All in an hour or two.

Fox - Seaton Common

Little Tern

Sedge Warbler

Mick was not too good today so we had a run to Crimden Dene and a walk along the beach for an houe to get some fresh air. There were lots of Little Tern around and the odd Dunlin and Sanderling along the tide line. On the way back we had a run along the Zinc Works Road and spotted this fox just sitting alongside the Power Station fencline.

Visit to Blacktoft Sands

Had a pleasant day out at Blacktoft Sands last Sunday. Although a little quiet there were plenty of Marsh Harriers and Avocets.

Around and about - just!

Roe Reer

Marsh Harrier

Curlew Chick

Curlew

Woodcock

Well Mick still suffering with Shingles and hasn't been out unless chauffeured, so have only had short trips out on an evening. On Wednesday a trip on to our moors got us views of Curlew and chicks and excellent views of a Woodcock. Thursday at Dormans gave us views of Marsh Harrier (light was poor so pictures very poor) and at Zinc Works rd. a Roe deer was very obliging

Pied Flycatchers

Pied Flycatchers

Went for a walk yesterday on the moors and came across a pair of Pied Flycatchers. They were busy collecting food and taking it to the nest box so presumably feeding young. There was also a young Willow Warbler being fed by its parent.

Another Lifer

Record shots of Stone Curlew

Grey Wagtail

Juvenille Dipper

Wasn't sure what to do today as the weather forcast was not too good so decided to have a run over to Helmsley so that if it did rain as it said at least we could look around the shops. As it turned out though the weather was fine and there were hardly any people at all there when we arrived, it was lovely. We went looking on the stream through the village for the Dipper and located a juvenille which very obligingly just sat there whilst we took its photo. It was shortly joined by a family of Grey Wagtail and by this time the sun had come out and it was very warm. It was at this point we received the phone call from a friend to say there was a Stone Curlew at Haverton Hill - a bird on our list to see. We decided not to rush home but just go and see it whenever we go back which we did and got excellent, but distant views of the bird around 8pm. It was well worth the visit and a life tick for us.

Cuckoos back on patch

It was such a lovely evening that we decided to make up a picnic and go up onto the moors. We stopped off first at Cod Beck Reservoir hoping to see the cuckoo and whinchat as last year and we were not disappointed. As soon as we approached the car park we spotted a male cuckoo perched in a small tree. It then began to sing before it flew off. It was not long before we located it again, not too far away on the other side of the beck, this time with its mate. We didn't however manage to see a Whinchat, but who knows maybe next time. We couldn't resist fish and chips from the fish shop in Osmotherley and went up onto the moor to enjoy them in the evening sunshine.