As described in the last post (see here), the last day of September was fantastic on the coast, especially for the big numbers of Song Thrushes arriving in off the sea. Early the following morning, I drove to Paull (on the North Bank of the Humber, just east of Hull) for a regular surveying work session. Initially cool with low cloud and a south-westerly breeze, it was immediately evident that visible migration was again underway....
Skylark migrating over our heads
Guess the most numerous species? Yep, Song Thrushes, ticking softly as the headed into the breeze, gaining more and more height, and clearing the Humber towards Lincolnshire. It's a decent spot for channelling birds and vismig can be pretty good here, but I've never seen Song Thrushes using it en masse as a launch pad for crossing the river.
Song Thrushes! Check out those orange underwings...
As the cloud cleared, so many of the birds got higher, and many of those became just visible (and still audible) specks in the blue; it slowed down somewhat, but not before I was joined - coincidentally, as they were also surveying on site! - by Will and Chris. We enjoyed plenty more thrushes, as well as pipits (including no fewer than three Tree), Bramblings, Chaffinches, Skylarks and many more species heading west and south-west.
A fabulous sight, especially after the previous days events - and a privilege to witness two parts of their multi-sectioned journey from Northern Europe to the Iberian peninsula. Full counts on trek here.
Curlews (below with a Bar-tailed Godwit)
