Where did Autumn go!

 Blink and you'll miss it; that's October in the rear-view mirror. At this time of year, we always have one eye on the weather forecast, hoping it might displace a few birds our way.

Apart from Storm Buelo last weekend, the weather has been mainly uneventful. There have been no major falls of migrants, although a few scarcities did appear along the coast.

After spending the morning of the 11th October covering Longhoughton Steel, where the long staying Lapland Bunting was the highlight, no sooner had I got home when Ben found a Buff breasted Sandpiper in the very field I had just counted 22 Skylarks! It must have literally just arrived.

Due to work and other commitments I couldnt get along for a look until the 15th when after some searching the bird was found but distantly. Scope views were ok but no photos were possible.

Buff breasted Sandpiper field notes.

 On the 17th, an hour-and-a-half seawatch from the coast path here produced 2 ad Pomarine Skuas, 3 juv Long-tailed Skuas, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 4 Manx Shearwaters and 15+ Little Gulls. Motivated by this, John and I did a longer session at Seaton Point the following morning from 0715 to 1200.

Sit-outs on the point are always interesting, especially if the tides are right, i.e. within two hours either side of high tide. This particular morning produced a few winter arrivals, with Brambling, Redwings and Fieldfares all in-off. Of note at sea were 13 Brent Geese, 31 Whooper Swans, 397 Wigeon, 193 Teal, 91 Common Scoter, 2 drake Long-tailed Ducks, 16 Goldeneye, 8 Red-breasted Mergansers, 12 Grey Plovers, 8 Purple Sandpipers, 45 Little Gulls, 1 first-summer Mediterranean Gull, single Arctic and Common Terns, 11 Red-throated Divers, 1 Little Egret, a Peregrine, 2 or 3 Twite and a Short-eared Owl in-off, briefly landing on the rocks and then the dunes before continuing inland over the caravans.

Not a bad, nicely varied haul.

Short eared Owl on Seaton Point

On the 21st October, during Peggy's lunchtime walk in the village wood, 1 or 2 Yellow-browed Warblers were calling and being chased by a belligerent Chiffchaff, so there were no clear views. There were at least five Chiffchaffs present in the same area too. The following day, one of the Yellow-browed Warblers finally showed well low down by the path.

On the way back, a small bird flicked up above the roadside hedge. I hoped it might be one of the Yellow-browed Warblers again but, on lifting the bins, it turned out to be a cracker of a Siberian Chiffchaff. A very sandy, milky-tea-coloured bird with shiny jet-black legs. I didn't hear it call.

Just before Storm Buelo, on the 24th, I was surprised to see a late Swallow heading south over the village hall. Almost certainly my last of the year before spring. More interest came in the form of a Kingfisher flying over the village paddock and into the village wood. Another 'Eastern' type Chiffchaff showed, different from yesterday's bird but not as sandy-coloured. More of an abietinus type.

A few days off work from 28th meant I could venture down to Warkworth beach car park  to see the Red breasted Flycatcher found by Clive on 26th. This was no ordinary RBFly, this was an adult male complete with orange throat and my first in the plumage for many years. Luckily the sun came out and the flycatcher behaved impeccably around the picnic tables where, many years ago, I used to do some ringing... This little stunner may be the highlight of autumn this year...

So here we are in November, into autumn extra time if you like. There is still time ...

Autumn almost over.

 October is now over with only a single post on the blog.

This might be because this may be one of the poorest autumns birding I can recall. Since August we have had a constant southerly or south westerly airflow. For us on the NE Coast that is about as bad as it can get.

Looking at some stats, Manx Shearwater for example. Not one in September. There was just no suitable seawatching conditions. Same goes for drift migrants. On my patch there have been no Redstarts, Whinchats or Pied Flys.

It shows, people think we have it made watching a patch on the east coast, but that is only if the weather is in our favour. Back in August I wondered if the steady S winds would ever change, and they didn't apart from a couple of very narrow sub standard windows of opportunity.

On 25th September a seawatch was largely quiet other than a few Dolphins a Wheatear and an in-off Short Eared Owl.

Above- Bottle nosed Dolphins and a Short eared Owl at Cullernose.

A brief twitch to Holy Island on 27th September while we were up that way had a nice Red breasted Flycatcher. The following day a Cetti's Warbler giving short snatches of song at Foxton Golf Course pond was a first for the Boulmer patch. The same morning a good count of 71 Redpolls flew S. It at least has been a good year for Redpolls with bird moving S on most days.

On 5th October a nice group of 7 Curlew Sandpipers dropped on to the Aln Estuary. 

On 20th around our village were 6 Little Gulls N, a Woodcock, 18 Crossbills and 9 Whooper Swans S while the glitch in the machine dropped a few Yellow browed Warblers on site with 3 at Craster with a late Willow Warbler and two Willow Tits.

Red breasted Flycatcher.

Willow Tit

Willow Warbler 

Half a Yellow browed Warbler

And thats about it .

So, its no good wondering what could have been.

Winter is coming...

 

 

A bird in the bush is worth two in the hand...

Greenish Warbler, Chare Ends, Holy Island.

I took a flexi day on Tuesday after the rain, fog and easterlies yesterday to try and catch up with or, better still find, some of the scarce migrants that have littered our coastline. St Mary's fared well yesterday, and Holy Island had some good birds, so what was in between?

I started off at 7.30 this morning at Craster. I yomped over the heughs and the Arnold Reserve. It all started well with a good scattering of Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs with a single Willow Warbler, but scarceties remained just that. Scarce.  Two Redwings were very early and were probably the highlight here.

So, off up to Low Newton, where I met Gary who was ringing on site. Migrants were very thin on the ground here, so a check of the Tin Church area and the Pool Willows was largely fruitless.

Next stop Holy Island. I got on to the island at about 12 noon and have never seen so many tourists here. Robson Green has a lot to answer for... 11 coaches were in the top car park and the main car park was almost over flowing. The village was like the Metro Centre!   

Despite this, plenty of migrants were on offer, and with the sun beginning to shine the day was looking up. The very first bird I came across was a Barred Warbler in a willow at the Chare Ends watched by a small gathering of Greenish twitchers, it was typically shy, but could be followed as it thrashed the thin branches around. A lovely bird, but too distant and flighty to get a single pic.

The Vicars Garden had Pied Flycatchers, a Spotted Flycatcher, loads of Willow Warblers ( some singing) and Chiffchaffs. I missed a Yellow browed Warbler present here earlier. On route I also had Wheatear, Redstarts and Tree Pipit.

Back at the Chare Ends and the Greenish Warbler, now in its third day, was showing beautifully in the afternoon sunshine to only two or three birders.

After the long day I was on my way home when Gary rang to say he had caught the two Red breasted Flycatchers together. I had a bit of time while he cleared nets and processed birds so arrived just in time to assist him with a photo, after all you cant hold two rarities and take the photo, can you!

What an end to a great day away from work...  

Me posing two Red breasted Flycatchers for a photo. They flew off strongly non the worse for their brief interruption.

And another of a Red breatsed Flycatcher. Both pics thanks to Gary Woodburn.