12th-16th October
12th -19th October: I'm back!!
Jack Nicolson 'The Shining' springs to mind....
12th October: Blacktoft Sands RSPB
Well it's good to be feeling better although I'm still not 100% fit. Still, I've been out a few times this week. Last Sunday was my first venture when Barry and I went to Blacktoft for the afternoon. We saw four birds of prey: kestrel, merlin, sparrowhawk and, of course, marsh harrier although the latter were so late in appearing that we began to wonder if a trip to Blacktoft might expire before we saw one!
Almost forgot to mention: at least 2 Cetti's warblers heard along the hedge to Ousefleet hide.
No bird photos but a late common darter basking in the sunshine.
Common Darter
15th October: Filey Dams and Kilnsea
Filey beckoned with reports of two grey phalaropes. By the time I arrived only one was there but the locals told me it was a new bird for the reserve and were quite excited. A good crowd had gathered.
Grey Phalarope
Grey Phalarope
I headed south to Flamborough to try to follow up a little bunting sighting but the trail had gone cold somewhere near the Flaneburg Hotel. A couple of disconsolate birders soon moved on. I lingered watching what was obviously a fall of goldcrests. They were everywhere.
A Radde's warbler [potential lifer] at Easington made me recalculate. Decided I could make it and still be home at a reasonable time. No sign of the warbler although many were still standing around looking in the bushes across from Easington cemetery. Again the place was crawling with goldcrests. A birder asked if I'd seen the shrike. 'Great grey?' I asked. 'No, isabelline, showing well in the hedge by the bend just before the wetlands car park.' I decided to give it a go. I went, I saw and I concurred! Isabelline. Very pretty in the scope but a bit beyond the camera. Still 2 year ticks was very good after a lengthy lay-off. As Barry said, it's good to be back doing my day job!!
16th October: Flamborough - Thornwick Bay
Another potential lifer was reported in a field just north of the cafe at Thornwick- a short-toed lark. Never found it or the 20 skylarks it was allegedly with. Decided to do the Old Fall walk. Lots of blackbirds, even more robins and hundreds of very skittish redwings. All attempts to photograph failed. This lady was much more accommodating along the long hedge. Lots of goldcrests everywhere again!
I was told there was a yellow-browed in Old Fall wood but didn't feel like spending an hour or more trying to find it.
Blackcap
So I headed back along the hedgerow. A white blob in the hedge ahead made me raise the bins. Shrike! I edged close taking photos every 20 steps. Here's a couple of the best ones.
Great Grey Shrike
Great Grey Shrike