COMMON NIGHTHAWK - Revisted

Around the County

Clockwise jaunt around Yorkshire yesterday...well, part of it! Leaving East and heading North into Teeside...Old Yorks for us County Listers.

I arrived in Redcar around Noon and headed for the beach with my gear...and dog...on the lead of course. I AM a responsible dog owner. I have to be, with my anti-social four legged friend! He protects me; lol!

Phil was already "in situ" and "on" the bird. The incoming tide was pushing it ever closer... fortunately!

I rattled a few pics off...of which this was the best...

Greater Sand Plover

...before it flew South with other waders and wasn't seen again before we left around 1.15. It was re-located later in the day. This was my 9th sighting of this Species having seen 2 in Britain before, at John Muir C.P. East Lothian (June 1999) and Spurn (July 18). I've also seen them in Cyprus and the UAE.

Phil headed for Spurn and I headed for Cloughton, north of Scarborough to try for Turtle Dove. With the info I had I eventually found the site and a couple of Birders. Two TD were present on wires but distant and into the sun...at some considerable distance.

I figured it was worth trying the western side, if possible. I noted a few of the buildings along the main road  and headed off there. I found the Village Hall and parked up. After a brief reccy I made my way to the rear and found the relevant Telegraph Poles. There was no apparent access to the Farm fields, which meant I was wasn't much nearer to be honest, which was disappointing. Still at least the sun was behind me...

I did eventually see 4 birds on the wires though...

It had been some time since I'd seen this species.

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This morning we had a stroll down to Old Hive from Cliff Farm on yet another wonderful sunny morning. Richard had reported a Stonechat there yesterday and I was keen to add it to my Year List. Sure enough, it popped up in the brambles within 5 minutes of arriving...

Stonechat (P.118, H.111)

A search through the Old Hive Copse produced nothing except a passing Sand Martin. A couple of Turnstones flew South as I returned towards the car. I then noticed a movement in the grasses...

The youngster soon headed West after spotting us...

The Stonechat was the key sighting of the morning though...

Bit of Both

Yesterday found me at Duff for a "three-hourer"...10 till 1...

Tough going with heavy cover and heat haze...but VERY relaxing. Had a good chat with a nice guy from York who was doing a bike, train, bus..."thing". Highlights were Red Kite and Lesser Whitethroat (78)...

Great to be there. 36 Years and counting!

This morning's extended walk produced a single Wheatear...

Beach and Garden

Another stroll along the  beach with the good lady produced some extremely tame juvenile Dunlins (possibly never seen humans before)...

Great to see.

A leisurely afternoon around the house and garden was enlivened by a couple of juvenile Song Thrushes gorging on Elderberries...

Easy Birding!

Precious Waders

The contrasts in habitats between Holmpton and (slightly) further South aka Spurn and the Humber Estuary is marked....and it's not weighted in the formers favour!

Yesterday started with a swim for my lad...

A few Teal headed South...

A juvenile Skylark tried its best to avoid detection on the Cliff...it allowed me to walk right past it...

I managed a glimpse of a young Willow Warbler in the lane on the way back the Cottage...

A stop off at "The Sewage" revealed a prial of Yellow Wagtails, one of which allowed me a snatch from the car window...

Late afternoon I took a walk around the Cliff Paddock ending up by the Cliff at the end of School Lane. The tide was out and I scanned the beach but I couldn't see anything...but I DID hear something...a Redshank (H.110)...

Note to self...look harder!

I sent a text to Richard and he arrived on his bike to complete a mini-twitch! A Year Tick for both of us...

The bird move North along a rocky channel. I walked round to Seaside Road but I couldn't re-locate it. I did discover 8 Sanderling and 6 Ringed Plovers.

This morning I witnessed my best ever movement of migrating Swallows whilst walking North to the second pill box. Birds were in view constantly and a conservative estimate would be c200. A marvelous sight!

S'watch

Yes...I did one!

I'd seen the forecast BUT it wasn't planned. Just a last minute decision after walking Bud. A few encouraging messages tipped the balance. I could see the waves lashing the Sewage from Seaside Lane but I decided to head up there anyway around 8. I parked some 30 yards from the Cliff edge and set my scope up to view from my car seat. I was out of range of the waves...just!

The Withernsea yellow buoy is just under a mile out and is a good reference point. Visibility was fair, although the spray was significant. It soon became apparent that birds were on the move in a moderate North Easterly (20mph).

Distant Shearwaters in good numbers glided North in small groups. They looked dark in the conditions BUT they were Manx (P.114, H.106). Then a stockier bird, a Sooty (P.115, H.107). The steady stream of Manx continued unabated (plus another couple of Sooty) and was a fine sight, although they were distant.

Then something South, a couple of Arctic Skuas (P.116, H.108) Followed some 15 minutes later by another and a Pomarine (P.117, H.109). I was almost enjoying it! No, I was actually, it was a fine spectacle. enhanced by the lack of rain. Nice to get a few on the board early doors. By 10.30 it had dried up and I returned to watch the Test Match. By lunch I wish I'd stayed there!!!

Garden Tick

I opened the bedroom curtains this morning to this wonderful sight...

Some of the c60 Swallows stopping off on their way South.

Sat in the back garden on our rocking bench this afternoon, having a cuppa with the good lady. A few movements in the vegetation but nothing special...

I picked up 3 high flying Swifts which is always a good moment. Then...there they were, powering low South. 3 Mute Swans! A golden Garden addition (75). Scarce as a Village sighting (10). Easy Birding.

My pal Phil is in his way down to Scilly for a few Pelagics. He stopped off at Pagham Harbour this afternoon and had great views of the Squacco Heron...

Claw back

An excellent surprise this morning as I left the Cottage. I spent a while in the lane (and the shade) scanning the hedges and trees. One particular tree was popping, albeit briefly. Not a regular occurrence here! It didn't last long but long enough to gain me a couple of belated Year ticks. Namely Garden Warbler (P.114, H.102) and Lesser Whitethroat (P.115, H.103)...

A snatch

A female Blackcap was also present. This was only my 5th record for GW. The distinctive sound of LW had not been heard in the Spring?

I walked the Cliff to no avail and circled the paddock only to discover a second Garden Warbler!! There you go.

To mix things up somewhat I'm going to grill the lane more this Autumn. It's the first line of proper vegetation off the Cliff. Just thought I'd share that with you!

Bits and Bobs

I thought I'd do a Post to tidy up a few odds and ends as I'm deleting some recent pic folders. 

Firstly just one more (promise) of the recent MEGA...

KELP (CAPE - vetula) GULL

The bird has moved on and would be an excellent re-find for someone?

Plenty of Swallow families moving South through the Village at the moment, with daily staging groups using the wires outside the Cottage...

Encouraging numbers of juveniles...

Decent numbers of Yellow Wagtails still about also...

A Grey Partridge on Snakey tried its best to convince me it was invisible...

My Marsh Harrier theory was enhanced when I saw 2 birds together over a distant crop through a strong heat haze...

One eventually ventured closer to the road and I managed a dodgy grab...

On the way back from Tesco, I stopped for a drink at the Sewage (I have news on this Site but more later). The tide was coming in and I could see some "clockwork toys" in the distance. Fortunately the waves pushed them my way...

Sanderling

3 Wheatears together this morning briefly on the first pill but no sign of the Redstart.

"Autumn"

The last couple of days have kicked off "Autumn" in these here parts...and it was VERY welcome!

Yesterday morning we had a long walk on the beach in just about idyllic conditions...

Apart from a few groups of Oystercatchers heading South, nothing else of note was seen...until...a couple of Common Scoters powered North close in.

Around 5 I took a stroll down to the Cliff paddock. I walked down the path by the hedge from Seaside road to School lane...

A flash of red! That ain't no Robin...

Redstart male (P.111, H.99)

Chuffed to grab something in a brief show before it flew over the hedge. Things got even better when a male Pied Flycatcher (P. 112, H.100) made the same manoeuvre. Very Nice! Precious records indeed. The Redstart was my 6th for the Village and the Pied Fly was my 8th...for the record! The latter is my earliest "Autumn" sighting and the former my second earliest, after a bird on August 8th 2012.

This morning we did the Northern end.There was a mild "fret" but it soon burned off...

 I was rewarded with another Autumn first...

Wheatear

This is my first August record. Big surprise that! I also managed a Yellow-legged Gull (P.113, H.101) which alighted briefly on the beach. My 8th...

I did glimpse the Redstart again but the heat was strong now, so I went home to catch upon some stuff. I wasn't finished though. I returned to the hedge at 5...

It was great to enjoy prolonged views of this smart male in the evening sunshine, just a couple of hundred yards from the Cottage...a little cracker...