We spent a little time in Peasholm park,which is a well known spot for hand feeding squirrels, though someone forgot to tell them it was breakfast time today, mostly it was Pigeons and Gulls looking for food! The lake does have a fair few birds - Mallards, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Ducks, Swans, Canada & Hybrid Geese and of course lots of Herring Gulls. A few Crows were holding their own and we saw a couple squabbling with the Gulls and coming out on top!
Tufted Duck
Canada Goose
Feral Pigeon
Wren
Herring Gull
There is an island in the middle of the lake which used to be open to the public many years ago, I remember going across to it as a child (about 35 years ago!) and it having lots of rabbits, which we had to be careful not to let across the bridge. It is now open to the public again and it was odd to be crossing that bridge after so long. It's well kept and lots of flowers were blooming including Primula and Bluebells. At the top is a Japanese garden complete with pond full of fish. We saw Long-tailed Tits flitting around the trees and could hear a Chiffchaff. Across from the island on one of the mini islands used in the boat battles here a Grey Wagtail was wandering around.
Primula
A waterfall runs from the top of the island into the lake
Bluebells
Onto the front and the sun is already shining, we may have had a bacon sandwich to set us up for the long walk around Marine Drive............
I spotted this bird on one of the slipways on the walk around and the one in the second two photos on the way back later in the day - Rock Pipit I believe, i'm not sure if it's the same bird though.
Of course everywhere we went there were Gulls, the staple of the British seaside! We also found a couple of Turnstones on one of the piers.
Herring Gull
3 CY Herring Gull (I think, probably wrong but I gave it a go!) with a Turnstone
Herring Gull on a fork lift truck
Turnstone
This Lesser Black-backed Gull was flying around the open air theatre
On the cliffs along Marine Drive lots of Kittiwakes are nesting, watched over by Peregrine, we spotted one sat in a crevice, too far off for a decent photo though. We saw the birds spooked a few times and they go crazy, calling and swooping about before settling again.
The crowds were overpowering by early afternoon so we made the walk back along Marine Drive to the car and home.
The presence of a Peregrine Falcon no doubt makes the Kittiwakes very nervous. I suspect that more than a few have them have become and will become Peregrine lunch. And if the falcons are breeding there the predation will only intensify when there are young to feed.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Peregrine's have been on the cliffs for a few years now and have bred too, the Kittiwakes always come back though!
DeleteIt looks a wonderful day out with some good sightings. I love the idea of visiting an island in the lake - it looks magical. Hoping to see a seabird city this year myself as we are going to Anglesey and hope to visit South Stack :)
ReplyDeleteOh that should be good, we're going to Wales in the summer and planning to visit Ramsey Island.
DeleteThe island in the lake sounds wonderful - a Japanese garden and long tailed tits sounds delightful. My husband remembers visiting Peaseholm Park on childhood family holidays:)
ReplyDeleteScarborough was (and is) certainly the place for family holidays :)
DeleteWhat a great collection of photos, it looks like a good day out.
ReplyDeleteThanks Louise, we got lucky with the weather!
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