Bad Seawatching No 3 Wrong Place

A classic case of wrong place is Filey. Why bother to seawatch here? As can be seen by the map birds are likely to be miles out - probably unviewable. A good imagination is required if anything of interest is to be recorded (so that explains a gaggle of rejected P.feae in 2005).

Take a tip from BadSeawatcher drive down the road (20 mins) and watch at Flamborough or be daring and try those more northern points (Ness Point and Kettleness) for birds coming south out of the Tees Bay.

Real seawatchers do not need a hide (Filey has an A grade hide) or good company (Filey birders are a convivial lot) (at any rate they were til I wrote this). Real seawatchers need harsh elements blowing the soup away from freezing lips. Real seawatchers do not need to be told that the feae is at 200m inside the double black flag - find it yourself or be damned says BadSeawatcher.

Yuk

Sleet, rain and wind all day, really unpleasant. Huge lack of enthusiasm for venturing beyond the garden gate = a day pottering, more work on the website (it may be "on the way" now) and the occasional peek at what's in the garden (and visible from inside the house) - bird of the day so far is Great Spot.

Snow movements

220 Lapwing over the playground this morning may have come in off and the children were reporting a couple of skeins of geese, a 15 and a 50 (unfortunately i dipped these).

Moorland management

Talking of Red Grouse the management of the moor filled the dale with smoke in the late afternoon on Saturday and smoke from 3 or 4 heather burning fires was all around in the sky.

Anything at Scaling Dam? Both Long-tailed Ducks showed nicely.

Weather stuff

Bombus pratorum (methinks)

Today I struggle to work in the snow, for the first time nearly failing to escape the dale - all a bit hairy really, and more snow to come. Saturday we spent all day outside, Louise reported seeing a butterfly in the garden (probably Small Tortoiseshell) and there was a bumblebee feeding in the snowdrops. Skylark were singing on the moor, Red Grouse were all territorial.

More garden stuff

Managed to get my own Woodcock by nipping down through Richard's wood, not in the garden but nearby. Also from there lots of Redwing and Fieldfare and 2 Mallard.

Not so many Chaffinch today but the Common Gull flock was at about 2,000. Yellowhammer seem much more abundant than a week ago, the cold weather pulling them in to the food perhaps - probably 8 or 9 different ones around the garden - maybe more.

At Sandsend the sea was very rough, only a Red-throated Diver and Grey Wagtail were of note.

Big Garden Bird Count day

Did my count first thing(ish). Chaffinch scored just under the 100 and there were plenty of Yellowhammer about (5 at once under the feeders). Brambling were sadly absent and only a few of the 150 Redwing came and sat in a garden tree. Fieldfares were flyovers so they didn't count. It was in the afternoon that more interesting things arrived with Common Gull up to 1,500, a Siskin on the nyjer feeder (first since the autumn on the feeders), Great spot on the peanuts and (possibly new from the garden) a Peregrine spent 10 minutes buzzing the other side of the dale.

More garden birds

What's this under the kitchen window?

Snow prevented me getting to a meeting, so I diverted to home.

Louise had already flushed a Woodcock from a bramble patch up the garden - garden tick. But these were nice under the window. 

Wham, bam, Peregrine slam

Usual sleepy exit from the car outside work, usual glance upwards as I head for the door, usual Herring Gulls decorating the church + feral pigs, then mayhem as two peregrines scream (literally) over the car park, bad-tempered chasing, sweep up high and go their separate ways. Good start - bad day though, so it goes.

Fixing the profile

I need to post this photo to fix the profile. 

Scaling Dam and garden today

Two new drake Goldeneye to supplement the usual adult and sub-adult males - a total of at least 16 Goldeneye of all ages and genders. The male Long-tailed Duck was evident but no 1st winter. 2 Pink-feet were hiding amongst the Greylags. 26 Fieldfares went north-west. A good range and mix of species, although dabbling duck numbers were low. A record 5 House Sparrows were around the feeding stations.

Back home Fieldfares and Starlings were out in force with at least 350 Fieldfares, about 600 Starlings. There were 100 Redwing at least. Most of these would have remained hidden but for the raiding female Sparrowhawk. Common Gulls reached bout 350 also but only 2 Bl-h Gulls and no big ones today. The Magpie roost didn't seem to happen, although between 4 - 6 were hanging around the lower fields from late afternoon. A Grey Heron plodded around the lower fields from lunchtime. Chaffinch numbers seem steady but a small rise in greenfinch and Goldfinch numbers continues. 

Bad Seawatching - No 2 (the answers)

Unsurprisingly no entries to the competition, this sea watching is after all very hard stuff. No prizes to give out, so I'll keep the bins. Here are the answers.

1. A classic case of "wrong place" Haderhaven is a harbour in the middle of Holland, less than ideal for a seawatch.
2. No bins - not a pair in sight, bins are the essential piece of kit you always have at the ready for a seawatch.
3. No soup (or tea, or coffee - acceptable alternatives) - another essential.
4. Two hats too few - three hats would be the minimum recommended.
5. Hands in trouser pockets. This can easily lead to the very worrying "damaged trousers" - an uncomfortable and usually seawatch terminating condition or even "too close to the birds" - generally a wet experience and equally terminal in respect of the seawatch.

Thanks again to Ed van zoonen for the use of his photo.

So I'm told

4 Bullfinch in the garden, a record flock.

Rabbit stuff

The garden is still full of rabbits. I have a thing about introduced species - only Little Owl and Brown Hare (although that may be native) really escape my wrath. Rabbits don't only eat everything - even gooseberry bushes - they also cause a significant pot hole hazard for the casual wanderer. No longer. I have printed out these magnificent tips and hints and scattered them around the garden. (A much safer strategy than the fellow who dislikes moles and came up with a wild plan involving many metal stakes and lots of electricity = happy moles; dead fellow. Do follow the link.

Oops have discovered that the images were copyright from a book(s) by Andy Riley (and were taken down due to copyright issues). These are similar (in homage?). The originals are very clever (and funny in a Tebbit Spitting Image kind of a way).

Andy if you're reading I didn't really print out pirate images and scatter them all over the garden, no sireee.

Living room view

These feeders are a bit more distant and there's lots of wheat in the feed, thus the Pheasants. If the Pheasants aren't diving in its the jackdaws and Rooks, although they are more timid. We put a little feed on the ground but by putting a ground type mix in the feeders it falls to the floor over the day - well morning unless we refill them and so we get plenty of Chaffinch on the deck. Since we've been doing this the Chaffinch flock has generally been about 50 ish. Tree Sparrow has appeared once, Yellowhammer is a regular visitor. 

Kitchen window view

The Great Spot is about 8feet from the sink. 

Garden today

Star performer today was the Great Spot, as usual. The Chaffinch flock was at least 50 strong, Goldfinch are now up to 8. Of most interest was the magpie roost, just across the road, which hit a record 32. Magpie are quite hard to see here most of the time so it is interesting that so many come to roost. I should go and stand on top of the moor late one afternoon and see if any are coming in from the next dale or if they all originate from this one.

4 species of gull today but no great numbers, reflecting the numbers at Scaling. 9 GBbG with 4 Herring went through.

Yesterdays brief sortie to Scaling Dam in the late afternoon produced the 1st W LTD but very little else. Gulls were well down, only 250 Commons although the rough seas brought c50 GBbG. 

Bad Seawatching No1

WhitbyBirding seeks to improve your seawatching skills and knowledge. The world of the skilled seawatcher is a world of mystery and suspense. Hours of intense concentration rewarded with that 35 seconds of joy and excitement – ecstasy even. The world of the bad seawatcher is one of cold, wet misery, spilt tea and peeing all over your bins. The Bad Seawatching series is intended to help you avoid some of the seawatching beginners less comfortable mistakes. This series should transform the seawatching expeience for every birder that follows our expert advice.

The photograph (kindly supplied by Ed van zoonen) illustrates a number of elements of bad seawatching. (It should be pointed out at this stage that the three gentlemen in the photo may not intentionally be engaging in seawatching – but they could be, and if they are it is very bad seawatching indeed.)

Look carefully at the photograph. I will pick out a few issues for you:

1 Fire too small

2 Tripod in wrong place

3 Poor posture

Later in the series we will look at each of these elements in detail as well as examining crucial aspects like:

Wrong place

No notebook

Is it a bird?

Too much imagination

No soup

In the meantime can you find the 5 other elements of Bad Seawatching illustrated in Ed’s photo? You are welcome to post these in the comments section below. WhitbyBirding may even come up with a prize for the most accurate answers, well, maybe.

The return of the Long-tailed Ducks

Both LTDs were on Scaling this afternoon - although they took a bit of finding. The 1st W was eventually found towards - but not in - the Cleveland end and seen well from the Yorkshire end along the southern footpath. The hide was invaded by birders from Leeds on a day out, after a while one of them said, "Do you ever get Guillemots on here?" To which I replied that I'd not seen one. He then got me onto two small diving things way up the Yorkshire end by the orange bouy. 2 LTDs together, and in the gloom I managed to make out the plumes and pale head of one. It's not such a bad error at that range, especially as LTDs dive
just like the larger auks, flicking their wings out as they submerge. The male bird eventually made its way into the Cleveland end to roost in the bay just inside the county boundary. Also present were 5 Pink-feet. There had been 7 yesterday and 11 (including one that apparently had orange bare parts) the day before. Unfortunately when I popped in yesterday it was sans scope - a non-birding expedition diverted - so I couldn't check the 7 properly. Little else of note - very few gulls (but lots in Sandsend Bay). Rather irratating was the flock of 15+ geese that I got onto too late flying away into Yorkshire - I thought they might have been Barnacles, unfortunately the massed ranks of Leeds birders failed to get onto them also.

Sandsend was enlivend by our friends' young lad who took to winter bathing in all his clothes, he took some convincing not to join the Red-thoats et al permanently. 4 of afore mentioned Red-throats, 10 Shags, 2 Sanderling, 13 Ringed Plover, 2 Turnstone, 5 Redshank, 5 Common Scoter. Most interesting was the mass of birds around the very distant fishing boat but with haze it was just too far away to identifiy anything but a few Gannets. 

New Year Greetings

Having left my notebook in the hide at Scaling on the last day of the year - thanks Martin for letting me know - now recovered by a flying visit on a non-birding day yesterday. Long-tailed Ducks appear to have gone - however, this is an old trick by these crafty quackers, I'll be surprised if they not seen again this month.

A new series for the New Year is in preparation - Bad Seawatching - WhitbyBirding's contribution to improving your seawatching skills - coming soon.

Wigeon crash test cliff

So we get down on to Runswick Bay beach heading for the pub and this Wigeon comes from nowhere at rapid speed and flies straight, head first into the cliff. Dazed Wigeon slides down cliff and on to beach - and is immediately savaged by two hounds. However, a quick rescue is accomplished. Wigeon is examined and appears rather passive - I guess anyone would be after 30mph collision with a cliff. I reckon the Wigeon is a gonner - girls stroke Wigeon and say goodbye and I decide to set it on the very calm sea, I set Wigeon at waters edge, it sits on the sand in a dead pose for a few moments and then flies low and fast out to sea to be joined immediately by a drake. Wigeon awarded ***** NCAP stars. 

Sandsend today

Pied Wag in the cliff end car park. 

Kettleness and Sandsend

No great shakes. Plenty of Red-throats (that's divers not pipits). Plenty of Shags especially in Sandsend Bay. Plenty of gulls. Razorbill and Guillemot.

Interesting the auks. During the summer and autumn they feed in close, compact groups but now in the winter they are generally very dispersed, most on their own, the occasional group of two or three but usually well separated. What are the survivial strategies here? Perhaps there being fewer it is safer to look out for yourself than draw attention in a small group - the odds seem better?

There seem to be only ten Bl-h Gulls until you throw some bread in the air - and then there are 50.

Garden stuff

The new feeding strategy has increased the Chaffinch flock up to about 70 - it's hard to know the real number as they come and go from and to a fair distance through the day. Interesting watching a Greenfinch on a seed feeder today using its bill sideways as a shovel, pushing the wheat out onto the floor so it could get to the few sunflower seeds and other good stuff - the Chaffinchs benefit from this behaviour because they hoover up what's on the deck (as do the Pheasants). We could probably do with putting the better quality stuff - that's now run out - near to the house, we don't want food on the deck near the house because of the rat problem (not that I've seen one for some weeks now).

A flock of large gulls drifted into the dale this morning, mostly Herring with a few Geeb, they corrected to go south near the head of the dale. There were three Geebs yesterday as well. Large gulls are generally quite uncommon in the dale.

Flock of c35 Golden Plover went high west early this morning. Song and Mistle Thrush still singing.

Still no Marsh Tits on the feeders, none now since the spring although I have occasionally heard them along the lane. Perhaps we need some snow to bring them in.

Didn't do my homework I guess

Couldn't resist another one. Follow the link.

I clearly didn't do my homework as I made a bit of a pig's ear of geting the Scaling ones right. A further visit today confirmed yesterday's afterthought. Hopefully photo to follow later.

New birding drama, here's the preview.

Follow the link to view the preview - I think it airs tomorrow.

Scaling Dam

Long-tailed Ducks are still there (x2). At least 16 Goldeneye (2 imm males and I couldn't find the adult male today). Teal were nicely in front of the hide, but not countable accurately, too close under the bank. There were a lot of Blackbirds, at the Yorkshire end 7 or so with 3+ Song Thrush in the gorse bushes; at the Cleveland end in the lane between the buildings, 20 Blackbirds at least. A Song Thrush was singing.

The lovely sunshine has finally disappeared and the misty day became foggy at dusk.

Sunny days up t' dale

Two garden ticks today - Tree Sparrow first. Two were under the new feeders and then on next door's feeder. So the spuggie seen fleetingly and heard briefly yesterday was most likely this species. Then in the afternoon 53 Greylag were flushed into the dale from the moor to the north by a light aircraft - they came almost directly over the garden. Siskin were again in evidence but again not on the Niger feeders - feeding in the larch. Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush were singing. Fieldfare were heard only and a few Redwing were about. 2 Kestrel again and a Spughawk. The Great spot briefly on the peanut feeder. No gulls, not one. The Magpie roost held at least 4 and about 50 Woodpigs with just one Stocky came to roost. Glorious light; lunch in the garden; t-shirt weather really, honest. 

Scaling Dam

Another late afternoon visit to Scaling, bathed in sunshine. (We abandoned a trip to York yesterday as thick fog just beyond Pickering was a bit of a disincentive - Scarborough was clear and sunny.) Long-tailed Duck x2 again. Good views of the adult female today and the scruffy 1stW is still present. The two birds were feeding together today - the previous adult never associated with the 1st W to my knowledge. Not much else today, nothing in the gulls, but the feeders had been topped up so Willow Tit wa easily found.

Golf course and Sandsend

An early mooch around the golf course was relatively unfruitful, 2 Red-throated Divers and 2 Wigeon being the highlight. So no Hume's and no Mr BigFeet for me.

Down at Sandsend there were 10 Goldeneye and 2 Common Scoter in the bay.

To Let

This quality, new build accommodation has recently become
available. Ideal for the discerning client who wants to cut down on
that annual commute. Within view of superior fish stocks and already semi-furnished.

This spacious property would suit the more flamboyant couple who enjoy the close proximity of human beings - public footpath, 70metres; Middlesbrough by nearby main road, 50 minutes. The neighbouring angling and sailing clubs will also provide many admirers.

Well kept and keepered grouse moors surround this very desirable property. Rent by one-off payment mid-season. Be there by mid March or you could miss this once in a life-time opportunity. 

Scaling Dam today

A brief window of opportunity for a dip in to Scaling was well worthwhile. 2:15 p.m. on the way. As I zoomed along the A171, 8 Whoopers flew low over the car heading inland, I hung a rapid right into the Runswick turning and found they had corrected and were heading straight for Scaling and looking set for touchdown. Back to the car and in to the Yorkshire end car park - no Whoopers. However, the gulls were beginning to roost near the Yorkshire end so I elected to walk around to them - good choice. I flushed a Short-eared Owl off the fence - into the sun unfortunately so no pix - and this eventually headed towards Cleveland over the moor. A redpoll flew over - seemed a maybe mealy but unforunately that kept too. Looked through the gulls, no joy there. Reasonable count of Goldeneye (total at least 16 including the Cleveland ones). But a Long-tailed Duck showed, not the usual one, an adult type bird - rather distant and in poor light I thought it was a female. A bit more of a hunt around located the usual scruffy 1stW. Down at the Cleveland end the food had run out so nothing on the feeders and it looked as if the ducks had been disturbed.Walked to the fishing centre building and had another go at the gulls - but distant and just 1500 Common Gulls and a few odds and ends. The adult LT Duck was in the gull roost and being quite aggressive to the Common Gulls. Spot the LT Duck above .....

Rodent surprise!

We have oven gloves by the Rayburn which we use to take the hot ash tray out. I was sorting the heating out this morning and so on went a glove - and off it came super fast as some furry critter was running about inside it. On closer inspection this proved to be a Field / Yellow-necked Mouse (unidentifed as I didn't have it still for very long). The wee beastie was released in the garden - not very pleased I should think as it was a mite chilly out there compared to the Rayburn-side glove.

Garden and village

The Gt Spot was a frequent peanut chomper through the day, a male Bullfinch feeding on dock seeds in the garden and a male Brambling at a finch pre-roost near the church with a male Sparrowhawk hunting nearby. A Little Owl was a surprise on the walls by the moor top fields.

Scaling Dam

A scruffy LT Duck is still the star attraction at the Yorkshire End. 3 Mistle Thrush were around the car park, a Shoveler flew in and a Willow Tit was again at the feeders. But the feeders held a surprise in the shape of a male House Sparrow, common by the pub 500m away but very uncommon on the reserve.

Longest ever seawatch ends in tragedy

Kettleness today. I found my earstwhile seawatching companion in a bit of a state. I'm currently busy going through Nige's notebooks and hopefully may find some pix to support the sightings on his SD card. A sad day for seawatching after 437 days, 6 hours and about 7 minutes, looks like the soup ran out. Last sighting of note appears to be an argentatus Herring Gull, may have got too close for comfort. 

Egging

Interesting article on eggers in The Guardian earlier this week. Click the link to learn more. It is worth taking car numbers and reporting anything suspicious to the police - you may help catch another of these law breakers who still pose a significant threat to some species.

Breaking news from BOURC

Looks like Filey might have been right on the money.
(With thanks to the good doc for initiating this thread of gold.)
That's it folks hit the link again.

British birder in trouble methinks

By the look of this video Nick seems to have got himself in deep water.

Scaling again

A quick dash to Scaling for the roost. A search of the Yorkshire end produced the scruffy LT Duck, no sign of the drake anywhere. Narrowly dipped 3 Goosander. 2,500 Common Gulls in the roost arrived quite late and were out in the middle unfortunately. Little else of note.

More from Scaling Dam

The "other" Long-tailed Duck finally gave itself up today - mostly due to me covering the Yorkshire end with some care - as opposed to a cursory glance which has been more usual of late. The male was also present, way out in the middle and consorting with the usual 3 Goldeneye. In fact both birds were visible from the Northumbrian Water building but this one required a bit of imagination. Why do they not associate? To my knowledge they have never been seen together.

I'm always interested in the jizz thing. Goldeneye have a very distinctive dive - they way they leave the surface, quite different from Tufted Duck, which at Scaling is the main confusion species at range. Long-tailed Duck also "goes under" in a very distinctive manner. Interesting how 1/4 of a duck disappearing beneagth the waves is identifiable at considerable range with at least 99% accuracy. That combination of details that is distinctive. 

Scaling feeders

On the feeder today, Willow Tit. A snap from the hide. A lso around the car park at least 2 Bullfinches, a Redwing and quite a few (10ish) Blackbirds.

This Willow Tit shows the wing panel quite clearly. A few miles down the road at home we have Marsh Tit (well had, they've become elusive of late). Last autumn and winter there were at least 4 visiting us regularly. There are claims of Marsh Tit at Scaling ..... but I've not seen or heard them there. Around the village Marsh Tit are quite common and although there is suitable habitat for Willow Tit I'm yet to find them here. Amazing really how late these two species were split as the calls (at least) are pretty distinctive - not that the occasional embarrasing error has not been made .... 

Back to the past

Kestrel in Withens Clough on Sunday. Little else about apart from Bramblings in the Beech woods on the north side. I saw/heard about 20 Brambling early in the afternoon. In the past this species has had a roost or pre-roost in the clough in big numbers (1000+) and had I hung about I suspect that more might have appeared. 

Seawatching (over bath)

"You'll be in with t' mermaids in a minute Piglet."
"At least in here I could keep the scope out of the wind and rain. If I had one."
"Where's me bins that's a Bonxie! Ooooops just that plastic pterodactyl again."
"Weeeeeeeeeeeeee"
SPLASH!
Much thrashing around in the water as the Mako (plastic) finally engulfs Piglet.
"Ba," said Tigger, "I'm going for a bounce." 

Garden pecker

Great spot on the feeder from the kitchen window. Not much else seen from the garden today. Scaling still had the LTDuck - beggared if I can find a second one - but the Whoopers had gone. 

Sandsend seas

6 grey geese, most likely Pink-feet were going high west as we arrived over the crest of the hill. The Peregrine was doing mad hunting over the sea - but no Little Auks in its sights this time. Also single Eider, Common Scoter, Red-th Diver. Ellen had a narrow escape from a good soaking as she went splat in the sand with serious wave approaching and everyone got wave in wellie. 

Scaling today

5 Whooper Swans and a Long-tailed Duck were the highlights but 7 Bullfinch, 5 Fieldfare and at least 16 Goldeneye were the supporting cast from 8:30 to 10:30. The Whoopers and LT Duck were miles away, these Bullfinch were the best I could manage. 

Scaling Dam record

Two entries for Scaling Dam on Birdguides today - and neither of them mine. The L-t Duck is still there, I saw it on Sunday and it was still present on Tuesday morning when I popped in on the way to Northallerton. Adult Med Gull in the roost and Whooper Swans complete the current line up.

A very quick drop in to the golf course ravine this morning produced a Scoter, 6 Shags and what was very likely Mr Bigfeet disappearing into the distance rocket powered - got onto him toooooooo late unfortunately - too interested in looking along the breaker edge for Little Auks, none of course. I really should have added LA to the site list last week - lack of dynamic imperative (lazing around in bed til 7 and cooking the family porridge). However, this weekend is looking posible.

Low effort - high quality

A beach trip to Sandsend produced 2 Bonxies heading down and a couple of divers offshore. 1 was a Red-throat but the other was elusive and I hadn't taken my scope but showed some features of Black-throat. There was at least one Brambling in the garden on our return. Scaling Dam for the last hour or so of light (+scope) produced a rather smart (if distant) Long-tailed Duck, 12 Goldeneye and a tick for me at this site 6 Goosander. Otherwise duck numbers were down and the gull roost was a pitiful 1,500 or so. However, a good selection for the day in a bit of a blustery old breeze.

Apology, risk assessment required

It has been pointed out to me that a risk assessment is required for yesterdays recipe hint.
1. Risk: high of being significantly savaged by Geeb. Control measure: lecture Geeb re apprpriate behaviour whilst being prepared for the plate.
2. Risk: high of burning whilst poking Geeb with stick to judge readiness for plate. Control measure; avoid use of fire - try a microwave instead, alternatively eat raw but see 1. above.

Straight to the burning fires for these boyos

"For this crime thou shalt suffer hotly. (Well it won't be nice anyway)" Recipe hint - drop Geeb in clay and coat thoroughly, wrap in silver foil and place in hottest part of fire until it stops baying, then poke with a stick and extract. Serve thinly sliced on buttered toast with a slice of lemon - best taken with strong alcoholic beverage. Follow link to find out more.

Little Auks past Kettleness Point

51 Little Auks went west past Kettleness in 3 hours from 07:10 this morning. 1 reprobate went east but that was probably included in the count as some were not moving strongly. I found the first as I checked for waders over the exposed rocks and it flew just a few metres offshore. The next two were only found when I noticed the local Peregrine hunting low over the sea, after three or four passes it gave up and two Little Auks popped up and continued on their way. During the first hour most birds were singles or pairs close inshore and checking with the scope produced nothing but in the final hour or so most were distant with flocks of 15, 5, 8, 3 and 4 - no doubt I missed a few. The wind increased dramatically during the watch, so much so I was almost blown off my feet as I climbed up the cliff to leave. The strong wind made some species look odd - change of jizz. Thus the 17 grey geese that were not too far out but too far to get detail - I couldn't see head well or the tail - looked uncharacteristically heavy and slow for Pink-feet (which they surely were). It also made x45 hard work buffeting the scope. Other highlights were Goldeneye 6 and a Red-breasted Merg - Mr Bigfeet didn't show. On land there was more Starling movement with 250 west in 30 mins - I can't quite figure out if this is just local movement though, a few Goldcrest were in the point bushes and there was a constant trickle of Skylarks heading west or south west. A good morning.

Birdtrack

For those of you who have not used Birdtrack i've put a link in the links section of the Blog. I really like this it gives local patch workers a real incentive as everything goes to the national database and it produces nice graphs and stats for the patch (Once you've used it a bit.)

It looked like the Starlings were still moving today as one flock went past the playground during early morning duty. Louise reported more Fieldfares at home as she walked the children to school this morning, she had a good few yesterday. Looking forward to tomorrow a.m. when a Kettleness early start is planned, hoping for a remnant Little Auk and one, other or both (or even all three) of the larger divers are called for - come on Mr BigFeet flyby me.

Why no comments?

Apologies to those who have tried to comment - should be able to now IThink I've sorted the settings .... well maybe.

The North Wind doth blow

A good old blow which began late Tuesday a.m. settled to a more gentle north westerly but it was still showery this morning. Hopes of Little Auks driven into the bay were dashed (but they would be hard to see on a lowish tide and a huge sea) but there was compensation. Driving down two large flocks of Starlings crossed my path going west, a 1,000 and a 1,500 possibly. From 07:00 Starlings were moving over the ravine and along the beach. In an hour nearly 340 went west in small parties and these were still going at 09:00 when two parties went past the playground. New birds for the patch were Snipe, 1 high SW, and Goldeneye, 2M and 2F went west. Also on the move were single Grey Heron and Brambling, a sprinkling of Mepits and 3 Skylarks - all SW or west. A Sparrowhawk also put in an appearance and Blackbird numbers were high with at least 20 in the lane alone. By 09:00 the sun was coming through and the morning was brightening. No doubt it will be bright for the weekend but a search for Little Auks on calmer seas in the bays may bring rewards.