The good spell for Long Nab continued on the 22nd. Typically the day had that feel to it that the spring migration was largely fizzling out, at least in terms of common migrants and volume of vis-mig etc.
A slow trickle of Hirundines kept the interest from the off with ten Barnacle Geese south at 07.00hrs (seen by Brett past Flamborough 56 minutes later) and a Little Egret south mid-morning adding some extra interest. |
| Little Egret south through Long Nab. |
Whilst at the obs (the former Coastguard lookout) the Coastguard arrived!
As they were looking for something suspicious washed ashore I offered my help in searching and began to scan the shoreline – to no avail.
Although whilst doing this, as I was up by long hedge north of the obs the call of a Bee-eater caught my attention.
At the time I happened to be messaging Chris who was down the coast at a quiet Bempton Cliffs and at first I dismissed the call. But after another ‘purrt’ call I began searching the skies, above my head initially as it sounded as though it was directly above me.
It turned out it wasn’t, as it continued to call I widened my search area and after a couple of false alarms with the odd Swift I finally locked on to the unmistakable shape of a BEE-EATER!
Switching to scope I watched it continue south with four Swift!
A much desired find tick made even better by it being on patch.
The following few days were quiet (not that I was complaining at all) and I again gave Castle Hill some attention, again drawing a blank.
The 25th was the start of a few days planned ringing sessions up at Long Nab with Chris. Typically slow going on the first day although an acredula type Willow Warbler trapped was interesting. Passage was barely detectable although a Siskin north was my first for some time.
 |
| The acredula type Willow Warbler at Long Nab. |
 |
| Chiffchaff at Long Nab |
The 26th was a little better, the first Sedge Warbler to be ringed at Long Nab was very welcome whilst another Willow Warbler on site gave hints that small numbers of migrants were arriving in the southeast winds.
A Short-eared Owl was also in the Long Nab area hunting the field early morning.Passage was a lot better compared to the previous day with 38 House Martin, 97 Swallow and 25 Swift south the highlights.
 |
| Sedge Warbler at Long Nab. |
The 27th, our final day of ringing planned, proved to be incredibly quiet at the start. In fact no presumed new in migrants were noted in the ringing site all day!
Vis-mig was slow with very few Hirundines left moving. Swifts threatened to get going but only reached 58 with most restricted to the first hour or two, they just fizzled out after that.
As the heat increased and with little happening we had to keep motivated. After a blank net round we arrived back at the car and began to scan around, hoping to mop up any passage Swifts we may have missed – there weren’t any!
However a Falcon heading slowly south past the middle plantation being harried slightly by a Carrion Crow had drawn the attention of both of us.
As it dropped low and was against a background it was evident it wasn’t a Kestrel!
As I turned for the scope, Chris did the same with his and followed it by ‘’this looks like a Red-foot!’’.
Both on it – it carried on flying low and proved to be a fine female RED-FOOTED FALCON!!
As it disappeared behind the cow sheds at Fields Farm we presumed it landed on the wires as we didn’t detect it appearing on the other side.
Cameras grabbed we began ‘running’ uphill towards the farm.
Arriving there it was clear it hadn’t landed on the wires! I scanned the hedges in the area, not expecting any result, when I came across the unmistakable orange underparts! There it was, sat up nicely! Wow!!!
I couldn’t believe my luck, this May had been incredibly kind to me!
Time of locating this bird was 08.50hrs and after a few pictures were taken attentions soon turned to getting the news out and calling the locals!
It looked settled and with a few on the way it seemed likely that it would play ball.
That was until 09.05hrs when it lifted and flew lazily south, towards Rocks Lane and disappeared out of sight.
It was our opinion though that it hadn’t gone far and there was still plenty of hope that the observers arriving on Rocks Lane would relocate it. Unfortunately it wasn’t seen again, at least at Long Nab.
A female Red-footed Falcon west past the Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint at 10.30hrs could have easily been the same bird. Who knows?
After that the day kind of faded, things were still slow, it was hot and not too long later we packed up. That afternoon a few beers and the FA Cup Final were a perfect way to celebrate the awesome spring – that isn’t over yet….
 |
| Red-footed Falcon at Long Nab. |
 |
| Phonescoped Red-footed Falcon at Long Nab. |
 |
| And again... |
