Looks like it might have moved on.
Been up a few times for it, photography was never easy, heres a few of my best shots.
Mixed Fortunes...
I thought I would get out early this morning and head off back up to Filey for another crack at the surf scoter then head back down to Harpham for the reported black-bellied dipper.
Got to filey for around 7.45 and the drive up was pretty grim with thick fog for most of the way.
Looking over the cliff top the good news was that the sun was breaking through but the bad new was that there was no sign of the surf scoter.
I spent a good quarter of an hour deliberating as to whether I should make the perilous decent to the bottom of the cliff.
I noticed a birder in front of me had gone down so maybe he'd seen something.
As I got to the end of the cliff I had another scan before climbing down and this time I saw a duck less than 10 yards off the rocks and the birder had set his scope in from of it!
The decent was all the more quicker ! eventually getting down and across the rocks in double quick time.
The bird stayed feeding just off the rocks for a good twenty minutes before slowly drifting along and then back out into the bay.
An absolutely stunning bird, doubtful if I'll ever get this close to a surf scoter again.
I called in at Harpham on the way back and spent a good hour and a half looking for the black bellied dipper to no avail.Hey Ho!
Surf Scoter
I had news of a surf scoter at Filey Brigg this morning and I have to say they are one of my favorite ducks and the fact that it was a male soon had me on the way.
I called in quickly at Flamborough hoping for a quick look at the reported white fronted goose but no luck there.
Arriving at the Country Park at Filey, the tell tale sign of birders looking intently down into the bay told me it was still there.
I made my way down the cliff as it was swimming by on its way to the brig proper.
It stayed in the lee of the brig all the time I was there and never came really close (but closer than the one in the Summer of 2013).
The light wasn't great but I was happy with these shots plus the seals were a welcome distraction.
All in all not a bad day could be tempted again tomorrow.
