It was barely light as I made my way down from the lighthouse to the sea. I wasn't going to spend much time on sea-birds, as I was looking for small migrants this morning and the coastal strip can reveal birds in the early hours. I found a Northern Wheatear straightaway on the fence around the Fog Station. I did watch the sea-birds for a while - mainly Gannets and Kittiwakes still lingering around the cliffs where they have bred. A few Fulmar were gliding along and I was pleased to see two Arctic Skuas blogging about. On the cliff tops, Linnets and Meadow Pipits were passing through, as were occasional Swallows and Sand Martin. A Peregrine and Sparrowhawk quietened observations for a while. At the South Landing, I had the briefest of views of a 1st winter Common Redstart, in a bush behind the lifeboat house. While I remained there, hoping for another look at the Redstart, a family of Common Whitethroats, a pair of Blackcaps and this juvenile Robin were in the surrounding bushes. In the top bushes were two Yellowhammers, smart birds and not seen on every trip out nowadays. The Old Fall Plantation was my next search area - a well known site for scarce and rare migrants annually. Good numbers of Willow Warblers were high up in the trees, with a fewer number of Chiffchaffs. Within ten minutes, I found a Pied Flycatcher low down in the trees. I was hoping to find some flycatchers and this one was the first of three I came across. At Thornwick Pools, 13 Dunlin and a Ringed Plover were feeding, together with 2 Teal. Looking to the back of the pools, further migrants appeared in the form of Whinchats - at least two were in the field. Whinchat - distantly!
An afternoon visit to Alkborough Flats between thunderstorms revealed a few interesting birds. A total of sixteen Spotted Redshanks, all adopting winter plumages with the exception of one blackish, moulting adult showed well at times. Five Ruff were seen, again moulting adults and these two had a juvenile bird with them (right). Adult Ruff. Juvenile Ruff, buff in colour with dark patterned back. Avocets are still present in smaller numbers. A good flock of Shoveler duck being overflown by Black-tailed Godwits. A few Reed Warblers still about (above) and, a rather damp Cetti's Warbler dried off after the rain (below). Sand Martin and Swallow in the car park. The Spurn area today. It has been a fair while since I have seen a nice adult male Red-backed Shrike in the U.K. and a trip to Spurn today provided me with not one, but two shrikes. The first was at the Warren where I only had a quick glimpse of what looked like a female or juvenile plumaged bird. Unfortunately, I didn't see it again though I heard it showed later. The male appeared in the Triangle, showing well on the fence but keeping in the middle of the field most of the afternoon. At Sammy's Point, I found my first Spotted Flycatcher of the Autumn and later saw a Pied Flycatcher in Little Hedge. Spotted Flycatcher. Common Snipe - one of four in the Canal scrape, together with one Greenshank and a brief visit from a Green Sandpiper. Roe Deer in the canal car park.
As my previous visit to the Great White Egret at Tophill was terminated rather abruptly, I returned early this morning and was rewarded with excellent views of this super bird. Flying in from the South-west, it curled around and settled in the channel, adjacent to the hide. The Great Egret found quite deep water in this channel but still found food successfully. Without doubt, my best encounter with this stunning visitor. It seems really settled at Tophill and tours various parts of the South Marshes. This same channel was really interesting as, before long, an Otter made an appearance. Tophill's Kingfishers were really in evidence, with four flying about in two distinct pairs again, in the channel. Two juvenile Greenshank were on the South Marsh, for a short time. 11 Common Snipe were found along with 2 Green Sandpipers dropping in, and later a single Redshank. South Lagoon's Little Grebe still nesting!
It was third time lucky for me to connect with this large elegant egret, as it made its appearance on the South Marsh this morning. It has been a regular visitor over the summer months, just not coinciding with my recent visits! I can remember my first Little Egret at Tophill and now they are fairly common on wetlands of any size, in much of England. Ten Little Egrets were on the South Marsh this morning, as I waited for 'the large one' once again. The wait wasn't too long before the Great White flew in, at first going to its favorite channel at the back of the marsh. After a while, it joined a Grey Heron on a central island and set about a good half hours preening. It came closer towards the back to back hides, but was disturbed by a working party (!) and promptly flew off again. Other birds of interest on the South Marsh included 14 Black-tailed Godwit, at least 10 Common Snipe, a Ruff, 1 adult Common Tern, 2 Little Grebe, 30 Lapwing and the long staying female Goosander.
A Marsh Harrier passed through twice and a Hobby caught a dragonfly above me, as I left the hide. |
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