Yellow-brows, brightening up any autumnal day
Just back to York after a fine day on the coast; when I say fine, I mean in an uplifting sense, as opposed to literally - by which measure it was far from it, cloaked in thick, damp fog from dawn to dusk.... but it really didn't matter, with the birds (and company) transcending such earthly obstacles.
No major fall, nothing particularly rare, but a day of possibilities, quality birds and slow-paced enjoyment. I started at Flamborough (having overnighted with the old man after yesterday's gruelling but productive 10 hours on the boat - more of that to follow), specifically the Thornwick Bay area. A couple of hours later and I'd enjoyed a slow, relaxed circuit of the area, with highlights including a fresh-in Pied fly near the cliff top, a Yellow-brow fizzing around a Sycamore canopy, some lovely cold-coloured continental Song Thrushes, Garden Warbler, Blackcaps and an increase in ticking Robins.
Migrant Pied Fly meets local Dunnock
A leisurely lunch back at Pearson Snr's, followed by a quick session at one of my favourite, off-the-beaten-track coastal migrant traps, Gristhorpe Bay and Hedge (by the Blue Dolphin Holiday Park). It's been productive for me over the years and always seems to yield Yellow-brows, despite there only being a very small amount of habitat; so it did again today, where - despite ever thickening fog and visibility down to, well, very little - the first bird I found was a Yellow-brow flitting around the umbellifers on the clifftop, followed by two birds (perhaps one being the latter) in the nearby hedge.
Spot the grasshopping Yellow-brow
Last stop of the day was next door, for a walk (and catch up) with birding brother Dan at his adopted patch of Yons Nab. Conditions were, you guessed it, dominated by the North Sea pea souper rolling relentlessly up the cliff, but we persisted anyway, and what a lovely session we enjoyed: seconds after moaning to Dan about how I'd yet to find a Red-breasted Flycatcher this week, on popped up in front of us, preceded by (guess what) a zippy lil' Yellow-brow, both having clearly just arrived.
Red-breasted Flycatcher and very tame Wheatear, Yons Nab
Other highlights included Redstart, Wheatear, Song Thrushes and pale, crisp continental Robins in grasses and nettle beds. Nothing special? It's
all special, if you know how to enjoy it.
Other highlights included Redstart, Wheatear, Song Thrushes and pale, crisp continental Robins in grasses and nettle beds. Nothing special? It's all special, if you know how to enjoy it. 
