Honey-buzzard arriving in off the North Sea
I was scheduled to lead our YCN Pelagics over the last few days, but sea conditions sadly put paid to those - so with favourable winds and unexpected opportunity, I hit the doorstep patch, here in Filey. It could've been any number of my favoured local haunts, but for whatever reason the divining rod decided to keep me (extra) local, and that worked out just fine.
... spot the Wryneck doing likewise
Over the course of the last three days, I've been up at Carr Naze and around the Northern Coastal Area here for before dawn, birded for a few hours, and then put in extra afternoon shifts in the local area - and there's been plenty of classic east coast migration to soak up and savour. In no particular order, highlights have included:
One of many Redstarts....
Sudden, big falls of
Wheatears on Carr Naze, just after sunset (on two nights); a delicious, chocolate-coloured juvenile
Honey-buzzard, in off the sea early morning of the 9th;
Redstarts scattered liberally, including fresh-in on the clifftops; a candidate young male
Tundra Peregrine in off pre-sunrise on the 9th; a juvenile
Long-tailed Skua off the North Cliff yesterday; a first year
Caspian Gull off the Brigg early this morning; a
Wryneck on Carr Naze, deposited next to me on the clifftop by a torrential thunderstorm; lots of overhead wader and passerine migration; and a big
Meadow Pipit movement today, with over 2,000 going through over my time in the field.
One of several Sparrowhawks which came in off the sea
Lots of effort, lots of fun, and lots of reward.
Another two of those Redstarts....
One of many Yellow Wagtails moving through
Well into four figures of Meadow Pipits today, most heading straight out to sea from Carr Naze
The first migrant Goldcrests are starting to filter through, every one a joy
A particularly dark Kestrel which shot through over Carr Naze this afternoon
Another two of those Redstarts....
One of many Yellow Wagtails moving through
Well into four figures of Meadow Pipits today, most heading straight out to sea from Carr Naze
The first migrant Goldcrests are starting to filter through, every one a joy
A particularly dark Kestrel which shot through over Carr Naze this afternoon