Champions of the Flyway!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Filey, 1st - 6th December 2012


Great Northern Diver in Filey Bay


An often bright, bone-chilling few days here at Filey, with deep frosts (see previous post) and moonlit nights setting the scene for the season ahead (and latterly some vicious wintry showers). A few hours bay / Brigg / seawatching on 4th was relatively productive, with five Great Northern Divers (three in the bay, two south) and a dozen or so Red-throats, as well as small numbers of Goldeneyes, Common Scoters, Eiders, Great Crested Grebes, Mallard, Wigeon and Teal either on or over the waves.


The latter two species illuminated an otherwise quiet jaunt to East Lea yesterday (above and below), with the Dams frozen and a thick cloak of fog taking a long time to dissipate.


Spot the freak (below)



This Willow Tit, in a hedgerow by a suburban estate in town, was a welcome surprise on the same day; shame it wasn't Marsh (which still eludes me within the recording area), but both are difficult here, and one out of two isn't bad so far....