Saturday 21 October 2017

Scarborough Birders do Out Skerries, 26th - 27th update.

For me the 26th proved quiet in comparison to the rest of the team, their walk through the 'hidden valley' bagged a tick infested Barred Warbler and a Richard's Pipit.
I on the other hand had a day with no scarce, however, it was a brilliant day in the field with a Garden Warbler causing havoc giving brief views and an Acro type feel to it, eventually got it pinned down in the garden by Rocklea.
A Reed Warbler was also kicking in and around Rocklea while other common migrant totals included a Swallow, 25 Redwing, two Blackbird, 30 Song Thrush, Flava, two Whinchat, ten Redstart, eight Robin, 16 Wheatear, Garden Warbler, seven Blackcap, three Lesser Whitethroat (with two blythi), Grasshopper Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, two Yellow-browed Warbler, four Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, 24 Chaffinch, three Brambling, Siskin, Common Redpoll and three Reed Bunting.

Reed Warbler in Rocklea.
Sedge Warbler by the airstrip.
Plenty of migrant Chaffinch on the islands.
Eider.

The 27th dawned and a slight clear out of migrants was evident. Although as the day passed small numbers of new arrivals became evident.
The 'hidden valley' proved very quiet while North Hill produced the goods yet again!
With a distinct feel of Dèjá vu, a Short-toed Lark was present in the exact same place as the bird we found last year, a year and three days to the day!
After initially flying over Nick, we pursued it and quickly picked it up and nailed a few poor record shots, at least it gave itself up quicker than last years that took the best part of a few hours!

A truly terrible shot of the Short-toed Lark.

Other hightlights included an Arctic Tern, three Tree Pipit, 19 Robin, Dunnock, five Redstart, 40 Song Thrush, ten Redwing, Garden Warbler, two Siberian type Lesser Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler, two Reed Warbler, six Yellow-browed Warbler and four Spotted Flycatcher.

Yellow-browed Warbler.
Redstart.
Yet more Locustella fun, likely one of the origional Grasshopper Warblers still present.

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