Quatermass And The Pinks

A day of rapidly changing skies and bone-chilling winds on the bans of the Humber today; not that I'm complaining, in fact, far from it. Not only does it give us the (much-appreciated) opportunity to work in bird-filled locations in these unsure times, but it also gives me opportunity to indulge my weakness for photographing birds against bleak, industrial backdrops.

Any shots I get are of course opportunistic, but today was ideal - sudden windows of sunshine illuminating Pink-footed Geese, Curlews and other iconic wintering species, often against not only apocalyptic, human-made settings but also brooding cloudbanks as they passed over the estuary.

Pink-feet were indeed the stars of the show (with several hundred in the area), but a single adult Russian White-fronted Goose (below - full frame and then crop) made systematic checks of an always partially-hidden main flock worthwhile.....

More accommodating Pinks

....while this extremely tame female Stonechat kept me company at one vantage point.....

... and Curlews staged close fly-bys at another.

Review Of The Year, 2020 - Part Four

Rustic Bunting, Filey, 14th October 2020 - oh, happy day

This is the final part of 2020's summaries, covering October, November and December. The previous parts can be found here: Part One (Jan-Mar) / Part Two (Apr-Jun) / Part Three (Jul-Sep)

But for a few challenges (all hardly earth-shattering in the grand scheme of things), the latter part of the year - and the late autumn in particular - was wonderful from a birding perspective. Keeping it local, while not the plan (back when plans meant anything), made for a memorable, birding- and bird-filled period where I was fortunate to be in the field pretty much every day. 

A pristine juvenile Iceland Gull arriving at Carr Naze, Filey

Of those plans: I'm guessing many reading this had the disappointment of cancelled trips in 2020, and one of those trips personally was to Unst - booked almost a year ago, and eventually abandoned a few weeks before we were due to leave (for ten days in late Sep / early Oct). Privileged problems, I know, but particularly teeth-grinding for the exceptional influx of avian gems throughout the whole period we were supposed to be there (and the influxes chasing them)...

Red-flanked Bluetail, Old Fall, Flamborough

So there was only one way to soften the blow - bird the hell out of every waking hour, and appreciate whatever happened to cross my/our path here on our little stretch of the Yorkshire coast. And birding the hell out of it was indeed the theme - beginning with a very special end to September....

Regular visitors here will know how much I love seawatching, particularly in those conditions that inspire special movements in the autumn and early winter; you'll also know how, after the first five years tied to Filey, over the last four I've often favoured my original backyard of Flamborough Head - a little further away (by a whole 20 minutes), but for the far better seawatching, very much worth it.

Sooty Shearwaters - the stars of the show

And with the new Obs hide providing much-needed shelter in the worst of the conditions, day-long watches were more practical if and when the big northerly blow came around... which it did, on the morning of the 25th, for three wonderful days straight -  and so, with the diary cleared, three wonderful days straight seawatching (at around ten hours a day) it was.  

Velvet Scoters - among the many quality species on the move during the northerlies

Immersed in the best of North Sea seawatching with a friendly cast to share it all with, we broke the all-time Flamborough Bonxie (Great Skua) and Arctic Skua day records, had the highest Sooty Shearwater day counts for decades, and added lots of bits and pieces to an ever more diverse passage over three (pre-)dawn to dusk days of happy wave-gazing. 

From there? Well, constant birding - including our Humber wader surveys, my Yorkshire Coast Nature Migration Specials, or for pleasure (in truth, the latter applying to all). On the Humber, it was the season of swirling Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlins, Avocets and more (see, for example, here)...

... while the Migration Specials came thick and fast. We added as many as we could due to popular demand, and each was uniquely special (with the bonus of lovely teams of clients). Four in a week mid-month, for example, provided Dusky Warbler, Red-flanked Bluetail, Barred Warbler, Siberian Chiffchaff, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warblers, Lapland Buntings, Ring Ouzels, Firecrest, big finch influxes including Crossbills, Redpolls, Siskins and Bramblings, thrushes and Goldcrests everywhere, and Short-eared Owls - including this one which we watched arriving in off the sea in a brutal rainstorm, before landing right beside us on the clifftop....  

Almost all the Migration Specials were spent on the greater Flamborough Headland, which could scarcely have been more accommodating; much of my downtime birding was also spent on the Great White Cape, where Rich and I even managing a few excellent days in the field. 

Yellow-browed Warbler (Flamborough) - the Sibe that never lets you down

Barred Warbler

On top of all the daytime stuff, it was a pleasure to co-ordinate our virtual Migweek, which went some way to filling the void left by what would've been the real thing (in 'normal' circumstances) with a range of free online talks. It would've been very easy not to bother, but I'm really glad we did, and for bringing the community together in a strangely disconnected time, it seemed to hit the spot for many. More here. 

You little beauty

The week was memorable for a variety of reasons, not least the wonderful incoming migration that blessed the coast, by both day and night. For example, I had a ridiculously entertaining and productive 24 hours here at Filey which began with finding Barred Warbler and Grey Phalarope among many fresh-in migrants on the afternoon of the 13th, continued with recording a record-breaking inundation of thrushes overnight on my nocmig, and ended with a bang - bumping into a dream-find Rustic Bunting in the morning sunshine of the 14th. (Maybe karma does exist after all...?)

Great Egret arriving in off the sea at the fog station, Flamborough

More tours, more surveys and then, for the last week of a wonderful month (summarising it isn't easy, but it sure helps with retrospective appreciation...), a YCN Adventure at Spurn. After a precious lull, the plague and its repercussions steadily began to encroach more profoundly again, and it was only with much careful planning that our week with a great team of clients was possible; indeed, the following week, also at Spurn, didn't make the cut. 

Brents at Spurn

Early to mid November is one of my absolute favourite windows for birding, and being confined to the local patch was no sacrifice; in fact, Filey often comes into its own as autumn reaches its twilight hour. 2020 was no different, except for the fact, I was here to enjoy it as much as, well, the days when I was effectively glued to the spot here a few years back. 

Jack Snipe, Black Redstart (above), Whooper Swan & Twite (below) - Filey, November

Big movements of Pink-feet and Whooper Swans, Red-necked Grebe and Black-throated Diver alongside Great Northern Divers, Goldeneyes, Red-breasted Mergansers and more in the bay, thrush influxes, Merlins, Snow Buntings, Twite and Lapland Buntings on the clifftops, Black Redstarts and Woodcocks appearing here and there were all features of the period, and while things naturally quietened down towards the end of the month, there was still plenty to enjoy. 

Autumn proper ebbed away by late month, but the birding was still quality and productive as December began - locally there were plenty of seasonal specialities, ongoing Humber surveys were a (chilly) pleasure, and my YCN Winter Birding Days were pleasingly popular and successful; how fortunate to be able to work at what I love, in the outdoors, with good people and great birds - especially in these times. 

A big shout out to this legend for all the laughs, good times and support in this weirdest of years 

Filey Peregrine, Jan 2020

A walk with the Mrs along the clifftop here in Filey yesterday, cold and crisp with a winter sun setting - with another local out on manoeuvres....

 

2020 - The Year In Nocmig (Part Two)

 Part One (April to July) can be found here

Russian White-fronted Geese had nocmig starring roles at Filey and Flamborough

So, after a wonderfully productive first 'half' to the nocturnal migration recording (nocmig) year, for my first autumn, I had three recorders rolling (to varying degrees) - with more success and enjoyment than I could've hoped for as August began: 

Filey Town - the original, jammed in the study window and pointing out into the back alley in the middle of town;

Filey North Cliff - 1.3km north of the above, near the clifftop, in a small plastic bucket;

Flamborough village - a recorder in a plant pot in a village garden.

Here's a succinct run-down of each location's monthly highlights, with live links to more detailed summaries under the title of each. 

August - Filey North Cliff

A full summary of August's results can be found here

Highlights - exceptional shorebird (wader) migration, for both quality and quantity - sustained and often heavy passage with a monthly tally of 17 species (!), which included: both Bar- and Black-tailed Godwits, multiple Green and Common Sandpipers, good numbers of Whimbrel, Sanderling, Dunlin, Curlew, Turnstone and Ringed Plovers, and impressive movements of Oystercatchers (with e.g. at least 68 on 9th). Also Arctic, Common and Sandwich Terns, and a surprise Short-eared Owl (tying in with a diurnal mini-influx) on 16th. 

Most abundant - Oystercatcher (156), Curlew (42), Sanderling & Dunlin (both 27), Ringed Plover (16)

Most regularly recorded - Oystercatcher (81%), Curlew (73%), Ringed Plover & Dunlin (both 38%)

17 species of waders were registered by the North Cliff recorder in Aug, including Green Sandpipers

August - Filey Town

Highlights - active from the 14th, and within the gull sono-barcode, a Tree Pipit (29th), ten wader species including Turnstone, Knot, three Common Sandpipers and 13 Redshank, plus Sandwich and Common Terns were all bonuses under the challenging circumstances!

Most abundant - Dunlin (18%), Redshank (13), Oystercatcher (8)

Most regularly recorded - Dunlin (38%), Redshank (31%), Oystercatcher (22%)

August - Flamborough 

A full summary of August's results can be found here

Highlights - active from the 10th, and as with the Filey North Cliff results, a fantastic month for shorebird migration... 16 wader species, including Wood Sandpiper, Sanderling, Knot, both Godwits, Grey, Little Ringed and Golden Plovers, good numbers of Ringed Plovers, Oystercatchers and Redshank, and a Tree Pipit (15th).

Most abundant - Oystercatcher (88), Redshank (64), Ringed Plover (13)

Most regularly recorded - Oystercatcher (94%), Ringed Plover (35%), Golden Plover, Dunlin and Redshank (24%)

Wood Sandpiper - a single nocmig record last Autumn, from Flamborough in August

September - Filey North Cliff

A full summary of September's Filey results can be found here

Highlights - Little Egret (16th), a good cast of waders (but in much smaller numbers than the previous month), and – particularly towards the end of the month - passerines: Skylarks, Song Thrushes, Robins, Tree Pipit, Goldcrest (30th) and Yellow-browed Warbler (29th)!

Most abundant - Curlew (21), Grey Heron (16), Dunlin & Pink-footed Goose (11)

Most regularly recorded - Curlew (45%), Skylark & Oystercatcher (32%), Black-headed Gull (27%)

GOLD!

September - Filey Town

Highlights - Still much reduced coverage due to the gull colony, but a steady improvement from mid-month, with up half each night's recording mostly checkable by the end of Sep. A selection of waders (in small numbers), passerines including Redwings, Robins and Meadow Pipits, and another low fly-by from a Barn Owl (an odd but increasingly not-unusual route to take!).

Most abundant - Oystercatcher (12), Dunlin (11)

Most regularly recorded - Oystercatcher (32%); Dunlin, Snipe, Great Black-backed & Black-headed Gulls, and Greylag Goose (all 11%)

Redwings began arriving overnight in September, and would play a huge nocmig role all from then on

September - Flamborough

Highlights - Passerines including Song Thrushes, Meadow Pipits, Robins and Redwings (the latter with an early notable arrival of 68 on 27th); pulses of wader passage, including movements of Knot and Dunlin mid-month.

Most abundant - Redwing (73), Dunlin (15), Knot (12)

Most regularly recorded - Robin (24%), Sandwich Tern, Redwing, Song Thrush (all 18%)

Dunlins - an abundant and regular presence on autumn nocmig recordings

October - Filey Town

A full summary of October's Filey results can be found here

Highlights - A Dotterel on 7th (a local rarity, only recorded every few years diurnally in Filey); good numbers of Pink-feet, and a large flock of Whooper Swans on 22nd; a wide variety of late autumn passerines, including Bramblings, Robins, Meadow Pipits and Chaffinches; memorable, record-breaking thrush immigration, with thousands of Redwings and Blackbirds, as well as many Song Thrushes, Fieldfares and three Ring Ouzels (see totals below).

Most abundant - Redwing (4,219), Blackbird (1,175), Pink-footed Goose (82), Fieldfare (80)

Most regularly recorded - Redwing (69%), Blackbird (54%), Song Thrush (31%), Fieldfare (23%)

One of the standout highlights of autumn's nocmig - a Dotterel over the back alley!

October - Filey North Cliff

Highlights - several notable thrush nights, with e.g. 1,553 Redwings on 13th; a wide variety of passerines, including 12 Robins, a late Tree Pipit (5th), two Dunnocks, Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting and Chaffinch; small numbers of waders & Pink-feet, and an interaction between (local) Little Owls (a rare bird in the area).

Most abundant - Redwing (2,335), Blackbird (434), Pink-footed Goose (55)

Most regularly recorded - Redwing (64%), Robin and Song Thrush (both 57%)

How many thousands of Pink-feet passed over my recorders this autumn? How long's a piece of string?

October – Flamborough village

Highlights - good movements of Pink-feet, Whooper Swans, late season shorebirds (Snipe, Knot, many Dunlins), passerines including a Goldcrest (23rd), heavy thrush arrivals.

Most abundant - Redwing (881), Pink-footed Goose (215), Blackbird (213)

Most regularly recorded - Redwing (73%), Blackbird (50%), Song Thrush (35%)

Whooper Swans - much hoped-for, and happily much-recorded, throughout the autumn

November - Filey Town

A full summary of November's Filey results can be found here

Highlights - An exceptional influx of winter geese, with six species recorded – most notably, multiple Bean Geese and Barnacle Geese, several flocks of Russian White-fronted Geese, and numerous, often large skeins of Pink-footed Geese; lots of shorebird activity, with e.g. six Grey Plovers, big numbers of Dunlins and Golden Plovers, plus Snipe, Lapwings and more; Common Scoters, rails, gulls, more Whooper Swans and wildfowl (particularly Wigeon); record-breaking influxes of Blackbirds, as well as big numbers of other thrushes... what a month!

Most abundant - Blackbird (2,932), Redwing (1,682), Pink-footed Goose (1017), Dunlin (81)

Most regularly recorded - Redwing (96%), Blackbird (62%), Song Thrush (46%)

Snipe - a regular registration in late autumn

November – Filey North Cliff

Highlights - lots of action (but interestingly, not nearly as much as the town recorder) – Russian White-fronted Geese, Whooper Swans, lots of Pink-feet, notable thrush influxes, other passerines including Robins and six Bramblings.

Most abundant - Pink-footed Goose (621), Blackbird (565), Starling (200), Redwing (198)

Most regularly recorded - Blackbird (100%), Redwing (89%), Pink-footed Goose (67%)

The diagnostic wheeze of Bramblings was a welcome treat on late autumn recordings

 

November - Flamborough

Highlights - Lapland Bunting (3rd); Russian White-fronted Geese, lots of Whooper Swans and Pink-feet; notable thrush influxes; waders including Bar-tailed Godwit and Knot;

Most abundant - Redwing (763), Blackbird (554), Pink-footed Goose (70)

Most regularly recorded - Redwing (75%), Blackbird (60%), Robin (25%)

Lapland Bunting - another highlight from Flamborough nocmig this autumn

December – Filey Town

Highlights – The Goosefest continued... Yet more White-fronted Geese, Barnacle Geese, huge movements of Pink-footed Geese; small numbers of waders and wildfowl and small but regular pushes of thrushes.

Most abundant - Redwing (763), Blackbird (554), Pink-footed Goose (70)

Most regularly recorded - Redwing (75%), Blackbird (60%), Robin (25%)

Very little recording took place in December at North Cliff & Flamborough due weather / practical reasons, with the intention being to resume activities there in early spring....

Turnstones - recorded with surprising regularity, and at all three sites this autumn

If you're interested in nocmig, but unsure as to how / where to start, the following might be useful:

In September, I was interviewed by Nate Swick for the American Birding Podcast about my new-to-nocmig adventures - you can listen to it here: ABA nocmig podcast

In October, I gave an online talk about my (beginner's) journey so far for our virtual Migweek, which can be watched here: It's a Hard Nocmig - Migweek talk 

Great resources online include the Nocmig website and the Sound Approach website.

Finally - big thanks to my friends in our local nocmig Whatsapp group, particularly Will and Dan, for their ongoing and hugely enjoyable team efforts, and also to the experts who have helped so far - with a very special mention and huge thanks Magnus (Robb), whose positive and enthusiastic support and expertise have made it a much more educational and enjoyable ride thus far.

Last but not least, Yorkshire Coast Nature - who very generously donated three of the four recorders I use - and who are clearly the greatest wildlife tourism company in the world (trust me....)

Here's to 2021!

2020 - The Year In Nocmig (Part One)

Common Scoter  - the species that kickstarted my nocmig here in the town back in April 

Well, that was fun. Nocturnal migration recording - Nocmig - has been a wonderful part of 2020, in many different ways: as a distraction in trying times, as a (steep) learning curve for new birding skills and knowledge, as a new method of understanding and appreciating local bird migration, as a valuable data-gathering exercise, and ultimately, as a glittery little mystery treasure trove to open every morning....

(Headphones recommended for playing the following audio clips)

   

At the end of March, with an indefinite lockdown beginning, birding opportunities narrowing, and crucially, Common Scoters audibly beeping outide my bathroom window in the night sky, the reasons for not trying it previously - a lack of garden, a lack of time, a lack of a quiet enough recording location, and a lack of professional gear - were suddenly outweighed by a 'screw it, it's got to be worth a shot' approach that turned out to be one of the better turning points of Spring 2020.

   

Common Sandpiper - a regular spring migrant over the house

I've written (and spoken) widely about my novice experiences in nocmig here and elsewhere over recent months, and rather than rehashing existing content, this annual summary will be a little more succinct, with the option of reading about each month in more depth via links below each header. 

As regular readers will know, for the first few months it was all about the recorder jammed into the gap in my study window and pointed out into the alley here in downtown Filey; by July, I'd expanded my set-up by running a second recorder regularly up on the North Cliff here in Filey, about 1.3km to the north of the house. (By August, I had three on the go simultaneously, as described in part two, to follow soon....)

April 

Full summary of Filey Town results here

Highlights - Hundreds of Common Scoters - the species that kick-started it all, and that gave the impetus to persist; nine wader species, including four Little Ringed Plovers, the first Greenshank and Grey Plover; two Blackcaps (at the time, an unexpected thrill over these urban rooftops!); lots of wildfowl including Gadwall, Wigeon and Pochard; numerous rails (especially Moorhens and Coots); lots of returning Scandinavian thrushes, including three figures of Redwings.

Most abundant - Common Scoters (288), Redwing (168), Oystercatcher (38), Common Sandpiper (13) 

Most regularly recorded - Redwing (57%), Common Scoter (43%), Oystercatcher (37%), Blackbird & Moorhen (both 30%) 

May

Full summary of Filey Town results here

Highlights - Two Quails (10th & 25th); a wider variety of waders, including the first Sanderlings, Knot and Turnstones; the first terns (Sandwich and Arctic); long-distance passerines, including two Lesser Whitethroats, Spotted Flycatcher and Yellow Wagtail; first (wholly unexpected) record of a Barn Owl short-cutting through the heart of town!

Most abundant - Oystercatcher (59), Moorhen (24), Whimbrel (14), Dunlin (12) 

Most regularly recorded - Oystercatcher (68%), Moorhen (48%), Little Ringed Plover & Grey Heron (both 23%)

 

June

Full summary of Filey Town here

 

Highlights - Plenty of rails (numerous Moorhens, plus Water Rails and Coot), Little Grebes, another Spotted Flycatcher, (presumably returning) Common Scoter (but the Herring Gull colony noise was increasingly overwhelming....)

Most abundant - Moorhen (30), Oystercatcher (19), Grey Heron (11), Curlew (8)

Most regularly recorded - Moorhen (40%), Oystercatcher (37%), Grey Heron (27%), Curlew (13%)

   

July 

Full summary of Filey North Cliff and Town here 

Highlights - Recording began from the 10th on the North Cliff here in Filey, which was instantly productive and hugely varied: highlights included a Bittern (23rd), twelve wader species (including four Little Ringed Plovers, lots of Curlew and Whimbrel, Turnstones, Knot, Grey and Golden Plovers), three Water Rails, Common Scoters and much more - a wealth of variety and abundance! 

The Filey Town recorder was temporarily mothballed on 12th due to the almost total audio wipeout from the Herring Gull colony, but still clocked plenty of Curlews, Moorhens and a few other species before then. 

Most abundant (North Cliff) - Curlew (35), Dunlin (21), Oystercatcher (20), Redshank (13)

Most regularly recorded (North Cliff) - Curlew & Oystercatcher (both 60%), Dunlin (40%), Redshank (35%)

 

A hugely entertaining first 'half' of the year, and autumn would prove to be arguably even more surprising and productive... 

Part Two (covering August to December) follows soon 

The First Snows of 2021

I know, I know, more Snow Buntings... along with Purple Sandpipers, there's probably more photos of them on this blog than any other species - but I have a huge weakness for them, and have had since I was a kid, and the fact that I get to see them so regularly and at such close quarters only adds to the love affair.

So here's the same three I had the pleasure of sitting down with at the end of the day the day before yesterday, this time on the other side of the New Year.