October to November

Pallid Swift

I was in the right place at the right time when I heard two birders shout 'Swift'. It turned out to be one of an influx of Pallid Swifts which were being reported in the country.

A lone Redwing landed near the rifle ranges and later the same day many more were reported coming in over the North Sea.

Kestrel

Curlews

Wheatear

As with the swifts, the Southerly airstream had me checking beaches in the area. Hoping for a Desert Wheatear. No luck so far.

Grey Plover

Rat

One of seven at the bird feeding hide, Whitburn.

Sand Bunting?

News yesterday of a Pied Wheatear North of the Tyne made it an easy choice of where to go birding today. I set off on the Shields ferry and then walked to Whitley Bay via Tynemouth and Cullercoats. On arrival the Pied Wheatear gave terrific views and despite being very close I managed to fail to get my photos in focus.

Pied Wheatear and Goldfinch

Last year (23rd November) I made the effort to see the Whitburn bird, travelling from Northumberland??

On the way back I dropped in at Tynemouth to look for the Subalpine Warbler that has shown every day for over a week. Conditions were poor and like most birders there I  stood around catching up on the gossip. There were a few who kept looking (Well done Paul!) but I soon gave up headed for some fish and chips before getting the ferry back. Not a bad day.

I'll be back at the beach tomorrow still hopeful of seeing a Desert Wheatear before the end of the year.

 

Update

Rat

Well what an exciting few days. News wise some very exciting birds turning up. In my area it has been a bit frustrating. Still time for something unusual (in fact rarities turn up every month of the year) so I'll keep looking.

And of course enjoying the common stuff.

Whitburn Steel

Apart from the leftover fireworks and the yappy dogs, this is a great place at present. A lot of washed up seaweed providing insect/crustacean pickings for a good number of pipits, wagtails and starlings.

This pale Stonechat has caused lots of debate.

Originally ID Whinchat

Then Pale Common Stonechat

Then Siberian Stonechat (maurus)

Then Whinchat x Eastern Stonechat hybrid.

ID still to be confirmed

 

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.

 

More of the Locals

Grey Partridge

Swallows enjoying one of the amusement park rides.

Kestrel

Two family parties on the patch so lots of activity and noise to enjoy

Blackbird

Yellow-browed Warbler

The easterlies in September provided a lot of common migrants. Still more giving themselves up when the wind dropped. Goldcrests and Chaffinches being more numerous now. Thrushes still to arrive in big numbers although many have overshot the coast and headed straight inland. An incoming Mistle thrush was a heart stopper until I realised it didn't have a black and white underwing.

Accentor

Three for a Girl???

 

My visit to Saltholme this week coincided with the presence of this Lanky Yankee.

LY

Lesser Yellowlegs

Sadly it always remained distant and had to be viewed through a mesh fence.

Snow Bunting

No doubt the toggers will be there in force if the Snow Buntings arrive in decent numbers.

Black-headed Gull

This bird was quite adept at catching fish. No sooner had it swallowed this Sand Eel and it was plucking a small Sprat from the water.

 

Well with westerlies set in for a little while looks like the excitement is over for now. Although a Vireo would be a possibility? (Ever the optimist!) Reading tweets from Shetland and the Scilly Isles I'm a bit envious although I'd rather have a place to find my own stuff. Who knows I might venture to one of those places in the future.