Rufford Abbey

Can't believe we have never been here before. Karen's love of architecture took over and off she went totally missing the single hawfinch ! She made up for it later by finding a red kite. Will definitely return, but will be slightly earlier in the day.........and it is totally free ! The abbey was built in 1146 and a section of the original building still remains. Must go back !

Had a fantastic raptor day with red kite, kestrel, sparrowhawk, buzzard, marsh harrier, peregrine and hen harrier. 

Alkborough Flats

Hen Harrier & Barn Owl

We sat for hours waiting for one of the hen harriers to fly in, feet like ice and coffee long drunk ! Karen then asked 'what's the best setting on my camera for the sunset?' so settings were altered on Karen's camera just as this hen harrier flew past with setting on Simon's camera totally wrong! Typical and it just about summed the weekends birding up !

Back again we go next weekend only this time we will be ready !

The local barn owl at dusk

A day out in Scarborough for Karen's birthday

A change of plan as we had originally decided to go to Seahouses in Northumberland  for the weekend. The weather forecast was dire with heavy rain forecast for the entire weekend. Shouldn't have taken any notice of this as it was, as usual, totally wrong! So, Friday was Karen's birthday so off we went to Scarborough for the day. First stop on the way in was B & Q where 2 waxwings were in the trees outside. Next stop was to The Mere where a cracking bacon butty was devoured while we searched for the firecrest. Drew a blank on this one so decided to head off to Holbeck carpark for the Med Gulls, we saw 3. Then down into Scarborough for the Great Northern Diver and a chippy lunch. A perfect day !!

                     and we had a........

 Scarborough Harbour

 Great Northern Diver

 Med Gulls

 Waxwings

Then home for lashings of chinese takeaway, wine and Karen's pressies. A lovely day out xx