OPs

Well a good couple of weeks along the coast. Weather conditions pretty good and plenty of reports coming from the bird news services. Long-tailed Tits, always a good flock to follow. Often small warblers and Goldcrests loosely associate with them.

Thousands of thrushes arrived along with Long- eared and Short-eared Owls. Strangely I never saw big numbers of thrushes and only 2 SEO and 1LEO?

 

Grey Wagtail, looks like it will spend the winter near the Pier End car park.

A late Whinchat, always worth checking in case it is a Sibe Stonechat. This was at Trow and another was at Marsden.

A couple of Black Redstarts, always great to watch.

Brambling, amazingly well camouflaged in sycamore trees. This one did hop onto the path and gave prolonged views. Thank you Mr Brambling, much appreciated!

Now this Stonechat had me excited. It was at the location of the Marsden Whinchat. That's what I thought it was initially. Then I realised it was a Stonechat. Surely it had to be a Sibe. Well it looked very pale. However the light was very strong and it could change appearance when it moved to a different position. Later I saw a bog standard male and female Stonechat in the same area and the pale bird had disappeared or was it just the normal female in different light. Hopefully someone will have a look over the next few days.

Of course when 'rarity fever' sets in everything takes on a different look.

A lovely clean Reed Bunting.

OPs

Other Peoples

I remember my New Years Resolution/Prediction was I wouldn't find a rarity in 2022. Well that seems to be the case. I've seen Pallas' W. Yellow Brows, Red-backed Shrike but none of them my finds. Not much time left to get my resolution wrong.