The last couple of days has seen me over in east Yorkshire doing some survey work and very pleasant it has been too! Lots of Yellow Wagtails on territory were the highlights of my wanderings but also getting my first Common and Lesser Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers of the year was good if not unexpected. The weather has been very warm and sunny like elsewhere in England and I got the distinct feeling that some of the early migrants such as Chiffchaffs have given up singing and got down to brass tacks as it were.
Today Bernie and I had a leisurely journey back via Bempton Cliffs. It was ridiculously busy, even at 9am but that didn't distract from the sensory experience! First the smell, then the cacophony and finally the views - brilliant! All the usual suspects were on show, Kittiwakes, Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars and a few Puffins on the sea.
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| Kittiwake |
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| Razorbills |
There were lots of flowers emerging but Red Campion has special significance to Bernie and me and memories of our youth!
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| Red Campion |
Back in the fields Reed Buntings, Skylarks, Meadow Pipts and Linnets sang. A Grasshopper Warbler also joined in with its reeling but only gave us a very brief view.
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| Reed Bunting |
The trip back along A roads was a pleasurable one apart from getting around York. We stopped off at Hellifield Flash where there were three Little Ringed Plovers, one Ringed Plover, several Redshanks, Curlew, Oystercatchers, Wigeon and Teal. A little further on we enjoyed watching a Little Owl right out in the open for about a minute (didn't have the camera handy though - doh!).
Finally we dropped by Stocks Reservoir, where the Black Tern that had been present since yesterday gave a fine performance and a Grenshank stood motionless on the far bank. A Redstart sang near the hide and we could hear the Cuckoo on the far bank - the first Bernie has heard in years!
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