Train trip: Filey in December

The run of cloudy days continues, but it was sheltered at Filey bay. The tide was high and rising, so I decided against walking to the Brigg. Instead, I walked along Carr Naze, more exposed at the top of the cliff. At the north side of the Naze, several pairs of Fulmars circled tirelessly or sat on nests. Hundreds of Guillemots flew from the sea and stood shoulder to shoulder on cliff ledges. A Kestrel took advantage of the updraft over the cliff slopes.

Redshank.

Rock Pipit.

Fulmars.

Fulmar.

Guillemots.

Female Kestrel, hovering by the edge of the cliff.

Guillemots.

Fulmars and Guillemots.

Shag and Guillemots.

At high tide, 24 Oystercatchers fed on the country park fields.

I walk back to Filey, to my favourite cafe, Frothies, for coffee and lunch before I take my train back.

Holderness: Thorngumbald and Paull

Another very gloomy day of dark clouds. On the positive side, it wasn't drizzling and it was very still, making for a pleasant 11 km walk. I take the X7 bus to the village of Thorngumbald and then walk along Church Lane. There are Rooks and Jackdaws around and Starlings whistle from trees and aerials. A flock of Golden Plover and a skein of Pink-footed Geese fly over. I turn west at Hooks Lane, which soon becomes Dark Lane. It is a tarmaced road, but not too busy. The villages along the A1033 to Easington were sited just by the marshes of the Humber before land reclamation, drainage and the improvements of the seawall by the Humber rendered them well inland. Many names in OS maps in the area indicate this reclaimed aspect of the land: Green Marsh, South Marsh, Thorn Marsh, Out Marsh and Far Marsh. The rich, level reclaimed silt means they are now all arable. It is likely that prior to reclamation the saltmarshes were used to summer cattle and sheep.

Rook on Thorngumbald Church.

Pink-footed Geese.

Opposite Green Marsh Farm, a group of Red-legged Partridge and a Brown Hare.

There is a rise in the horizon, the beautifully named Boreas Hill, peaking at 16 m over the sea level. It is the remains of a terminal moraine left after the last ice age. In Holderness the soft ridges and hills often are. The hill is of irregular shape and wooded. Jays call from the trees. As I walk up, the shiny ribbon of the Humber becomes visible.

Looking towards Boreas Hill.

Yellowhammer.

Hedon Church in the horizon.

A pond by the road.

As I descend towards Paull Holme, on the fields there is a flock of Curlew feeding with gulls. I'm soon by  Paull Holme Strays realignment site, but I don't linger, skirting it towards Paull village. There is a large Lapwing flock by the breach.

Paull Holme tower.

A Jay, crest erect. There was a buzzard nearby, being mobbed by crows.

Paull Holme Strays, looking towards the lighthouses.

Paull Holme lighthouse.

As I emerge from the path lined by hedges, I reach the Humber. As usual, Wigeon and Teal by the tideline.

Wigeon and Teal.

The flood defence works at Paull, looking West.

Paull lighthouse.

On the mudflats off Paull, a few Avocets, Shelduck, Dunlin and Redshank. I walk along the left bank of Hedon Haven towards Hedon. Hedon was a port in the Humber before Hull was. The haven connected the Humber with the harbour in town, very prosperous in the middle ages, but became disused and the harbour infilled as  Hedon Haven silted up and became unsuitable for navigation by larger boats.

A few barges by Paull's shipyard.

Paull's shipyard.

Hedon Haven and Saltend.

Teal at Hedon Haven.

Reed Bunting.

As I cross Paull Road, a Roe Buck looks at me from a field.

A straightened stretch of Hedon Haven.

I'm glad there is a path underneath the A1033 as I arrive in Hedon. Later, this narrow footbridge takes me over Burstwick Drain, and I'm at Hedon ready to catch my bus back to Hull.

 

Train trip: Scarborough circular

Northeasterlies in December is a good time to visit Scarborough. The harbour is sheltered and attracts passing divers and other sea birds, so you could be up for a nice surprise. There are rough seas all around, the wind not as strong as in the last few days, but cold. A Great Northern Diver is visible off the beach, with a few Cormorants. There is a passage of Little Auks in the Yorkshire coast, with hundreds reported from Flamborough and Scarborough flying north along the coast, so I reckon there is a chance I get one. Little Auks breed in the Arctic, most of them in Svalbard, but they move to the North of the North Sea in the winter, and are pushed south in storms, flying north again afterwards. As I arrive at the harbour a birder tells me two roosted in the harbour, but already went to see. A Kingfisher flies across the water from the jetty, but it lands in between some wooden slats out of view. There is also a Shag off the harbour. I think there are two GNDs, one paler than the other. 

Heavy machinery is moving sand from the northern end of the beach, where the last storms have piled it over the level of the seawall.

Sparrowhawk fly over.

Cormorant.

Grey Seal.

Turnstone.

Shag.

Great Northern Diver in the harbour.

Great Northern Diver out of the harbour.

A lone Purple Sandpiper roosting.

There were six Fulmars on their nest sites at Castle Cliff, visible from North Marine Drive.

Kittiwake.

An angler in good company.

After a walk around the harbour and up North Marine Drive, I see three photographers pointing their cameras off the harbour wall. As I approach they tell me that a Little Auk had briefly landed in front of them and I had just missed it. Not long after someone called there was another one coming. I couldn't believe I got photos of both in flight. Although one of them landed for a few seconds, I couldn't find it in the surf. It was a lifer for a couple of birders.

Little Auk.

and the second one.

Little Auk fly pass.

I can't resist a Great Black-back Gull braying.

After this, it's lunch time, and I stop for a coffee and a nibble at Ask. The afternoon walk takes me to Peasholme Park, out of the wind. There are several workers clearing out debris and fallen trees. As I walked along Scarborough I noticed many damaged roofs, storm Darragh must have been something to behold.

A view of the beck at Peasholme Park dale.

Scarborough North Beach and Castle.

Kestrel.

I decided to walk back to the station along North Marine Drive. Along the way I make a quick stop to photograph a dozing young Grey Seal on the rocks.

Young Grey Seal.

I manage to make the 15:02 train back home after a brisk walk.