Sightings for September 2008
27th September, 2008
(Hartlepool Headland)
A Yellow–browed Warbler was seen with two Goldcrests opposite the old putting green, but the highlight for me was being able to see and photograph a Red–breasted Flycatcher that had been caught by the local ringing group.
A drake Common Scoter, a juvenile Shag, three Eiders and at least two Guillimots were seen off the headland.
Waders included Turnstone (50+), Purple Sandpiper (7) and a single Common Redshank.
25th September, 2008
(Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire)
An afternoon visit to see the Brown Shrike was very rewarding, with the birds colours / markings showing superbly in the afternoon sun. With this being only the second recorded Brown Shrike in Britain, I knew it was going to be hard (if not impossible) to get any sort of photograph (over a hundred people viewing the bird whilst I was there).
Bonus bird was a first winter Red–backed Shrike in the same hedge row.
A quick stop at Bempton Cliffs produced three Collared Doves, two Goldcrests, a Wren and a Robin. Twenty – thirty Gannets, two Fulmar and a Kittiwake were seen during a ten minute view of the sea (very dissappointing).
Good views of three megas in a week (fantastic).
24th September, 2008
(Campfield Marsh, Cumbria)
The reported Stilt Sandpiper was quickly found during this afternoon visit to the north cumbrian coastline, but was just out of range for any decent photographs. A Peregrine Falcon was seen resting on the rocks by the shoreline.
Had a quick look around langdon Beck on the return journey, finding no fewer than twenty Black Grouse.
21st September, 2008
(Escomb)
A late evening visit produced no fewer than thirty three Tufted Ducks were on Escomb Lake. Four Coot and two Moorhen were also on the lake.
A decent sized group of birds were working their way around the lake, which included Chiffchaff (5), Blackcap (1 male & 1 female), Goldcrest (2), Long–tailed Tit (5+), Blue Tit (4+), Great Tit (4+) and Willow Tit (2). A family of Greenfinch (6+), several Chaffinch and a Jay (1 flew over) were also there.
20th September, 2008
(Dunbar)
The reported Greater Sand Plover was watched for nearly an hour before lunch. Five female Goosanders were in the bay and thirty five Pink–footed Geese flew in from the sea.
The reported Yellow–browed Warbler was seen outside of the hide at Cresswell. Thirty minutes birdwatching from the hide produced good views of Curlew Sandpiper (5), Common Sandpiper (1), Common Snipe (3), Dunlin(20+), Curlew (3), Bar–tailed Godwit (9), Greenshank (1), Little Stint (1), Golden Plover (10+), Lapwing (50+) and Water Rail (1).
A tip off from one of the locals took us to Druridge Pools for a Red–backed Shrike. The shrike wasn't found, but we did see at least ten Red–throated Divers offshore.
A quick stop at Newbiggin gave us good views of at least five Mediteranean Gulls (including three adults).
18th September, 2008
(Low Barns)
Three Common Teal were on the West Pond with three Tufted Ducks and several Mallards. A Jay was seen flying over the pasture.
A Grey Wagtail was seen on the river before moving on to the South Hide.
Three Little Grebes were on Marston Lake. At least ten Cormorants were in the trees and a further four on the raft. A fourth Teal was seen on one of the islands in front of the hide.
Still a few Swallows moving through and still no sign of an photographable Kingfishers.
Plenty of Dragonflies and Butterflies on the wing. Speckled Wood (1), Red Admiral (2), Peacock (1) and Small Tortoiseshell (1) were the butterflies. The dragonflies were probable Common Darter (5), Ruddy Darter (1) and several others that remained unidentified.
14th September, 2008
(Teesside)
A first winter Red–backed Shrike was at the southern end of the long drag. A Little Egret flew towards Dormans and a female Sparrowhawk made a brief appearance. The highlight here was a Honey Buzzard that slowly drifted above us, heading in a southerly direction (one of at least twenty reported over the weekend).
Three Ruff, a Greenshank, three Common Redshank, ten Dunlin and a Wood Sandpiper were seen on the Calor Gas Pool. At least ten more Ruff were on Back Saltholme, where two Little Stints were seen with a group of at least twenty Dunlin. Two Black Terns were seen on East Saltholme.
A second Red–backed Shrike was seen in the grounds of the old putting green, along with three Pied Flycatchers, one Spotted Flycatcher, two Willow Warblers and a possible Icterine Warbler. A Common Redstart and two Whinchats were at the end of Zinc Road.
13th September, 2008
(Bishops Park)
Six Grey Partridges and a steady movement of Swallow (50+) and House Martin (10+).
11th September, 2008
(Cresswell, Northumberland)
Two Pectoral Sandpipers were with the reported Buff–breasted Sandpiper. Several Curlew Sandpipers, a Ruff and a Little Stint were with reasonable numbers of Dunlin.
10th September, 2008
(Bishops Park)
50 – 60 Swallows and several House Martins over during this very quiet visit to the park.
8th September, 2008
(Escomb)
Several Chiffchaffs were with a small group of titmice that were working their way around the heavily flooded lake. At least one Willow Tit was also in the same area.
A Great Crested Grebe, a Cormorant and eighteen Tufted Ducks were on the lake.
7th September, 2008
(Teesside)
An afternoon visit to Teesside, hoping to locate some of yesterdays fall of migrants was very enjoyable.
First stop was Hartlepool Headland, where there was still plenty of activity. The ringers had nets out in most locations, giving observers the opportunity to view birds in the hand. Missed the opportunity to see Icterine Warbler (2 caught & ringed earlier), but did get good views of Northern Wheatear (1), Pied Flycatcher (1) and Robin (1).
Checking the trees and bushes, it soon became apparent that most of yesterdays birds were still to be found. Icterine Warbler (1), Willow Warbler (10+), Garden Warbler (4), Blackcap (5), Common Whitethroat (4), Lesser Whitethroat (3), Wood Warbler (1), Common Redstart (4), Pied Flycatcher (10+) and Spotted Flycatcher (4) were all found in the area.
At least twelve Northern Wheatears were in and around the Jewish Cemetery. No sign of the reported Wrynecks at Seaton, but there was plenty of other activity on the walk. Grey Partridge (4), Common Redstart (2), Pied Flycatcher (2), Northern Wheatear (1) and Willow Warbler (3) being the pick of the bunch.
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