The report
5.30am on a Sunday morning isn't a time I see too often, but needs must if we were to get to Filey for 8.00am. Within an hour I'd a car full of Tyke birders (Linda, Ken and Rob) and we were on the road. Too dark for much birding on the journey but Linda had picked up blackbird & chaffinch song before we set off so the listing had begun. As the light improved we added various corvids and pigeons to the list.
The country park in Filey was anything but welcoming when we parked up to meet the others, a howling gale straight in the face and stinging rain. Still we'd managed a dozen or more hardy birders, including several new faces, along with Linda(duckwoman), there was waccoe, birdbot, metcow333 and timmyjones, as well as harden Tyke Meet veterans Mark, Paul, James, Mike, and John.
Very rapidly it was decided that the clifftop wasn't the place to be, so we decamped to the Cobble landing to watch the sea from there. We got a few birds from this viewpoint, red breasted merganser, common scoter and red throated diver to name 3 as well as a cormorant that was managing to stand on the top of a pole in the gale. However the state of the sea meant that it was difficult to stay on any bird for very long as it disappeared in the wave troughs.
Again the decision was made to decamp elsewhere, this time the Forge Valley feeding station, which delightful venue gave us good views of nuthatch and marsh tit as well as great, blue and coal tits along with chaffinches. There was a raptor that flew over here which lead to some debate, there were those who thought it was a kestrel but others who took the view it was bigger than that and may have been a peregrine. I tend towards the latter group as I felt the wings were too long and thin to have been kestrel.
As we were taking up quite a bit of room in the parking area here we again decided to move on, this time to a roadside location to scan for raptors. Luckily there was a lay-by that could handle the number of cars and we were able to keep together. The skies were still leaden and there was intermittent drizzle so after seeing 4 buzzards and numerous crows along with a fly by great spotted woodpecker but not a feather of the target bird we hightailed it to the clearing in Wykeham Forest where a great grey shrike has been seen recently. Another dip here, although some of the group managed to see a small group of crossbills.
The consensus was that the harbour in Scarborough was to be the next port of call. Hopefully to see the resident iceland gull, as well as refueling on a fish and chips.After a time queuing to get into the car park, where I almost ran over 3 turnstones, we for the chippie. Along the way the gull was spotted in flight across the harbour, most of us got a glimpse at this point but it would be nice to get a better view.
After getting our grub and lining up on the harbourside to scoff it, we all concentrated on finding the gull, at first not noticing the seal not far off the harbour side. Another debate ensued later as to whether it was a common or a grey seal. I think common as I saw a distinct dog-like profile but I'm not an expert.
At last the gull was found on the water some way across the harbour. At this point the group split up as some moved around the harbour to get closer to photograph the bird. Before they had got into position though the bird flew off.
As the rest of the group made our way round the edge of the harbour the bird landed on the roof above the photographers so they were soon snapping away. The bird again flew round the harbour and this time came to land on the roof of the boat besides which we were stood. This time almost everyone with a camera was snapping away like billy-o. I did snatch a glance at Ollie's drawing of the bird which looked very good indeed.
A walk along the sea wall near Marine Drive failed to bring to light any more species so again a new location was discussed. With the chance of more gulls at Holbeck Car Park it seem the logical choice for the next stop.
Due to my rubbish navigational skills, although we left the car park first, we were the last to arrive at Holbeck. The winter months usually see a few Med gulls hanging about the car park, and this year was no exception. There were 5 or 6 birds present, ranging from a full adult summer plumage bird down to a first winter plumage bird. All of them suckers for a bit of bread, good on you birdbot for having the loaf with you! Linda picked out a red throated diver at sea, and Mark found another scoter. There was a fly by from a nice male bullfinch, which landed in a bush down the slope from us allowing everyone to get a view.
After everyone had seen enough of the Med gulls the group split up some to head back home whilst the others headed off to Tophill Low to finish the day with a bit of inland birding. The car park at Tophill was excellent value for birding, before I'd bought my permit I'd seen brambling, then afterwards there was great display by a couple of treecreepers which, unusually for them, kept to the trunk and lower branches of the trees. This allowed Paul to get one of the best treecreeper pictures that I've seen in a long while, even in the garbage light of a late winter afternoon.
First port of call from the car park was the visitor centre and a scan around for the woodcock which is viewable from the hide there. No luck for us, although getting the brambling coming in to the feeder was a bonus and allowed you to really take in the colours in the male's plumage. This was curtailed when a female sparrowhawk whipped through the field to take up a place in the willows at the back.
Next up O reservoir, there were some ducks on the water but the wind was whipping across the surface so made watching difficult. Watton hide next and again more ducks, but this time a nice redhead smew, or two. The hide after Watton shall go un-named as I didn't take notice of the signage. However it did yield up shoveler and grey heron to add to the list.
The very last hide we visited was at D reservoir and by now the light was fading fast. One of Tophill's regular birder was in the hide with us and blow me if he didn't locate an iceland gull in amongst the huge flock of gulls on the water. I tried but had to admit defeat, I could see a vague shape that was probably the gull but there's no way I could claim to have recognised it, others in the group were luckier.
By now we were down to just a handful of tired but happy Tykes and I don't think anyone really objected to the decision to head off home at this point. The drive away from the reserve was fun with suicidal red-legged partridges trying to throw themselves under my wheels!
Although the weather initially was abysmal I think the day turned out very well indeed.
Thanks to everyone for making it such a good day for me, hope it was for them.
Oh and Paul, it wasn't a large block of cheese, just a morsel. Talk to Rob about the block I had at Spurn
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List to follow when I've whipped it into Vous order.
