South Landing revisited

A wonderful, sunny, almost still, warm day in the sheltered spot which is South Landing this morning. The car park, was busy with song and call of various birds, amongst them a Chiffchaff, Tree Sparrows, Chaffinches and Goldfinches. The tide was almost at its lowest when we arrived, revealing the carpet of seaweed and rock pools. On the beach, three Wheatears and one Grey and two Pied Wagtails. Not many waders, they seemed to have moved on with the mild weather. There was a congregation of Great Black-backed gulls and Cormorants on the rocks in the distance, with a Curlew and an Oystercatcher around too. A Tawny Owl called from the woods at midday.
 A pair of Kestrels had a scuffle with another one over the cliffs, and five Buzzards circled overhead.
Out at sea a young Gannet passed north, three Common Scoters were flushed by a boat and a small group of Sandwich terns flew past.
 After rock-pooling for a while we had a picnic by the visitor centre and had great views of a flock of Barnacle geese migrating, something I had not seen before.
 A walk in the woods revealed one, possibly two Treecreepers. On a sheltered spot three Common Darters and a Migrant Hawker. Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Large White and Speckled Wood were on the wing. While watching the beach from the top of the cliff, Lucy pointed at a seal. The seal, flippers up, tried to stay on top of a rock, but the tide was coming up fast and, very reluctantly, the seal ended up having to dive in the water. A great end for a great day out.

Wheatear

The cormorant and gull meeting point, with Bridlington at the background

A view at low tide

Two buzzards of five circling overhead

Buzzard

Male Stonechat

Common Hawker

Male Migrant Hawker

A young common seal trying not to get wet as the tide was coming up

A Song thrush's anvil

beach treasure, two large Edible Crabs and a Dog Whelk found by the tideline