Most of the day free, and so into the field locally for the first time in a while. I started on the doorstep here in Filey, where single Lapland and Snow Buntings were on Carr Naze, and Great Northern Diver, a couple of Common Scoters, and plenty of auks and Fulmars were off it; I then continued into the Top Fields and had a good patrol of the (somewhat waterlogged, very muddy) stubbles, where the passerine activity continues to be excellent.
Waxwings, Martongate
Conservative estimates of 53 Snow, 18 Lapland, one Corn, eight Reed and nine Yellowhammer made it a five Bunting session, as well as 160 Skylarks, 15 Rock Pipits, 40 Meadow Pipits and 45 Linnets - a real bonanza by recent standards, and I'll continue to check it as long as it holds good numbers of birds (who's to say the ShoreLarks aren't still around, and/or a rarer visitor might not join the flocks?).
From there, a fifteen-minute drive to Martongate, where a small flock of Waxwings had been reported (Ta, Johnny) - unlike a few other local attempts of late, this one was a quick and easy joy.
Quality local winter birding.
Snow (above) and Lapland (below) Buntings
Reed Bunting (above), mixed bunting and lark flock (below)
Reed Bunting (above), mixed bunting and lark flock (below)
