Showing posts with label cayuga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cayuga. Show all posts

Saturday, 18 July 2026

Boat journey along the cliffs from Bridlington to Bempton in sun and rain, plus late afternoon sunny walk in Thornwick Bay -10th June 2026

When the Yorkshire Belle set off from Bridlington the sun was shining, but that was short-lived!

It was dry when we sailed past Flamborough Head and the old lighthouse

There were dark clouds behind the new lighthouse at Flamborough Head

Unfortunately, it then began to rain very heavily and I was forced to retreat into the covered part of the boat where all I could see were raindrops on the window!

Luckily, when the boat stopped at a viewpoint, the rain cleared enough to be able to go back outside

One Bridled Guillemot amongst the others in the water

Razorbills on the side of the cliff

and Kittiwake on nests

and rows of Guillemots

We then set off towards Bempton Cliffs and it started raining heavily again, so I went back inside! 

Fortunately, as before, when the boat stopped in front of some amazing rock formations, it actually stopped raining too 

There were some mini-people standing at a viewpoint in the RSPB reserve at the top of Bempton Cliffs


Northern Gannets and people on the cliffs

More interesting rock formations

Slightly closer view of the Gannets


The people were still a long way away!


Northern Gannet perching low down on the side of the cliff

It was drier on the way back to Bridlington and I was able to sit outside again watching the birds

Atlantic Puffin disturbed by the sound of the boat

and other birds flying away from the Yorkshire Belle

Northern Gannets flying in formation

Group of Guillemots

Heavy rain on the horizon!

Later in the day, back at Thornwick, I went for a sunny walk and saw the Brown Hare again

Male Reed Bunting perching on a Hawthorn

Large Cayuga duck on grass near the edge of the lake

Colourful red Poppies growing at the edge of a field near the lake

Male Greenfinch singing while perching on a small tree

Double rainbow over the sea at Thornwick Bay

Tiny bunny copying the Brown Hare pose!

 

Friday, 2 January 2026

Ducks and geese on the river Yare - and Santa! - in Thorpe St Andrews on 23rd December 2025

 The river Yare in Thorpe St Andrews on a rather overcast pre-Christmas afternoon

Plenty of Black-headed gulls, a Greylag goose and a selection of Mallards

Female Mallard following three different types of Mallard drake

Two of the feather variations in the Mallard drakes

Large Cayuga duck

Egyptian goose

A few females with Mallard drakes in normal and different feather combinations


Male Gadwall with a female Mallard

I was watching the male Gadwall when it suddenly flew up from the river

Handsome Gadwall drake

Melanistic Mallard drake

Mallard in the usual colouring at the top and one with different feather suit at the bottom

I was hoping that this was a white Dove, but think it might be a white Pigeon - not sure?

The Cayuga duck is almost as large as the Greylag and Egyptian geese

The Cayuga towered above the Mallards when it was standing up

Cygnet at the edge of the river

One boat was decorated with coloured lights - better seen in the dark!

Light-coloured female with a Mallard drake

Pair of Egyptian geese ready for a ride along the river

Mallard hybrid having a word with a pal

Selection of Mallards on the grass

A skein of geese flew overhead

Later in the week I discovered a very large Santa had visited one of the nearby houses!!!!!