Stormy night, bright afternoon

The south-westerly eventually blew itself out by the afternoon. A family visit to Runswick Bay late morning (sheltered from the wind and always a good spot to look in a gale). 1, 2 and finally 3 Red-breasted Mergansers were in the bay along with 2 Red-throated Divers and a duck Common Scoter. A Little Gull fed at the mouth of the bay. There was a Knot, 5 Ringed Plover, 5 Redshank and about 45 Turnstone plus the usual few Curlew and Oystercatchers, a lot of waders for Runswick. There was also some sort of fishing competition going on which apparently involved seeing how close to Norway it is possible to walk without drowning - as Jesus didn't seem to be competing, not very far would be a fair judgement. The lifeboat cruised off Kettleness in expectation of some rescue fun.

Elsewhere a Rough-legged Buzzard was reported over Danby Beacon, another Little Gull (or the same) was at Sandsend. Lapland Bunting was at Whitestone.

At home the Tree Sparrow "flock" of 2 now seems to be a permanent feature. Marsh Tit is still evident but Siskin seems to be down to just 2 and their visits are very intermittent. No Jays were heard today.This evening there were plenty of thrushes including two decent sized flocks of Fieldfares totalling about 60 or so. 2 Moorhens were heard in the bottom fields.

The neighbouring farm has sprayed cow shit all over their fields in the last week and so the gulls have returned. At the beginning of the week about 40 were seen, mostly Common Gulls but once all the fields were sprayed the numbers built up and there were probably 500 Common Gulls and 40 Black-headed today.

JB appears to be winding down. After the Short-toed Lark and Pechora Pipit early in the week, then two Pallas' Warblers on Thursday things have become more mundane. A Firecrest in Pannett Park, in Whitby, yesterday and just Lapland Bunting at Whitestone today. However, the winds and JB may yet return, the autumn isn't over yet. Early November is one of my favourite rare finding times and if we get the winds no doubt more will be discovered (hopefully by this good self - a White-billed Diver would suit please).