Scarborough

We spent Thursday at the coast, a spur of the moment trip after our intended destination of Southport forecast rain! The weather was much better in Scarborough (though it doesn't look it in the pic below) and it's an old favourite. We'd decided on taking a boat trip out to try and see seals so booked that for later in the day.

I saw my first Painted Lady of the year basking on a rock, though the sun was playing hide and seek at this point.

It's been a while since I went to Peasholm park so we headed there next, it was busy and I noticed they had signs up about the navel reenactment that was on in the afternoon,  I don't think they used to charge for that in the past? I remember seeing it with my parents and brother when we were kids, you could also go onto the island in the middle back then, it had big rabbits that used to try and leave across the bridge with you!

If you keep walking through the park to the back it's a little quieter and a haven for squirrels and pigeons! We spotted Robins, Blackbirds, Chaffinch and Dunnocks too. We had nuts for the squirrels, they're not in the least bit bothered by people and as I used to do as a child, my daughter fed a few of them straight from her hand.

This little guy got a bit cheeky!

The pigeons were all scared off by a Sparrowhawk that flew in to the pine trees above our heads, a sudden phone call put paid to any chance of a photo though, I couldn't juggle the camera and the phone as it flew into a nearby tree, which was a shame.

We were getting pushed for time now so walked to the beach and sat and had a bit of lunch, watched carefully by the Herring Gulls including this juvenile.

Back at the main seafront there was a Kestrel hovering by the cliffs, as we watched is swooped down into the undergrowth, we saw it a couple of times during the day but I only managed this shot. 

On to the boat trip, it's a small boat that takes you out, well probably not so small, it just seemed it next to some of the others! Luckily as it turned out, I got a seat in the middle so I could see both sides and got to sit on the steps at the front to take photos too. You're out about 1hr 45 mins altogether and I only had a brief moment where I thought I might feel a little queasy, it passed though! The guys who run the trip were fun and pointed out the birds around. I saw Gannets diving for fish and your Guillemots on the water, along with Cormorants and plenty of Herring Gulls overhead. There were a couple of Herons along the coast too.

We were told we'd most likely see Grey and Common Seals and they didn't disappoint, there were a lot of them about and just seemed curious about us and not particularly bothered. There was a few young ones on the rocks too.

It was well worth doing, seeing the seals was just lovely.

Back on dry land and we had to do a couple of things that are pretty much compulsory on a trip to the seaside.......

Although I am on my own when it comes to the prawns!

A few more pictures from the day.

Turnstone 

From the top of the Big Wheel