Gary Flakes

A White Nun on a grey drizzly Friday in February at Studley Royal, Ripon, will brighten up anyone’s day.
Aren’t drake Smew brilliant!
@nybirdnews.bsky.social

On Wendy’s camera, Chris. I’ll have a look tomorrow and let you know.

Juvenile Iceland Gull, a biscuity beauty, at Roundhay Park, Leeds, today.
@wendyredrobin.bsky.social had her camera with her, which saved me from taking a memory card full of blurry shots.
#Gulls
#BirdsInContext

Sounds like the greatest excuse ever!

Lovely views of the Slavonian Grebe from Garganey Hide @ldvnnr.bsky.social NDC.
@wendyredrobin.bsky.social should have a decent photo of a bird that usually keeps its distance.
My camera is back at HQ!
@yorkbirding.bsky.social
@nybirdnews.bsky.social

You can park at Castle Howard main car park and walk down to the arboretum car park.

At least three Shags still at The Great Lake, Castle Howard. Decent numbers of Tufted Duck, Goosander & Goldeneye too, together with a guest appearance from the resident female Red-crested Pochard.
@yorkbirding.bsky.social
@nybirdnews.bsky.social

An imposter amongst the ducks. One of two Shags seen @nosterfieldnr.bsky.social at the weekend. Unusual to see them inland. Part of a small influx of birds seen on North Yorkshire lakes following Storm Chandra and recent foggy weather.

Without the assistance of another birdwatcher and a thermal imaging device, I would never have seen this wonderful Woodcock @rspb.bsky.social Bempton Cliffs yesterday afternoon.
Photo taken by @wendyredrobin.bsky.social
@nybirdnews.bsky.social

Waxwing on Acaster Airfield yesterday afternoon.
Lovely to see a @yorkbirding.bsky.social bird this winter.
Some nice close views too, not that you would guess that from my photo.
#BirdsInContext
@nybirdnews.bsky.social

Four Hawfinch visiting the trees that border All Saints’ Church at Harewood today.
Some nice views from the graveyard wall as they dropped into a couple of smaller yews to feed.
Only distant photos though as I like a bird in context pic. Well that’s my excuse.

Aconites & snowdrops already in flower in Masham Churchyard and a fleeting male Firecrest at the end of the rainbow, Green Lane @nosterfieldnr.bsky.social
Bonkers!

There are some incredible photos of the Eastern Black Redstart on SM and then there’s mine.
Hard to resist a visit to Filey on a sunny Monday morning having previously missed the bird in Scarborough and getting thoroughly wet through too.

Thirty seven Sanderling set against a silver sea at Filey this morning. Heading into the winter sun, they passed by me and disappeared as quickly as they arrived.
@nybirdnews.bsky.social

Had a family group of four yesterday, but they were quickly seen off by the Mute Swans.

A rewarding couple of hours today at Filey Brigg in spite of the strong NW wind & the odd icy shower.
Three confiding Snow Buntings on Carr Naze; a Red-necked Grebe, two Great Northern Divers & a Little Auk all on the sea, bay side.
@nybirdnews.bsky.social

Caught up with a juvenile Red-throated Diver today that had become a little lost on its overnight commute. The perch was a little less pleased to see it.
@yorkbirding.bsky.social
@nybirdnews.bsky.social

Lovely to get one of my photos on the rear cover of the 2024 report.
The less said about the front cover the better!
@wendyredrobin.bsky.social

Away from the chaos along the coast. Second helpings of Nosterfield’s Red-necked Phalarope, lunch in Masham, then over the tops to Gouthwaite Reservoir and a game of spot the difference for the somewhat sleepy & distant Lesser Scaup.
@nybirdnews.bsky.social

Yes I think so, Jeremy. Didn't register with me untill I saw your LDV post.
Enjoy your retirement and I'll no doubt bump into you again in the near future!

Today’s two Clouded Yellow butterflies @ldvnnr.bsky.social provided the usual photographic challenge. Too distant, behind vegetation and out of focus. Not to mention too quick & almost constantly on the move.
@bcyorkshire.bsky.social

Caught up with my first Brown Argus of the year on the Causeway at a blustery @nosterfieldnr.bsky.social today.
@bcyorkshire.bsky.social
@savebutterflies.bsky.social

Had a fairly quiet June, so lovely to start July with three Silver-washed Fritillaries in Bishop Wood, North Yorkshire today.
@bcyorkshire.bsky.social
@savebutterflies.bsky.social

Very nice, Trevor.

Finally caught up with the thief that has been stealing the apples I leave out for the birds in my garden. Approaching 10pm so difficult to get a decent photo but I think this would stand up in a court of law.
#foxoftheday
#foxcub
@bbcspringwatch.bsky.social
@chrisgpackham.bsky.social

Lovely to catch up with twenty plus Small Blue butterflies today on the outskirts of York.
A recent reintroduction scheme at an undisclosed site, now firmly established and doing well.
Britain’s smallest and easily overlooked.
@bcyorkshire.bsky.social
@savebutterflies.bsky.social

A lack of orchids at Leyburn Old Glebe & a very low River Ure are the result of a continued lack of rain this spring.
Spotted Flycatcher & a female Banded Demoiselle were new for 2025, and a beast of a Mistle Thrush saved the day.
@nybirdnews.bsky.social

Seems like there have been more showy Garden Warblers this year, perhaps as a consequence of the warm, sunny weather?
This showy bird was belting out its ‘babbling brook’ song @nosterfieldnr.bsky.social yesterday.

It's never an Osprey...