Scarborough - 23rd February 2024

 Yesterday, we had a lovely family day in Scarborough. It was just 7 degree, but really sunny, and the birds put on a good show too.

The first birds seen, Fulmar (125), were up on the cliffs by Marine Drive. From here, we also saw a couple of Red-throated Diver (126), a single winter-plumaged Guillemot (127) and about half a dozen Harbour Porpoise. 

Fulmar

Also seen on Marine Drive was a well-known Herring Gull, YH42. This bird was ringed near Scarborough in 2007. I first saw it in this exact spot, in 2019, and again in 2023.

YH42

Later on we walked down to the harbour, where we spotted one Cormorant, several Great Black-backed Gulls and a juvenile Great Northern Diver.

Great Northern Diver

We also saw 12 Turnstones, including a colour-ringed bird, Green over Yellow. Looking at previous posts, I first saw this bird in 2019, and again in 2020. It had been ringed in the harbour, in February 2019.

Turnstone

Our final birds of the day were 3 Mediterranean Gulls (128), which we saw in Sea Cliff Car Park. Unfortunately, they didn't settle on the grass today, so I didn't manage to get any decent photos!

Scarborough Med Gulls

 Most years at around this time, Jayne and I pop across to Scarborough for a day to spot a few birds, including one of my favourite birds, the Mediterranean Gull. This year, we saw four individual birds, an adult, a 3rd calendar year (dark primaries, born in 2021) and two first winters (2nd calendar years, born in 2022).

Adult Med Gull (all white wings)

2nd winter (3rd calendar year, born 2021)

1st winter, born in 2022

1st winter, born in 2022

As well as these beauties, we also saw 4 Purple Sandpipers, a single Redshank, Black-headed Gulls, a Peregrine Falcon, Fulmars (back on the cliffs), Rock Pipit, Shag, Cormorant, Red-throated Diver (off Marine Drive, along with several Harbour Porpoise) and Herring Gulls. One Herring Gull was ringed with darvic ring Y:H42. I saw this bird in exactly the same place (Marine Drive) back in 2019! It had been ringed in Scarborough in 2007. Unfortunately, no Turnstones were seen, so no chance to catch up with the ringed birds seen in previous years.

Y:H42

Year List update: (89) Red-legged Partridge - 4 seen on the drive over, (90) Red-throated Diver, (91) Peregrine Falcon and (92) Mediterranean Gull.

RSPB Dungeness

Jayne and I had a trip around RSPB Dungeness on 1st August. We spent a couple of hours on the reserve, and saw some nice birds, insects and a couple of Harbour Porpoises.

Birdwise we saw, amongst others Dunlin, Lapwing, Common Tern, Little Egret and heard Bearded Tits.

Insects were in good numbers, and included Common Blue Damselfly, Emperor, Brown Hawker, Black-tailed Skimmer, Common and Ruddy Darter, Gatekeeper, Red Admiral and Painted Lady.

One of the Emperor dragonflies landed in a bush, and allowed some photos, as did a male Black-tailed Skimmer.

Emperor

Black-tailed Skimmer

After visiting the reserve, we had a walk down to the beach by the lighthouse, where we spotted a couple of Harbour Porpoises in the sea ( and a dead one on the beach) and several Herring Gulls on the beach.

Harbour Porpoise

RSPB Marazion Marsh

Jayne and I spent a couple of hours at Marazion Beach and RSPB Marazion Marsh near Penzance on Sunday morning.

We started off by walking along the beach, where we spotted 5 Ringed Plover and a group of approximately 40 Sanderling. The Sanderling, all of which were still in remnants of breeding plumage, were feeding furiously along the tide line. A solitary breeding plumaged Dunlin was also in amongst them.

Sanderling

Also along the strand line was a dead Harbour Porpoise.

Afterwards we headed across the road to the RSPB Marazion Marsh reserve where we found a female Mallard with 3 ducklings, a single Grey Heron and got brief views of Reed Warbler and Whitethroat. We also saw a stunning male Beautiful Demoiselle, several Gatekeeper, 1 Red Admiral and a Southern Hawker that caught and ate a Speckled Wood butterfly.

Beautiful Demoiselle

Southern Hawker with Speckled Wood meal

Year List Update - a Lifer!!

On Tuesday, Jayne and I spent 4 hours on a wildlife watching boat trip with AK Wildlife Cruises in Falmouth Bay. The trip was aimed mainly at cetaceans, but obviously, birds were also seen, including, as the title suggests, a lifer for me!

The first wildlife seen was Grey Mullet, with dozens of these fish feeding in the shallow water around the marina. As we set out on the water, we saw Herring and Black-headed Gulls. Mediterranean Gulls were also seen, including several juvenile birds. Other birds seen during the trip were: Fulmar (1), Razorbill (2; 1 adult and a juvenile), Peregrine Falcon (1 juvenile), Little Egret (1), Gannet, Whimbrel (1), Manx Shearwater ( 50+) and Storm Petrel (2) - a LIFER1!!

Manx Shearwater

The marine mammals were playing a little harder to get, but we did manage to get great views of several Grey Seals that were hauled out on the rocks. We also saw several Harbour Porpoises (perhaps up to 10 individuals), including adults and juveniles. They were very difficult to photograph, but I did manage a few shots.

Harbour Porpoises

Year List update:
176 – Manx Shearwater
177 - Whimbrel
178 – Storm Petrel

Med Gulls in Scarborough

Hot on the heels of Monday's birding trip I spent yesterday in Scarborough with my wife and daughter, where I managed to get a few new birds for the Year List. 

The first new bird was a Red Kite, that we saw on the journey up. It was spotted by Junction 46 of the M1, which is close to Harewood House and is presumably one of the birds from the Yorkshire Red Kite Project.

When we arrived in Scarborough I drove up to the Holbeck Car Park above the South Bay to catch up with the wintering Mediterranean Gulls. After a little encouragement with some bread cobs, the birds came down with the Black-headed Gulls to feed, and I managed to get a few photos.

Second winter and adult birds

 

Adult head

Second winter head

 

Follow this link for a few more pictures of second winter birds.

Whilst waiting for the birds I 'scoped the sea and picked up the first of about 4 Red-throated Divers, as well as some Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls.  Several Fulmar pairs were already back on the cliffs above Marine Drive, and a couple of Guillemots were feeding on the sea. A couple of Harbour Porpoises were also feeding close off shore and 3 Rock Pipits were seen and heard on the breakwaters.

We also had a walk around the harbour area where we saw 4 Purple Sandpipers and about 20 Turnstones, many of which were colour ringed. I'll update the details of these birds when I hear back from the BTO.

 

Year List update:

104 – Red Kite

105 – Mediterranean Gull
106- Red-throated Diver
107 – Fulmar
108 – Guillemot
109 – Rock Pipit

Return to Scarborough!

In January this year my family and I had a day trip to Scarborough (see here). We managed to see lots of super birds and have a good day out, so in the lull between Christmas and New Year we decided on a return journey.

First stop today was the most exciting place in Scarborough, the Holbeck Car Park! We always try to start a visit here as it is the place to see Mediterranean Gull and today was no change. The key to a good view is to arrive with some bread and throw it in the air. Within seconds the first birds appear, along with Black-headed Gulls, and fly down to take the food. The birds come within 2 metres and, with a little patience, it's possible to get some excellent views and pictures. All these are taken with a small hand held "point and shoot"camera, nothing fancy!

Adult, winter plumaged Med Gull

1st winter (with bread)

Being able to see Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls together (as below) gives us a great opportunity to look at the differences between them. The Med Gull (left bird) has a much heavier bill and the amount of black on the head is much more extensive than on the Black-headed Gull. Also the Med Gull's wings are completely white in an adult bird, whereas the BHG's wings have black in them (not seen in this photo unfortunately). The Med is also slightly larger than the BHG.

Adult winter (on left) with an adult Black-headed Gull

Enough of the lesson now, let's get back to the other birds seen today. After looking at the gulls we headed down to the town centre where we parked on Marine Drive. Looking out to sea we spotted a Harbour Porpoise swimming off shore and a Red-throated Diver fishing. Overhead were a few feral Pigeons and a fly-by Peregrine Falcon! Walking down to the harbour we saw 6 Turnstones feeding among the seaweed, several Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls, a Shag, 2 Great-crested Grebes, 2 winter plumaged Guillemots  and another Red-throated Diver.