2016 in 12 picture

Intro

Most of this year, due to having more free time, I’ve managed to blog when I’ve had the inspiration and a few photographs. I’ve rarely left Yorkshire though so most of the highlights will inevitably be local. I’ve kept going with Cottingham Moths but still wonder whether it’s worth the effort. However viewing figures have doubled since last year. See how I feel when I start trapping again in 2017.

January

My first picture for 2016 is the returning Barmston Kumlien’s Gull, seen on the 31st. It proved tricky this year [more here].

Kumlien’s Gull on Barmston Beach

February

An Early Moth found in Cottingham on Travis Road on the 6th was a new one for me [see here].

Early Moth

March

March was poor for photographs so I’ll settle for my first picture of a Small Tortoiseshell of the year taken at Far Grange.

Small Tortoiseshell at Far Grange, Skipsea

April

My best photograph of the month was a very showy Cetti’s Warbler at Tophill Low NR that performed close to North Marsh Hide for several days.

Cetti’s Warbler at North Marsh-Tophill Low NR

May

This month’s photograph is the two Glossy Ibises at North Cave Wetlands NR, taken on the 29th. A site tick for most regulars.

Glossy Ibises on Dryham Ings-North Cave Wetlands NR

June

This month it’s a Dingy Skipper taken at Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit near Market Weighton on the 5th. A difficult species to see locally and even more to photograph [Full account here].

Dingy Skipper at Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit

July

Perversely my picture for July is an escaped/released Corn Snake found at High Eske NR on the 25th but it survived to provide material for a light hearted posting in August [see here].

Corn Snake-High Eske NR

August

August was a good month for waders at Tophill Low NR, had a site tick in the form of Spotted Crake at North Cave Wetlands and some good insects. All these are covered in the blog but the choice goes to the Western Swamp-hen at Minsmere RSPB on the 1st [see here].

Western Swamp-hen-Minsmere RSPB

September

This month I go for a moth. My first Brick on the 17th.

Brick-Cottingham

October

October was a mad month, said to be the best rarity wise ever. Oddly I never left Yorkshire but the best bird, for me at least, was the Siberian Accentor at Easington seen the same afternoon as my first Yorkshire Paddyfield Warbler [full account here].

Siberian Accentor-Vicar’s Lane, Easington

November

November was a waterbird month and represented by this Black-necked Grebe I found at Tophill Low NR on the 22nd [See here].

Black-necked Grebe on D res at Tophill Low NR

December

The last photograph should have been Dusky Thrush at Beeley but didn’t see it long enough to get a picture on my 1st attempt and not at all on the 2nd [see here]. Therefore the space is filled by Eastern Black Redstart at Skinningrove, with in the historic borders of Yorkshire [see here].

Eastern Black Redstart-Skinningrove

Top 10 posts of 2016 [viewing figures]

1 The Flamborough/Easington twitch-Paddyfield Warbler and Siberian Accentor

2 Migrants-Kilnsea/Easington including Olive-backed Pipit

3 Putative Stejneger’s Stonechat at Spurn Point–Since confirmed

4 31/1/16 Kumlien’s Gull at Barmston [for the 4th year?]

5 Waxwings at last-Hessle Sainsbury’s

6 Alkborough Flats–pre-Western Swamp-hen

7 The Grey Phalarope at Tophill Low NR

8 Spotted Crake at North Cave Wetlands

9 North Cave Wetlands YWT–Birds and insects

10 2015 in 12 pictures

Eastern Black Redstart in Skinningrove

28/12/16 Anyone who follows this blog will know that although I’ve seen Eastern Black Redstart on Holy Island I’ve since missed one thrice in Yorkshire [see here and here]. Since one turned up in Cleveland, in the historic county of Yorkshire, I’ve planned to go but just hadn’t managed yet. However when I was picked up by ML and RL on Wednesday morning was told we were off to Skinningrove. Like my Beeley trips [see here] I again encountered the idiosyncrasies of SatNavs. The inland route via Malton and Pickering looked best but although it looked to be following that route it suddenly sent us towards Bridlington then the rest of the way up the coast. Ok, of course ML could have ignored it but there is a fascination to just seeing where it’s going to take us. Anyway got there without any real problems. Today was very cold, likely the coldest this winter so far, and it’s worth noting that the final approach to the village is very steep and narrow and not helped by a covering of frost. Even worse going back up in bottom gear. Anyway after negotiating the road system found our way to the car park by the jetty. Walking along got confirmation that the bird was still present and although not showing immediately we did see it soon including pretty close on the stone work.

1st winter ♂ Eastern Black Redstart-Skinningrove

Eastern Black Redstart with GoPro

Went back down to the beach and was showing well below two others birders there.

Mike and Steve with Eastern Black Redstart on rocks

It was only when we got down there did I realise it was SM and MR, even though they’d been trying to attract our attention since we’d arrived. Also plenty of Robin and Dunnock feeding among the boulders.

Robin-Skinningrove beach

Dunnock-Skinningrove

Surprised to see Fulmars already on nest sites on the cliffs above.

Fulmar on cliff face at Skinningrove

Not long after we got on the beach the Eastern Black Redstart moved to the eastern end of the rocks then disappeared and after not been seen for over half an hour we called it a day. This is my first Black Redstart since one at Barmston in December 2013. Went back the via inland route.

Street art by Karl Striker-Skinningrove