Lately we have been getting some canny birds around our local patches.
Most years we expect this to increase with the onset of September into
October, but often we are disappointed. Things rarely turn out as planned.
This last week has been, let me say, mixed. The wind has been from the East or
North East for about 5 days and this is sure to produce the goods. Well, it
did, and it didnt. 50 / 50.
When the wind is in the east we hope for drift migrants from the continent.
Classic birds in these conditions are typically Wryneck, Red backed Shrike,
Barred Warbler and Red breasted Flycatcher.
We saw none of those here. In fact, for instance, yesterday was the quietest
day we've seen on the coast for some time. There were none of these rarities
but more concerning, there were no common migrants either. A full stomp around
the headland of Seaton Point checking all bushes produced a heard only
Chiffchaff and a locally bred juvvy Common Whitethroat. I get more in the
garden.
Some places did get these good birds though, Holy Island, Low Newton and
Newbiggin had them just not here. Spurn was positively sinking under the
weight of good birds.
What is the upside of this you might be wondering? For us it was the
sea.
Last Sunday 1st Sept at Boulmer we had 18 Arctic Skua, 2 Long tailed Skua and
2 Bonxie, 43 Manx and 10 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Red throated Divers, 22 Common
Scoter, 1 Red breasted Merganser, 4 Goosander. Then as we were drinking tea at
the car park nearly at close of play, we got a message that an adult summer
plumaged Sabine's Gull had been seen at St Mary's, Newbiggin, Snab Point and
Hauxley very close in, and it was heading our way.
There was no time to walk out to either North or South headlands so we just
went to the flag pole seat beside the Lifeboat hut and waited.
The view here was a little bit more distant than the points but we could
easily identify terns and kittiwakes in good light as they passed.
We formulated a strategy. In these situations you dont want one birder to see
the bird and the other one not be able to get on it, so we focussed our scopes
on the sea just south of the haven marker post. That way if one of us saw it,
the other could get onto the post and the observer would say, at the post NOW!
Ten minutes or so later and thats exactly what happened. I called up first
when a small black hooded gull came into view. Luckily, John had seen it
simultaneously. As it flew north it came a bit closer giving us great views as
it passed, then as quick as it arrived it was gone to the north. Thats
Seawatching for you...
During the working week a couple more short seawatch sessions were much
quieter though on 4th Sept, I had nice views of 2 Minke Whales feeding
offshore from our village for an hour. Its been a canny year for them up here.
On Thursday 5th, it was looking good for migrants so I took a day annual
leave. What a waste. There were no small migrants and even worse the drizzle
and fog so thick you could hardly see the sea! A couple of short watches had
13 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 likley Balearic Shearwater, 21 Manx Shearwaters, 1
Arctic Skua, 1 Little Gull and a Roseate Tern. Not too bad in the gloom but I
just knew there were more birds out there hiding in the fog...
Next day, Friday I was back in the office. What a mistake that was as every
one was now seeing masses of good seabirds now the gloom had lifted. So I
managed to get finished and head off up to Seaton Point where me and John were
sat in position by 4.30. Tide was up and birds were streaming by. Excellent.
In the next two hours we enjoyed -
Manx Shearwaters 102 N
Sooty Shearwater 4 N
Bonxie 2 N
Arctic Skua 2 N
Long tailed Skua 1 N
Roseate Tern 1ad N
then as with the Sabine's Gull, we got wind that heading our way was a very
close in Cory's Shearwater, a rare bird in the North East from the Med
and more southern areas.
We had all but given up, as these birds can do anything on route such as land
on the sea or go offshore etc. When, out of a trough behind a big rolling
breaker it emerged and I called to John, Cory's Shearwater! Less than half way
out and showing well. This is where the fun began. As I touched on
with the Sabine's, John could not get his eye on the bird as it slowly wavered
its unusual flight north. I called a constant commentary, calling every bird,
wave and flag that came into my view, but to no avail.
I could sense a quietness about John then he said, I'm going to miss this...
There is nothing worse than the walk back to the car when only one of us has
seen something! Time to up the anti.
I could tell the slow moving bird was close and really he shouldnt miss it, he
was looking too far out and to the north. I stood up and scanned with my bins
rather than the scope. I soon got its bearings. A bouy and a long white topped
breaker. I called John to look exactly there. Dropping back to my scope, there
were 2 juv Kittiwakes going through. John had those. Then, close behind was the
Cory's I'm not sure who was most relieved when he said 'Got it!'. Phew. It was
still on view for a good spell after that so it was a result. The first Cory's
we've had at Boulmer and a good view too...
I was almost hoarse from shouting directions the Shearwater will have heard me!
This week the weather is set to be a bit colder than recently with strong
northerlies.
You can guess what we will be doing later on...
