South Landing in December

The forecast was dark cloud, but still so I headed to the brightest place in East Yorkshire, the south facing chalk cliffs brighten even the dullest December day. It was relatively mild, a light southerly breeze brought dark, misty clouds. As I got out of the car a Woodcock flew overhead. The tide was low and a flock of Redshank, Turnstone and a few Oystercatchers fed on the exposed bladderwrack and kelp beds. Towards Danes Dyke, on a stretch of coast that gets little disturbance, a line of line of Cormorants or Shags with a large mixed gull flock, including Great Black Backed gulls and Herring gulls.
  I walked East on the exposed sand between the chalk boulders. At some point I was startled by some harsh calls from the cliffs. It was a pair of Fulmars sitting on a ledge of the cliff, chattering to each other, and watching intently every time another individual passed overhead in that merry-go-round game that Fulmars do.
 After lunch I walked on the paths on the top of the reserve, by the woodland and then the cliff tops, where the kestrel was still hovering.

Herring Gull watching intently.

A group of cormorants loafing on the rocks.

There were many Rock Pipits busy about the seaweed too, and a Grey Wagtail.

It took a while, but I managed a focused shot of this Rock Pipit on the kelp.

A small Linnet flock settled on the side of the cliff to feed.

The silouette of the Kestrel hovering over the cliffs followed me in my walk. At some point the kestrel stooped down and got something small, but I couldn't make out what it was.

A shiny flat periwinkle, Littorina obtusata 

Limpets, with the marks on the rock left by individuals gone.

Rock Pipit on stranded net ropes.

The Fulmar pair calling together.

Two Common Scoters were bobbing up and down on the surf.

Fungus to ID.

South Landing from the cliff top.

Grey Heron fishing, and being watched by Herring Gull.

Some Gorse bushes were flowering profusely.