We had a week in Yorkshire over the bank holiday, bombing around the place as well as seeing family and friends.
Scar House reservoir had horizontal rain, but also a pair of Ring Ouzels. A twitch to Hornsea Mere delivered the Baikal Teal, eventually, but the views were poor. The Strid was excellent, the highlight being a singing Wood Warbler, which is becoming harder to find these days. A walk up Simon’s Seat produced Red Grouse and chicks and another Ring Ouzel as well as beautiful views.
Out east a trip to Spurn produced a Serin early on and a few more common migrants. Hornsea was shut, so no more views of the Teal, but my first night in Bridlington since I left when I was three at least had good beer. Bempton and Flamborough had more Puffins than I’ve ever seen there. It was still awkward to get a photo on the ground, but I got many flight shots.
At Arkengarthdale the Black Grouse lek seems to have moved, but there was still one there and the road to the Tan Hill inn had a few Curlew chicks: something new for me. The beer in Masham is as good as ever!
At Harrogate, the wildlife stars were a Hedgehog demanding food with menaces and a bonkers Tawny Owl, which seems to like sitting on lawns in daylight. Of course that only happens to other people, and our views were at dusk, but they were still good.
