The Juvenile Birder

A First For Britain!! We arrived at 8:00am at Eyebrook Reservoir (Leicestershire) in hopes of seeing a reported White-rumped Sandpiper. We met someone who let me look through his scope to see it. A lifer for me! It was paler that the Dunlin it was feeding with. It was also slightly smaller and longer than the Dunlin. Soon after, a large raptor hovered for a second above the water. It was an Osprey! It flew around and then went away. He told me it was likely the ones nesting at Rutland Water. The White-rumped Sandpiper kept feeding distantly as we viewed it. Not long after the Osprey, two Red Kites soared in the field behind us, as well as three more feeding in the field opposite us. We then went to Willow Tree Fen in hopes if seeing some Cranes but when we arrived (at 10:50am) it was closed. We waited a bit as it mentioned on Facebook that it was open today. Soon after, a report came in on Rare Bird Alert of a Cape Gull. We found out that it was a first for Britain and lucky for us, we...

 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...