Following an unsuccessful sighting yesterday evening, I returned to an area of arable farming on land known as Sunk Island. An adult (or almost) female Red-footed Falcon was found here a few days ago and has remained in this area throughout. When I joined other birders, the falcon had recently caught a vole (snatched from a Kestrel) and eaten it. A good distance away across a field, the Red-footed Falcon sat in a large hawthorn tree. It remained there for more than three hours, just looking around and doing some occasional preening. Eventually and surprising us all, it hurtled towards us in pursuit of a Kestrel, passing fairly close before disappearing behind a hedgerow. The Red-foot chased the Kestrel over some distance and when we thought it would be lost, it turned around and came back to the field where it has previously settled, remaining on the ground for a short time. After this tremendous view on the ground, the falcon again went off after the Kestrels and disappeared from where we were.
A wonderful sighting and my fourth Red-footed Falcon in Britain, all the others being juvenile birds, I have seen both male and female adults while on Corsica. Spurn Point in the distance with a P&O ferry coming in from the sea. Since I was awake very early this morning, I found myself at Spurn by 5-20 a.m and ready for some enjoyable birding. On the canal bank where the above photo was taken, the quiet of early morning soon rewarded me with the sound of a Grasshopper Warbler 'reeling' constantly from nearby bushes. I narrowed the sound down to one particular bush and although the call was really loud now, I couldn't see the bird in the dense foliage and undergrowth. After a while, the reeling sound moved unseen to the next bush which I studied carefully for any movement. Low down in the bush I found the singing Grasshopper Warbler. By a piece of luck the bush was shared by a Sedge Warbler who, possibly fed up with the incessant reeling noise, tried pushing the Grasshopper Warbler out of the bush. Still singing, it began to show better as it was edged out of its hiding. A great start and a lovely little warbler to watch in action. The wind was blowing from the South-West and after a night of heavy rain showers, the morning produced a large Southerly movement of Common Swifts. The counters recorded 2500 swifts by 9-00 a.m and a figure of 3996 as the day's total. The fast eroding coast, eating away at Spurn's seaward side. My next call was at the Wetlands just outside Kilnsea. There were few waders here even with an incoming tide on the estuary. Six Black-tailed Godwits, three Oystercatchers, four Redshank and a Ringed Plover. The gull roost was more interesting. Among the Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a single Kittiwake rested which was unusual but do occur here. Four adult Little Gulls were with the Black-headed flock and several Mediterranean Gulls were also present. Behind the Little Gulls, a selection of Grey Herons and Little Egrets rested on the bank. Along the top hedgerow at Beacon Ponds, a Meadow Pipit was seen chasing a Cuckoo with some ferocity. The Cuckoo taking a rest. This was the same hedgerow where I re-found last weeks' Golden Oriole, in the afternoon.
There are currently a couple of Blyth's Reed Warblers in the U.K. and one was found by Graham Catley on his local patch, Far Ings in Lincolnshire.
This species is difficult to distinguish from Reed Warbler in the field, except that its song is far more varied than the latter. I saw this Blyth's Reed Warbler this afternoon in continuous rain and, it spent most of the time concealed in hedgerow and reeds. When it did emerge, it was singing from a hawthorn bush and the song was quite unbelievable. Many different birds were imitated including distinct Bee-eater calls, among others. It was a pleasure listening to this rare visitor as I have only two previous sightings, both in Autumn when the birds would be silent. Identification was made by much more experienced birders at Spurn NNR. Thought to be the same bird I missed last week, a male Red-necked Phalarope was found on the Reedbed Lake again this morning. In rather poor light and remaining towards the back of the lake, it was difficult to appreciate the beautiful colours on this small wader. It isn't my first record of this species at North Cave but remains an excellent record all the same. Sharing the Reedbed Lake this afternoon was one of two Little Ringed Plovers on the reserve. Another success here this year are the breeding Lapwing, this one had four chicks. Two of the four chicks, taking to the water.
A small number of Rose-coloured Starlings are beginning to appear in Britain, as part of the large movement of these birds from Eastern Europe. With favourable winds over the last few days, I felt the time was right to hopefully come across one of the new arrivals. I selected Flamborough Head, jutting out in to the North Sea as a likely landfall and, where I have seen Rosy Starlings before. They are often seen around gardens, and walking along the row of coastal cottages and bungalows soon produced this single bird, perched on a TV aerial. A great sighting of the starling which, after flying off, didn't show again despite a good look around. There was a sizeable flock of Common Starlings moving around, but the Rosy Starling didn't seem to associate too closely with them at all. I spent the next few hours in the Flamborough area, pleased to be at a coastal site once more. Flamborough Head lighthouse. A party of seals at low tide. A passing House Martin in the shot, as the P&O 'Oceana' makes her way to Newcastle. A Barn Owl was seen in the gorse field and this male Sparrowhawk had just made a kill. After lunch I made my way to the seabird world at Bempton cliffs, to bring my seabird list up to date. Latest: At around 1pm today (3rd June), I saw an adult Rose-coloured Starling from my garden, in a cherry tree with other resting starlings. Unable to locate it again.
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