Yorkshire birds and butterflies

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A business trip to just south of the Yorkshire moors provided an opportunity for me to have a day out. We left early and I was dropped off at just after 9am even before the visitor centre opened.   I made my way down to the cliffs with 2 or 3 hours to spend there but knowing there was a nice café and shop too!  
As expected it was too late in the season for any auks to be still on the ledges but I did spot three guillemots on the sea so could at least tick those off.   However there were thousands of gannets and kittiwakes with a few gulls and other cliff nesting birds interspersed.  The established colony of tree sparrows were also in evidence.

The weather was fine and sunny although very breezy but still warm in the sheltered areas. I had hoped to see more butterflies amongst the large areas of uncut grass but probably too windy for most.  I did see some butterflies though - painted ladies - hoards of them plus a few whites and a couple of meadow browns.

After a pleasant few hours I was picked up and we made our way to the moors.  Always a nice drive over the purple heather covered landscape and we did see a family of red grouse for my list.


 Guillemots

Gannets
 

 




 
 Kittiwakes


 Linnet



 Linnet


 Painted lady


 Tree sparrow
 




The North York Moors
 
 Stonechat about to take off
 
Red grouse

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