Nocmig Update - Flamborough, July to Dec '23

Common Sandpipers featured through the early autumn, with the first on 14th July 

For the first half of the year summarised, see here. 

But for more than a week lost to wind and rain at the end of the month, almost full coverage throughout July saw scant rewards - two Dunlin on 10th, a Coot on 11th, Little Grebe and Redshank 12th, Common Sandpiper on 14th - before a decent night of six wader species on 20th, when three Redshanks, Curlew, Oystercatcher, two Golden Plovers, Dunlin and Common Sandpiper were all recorded.

Flocks of Turnstones (and Knot) have featured in each autumn of nocmig recording at Flamborough, with 2023 no exception 

August was more productive (as hoped), and although numbers and species diversity were generally low, most nights registered a few migrants. Waders were a main feature, with Ringed Plovers on 1st, 14th (two), 22nd and 25th, Redshanks on 7th (two) and 9th, Curlews on 1st and 27th, Bar-tailed Godwit on 26th, Dunlins on 13th (two) and 26th, Knots on 14th, Turnstones on 6th and 28th (a large flock), Golden Plover on 28th, Whimbrels on 6th (three), 25th and a large flock on 21st, and Oystercatchers on various dates. Other species recorded included Spotted Flycatcher on 16th, Common Scoters on 18th, Arctic Terns on 4th (a large flock), 6th three plus) and one on 9th, two plus Common Terns on 7th, a Sandwich Tern on 25th, a Grey Heron on 9th and a Little Grebe on 26th.

A single Spotted Flycatcher was recorded on 16th August 

Poor conditions throughout the majority of September made for very slim pickings, with many nights either unrecordable or blank; a large flock of Turnstones on 3rd (over 270 calls!), a small flock of Common Scoters on 17th and the first skeins of Pink-footed Geese on 25th and 26th were the highlights, with odd Curlews, Ringed Plovers, Golden Plover, Whimbrel, Redshank and Oystercatchers making up the (low) numbers.

Large skeins of Pink-footed Geese were regularly recorded throughout October 

Waders pretty much dried up during October (with just odd Dunlins, Snipe, Curlew and Oystercatchers) reflecting a predictable drop in diversity, but there were several late autumn migratory species that troubled the recorder in impressive numbers. After a relentless succession of blocking weather systems during September and into the first week of the month, the tap was finally turned on on the night of 7th/8th, and to an epic degree...

Thrushes flooded over in huge numbers from around 0230hrs onwards, with record numbers of Redwings and Song Thrushes for the site (a more forensic analysis of the recording would doubtless reveal more), with a supporting cast including Fieldfares, Snipe, no fewer than three Goldcrests and two Ring Ouzels. Redwings continued to arrive in good numbers thereafter, with a further seven nights into treble figures, including peaks of 383 on 27th and 204 on 8th; Song Thrushes, too, scored highly, with several other nights into three figures.

Pink-feet were a constant feature throughout the month, with big numbers recorded on various nights - actual migration totals were complicated by the (presumed) presence of 'local' birds making short movements over the village, however; other species that registered during the month included Whooper Swans on 14th and 22nd, several Robins, Moorhen, Grey Heron and Skylark. Low-key returns during seven nights recording in November featured nightly Pink-feet, small numbers of thrushes (particularly Redwings), and little else until the season came to a close mid-month.