Saturday 19th March and a trip to Scarborough was on the cards. There has been a drake American Wigeon off shore at Scalby Mills, just round the corner from Scarborough, for several weeks now and it has been some time since I have seen an American Wigeon in Britain. Also a couple of Black-necked Grebe in the harbour and of course the Mediterranean Gulls at Holbeck, some now in summer plumage. The very grey conditions and poor weather made photographing these stunning gulls rather difficult. We also pulled in Flamborough Head on our way back south, taking the opportunity to look at the sea birds that are now arriving back on their breeding cliffs. So, a very reasonable day, managing to get a few years ticks, moving my list on to 151, with the addition of a drake Mandarin on my local patch on Sunday morning.
American Wigeon – Drake – Also with Eurasian Wigeon – Scalby Mills, North Yorkshire – Tony Davison©
Black-necked Grebe – This one is just beginning to moult into summer plumage – Scarborough Harbour, North Yorkshire – Tony Davison©
Black-necked Grebe – This individual is still in winter plumage – Scarborough Harbour, North Yorkshire – Tony Davison©
Mediterranean Gull – Moulting adult summer – very poor light spoilt good photographic opportunities – Holbeck, North Yorkshire – Tony Davison©
Mediterranean Gull – adult summer – nice, apart from the leg jewellery – difficult to capture a “Catch-light” in the eye, in poor weather – Tony Davison©
Mediterranean Gull – 1st winter – Holbeck, North Yorkshire – Tony Davison©
Peregrine Falcon – Scarborough Cliffs, North Yorkshire – Tony Davison© – resting on old Kittiwake nests.
Turnstone – Scarborough Harbour, North Yorkshire – Tony Davison©
Kittiwakes – A large flock off-shore along Scarborough Sea Front – Tony Davison©
Turned out ok.