Gull

At last a "White Winged Gull", with a 1st winter bird being very obliging on Filey Country Park. As I arrived the mist started to roll in very quickly, in fact I spent about 5 minutes with this bird before visability was down to just 2 feet, hence the slight differnce in exposures on some of the above images. Thanks to Dave Mansell for dropping me a text about this bird.

Red Grouse

My first trip of the year to the North Yorkshire Moors National Park to photograph the Red Grouse. Most of the images above were taken on Danby Beacon which I find to be one of the best sights to get decent views of this bird, another good sight is Bransdale Moor.

Got some great wildlife photography techniques from a fantastic DVD I bought recently called "Go wild with your camera", if you haven't seen this DVD yet, I truely recommend you do so, order your copy today at - http://www.gowildtv.com/.

Potteric Carr

Shoveler

Shelduck

Gadwall

Tufted Duck

Kingfisher

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Reed Bunting

My first ever visit to Potteric Carr YWT Nature Reserve, Doncaster to try and capture some images of one of the 5 Bitterns that have been resident on the reserve for several months now. The Bitterns have mainly been seen from the "Piper Hide", so that was my first port of call. Hung out in the hide for a couple of hours, a Kingfisher was dashing back and forth in front of the hide finally perching on a distant island. Wildfowl present included Gadwall, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Teal, Mallard and Shelduck.

From the "Willow Hide" which is the hide just opposite the "Low Ellers Junction Cafeteria", a Great Spotted Woodpecker was feeding on some nuts that had been wedged in to some holes which had been drilled in to a trunk of a Silver Birch tree. Also present coming to the feeding station was Great Tit, Blue Tit, Willow Tit, Robin, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting and a Jay.

Potteric Carr is an excellent reserve and I will be calling back there very soon, why, because I didn't get to see the Bitterns but if you want to take a look at what they look like, take a visit to Dave Mansell's blog through my links, Dave has got some awesome shots taken at Potteric Carr in late December of last year.

Bramblings

As I took the forest drive through Dalby Forest and as I reached the Mountain Bike Park I spotted a flock of Brambling opposite feeding underneath some beech trees. There must of been at least 40+ birds with a few Chaffinch's mixed in. I find these birds absolutely stunning especially the males, so much fine colouring.

After Dalby Forest I then took the road through Newtondale Forest Drive, a female Sparrowhawk dashed across the road and then as I approached the top of Newtondale a lone Goshawk flew over. Feeding on the top fields were Fieldfare, Redwing, Blackbird and Mistle Thrush.

Cliff Dwellers

Fulmars

The fulmar is part of the family of "Procellariiformes" which includes Albatrosses, Shearwaters and Petrels. Also known as the "Tubenose", as you can see from the above picture which shows the tube on top of the bill, inside this tube they hold a foul-smelling oil which they spit out at intuders who try and get close to their nest.

Peregrine Falcon

The pair of Peregrine Falcons were showing very well and calling at each other, then one bird would take to the sky and then return to its postion on the cliff, then the second bird would do the same. May be a bit of displaying from the couple who have been resident in the area for some time now. On my next visit I am going to work hard on getting some decent flight shots.

Scarborough Mere

Great Crested Grebe

Red Breasted Merganser

Grey Heron

Dropped in to Scarborough Mere just for a quick check to see what was about, had my little son with me in the car so could not leave the vehicle. Red Breasted Merganser was still present but no sign of the pair of goosander that had been here over the last few weeks. All the above shots taken from the car using a Canon 40D with 500mm f/4 lens and 1.4x converter on a bean bag.