Tophill Low Nature Reserve - Part 1

It was an adventure on Friday, the road to Tophill Low had not been gritted, so driving on the snow & ice had to be done extremely carefully.  With temperatures barely above freezing all day there was only 2 other intrepid nature watchers at the reserve.  Persevering with the cold and the poor driving conditions certainly paid off though.

On the drive to the car park I could see lots of small birds moving around in the trees. Goldfinch and Lesser Redpoll were busily feeding on the Lagoon Alders.

These Blue Tits were busy alternating between feeding and fighting in the snow!

As soon as I parked up the car, I heard a Woodpecker tapping away, and looked over to the trees near the picnic benches and saw him immediately, a great start to the day.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

There weren't many takers for a picnic today though!

On the walk around D res these Long Tailed Tits were trying to scrape a living on the wall and there was also a Wren nearby trying to find something to eat.

D res hide in the snow

The feeders in the woods are very popular in the bad weather and I spent an enjoyable half hour watching them flit in and out.

Blue Tit

Coal Tit

Great Tit

Dunnock

Robin in his Christmas card pose

There were plenty of Coots, Wigeon, Gulls and Mute Swans on the small patch of water left unfrozen on D res, and there was still even more excitement to come on North Marsh and beyond!

'Warter' good Raptor day!

Following my previous visit a couple of weeks ago, I was determined to improve on a Red Kite photo and the day delivered .....

As I was driving down the road I saw a Red Kite perched in a tree next to the road. I turned around to try and get a picture but, unfortunately he flew off. So once the car was parked I started off on my walk and low and behold not long afterwards a Red Kite flew directly overhead!

I went on to see Red Kites on another four occasions throughout the day. These really are truly magnificent birds.

It was another snowy day, with an abundance of raptors on show.  A Kestrel was next.

Followed by a Buzzard, waiting patiently for his lunch!!

Lots of Woodpigeons to choose from!

Pheasant

Red-legged Partridge sheltering from the cold or hiding from all those raptors?

The wood was full of small birds which I always enjoy watching including;

Marsh Tit

Coal Tit

 

A Robin - eating, not sure - is it an eyeball or a snail?

 

 

Blue Tit

 

On the way back to the car my final sighting of the day was this Red Kite sitting quietly in a tree - lovely!

To end the blog, some snowy scenery photos of the Wolds

I was only out for three hours, but had a great time with some amazing sightings.

Driffield

Well, it certainly snowed here, so I thought a quick walk was a good opportunity for some photographs in the snow. At the top of the tree in the distance I could just make out six or seven Goldfinch.

Goldfinch

A bit further along a Blackbird had her feathers fluffed up against the cold

It is amazing how the snow transforms everything.

Tracks in the snow

Path through the woods

There weren't many birds about unfortunately, but it was nice to get a walk in the fresh air and it certainly was quite fresh! On the walk back however I did see this Magpie.

A Christmas tree complete with snow, just a bit late for the big day! I saw Reed Bunting in the hedge nearby, but they were too far in to get a shot of them.

It is just a shame that there was no sun out this morning as the pictures always look better with a bit of sunshine.

Bridlington

A Sunday morning walk along the beach towards Sewerby was absolutely glorious, it didn't feel like winter, with the sun out. 

This Cormorant was showing the favourite pose having trouble with the neighbours!

The kids made a stone castle!

Black-headed Gulls on their lookout posts

Crow on look out

Meadow Pipit

and in flight

The kids found this lobster shell amongst the seaweed, the blue is very bright

Oystercatchers flying overhead

I thought the sunshine was too good to last, the sea mist came in

This Turnstone was happy to let me get close

Warter

I have been a little lapse recently with updating my blog - apologies!  But prepare for a flood of them, I think I have another 4 to follow this one!!

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to go to Warter for a late afternoon walk, with the hope of seeing Red Kites come into roost.  Unfotunately there wasn't much activity on the Red Kite front, until the very end of my walk and then I only saw one for about a minute.

Blue Tit in the fading light

Pheasant

Yellowhammer

I caught sight of this Buzzard, but unfortunately he was too far away for a good photo - watch out pheasants!

And finally a distant sighting of a Red Kite

Better luck next time .....