I got the train to Filey today for a spot of seawatching. A calm, frosty and sunny morning, balmy at times, but then turned cloudy with threatening clouds and the wind perked up. As I was getting to Filey I checked the observatory Twitter and a Great Northern Diver had been spotted in the bay. I got to the sea front and It didn't take long to find, a first for the year, but after a spot of preening it started diving for food and on each dive it would move towards the Brigg, until if disappeared from sight.
Some record shots of the Great Northern Diver.
Coltsfoot in bloom, and also primroses on the grassy slopes in town.
Primroses.
Coltsfoot.
The tide was high and I decided to move to the top of the cliff by Arndale ravine and check the cliffs of Carr Naze. Sections of the cliffs were packed with Guillemots, with a few Razorbills sprinkled through, new for the year too. Many more auks were in rafts on the sea. A few Fulmars circled the cliffs, some pairs already sitting on nest sites.
A raft of Razorbills
Razorbill pair.
busy cliffs.
Razorbill.
Razorbill.
Wing flappling Razorbill.
From the top of Carr Naze in the bay a pair of Eider were close to shore. I could take better shots by the Brigg later.
Drake Eider.
Drake and duck Eider.
I had lunch sheltered by the seawatching hut. A crow kept cracking periwinkles had me entertained. Two Gannets flew north around the Brigg. After lunch, the tide was just low enough to walk back by the shore.
A Carrion Crow cracking periwinkles.
Cormorant on breeding plumage.
Oystercatcher. A flock of 68 were on the shore at high tide.
Another spot of seawatching by the sea wall in town added a few more birds to the tally.
Immature Razorbill in the bay.
One of two Great Crested Grebes in the bay.
Breeding plumage Shag.
One of a pair of Pied Wagtails at Crescent Gardens.
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