Filey fun

Some fun times spent at Filey recently, with a great moth/bat event at YWT Filey Dams last Friday, hosted by Filey Bird Obs, which added about a dozen species to my moth list, including Small Rufous, Diamond-back Moth and Old Lady. Kipped over in the car park, then headed out nice and early to the coast, which revealed a glass-like sea-surface and lots of Harbour Porpoise action. Sadly, no Minke Whales, though one was seen later. I headed up into the forest and following a tip from Rich and Viper Dan, finally found a Wykeham Honey Buzzard, an adult female, which got up about 9.50am, soared around over the forest then headed north west. A few other bits of interest, including Willow Tit, Spotted Flycatcher and a fine male Goshawk. Back to Filey for the Woodcock Festival which was great fun, highlights being the Legend that is John Law, the Railroad Hobos (featuring colleague Elizabeth Round) and of course the excellent Morning Bride.

I returned to Filey yesterday, hoping to jam in on the Greenish Warbler found yesterday by Mark P. The Dams continued to look great, with 8 Ruff, 7 Dunlin, 3 Green Sand, 2 Common Sand and a few Teal. At North Cliff, a few migrants included Painted Lady, Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Whinchat, several Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs. Sadly, a possible Wood Warbler escaped confirmation. A few Wall butterflies were kicking around - always nice to see.

Sad news was that the heavy rain on Friday night caused our House Martin nest to fall down. It killed one of the two chicks immediately, but the other died while I was trying to put up a box to replace the nest. I will put the box up anyway, just in case the parents might want to try again. Really sad as both chicks looked like they could have fledged in about a week. :-(

 From top, Green Sand at the Dams, a rather drab Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Wall.