The Juvenile Birder

Dipping Rather Than Ticking! We arrived at Mynydd Mawr at 8:20am (Leaving at 5am!) in hopes of seeing a rare Isabelline Wheatear. We had been told by our mentor that there is also Chough here (which would be another lifer after dipping them last week). We parked in a big, grassy layby and started our trek up to the bird. At first, we were a bit disorientated, but we managed to find the right footpath up to the location where the bird was last seen. Without any effort and with no birder in sight we straight away found the medium-sized bird (much larger than I anticipated). It flew straight in front of us and landed up to 10 metres away. I got many record shots, as it danced around near us. It was very pale, and seemed to be the only wheatear there, leading us to believe that it was indeed our target bird, the Isabelline Wheatear . I was thrilled to see this bird, as I was in Gloucestershire, when it was reported last weekend, I really needed it to stick for me! We then scanned around fo...

 A Cruise Onboard The Yorkshire Belle! We arrived on North Pier in Bridlington Harbour waiting for our cruise to arrive and take us on a voyage around the cliffs from there to Jubilee Viewpoint at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, a 3 hour sail.  We went on at 4:30pm, hoping to see some lifers. In a little while, Kittiwakes, Gannets and 5 Common Scoters were seen. We then passed South Landing Beach and saw 3 Whimbrel as they flew low over the sea past the ship. The first lifer of the cruise. We then went past Flamborough Head's YWT seawatching hide where seals and shags put on a show. We then passed Staple Newk Viewpoint where we got a nice view of the Black-Browed Albatross from below, on the cliff. Then, near Bartlett Viewpoint, we managed to spot the small fin of a Harbour Porpoise over and over again on our way there and back. On our travel back we saw quite a few Fulmars and throughout the voyage, Puffins showed in huge flocks fairly close to the ship. The Yorkshire Belle made me feel...

 Waders and Goosanders! ​We arrived at 6:30am hoping for a glimpse of a European Badger or Tawny Owl. We saw neither, but we did see something moving through the glassy surface of the lake, from the Causeway Hide. A dog European Otter was hunting out on the lake. The sun hit the lake, turning it almost pink. Little Grebes, Great Crested Grebes, Common Goldeneye and much more where out already. We went to the Lower Hide. We saw huge flocks of Greylag Geese with European Rabbits and Common Pheasants mixed in. We saw two juvenile European Otters playing before they parted ways. Common Snipe, Northern Pintail and Mute Swans. We went back and headed straight towards the saltmarsh, to the Eric Morcambe and Allen Hide. We were told it was a short drive away but it took more than an hour for us to find it. It was hidden, through a boggy dirt path and into a car park. We found it on foot. While walking to the saltmarsh, we saw a flock of Fieldfares in a field . It was our first time visitin...

  Otters Finally! We arrived at 7:25 in the morning in hopes of catching a glimpse of the elusive, sinuous European Otter. When we arrived, we were welcomed by a dawn chorus, loads of songbirds singing in the morning, and we heard Eurasian Green Woodpeckers, Marsh Tits, Great Tits and many other species. We went straight along the Causeway and straight through the Causeway Hide. Only one other birder was there that early. We went straight through the woodland part and arrived at the Lower Hide, the furthest hide, at 7:40. The other person in the hide had only seen Giant Otters in South America. This was their third and final attempt before she headed back to her home, as she was living in a van for 3 days since this place was far. We soon met two more people who said that they'd seen 2 juvenile European Otters at a bridge along the Causeway that crosses a channel. We soon left unsuccessful but had to return to grab the phone that we forgot at the hide. When we entered the Lowe...