Another holiday with Abi and her dad at the marvellous Filey Country Park – Caravan Site.
A real slog of a journey along the A64 - you would have thought it was Bank Holiday!
Monday 23rd August 2021 - just the last hour birding today.
A lifer though in the shape of an Arctic Skua off the Brigg giving the Sandwich Terns grief.
Some others:-
1 Common Scoter, c20 Oystercatcher with other Waders dropping out of sight behind the distant rocks as I scanned from near dark, from high on the Brigg above the 'birders hut'.
Filey Day 2 Tuesday 24th Aug 2021.
I did not get out birding again until after 7pm and its dark at 8:15pm so I was not expecting to see a lot.
I walked to the end of the Brigg where the sea was 'falling' but still well over most of the rocks at the end.
Just a few Gulls to start with, at the end of the rocks, included a Great Black-backed Gull, and as the light failed a few Birds started to appear, making the camera struggle to focus at distance.
2 Common Scoter on the water with Sandwich Terns calling.
A bit later an Arctic Skua being mobbed by Terns and landed on the water.
3 Turnstone landed to bathe and 6 Fulmar and a few Gannet passed by and Sand Martin and Swallow were seen also.
Filey Day 3 - 25/08/21 Red Throated Diver Day
Another cool-ish morning with a couple of hours birding squeezed in.
The usual, enjoyable, walk to the end of the Brigg was more interesting than of late with the tide out as far as it was going to be today.
It was great to chat to 2 other really friendly birders here today.
Bird Included:
Red Throated Diver – a lifer – pity about the photo.
Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Turnstone.
A Purple Sandpiper was also present.. Only noticed when checking my photos at home.
Ringed Plover, Knot, Razorbill (one only).
Great Black-backed Gull, Common Scoter.
2 Seals on the rocks, that I kept as far away from as Poss.
Evening:
A real squally evening with drizzle blown along on a stiff breeze and , the usual, walk to the end of the Brigg along the top path.
Looking from the top path down to the rocks, photos are not going to be real great alas!
A nice reward was a Avocet that dropped onto the rock at the very end of the Brigg.
A Ruff dropped in soon after, another cracking bird.
Also 6 Teal and the 'usual' species.
No Divers or Skuas tonight.
Filey Day 4 - Thursday 26/08/21
“Soil Hill” weather arrived late evening and remained all day today, with winds of 30mph and some heavy drizzle.
It was nice to hear that its sunny at home.
A short morning stroll along the beach to the Rocks at the end of the Brigg had only a few people along the way.
3 Sanderling were zipping about at the waters edge – smashing start.
Also c120 Ducks on the sea at distance were Teal I believe.
6 Fulmar, 3 Turnstone and 6 or so Dunlin.
A very dark Pipit that called loudly before flying off took some re-finding, but it left immediately I got the bins on it, was possibly a Rock Pipit.
A walk along the beach, to Primrose Valley and back, with Abi and Sue this aft was a wild squally affair.
Abi did not seem to notice the cold ,taking off her trainers and constantly running in the sea.
Just a large flock of airborne Ducks, miles off, was about all that appeared with the Herring Gulls and 3 Terns which I cannot ID but they don't resemble Sandwich Tern.
Filey Day 5 - Friday 27/08/21
Another poor day weather wise, wind and drizzle a.m. Improved with a bit of sun p.m.
I cycled to File Dams mid morning.
Lots of Teal, Canada Geese with a few Greylag Geese.
1 Common Snipe.
4 Ruff dropped in building up to 11 birds before I left.
Large flock of Lapwing.
A few Garganey that are actually Eclipse Mallard oops.
And a few other common species.
Filey Day 6 - Saturday 28/08/21.
Last morning before we return home and my usual walk along to the Brigg.
The sun came out this morning and it was warm and present.
Not much happening with the tide still mostly over the rocks.
Great to chat with Mark Pearson along the path.
Guillemot, Gannet, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Great Black-backed Gull.
A really nice surprise and a reminder of home in the shape of a Wheatear.
4 Dunlin were on the small pond.
The small ball of fluff (a Fulmar chick) that was on the cliff face on my last visit, is now a larger bird but still not fledged?
[ Plus loads of Gull photos that I'll post later on when I get chance to look at 'em]
A few of the hundreds of photos taken:-
Common Scoter:
Ringed Plover:
You got your 'Purple Sand' then John plus afew more 'goodies' and a nice Wall Brown butterfly
ReplyDeleteCheers Dave.
ReplyDeleteIt was in the seaweed hidden with Dunlin and I thought at the time it looked 'different ' so I took a few photos which turned out to be a good idea. Nice place to have a break with Abi.
John