Wednesday 9 February 2011

Peering through the gloom

Purple Sandpipers - taken at today's venue on an earlier occasion
Aconites & Snowdrops (c) 2011 Aileen Urquhart
Fungi - Velvet Shank? (c) 2011 Aileen Urquhart
It's a bit off when the bird of the day is seen on the way to the morning class! However, driving along a residential Bridlington road I spotted a Peregrine carrying its prey. The venue itself was surrounded by mizzly grey weather most of the day. On the beach both groups just about managed to see a few Purple Sandpipers. Other birds on the beach included: Oystercatchers, Redshank, Ringed Plovers, Turnstones, Great Black-backed, Black-headed, Common & Herring Gulls. The grounds of the hall were less fruitful, but did yield: Kestrel, Bullfinch, treecreeper, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Jackdaw, Magpie, courting Stock Doves, and singing Robins & a rusty Chaffinch. During most of the afternoon the group was serenaded by the ethereal, yet beautiful song of the Mistle Thrush - one bird which didn't seem to mind the gloomy weather! Only 28 species were recorded in the morning, but that's still an increase of 2 species from last Wednesday!

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