At last we have some decent weather!! So it was great to get out in the garden and try to ‘shoot’ some Swifts against a nice blue sky. Swifts are pretty difficult to shoot, but with nice light, a fast shutter, perseverance and a lot of luck you can get some nice images!!
On the 4th of June I went up to the local forest to see if I could see any raptors but no luck – however I did have a great sighting of some Red Deer !!! These were the first Red Deer I have seen locally for at least 15 years. It was just like being back in the Highlands of Scotland!!
Since returning from working out in the Gulf back in 2018, I have always searched the local forests systematically for Honey Buzzards from late May onwards and unfortunately due to their very elusive natures I have been unlucky. But on the 8th June my luck changed with a stunning , although distant flypast. Alf my birding companion and myself were ecstatic – after countless hours of watching we had a brilliant view for about 30 seconds as two birds floated past!!!
On the 11th June our travels took us to the south side of Pickering on the Carr lowlands and to our surprise we picked up a flock of c.90 Barnacle Geese. On the 15th June we were back in the forests North of Pickering to see if we could spot our Honey Buzzards again ….. but no luck. However, as the afternoon went on the expectation began to grow ….. then suddenly…. A large raptor was spotted ….. definitely not a Buzzard…. large with a flat wing profile and very pale underneath …. surely not …. Oh yes… An Osprey!!! What made the sighting even sweeter was the fact it was a local sighting. Our luck was certainly paying off.
Unfortunately, the UK is not blessed with many predatory animals; so it is a great moment when you are fortunate to see one – even better when they are hunting. This was the case on the 18th of June when we came across a Stoat despatching a young rabbit!! What determined and voracious hunters these little animals are. They usually kill their prey with a bite to the neck, which severs their prey’s spinal cord. Sadly a passing car frightened the Stoat away from its intended victim and it never returned for its dinner!! On inspecting the deceased rabbit the puncture marks left by the Stoat’s canines were plain to see.
Apart from Honey Buzzards, another Summer speciality of the forests near to where I live are Turtle Doves. In last month’s post I mentioned the immense pressures that these beautiful birds are facing, trying to see one is difficult – let alone photograph it !! But one has to persevere, for ones art – or so the saying goes. On the 24th June that changed slightly as Alf, my birding companion and I were out on a Honey Buzzard survey when we heard a Turtle Dove purring away and sure enough we located the bird perched on the branch of a dead tree. Some anxious moments followed – and I managed to get some frames fired off, before the bird flew to the other side of the road into deep cover – but continued calling!!!
Four days later on the 28th June we were back at the same site, but guess what – not a sign of the bird anywhere!!! Oh the joys of Birding. However, I did manage to get some shots of a Small Copper soaking up the afternoon sun. What stunning little butterflies !!
I never imagined June would end in such a dramatic fashion – but that is exactly what happened!!! However, to put things into context, lets track back to last year ….. 1st July, 2020: restrictions had been lifted and people were getting used to travelling around again with a bit more freedom. Then the news broke …. a Black Browed Albatross had been seen at Bempton Cliffs RSPB reserve ; well the Birding community went bonkers!!! Lightning surely couldn’t strike twice?? But that is exactly what happened – the Albatross turned up again at Bempton !!! The date of this years arrival was the late afternoon of the 28th. As you can imagine Twitter was just bouncing that night. Alf my birding mate , had dipped out out on the Albatross last year and previous to this bird he had seen the one at Hermaness in Shetland back in the 80’s. So on the morning of the 29th we were stood on one of the viewing platforms at Bempton extremely anxious!!! However, we didn’t have to wait long at 10;00 am the Albatross flew under our viewing platform giving excellent views; making a lot of grown up people very, very happy !!! Alf was bowled over, breaking a 40 year old jinx …. and I can confidently state, tongue in cheek, not many people can say a Black Browed Albatross is a UK Year tick …What a bird !!!! Unlike last year, the Black Browed Albatross is returning to the same site on a regular basis at Bempton and affording excellent views. What a way to sign off June.
