Birding Scarborough: Scarborough Birders do Out Skerries, 24th

From the 24th, with the strengthening southeast wind, common migrants began to arrive on cue and in turn filled us all with optimism for the coming few days of east winds.

Highlights included a fine looking Flava (presumably a Grey-headed), two Whinchat, seven Song Thrush, three Redwing, the Siberian Lesser Whitethroat, six Willow Warbler, two Yellow-browed Warbler, a Goldcrest, three Brambling and an amazing 16 Chaffinch!

Of course the real highlight of the day was the Blades slamming four past the Pigs at Hillsborough! Magic!

The 25th saw many more common migrants arrive with our first taste of scarce for a few days (a Little Bunting seen by Nick and Steve).
The morning began well with a slight drop in wind speed which tempted several migrants out to feed in exposed areas. Several Willow Warbler were seen and then a brief few moments of excitement with an Acro in the Irises!
It did, with some patience, turn out to be just a Reed Warbler.

Shortly after, whilst thrashing round the long, rank grass near Rocklea, a Locustella got up giving me only very brief views. A repeat of the same made me realise it wouldn't just be nice and sit up so backup was called in via radios.
A short while later six of us were on site and working the area, and finding a second Locustella in the process, surely one wold be the one, wouldn't it?

To cut a long story short the pursuits of both Locustella warblers ended with more than a few expletives as both turned out to be f*cking Grasshopper Warblers!!!

Grasshopper Warbler.

Despite the downer it was an enjoyable day with personal migrant totals coming in at singles of Ruff and Jack Snipe, two Whinchat, three Redstart, two Flava, 17 Song Thrush, ten Redwing, six Blackcap, three Garden Warbler, Siberian Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, five Yellow-browed Warbler, three Goldcrest, two Spotted Flycatcher, 14 Chaffinch, Brambling and Reed Bunting.