Hornsea North Cliffs

 A walk along the sea front and on to the north cliffs on a lovely morning was a splendid way to start the day.

As I set off along the sea front, just off shore at the southern end 9 Razorbills were feeding as the tide went out.

Juv Razorbill

Juv Razorbills off Hornsea

Further along the beach Sandwich Terns were resting and preening.

Sandwich Terns on north beach

I was after Wheatear as I had somehow failed to see one all through Spring so I aimed to put that right. Although an Americam Golden Plover had been sighted in the area that wasn't in my sights - good job as I'd have failed to see it anyway 😂

Not long after reaching the ploughed field, a couple of Wheatear flew in and then further along the field towards Atwick more were feeding around the pill box area. I saw at least 8, accompanied by Meadow Pipits that were also flying in.

Wheatear on the pill box

3 Wheatear

Wheatear and Meadow Pipit

Wheatear in the ploughed field

Along the hedgerow were a few Long-tailed Tits which are always nice to see.

Long-tailed Tit

Autumn Creeps In

 Quite a bit has been seen and heard since my last update so let's cut to the chase and crack on to get through some images.

I'm not a fan of Grey Squirrels. They are an introduced species and have taken a dreadful toll on our native Red Squirrels through disease and by displacing them from territories. However, they are here (in ever increasing numbers) and so form part of our wildlife.

Grey Squirrel in Wassand Wood

I went to the hide last Monday to see if there were any damselflies and dragonflies about - there were but unfortunately only the usual species. While I was there I spent a few minutes 'togging the birds going past.

Hobby with dragonfly

Hobby missing a dragonfly

Hobby

Cormorant

Grey Heron

 While in the hide I was pleased to find a Hawthorn Shield Bug on my hat 😀

Hawthorn Shield Bug

Autumn arrived with little fanfare on Tuesday and heralded a few days of foggy/misty weather. Picturesque if nothing else.

The Pines with early morning mist

Mist drifting across the track to Weatherhill

Misty sheep and spider's webs

I walked along the sea front on a couple of misty mornings just to vary my route and saw quite a number of birds passing by on their migration. Most were just black dots but some were close enough to photograph and to id.

Guillemot

Great Crested Grebe

Redshanks

Sandwich Terns

Common Scoter

Teal

Behind the promenade on Grainger's Field the partially leucistic Jackdaw was flapping about as usual.

Magpie wannabe

Up to date with a few from this morning now - nothing new I'm afraid but still a lovely bright morning to be out and about.

A patch of Bird's Foot Trefoil in second field

Cormorant roost is slowly building in numbers

Ruddy Darter

Harlequin Ladybird in disguise

Starting and ending this post with invasive/non-native species wasn't my intention, but it book ends it quite tidily!?!

Brown Argus and Purple Hairstreak

 A day to remember for me as I managed to see Purple Hairstreak and Brown Argus butterflies on the same day. Not perticularly good image of the Hairstreak but at least it came down from the canopy and came close enough for a photo.

Very worn Purple Hairstreak along Wassand Wood edge

Brown Argus at the back, Gatekeeper in the foreground

Brown Argus on ragwort

Brown Argus - didn't re-find so no more pics

Along second field banking there are still warblers to be found. Six Lesser Whitethroat was the most I've ever seen together.

Lesser Whitethroat in flight

Two Lesser Whitethroat

Two LW

A couple of Great White Egrets flew in and landed in the trees on Swan Island. Distant shots were duly taken.

Two GWE on Swan Island

A sunny day not only brought out the less common butterflies, the usual suspects were also out in force.

Sunflowers in the set aside field - bodes well for the finch flocks

Small White and Green-veined White basking

Small White and Green-veined White basking

Speckled Wood

Speckled Wood underside (again)

After not seeing the underside of a Speckled Wood for ages (if ever) this is twice in the last few days I've seen one land and close its wings.

A Roebuck had just settled down for a rest in the hawthorn field when I spotted it. A broken antler and a partially closed eye suggest conflict of some sort, hopefully with another buck rather than a human.

A resting Roebuck

A flock of 42 Barnacle Geese appeared on Wed 30/8, none with neck collars this time but most with yellow leg rings. We'll see if this turns out to be the wintering birds that we are lucky enough to get each year.

Barnacle Geese south of Southorpe Road

The flock of about 40 Lapwing that have been feeding in a ploughed field by the footpath for the last week were still there, but the field has since been harrowed so they may move on now.

Lapwings