After the previous week's adventures birding the hell (heaven?) out of Filey, it was time to head for Scotland, and two weeks in the Highlands (more of that to come). As usual, I pit-stopped at Eyemouth (on the coast of the Scottish Borders) for the night, and as usual as I took the opportunity to bird and run before heading up to Grantown-on-pey the next day.
With more lingering possibilities thanks to the preceding week's easterlies (which had now slackened, but remained promising), it was actually bird and run and bird - a couple of hours birding before dusk on 8th, a run after dark, and then a good few hours out birding on the morning of the 9th before the drive north.
The late session on the 8th was quiet on the land (a few Goldcrests, two Woodcocks, lots of Robins), but surprisingly busy over the waves, and so I focused on looking out to sea, where intense feeding frenzies were developing offshore. Tight, swirling groups of gulls, gannets and auks also attacted a Pomarine Skua, a Sooty Shearwater, and 25 Little Gulls - all bonuses under the circumstances.
The morning of the 9th was cloudy, calm (after a gentle north-easterly overnight) and initially with a little drizzle, which burnt off and brightened up later - definitely worthy of scrutinising the land. Out for first light and with a few hours to play with, I covered the coastal paths and golf course (with a keen eye out for wheatears or pipits - no joy this time) and then focused a favoured stretch of willow-dominated scrub close to the sea.
Again with little late-season warblers very much in mind, it was at least partially successful, and very enjoyable. Plenty of apparently fresh-in arrivals feeding up on the wealth of insects and berries, with Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests, Robins, Blackbirds and various finches present, as well as two more Woodcocks and the pick of the bunch - two cracking Siberian Chiffchaffs, and an Eastern-type Lesser Whitethroat.
I really love Sibe Chiffs, such an underrated scarcity of the late autumn, and kind of unfairly overlooked amongst more striking and/or desired eastern Phylloscs; those subtle tones are hard to beat, and considering where they've come from, I reckon they deserve a lot more respect....
I also really love the beautiful mess (at least, for now - looking forward to more advances here) that is the Lesser Whitethroat complex, and this little one was particularly interesting. A lovely warm brown above, extending well onto the nape, and indeed crown; a strong but restricted dark mask (with a neat subocular); warm buffy underparts (especially around the flanks, which appeared almost streaked from some angles!), contrasting with a pale throat;
plenty of white in the tail, with what appeared to be entirely white outer tail feathers (although no clear views of T5); often to be seen tail-cocking, with an (admittedly anecdotal) impression of a longish tail and short wings; and while I didn't hear it call, I tried some playback to see if I could get a response - no reaction to nominate calls, but instant reaction to halimondendri. Hmmm. Cracking bird, whatever part of Eastern Eurasia it originated from.
I finally had to call it - and, by extension, the east coast - quits by midday, and headed to the Highlands for a fortnight's work, rest and play. More to follow shortly.
