Grey with Splashes of Colour

Last week weather-wise was a rerun of the previous week.  Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoon were as grey as the previous week, but Tuesday and Friday morning were quite bright. Despite this some photographers managed to get some fairly good pictures.  
Drake Goosander (c) 2017 Dick Watson
 I found some photos from last week's visit to Waters' Edge including this male Bullfinch, a Dunlin and some Pink-footed Geese flying NW.
Male Bullfinch
 Dunlin
 Pink-footed Geese
Both Wednesday classes went to Waters' Edge last week where the afternoon group had excellent views of a very pink Lesser Redpoll. The morning group saw a Water Rail.  Other birds encountered included: Siskin, Goldeneye, Pink-footed Geese, Curlew, Redshank, Dunlin, Bullfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Shoveler, Gadwall, Little Grebe, G S Woodpecker, etc 
Female Goldeneye
 Ditto
 Long-tailed Tit
 Ditto
Lesser Redpoll
 Ditto
 Ditto
 Siskins
 Female Siskin (c) 2017 Tony Robinson
 Male Siskin (c) 2017 Tony Robinson
 Ditto
 Female Siskin (c) 2017 Tony Robinson
 It was grey at East Park on Thursday, but the wildlife continued to oblige.  A pair of Jays were found in thickets, but Dick stayed behind to get a picture of one in the open.  In the afternoon the absolute highlight was a swooping Peregrine which powered through the park scattering all the gulls, but started its flight by crossing the road just in front of us.  
Jay (c) 2017 Dick Watson
Drake Goosander (c) 2017 Dick Watson
 Drake Goosander (c) 2017 Dick Watson
Earlier in the week Dick stropped off at Scarborough harbour for the beautiful Red-breasted Merganser.  It belongs to the same family as the Goosander. 
Red-breasted Merganser (c) 2017 Dick Watson
Female Goosander (c) 2017 Dick Watson
 Pink-footed Goose (c) 2017 Dick Watson
 Pink-footed with Greylag Goose (c) 2017 Dick Watson
 Ditto
  Male Kingfisher (c) 2017 Dick Watson
 Ditto
 Black-headed Gulls (c) 2017 Dick Watson
 Common Gull (c) 2017 Dick Watson
At Tophill Low on Friday, the highlight was seen by Mike and Glenys who stayed into the evening  - a Barn Owl hunting in very low light.  Meanwhile the rest of the birds included: a pair of Pintail, Goldcrests, Siskins, Goldeneye, Shoveler, Shelduck, Gadwall, Teal, L. Egret, Curlew, Treecreeper, Cormorant, etc
Barn Owl (c) 2017 Mike Woods
 Ditto
Drake Goldeneye (c) 2017 Mike Woods
Diving (c) 2017 Mike Woods
Disappearing (c) 2017 Mike Woods
 Sleeping Drake Pintail
 Treecreeper
 Wren
 Siskin
 Goldcrest
 Cormorants
 Moss & Lichen (c) 2017 Mike Woods

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