September, as usual these days, has been dominated by southerly winds, that for us in Northumberland, aren't good for much. There has been no seawatching or decent migrant weather but it doesnt take a lot to shuffle the pack. Last week a short 2 day window of North then light East breezes, gave us an event that no one would have predicted under the conditions given.
Late Sunday morning last week Steve Egglestone posted a photo of a Pipit he had taken that morning at Trow Quarry, South Shields. We were all incredulous to see that it was a tiger striped Pechora! What? We havent had a Siberian blast yet this most sought after of Pipits made it through. I fancy it has come partially over the top on the north wind rather than from the east, but we can only speculate.
As I evaluated my twitching options in Morrisons at Alnwick at lunchtime, I pondered distance ( 90 miles round trip) how busy it might be and likelyhood of success. This equation came to 'You need to be in it to win it' so myself and John arrived at Trow Quarry bang on 3.30pm behind 50 other birders on site.
The prognosis wasnt good. Observers present for 3 hours only had flight glimpses from one area of long grass to another with an odd 5 seconds pause on a branch before dropping into the vegetation again. We soon became one of them. We had 5 short flight views. Once it was low and some stripes could be seen but it was essentially a quiet short tailed ground hugger that was beyond identification with these looks.
As I watched the tight packed crowd surge from one end of the quarry to the other when the bird moved ( it wasnt flushed it just proved mobile), this was never going to work. After watching the bird's behaviour, I said to John one one of these jaunts the bird will drop down onto the bare ground below the trees rather than into a bank of metre high thistles as it seemed to prefer.
I decided to hang back from the crowd. I left my scope and tripod standing on the short turf so I could be more ready for the next flight when I planned to sit back and watch closely with bins rather than moving myself. Sure enough up it went, true to form then swooped up under a large sycamore. The crowD moved as one, I didnt, I just grilled the landing spot with bins. It was then I saw a quick flick of wings to the back of the tree, above some bare ground.
I looked back, my scope stood alone on the lawn while everyone else was now 30 yards away. I could see most were in a trance like state just following and gazing but not really looking. I lifted my bins again.
This time I couldnt believe my eyes. There, on the bare ground below the tree was a small nodding bird, striding around in the open. I called this info to the line up. As one, it seemed to kick each and everyone up the backside and soon I could hear camera shutters going off.
I grabbed my scope and became the tail end sheep in the pack. Through my scope great views were had of this tiny jungle/tundra dweller walking around like a....well it reminded me of Forest Wgtail in China or an Olive backed Pipit maybe. It then marched up right out on the the access track sloping up the hill. What a sight! I even let a couple of lads get a good scope view too...
I will add at this stage, several of my good Northumberland mates had already sickened and left the site maybe 15 minutes earlier! Sorry chaps....
Anyway after 10 mins it flew up again and went back to its old ways in the long grass, but not before everyone there got good views and the photos they wanted. Result.
I cant see it being beaten to Bird of the Year at this late stage...
