Fish Supper

Fish Supper, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

You don't want to mess with these guys. Greater Black-backed Gulls are big old birds with appetites to match. I have seen these take adult Guillemots from the water before and there isn't a lot around here that can bother them. This discarded fish head didn't put up much of a fight either.

FEEEEED MEEEE!!!

FEEEEED MEEEE!!!, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

This mornings wander took us to Dancing Ledge, a quarry well known locally for its rock-cut swimming pool and the occasional sighting of a Puffin or two. Three Puffins showed their painted faces in fact, but they were quite a way away, as well as a couple of Yellowhammers and a family of Stonechats. The Stonechats are always good to watch and we spent quite a while doing just that.

In Flight Meal

In Flight Meal, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Both Stonechat parents were busy this morning, bringing fly after fly back to the kids. Then, all of a sudden Mr Stonechat turned up with a big old butterfly and both kids started really playing up.

Phalacrocorax

Phalacrocorax, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

The name is just as prehistoric as the bird! Plenty of Shags around this morning, flying to and from the cliffs but this one decided to sit for a while.
It was difficult to get the feather detail on the wings without overblowing the pale rocks.

What Has Grey Wings, A Waggy Tail & Flies?

What Has Grey Wings, A Waggy Tail & Flies?, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

While Mrs Grey Wagtail worked tirelessly to keep her chicks full of flies, the Moorhen family (still with six youngsters) paddled in the stream to a chorus of 'ooohs' and 'aaahs' from passers-by.
Still not much light under the trees and by this time the Sun had well and truly disappeared.

Confusion

Confusion, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

I suppose when you are hungry you don't mind who brings your dinner. There were three young Grey Wagtails here, keeping mum very busy. There wasn't an awful lot of light under the trees and not even me doing my finest wounded fly impression could temp them into the Sun.

Evensong

Evensong, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

It is good to have the evening walks back again and even better when the clouds stay away as the Sun goes down. There is an amazing chorus of birdsong in the evenings and fighting for the top slot is the Thrush. There seems to be one of these at the top of every tree, each one singing his little heart out.