The week began with blustery northerlies, low temperatures and squally showers on the both the 4th and 5th. Plenty of hours throughout the area for pretty scant returns, and a Barnacle Goose of unknown origin (of unknown origin - what a strange, almost esoteric term that is), a drake Wigeon and a Yellow Wagtail were the best of the disappointing Dams still hamstrung by very high water levels.
Tawny Owl, Church Ravine
Much of the entertainment came from the bay on the latter date - with 33 Purple Sandpipers and 29 Oystercatchers in the high tide roost, and 25+ Sandwich Terns, 100+ Common Gulls north, 11 Eider, 14 Common Scoters, two Velvet Scoters and three Great Crested Grebes out on the water.
Plenty more effort on the 6th, with the wind in the north-west and a little more sunshine, and more pretty limited returns; a White Wagtail and five Wheatears on Carr Naze were the pick (as well as a Tawny Owl out in the open in Church Ravine, always a pleasure).
Hopes were higher for the cool and mainly sunny 7th, with overnight south-easterlies holding through the day (and becoming stronger throughout). Brief views of a distant ring-tail Harrier went frustratingly unrequited early on, but visible migration continued; five Yellow Wagtails, a Tree Pipit, a Whimbrel, a Siskin and three Shelducks in off, and hundreds of hirundines (many into the wind and along the Brigg) were overhead inspiration while covering the northern area throughout the morning and into the afternoon.
Summer plumage Dunlin, Carr Naze pond
Shelduck in off the sea
All good, but with such a wind at such a time of year, surely more to follow; so when news came through of a Stone Curlew freshly discovered by Frank at the southern edge of the area (a new bird for Filey, which can't happen too often these days), a polite scramble ensued. A great bird, keeping the spring flag flying high with several weeks of potential quality still to come....
Stone Curlew
