Common or Pallid? Take your pick!

Friday 18th October

Dark brown it certainly was at 7 a.m. in the dark perched on St. Hilda's church tower.

Pallid Swift

Taken with my iphone at about 7.45am, this shows exactly where the swift [at time of writing now re-confirmed as a pallid swift after a spell of being suspected as a common] was roosting. The church clock chimes every quarter and the noise from the louvred windows would be deafening to the bird - shown here within the grey oval.

Here's another view: it's a little lighter now.

Pallid Swift

Just before 8 it took off and gave us great views as it flew around the Headland and still is doing now [Sunday afternoon].

Pallid Swift

A short walk down to Borough Hall gardens - about 150 metres! - to look for the Western Bonelli's warbler. No need to look really: some birders were already onto it in the young trees across from the putting green. Not a great photo but here it is - it proved difficult to track as it flitted rapidly, moving from tree to tree.

Western Bonelli's Warbler

Next stop South Gare to look for the redpolls that had been reported the day before: both mealy and arctic types. We found neither: just lots of reed buntings, goldfinches, chiffchaffs, linnets and... goldcrests!

Goldcrest

Goldcrest

Well never mind - two year ticks already and there's a siberian stonechat reported at Scalby Mills, Scarborough. Might as well try for it, I decided. However en route and approaching the coast south-east of Redcar I thought I might just pop down to Skinningrove. The road is closed so the best way in is from the steelworks road at the top of the hill. It was quiet and I walked along the rock armour. Robins and dunnocks. I turned back and half way back to the car up popped a black redstart. I spent the next half hour trying to get a photo but failed. Nonetheless, tick number 3!

At Scalby Mills the stonechat had been missing for about three-quarters of an hour. Shortly after I arrived it was relocated across the little valley. Pretty little snowball!

Siberian Stonechat

Siberian Stonechat

Have I ever had 4 ticks on one day as late in the year as 18th October? Nothing new reported down at Flamborough, I headed for Holbeck car park for lunch and a possible med gull. Not to eat, I mean! One was waiting in the car park...

Mediterranean Gull

In fact there were a few of them...

Mediterranean Gull

... including this trio on the chimney tops. The left hand bird is clearly an immature bird. When I took the photo I thought the others were black-headed but I've changed my mind. Thought it was time I got a better one!

Mediterranean Gull

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