I hade a cracking morning with the camera today.

I started at Bempton and wanted to be there for sunrise. Anticipating it being a bit chilly I was dressed in full-on winter mode. As it turned out every layer was justified-it was freezing. I knew that the onshore wind would help with the photography as the birds like to ‘hang’ in the wind just off the edge of the cliff.

The first good bird was a barn owl hunting in the field outside the visitor centre.

As the sun was rising there was a little bit of cloud-this always helps as the effect creates a myriad of colours.

The gannets were very obliging as were the fulmars, There were also the usual suspects in the form of razorbill, gulliemot, kittiwake and a few distant puffins.

It was the gannets I’d really come to see and O always like to try and get something different-early morning sun is a great help.

After an hour or so I moved on to Filey Dams- I was really hoping for a garganey but the great white egret was a nice surprise. Fighting coots also made for a good photo opportunity.

Then on to Tophill Low-its the first time I’ve been for a while and I was very pleasantly surprised. They have creaated a single entrance into the reserve with a nice wlk through open wood;and to get to each end of the reserve.

Blackcaaps, willow warblers and chiff-chaffs were aplenty despite the chilly easterly wind.

O reservoir was full of hirundines-mainly sand martin but also accompanied by the odd swallow and house martin. A little gull was seen distantly patrolling along the far bank.

I then went to have a look at the new members hide-it was very impressive and no doubt will ne great in the summer when the migrating waders arrive.

All in all a super Sunday despite the distinctly wintery feeling.