Eastern Black Red too

I went to Skinningrove this morning for another session with the extremely long staying Eastern Black Redstart, more than 50 days now, during the latter part of its mammoth stay it has been a bit more confiding as it certainly was today, coming within a few feet at times, there were also quite a few Fulmars on the cliffs being very vocal. I then carried on to Teesside calling at Sneaton Snook first where there was a nice mixed flock of Linnets and Twites, they proved difficult to photograph though as they crept about in the Samphire Grass, no Snow Buntings today. I finished off with a visit to Saltholme, just the usual winter fare although there was quite a good number of Barnacle Geese present.

very confiding today

Twite at Seaton Snook

some Saltholme birds

Dusky Thrush at Beeley

Me and Paz went down to Beeley in Derbyshire today for a Dusky Thrush that had been discovered late last Sunday, it has been showing all week although has been very mobile and elusive at times, we arrived on site and headed to Dukes Barn to stake out the little orchard behind there which the Thrush has been favouring on a regular basis rather than chase around the village and it seemed most of the other birders had decided on the same course of action, to say it was packed was an understatement but I eventually managed to get in position up against the dry stone wall, after around 45 mins we were rewarded with our first views when it dropped into a hawthorn, fed on a few berries and eventually dropped to the ground to feed on fallen apples for few minutes before flying off again, it repeated the performance another couple of times during the morning then happy with our lot we took our leave just after midday. After a spot of lunch we headed back with several Red Kites and Buzzards seen en route and called in at Fairburn Ings, a pair of Kingfishers were on view at the screen but the feeders were very quiet, also a good selection of water birds were on Village Bay but there was no sign of the recent redhead Smew, I heard later it had moved into the Main Bay in the afternoon.

initial views in the Hawthorn

before dropping to feed on apples

often difficult to get a clear shot as it moved around in the long vegetation

parting shot of it in the Hawthorn shortly before it flew off for the third time and we took our leave

some Fairburn birds

and mammals

Pallid Harrier another Yorkshire tick

Out with Mark today and we were joined by our mate Dave from Rochdale with Paz and family meeting up with us later, it was a day with a Yorkshire tick in mind, the Pallid Harrier that has been sighted at Welwick Saltmarsh with reliable frequency this last week, the original plan was to have toured around the Sunk Island area in the morning to see what we could find but after an early report of the Pallid we thought we’d get straight there, when we arrived we were told it had flown off towards Patrington so we settled in to wait for its return, it was quite a wait but we were suitably entertained by Sparrowhawk, Merlin, Kestrels, a couple of Marsh Harriers and a Buzzard as well as a few Little Egrets flying around and a nice mixed Finch and Bunting flock. Finally just after 2-15pm a ringtail Harrier was picked up flying low over the far side of the Marsh, we were fairly happy it was the Pallid, we only counted four primary tips, it looked very orangey underneath but then that might have been down to the low winter sun but as it alighted on a distant bush we got the clincher as it turned its head to reveal its collar, it eventually took off and flew back towards us giving excellent scope views as it quartered the Marsh having a go at Curlews and Pheasants and giving the local Crows as good as it got, it eventually flew off over the fields behind us reappearing at the top end of the Marsh a bit later but we then lost it as it flew towards a rapidly setting sun, however that was cue for several Short Eared Owls to start hunting making for a nice end to a successful day.

Kessy flying over

the Pallid Harrier sat on a distant bush

a Curlew having a go

four primary tips

finally revealing its neck collar and boa when it flew back a tad closer

Paz and family enjoying the Pallid

Short Eared Owls rounded the day off nicely

Local update November

Another fairly quiet month with a couple of Buzzard sightings on the 2^nd and 7^th, a Lesser Redpoll in with a Tit flock on the 4^th and a steady movement of Skylarks during the first week. After all the rain mid-month there was a bit of flooding during the third week and it soon attracted a load of Geese and masses of Gulls dropping in for a pre-roost bathe, on the 24^th while scanning through a large group that had been spooked I picked out a 2^nd winter Iceland Gull flying around with them, my third patch tick for the year, also that day four Goosanders were present. At the Cornfield NR Linnets had returned during the third week and the last week has seen a big increase in Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings as well as Greenfinches and Tree Sparrows.

distant Buzzard perched up

the floods

gathering Gulls

still a few large Gulls loafing around this last week even though most of the flooding has gone

Rawcliffe Meadows

Reed Buntings in the Cornfield NR

plus Tree Sparrows