Bempton dip, with plentiful Tree Sparrows & seabirds (except the BBA)

On Saturday 17th July, I took a trip up to Bempton RSPB, the east riding of Yorkshire, 208 miles and over 4 hours driving away, with Rob H kindly doing the driving. On the drive up we saw both Barn Owl and Yawny Owl. Nice to be back after almost 18 years since my last visit. We left at 12 midnight and by 4.30am we had arrived. We were there in the hope of seeing the BBA, a bird I had missed twice in the past once on a Shetland at Hermaness in the 1980's, when maruading Bonxies prevented me from crossing a field in August and just last year when one flew south past Lowestoft, just 20 minutes after I had left Ness Point after a brief seawatch. We were unsuccessful with the bird not being seen all day, not surprising with my luck, but this was still bitterly disappointing, especially as the bird seems show well during the week does a bunk at weekends (only time Ii can visit). However, early morning with the Tree Sparrows which were very much in evidence around the visitor's centre with rows of nest boxes front and back and posing occasionally in more natural poses in the bushes behind the vistors centre, were very nice to see. The weather was extremely hot (28 degrees celsius) and the sun was really bright making seabird photography almost impossible to do. We had to retire back at the centre 3X to stay in the shade out of the sun and have the delicious refreshments on offer. Walking out I heard a Corn Bunting jagling keys song and eventially saw it perched on a bush. Whilst on the sea, Puffins, Razorbills and ther odd Guillemot seen. The intense heat was also wafting up the smell of the Gannet guano, not very plesant! Many Gannets seen on the cliffs and drifting by and the odd Fulmar seen too, gliding on the eddying wind. On the drive back going through South lincolnshire at Brotherton we saw a fine Turtle Dove on the overhead wires, our first of the year.

Orchids in the garden

It is wonderful to report that 5 Orchids are currently flowering the garden, 4 Southern Marsh Orchids (funnily enough all in pots, 3 at the back 1 at the front) and 1 Spotted Orchid along the back hedge. The remnants of the Fallowfields Orchid meadow all destroyed by the building site beyond, safe for the naturally occuring ones in the garden. The bulbs of the Southern Marsh Orchids must have been in the soil and had flowered previously but Jenny using the soil for new potted plants invigoated them and the one at the front is in its tenth year of flowering!

A Yellow Shell Moth in Hebe bushes in the front garden

This attractive yellow Moth, a Yellow Shell (I'm sure I've seen particular species several times before too) was seen flying out of Hebe bushes in the front garden on my return from work this afternoon, Friday 9th July, still there when I went out supermarket shopping at 8.45pm (less people, hopefully more COVID-19 secure with the 3rd wave of the pandemic sweeping through the country & locally).

Bee Orchid at the Paget

On Tuesday 6th July, it was lovely to see a fantastic Bee Orchid in the James Paget Hospital grounds. Many thanks to Rob H for the find and telling me so promptly about it. Must take my camera tomorrow! UPDATE: Here it is (taken lunchtime Friday 9th July)! Taken rather quickly as it was directly outside someone's office!

Brendon's Marsh at Hickling

On Sunday 4th July, on hearing of a PGP at Brendon's Marsh Hickling, I drove over early and parked in the car park, walking out right from the car park then taking a path to Stubb's Mill for 30 metres then turning right again I walked another 100 metres or so to a viewpoint overlooking the Marsh. Sadly no PGP, but 2 Black- winhged Stilts seen asleep on an island, with 2 male Ruff nearby, a Green Sandpiper on the marsh and a male Blue-tailed Damselfly on a grass stem just beyond the gate; pointed out by Maurice B (OFB was also present). A Spoonbill flew over our heads in a south- east direction and 2 buggling Cranes flew from the north to south. Also a Hobby seen dashingover the sky flying very high up and amongst the clouds. Walking back I saw Chris B from Norwich just the other side of the gate from the overflow car park and we enjoyed seeing a Painted Lady in the vegetation and a Silver- washed Fritillary flew past.

House Finch at Dunwich

Hearing of a tweet about a possible Scarlet Rosefinch, subsequently reidentified as the similar House Finch. On Saturday 3rd July, Jenny & I drove to Dunwich paid the £6 car parking fee (same organisation National Trust but at Marloes they have a separate 3 hour £3 charge, why can't they do that at Dunwich too?) We parked up and by the Coastguards Cottages in the corner there were bushes, a large Pine and bird feeders. There were a few people assembled and I spoke briefly to the lady who had found the bird singing in a bush nearby the previous evening, after congratulating her. I set the gear up, people said it had been in the tree. After a short while I spotted it in the tree heavily obscured by branches and foliage but it moved to an area between 2 branches of trees waiting for the coast to clear and it flew onto the feeders for a split second before something spooked it and it flew back into the tree. Just minutes later it was back on the feeders round the back before hopping to the side and then flying back into the Pine. After 20 minutes it flew to the front of the feeders briefly before flying back again into the Pine Tree. Checking the photos later it sported a green metal ring on its right leg and the white lettering read 80 vertically (ie. the 8 above the 0 then reading MF 47 vertically). Several birds came to the feders including Blue, Great Tits, Goldfinches and a young male Great- spotted Woodpecker.

More Puffins & Charlie the Herring gull again & yours truly!

Here are some more Puffin pics this time from The Wick at Skomer, where you can get pretty close to them, whilst staying on the path, of course we have to be midful of getting out of the way if any want to cross the path especially if they have Sand Eels that they want to take straight down the burrow to feed their chick. I met some great people on the boat/ trip over and on Skomer itself & at the Wick and they kindly took pictures of me (many thanks to Sally H) and the Herring gull and sent these onto me which I was very grateful for their thoughtfulness. Photo gear used included my Canon 100-400mm zoom lens here which gave me some flexibility in the shots. But there was less than favourable weather conditions at the Wick with mostly overcast sky and the sun struggling to get out, (so no flight shots obtained this time) also gusty at times (I moved away from the more sandy area, where sand was being blown over the path (definitely not good for either optics or cameras)!