Pallas's Warbler

Pallas's Warbler
Pallas's Warbler, Donna Nook 10th October 2010

Wednesday 30 September 2015

          Late news from yesterday.   Keith Robinson at Pye's Hall also recorded a Yellow-browed Warbler plus 9 Lesser Redpolls.   The Ruddy Shelduck hybrid reappeared.

          Not a great deal around the realignment area today, best birds being 6 Greenshanks, 33 Redshanks, 6 Common Snipe, 21 Lapwings, 90 Mallard, one Shoveler, 9 Wigeon, 150 Teal, the Ruddy Shelduck hybrid, 18 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 8 Cormorants, 15 Little Grebes, 70 Meadow Pipits, 2 Rock Pipits, 8 Siskins, 6 Tree Sparrows, one Goldcrest, 6 Kestrels and one Marsh Harrier.

          On the shore after the high tide, there were 2,500 Golden Plovers, 240 Oystercatchers, 150 Dunlin, 36 Curlews, 81 Shelducks and 43 Brent Geese.

Tuesday 29 September 2015

         A Yellow-browed Warbler was present with Great Tits at the south end.   Also on the dunes were 2 Goldcrests, 8 Robins, 6 Lesser Redpolls, 100 Meadow Pipits, 1,600 Starlings, 12 Tree Sparrows, one Common Buzzard and 2 Sparrowhawks.   35 Wigeon and 20 Teal flew north at sea.

Thursday 24 September 2015

         It was very quiet at the south end in this morning's blustery wind.   On the coastal fields were 850 Golden Plovers, 17 Lapwings, 70 Meadow Pipits, one Pied Wagtail and 7 Kestrels.    On the dunes were 15 Siskins, 4 Little Egrets and 6 Little Grebes.   35 Brent Geese were on the shore and an Arctic Skua was chasing Common Gulls offshore.

Wednesday 23 September 2015


                                                                       Marsh Harrier


                                                                             Stonechat.


         On the shore between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall were 48 Shelducks, 650 Oystercatchers, 20 Bar-tailed Godwits, 25 Sanderlings, 20 Dunlin, 5 Grey Plovers and 200 Golden Plovers.    Heading north at sea over the high tide period were 80 Common Scoters, one Velvet Scoter, 20 Teal, one Arctic Skua and 4 Gannets.

         Waders on the realignment area were 55 Redshanks, 3 Greenshanks, one Common Sandpiper, one Ruff, 280 Dunlin, 2 Curlew Sandpipers and 2 Little Stints, while ducks were 145 Teal and 38 Mallard.   Other waterbirds were 14 Cormorants, 8 Little Grebes, 27 Little Egrets and one Grey Heron.    Also of note were 2 Marsh Harriers, 9 Kestrels, 6 Common Buzzards, 16 Lesser Redpolls, 15 Tree Sparrows, one Yellow Wagtail, one Rock Pipit, 4 Goldcrests, one Blackcap, one Chiffchaff, 2 Kingfishers, 19 Swallows and 2 Stonechats.

Tuesday 22 September 2015


                                                                             Stock Dove


         At the south end there were 10 Common Buzzards soaring together over the fields where other birds included 1,200 Golden Plovers, 74 Curlews, 4 Pied Wagtails and a Wheatear.   Four Little Egrets, a Greenshank and a Green Sandpiper were on the flashes while on the dunes were 140 Meadow Pipits, 50 Goldfinches, one Lesser Redpoll, one Siskin, 8 Robins, one Song Thrush, one Chiffchaff, one Goldcrest, one Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Kestrels and one Great Spotted Woodpecker.   13 Cormorants and 15 Oystercatchers were on the shore.

         17 Swallows flew north and a solitary Pink-footed Goose went south.

Monday 21 September 2015

         On the shore between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall were 1,400 Golden Plovers, 700 Oystercatchers, 500 Knot, 40 Curlews, 50 Grey Plovers and 35 Shelducks.    The realignment area produced 280 Dunlin, at least 3 Little Stints, 40 Redshanks, 4 Greenshanks, 100 Mallard, 140 Teal, one Tufted Duck, 10 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 5 Cormorants, 6 Little Grebes, 650 Black-headed Gulls, one Mediterranean Gull, 30 Meadow Pipits, 10 Swallows and 2 Kestrels.

Sunday 20 September 2015

         The first Rock Pipit made an early appearance at the south end this morning.   Birds on the fields were 1,200 Golden Plovers, 58 Lapwings, 100 Curlews and 3 Pied Wagtails.   The flashes were quiet, but waders on the outmarsh were 37 Redshanks, 8 Ruffs, one Green Sandpiper and one Common Snipe.   On the shore at high tide were 106 Oystercatchers, 10 Grey Plovers, 13 Cormorants and 2 Pink-footed Geese.   Additional birds seen on the dunes included 2 Common Whitethroats, 2 Goldcrests, 5 Siskins, 2 Lesser Redpolls, one Great Spotted Woodpecker, one Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrels and one Merlin.

Saturday 19 September 2015

         Chris Atkin covered the north end between the RAF base and the north end of the realignment area.   His highlights were the first Pink-footed Geese (8 and 2), 10 Common Buzzards, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Little Stints, 8 Greenshanks, 2 x 1st cy Mediterranean Gulls, one Common Redstart, one Wheatear, one Yellow Wagtail, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, one Chiffchaff, 9 Goldcrests and one Siskin.

                                                                           Turtle Dove.


         Raptors at the south end were 4 Common Buzzards, a Marsh Harrier, 3 Kestrels and a Sparrowhawk.   On the flashes were 36 Redshanks, one Greenshank, one Green Sandpiper, 2 Ruffs, 2 Teal, 2 Little Grebes and 3 Little Egrets.   Waders on the shore at high tide were 230 Oystercatchers, 101 Curlews, 20 Sanderlings, 12 Dunlin and 3 Grey Plovers.   Birds of note on the dunes were 100 Meadow Pipits, 3 Pied Wagtails, 8 Siskins, 4 Tree Sparrows, 6 Robins, one Song Thrush, 2 Chiffchaffs and one each of Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Goldcrest and Turtle Dove.

Friday 18 September 2015


                                                   One of 24 Meadow Pipits ringed.


                                                                           Siskins.


         Birds of prey were less spectacular at the south end today.    Four non-moving Common Buzzards were present and a party of 7 birds were spiralling ever higher over the fields and gradually drifted inland.   A female Sparrowhawk took one of only two Common Snipe seen on the flashes.   Other birds on the flashes included 28 Redshanks, a Green Sandpiper and 2 Little Egrets.   Waders on the shore were 420 Oystercatchers and 52 Curlews while moving south at sea were 5 Gannets and 9 Common Scoters.
     
         Migrants in the bushes were 6 Goldcrests, 7 Robins, one Common Whitethroat, one Chiffchaff, one Tree Pipit, one Song Thrush, one Lesser Redpoll and 10 Siskins.   450 Golden Plovers and 16 Pied Wagtails were on the fields.   A Pied Flycatcher was in my garden in the late afternoon.

         John Clarkson was between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall in the afternoon and added a Marsh Harrier, 2 Chiffchaffs and one each of Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Common Redstart.

    

Thursday 17 September 2015



                                                                    Rough-legged Buzzard.

         Waders on the shore at Stonebridge were 160 Oystercatchers, 64 Curlews, 250 Knot and 100 Dunlin, plus 57 Shelducks.   Waders on the realignment area were disappointing with 50 Redshanks, 4 Greenshanks, one Spotted Redshank, one Lapwing and 700 Golden Plovers.   Other waterbirds were 22 Teal, 10 Mallard, 10 Little Grebes, 7 Cormorants, one Grey Heron and the area's second highest ever count of 57 Little Egrets.

         Raptors were the main feature of the morning, and although 7 Kestrels, 2 Peregrines and a Sparrowhawk were noteworthy, it was the large raptors which were exceptional.   Six Marsh Harriers (one with green wing-tags) were seen and 3 of these eventually departed to the south.   Of at least 10 Common Buzzards recorded, 6 passed inland towards the Wolds.   Between 1240 and 1250 a fine Honey Buzzard was watched hunting the large area of ragworts by Pye's Hall and at 1255 an early Rough-legged Buzzard came in over the dunes and circled ever higher as it continued inland.

         100 Swallows and a party of 4 Common Swifts flew south.   Other birds of note were 4 Pied Wagtails, 33 Meadow Pipits, 240 Linnets, 80 Goldfinches, 9 Lesser Redpolls and singles of Common Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.

Wednesday 16 September 2015

         Three Marsh Harriers were coasting southwards at 0900 and 4 Common Buzzards were soaring over the fields.   300 Golden Plovers were on the fields with 5 Pied Wagtails and a Wheatear.   Birds on the flashes included 6 Little Egrets, one Grey Heron, 7 Mute Swans, 4 Teal, 30 Redshanks, one Greenshank, one Common Sandpiper, one Green Sandpiper, one Common Snipe and 7 Little Grebes.

         Five Wigeon flew north at sea just after the high tide and 37 Gannets and 5 Sandwich Terns headed south.   On the shore were 27 Cormorants, 310 Oystercatchers, 115 Curlews, 30 Dunlin and a Ruff.

Monday 14 September 2015

         Before the onset of the rain, MS had a ringing session at the south end where he trapped over 30 birds including 2 Common Redstarts, 3 Common Whitethroats and a Reed Warbler.

         The WeBS count between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall was undertaken in steady rain.   Waders on the shore were 115 Redshanks, one Greenshank, 63 Curlews, 1,400 Dunlin, 520 Oystercatchers, 260 Golden Plovers, 30 Grey Plovers, 2 Ringed Plovers and 30 Knot.   Ducks were 15 Wigeon, 5 Mallard, 10 Teal and 46 Shelducks.   Also seen were 10 Little Egrets, 15 Cormorants, one Kingfisher, one Sandwich Tern, one Merlin, one Osprey, 90 Linnets, 60 Goldfinches, 30 Meadow Pipits, one Common Redstart and one Whinchat.   72 Swallows passed south.

Sunday 13 September 2015


                                                                       Painted Lady.

         Grounded migrants at the south end this morning were 5 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Wheatears, 5 Whinchats, 4 Common Redstarts, 6 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, one Garden Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, one Blackcap, one Robin, one Song Thrush, 2 Siskins and a Yellow Wagtail.

         Eight Common Buzzards were soaring together over the coastal fields and 2 more came in off the sea at 1130.   110 Swallows and 30 House Martins were feeding around the coastguard cottages before eventually departing to the south.

         Birds on the flashes included a Garganey, 19 Teal, 9 Mallard, 4 Little Grebes, 4 Coots, 2 Little Egrets, one Grey Heron, 2 Water Rails, one Greenshank and one Green Sandpiper.   37 Redshanks were on the shore with 38 Curlews and 3 Cormorants, but only 3 Sandwich Terns were seen fishing at sea.

      60 Stock Doves made a good count and a solitary House Sparrow was a scarce sighting.

Saturday 12 September 2015

         Chris Atkin recorded the following highlights between the RAF base and Pye's Hall.   2 Marsh Harriers, (one with green wing-tags), 2 Pied Flycatchers, one Spotted Flycatcher, 8 Common Redstarts, 3 Wheatears, one Garden Warbler, one abietinus type Chiffchaff, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and a Yellow Wagtail.   At 1000, an Osprey came in off the sea and continued to head inland.   It was considered to be a different individual from the bird that has been present recently.

Friday 11 September 2015

         Waders on the realignment area were 55 Redshanks, one Greenshank, one Common Sandpiper, 130 Dunlin, one Curlew Sandpiper, one Little Stint, 3 Ruffs, one Whimbrel and one Common Snipe.   Other waterbirds were 37 Mallard, 57 Teal, 4 Shelducks, 11 Little Egrets, one Grey Heron, 2 Cormorants and 6 Little Grebes.    Also of note were 4 Common Buzzards, 6 Kestrels, one Yellow Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtails, one Common Redstart, 4 Long-tailed Tits and 45 Swallows.   100 Linnets and 25 Goldfinches were on the ragworts and a further 300 Linnets together with 42 Stock Doves were at the NW corner of the area.

         After closer inspection of last week's Ruddy Shelduck record, I have determined that this bird was a hybrid.   Initial head-on views at distance showed only the buff on the head, but later closer sightings revealed grey on the crown and nape that suggested that Cape Shelduck had contributed to its ancestral line.    At least this would confirm the bird's captive origins.   Whilst researching the hybridization of Shelducks, it was interesting to learn that some authorities still consider Ruddy and Cape Shelducks as conspecific.

Thursday 10 September 2015


                                                                          Little Egret


                                                                               Redshank.


         Despite the easterly wind, the clear skies ensured little in the way of grounded migrants.   All I could find at the south end were 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Common Whitethroats and singles of Common Redstart, Robin and Goldcrest.   1,200 Golden Plovers and 7 Pied Wagtails were on the fields while birds on the flashes included 29 Teal, 14 Redshanks, one Greenshank, one Green Sandpiper and 4 Dunlin.   A Peregrine passed over the dunes and 24 Swallows flew south.

         Between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall, Graham Catley added a Pied Flycatcher and Marsh Harrier and John Clarkson saw a Hobby.

Wednesday 9 September 2015


                                                                         Pied Flycatcher.


         A Pied Flycatcher, 3 Common Whitethroats and 2 Common Redstarts were on the dunes between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall.   Waders on the realignment area included 1,100 Golden Plovers, 680 Dunlin, 4 Little Stints, 80 Redshanks, 6 Greenshanks, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Whimbrels and a Little Ringed Plover.   Ducks were 3 Shelducks, 35 Mallard, 45 Teal and a Tufted Duck.   Other waterbirds were 3 Cormorants, 11 Little Grebes, 3 Grey Herons, 17 Little Egrets and a Kingfisher.   Also of note were 130 Swallows, 9 House Martins, 6 Kestrels and a Common Buzzard.

Tuesday 8 September 2015

         It was rather quiet in the cold and cloudy conditions.   Only one Swallow was seen today and the only passerines of note were 6 Robins, one Goldcrest, 3 Lesser Redpolls, 2 Common Whitethroats and a Pied Flycatcher.   On the flashes were 14 Teal, 18 Redshanks, one Greenshank, one Green Sandpiper, 6 Dunlin, 3 Little Egrets and a Marsh Harrier.    900 Golden Plovers, 8 Curlews and 4 Grey Partridges were on the fields.

Sunday 6 September 2015

         A seawatch in the calmer weather between 0945 and 1130 saw northerly passage of 32 Gannets, 55 Sandwich Terns, 5 Common Terns, 2 Fulmars, 65 Teal, 5 Wigeon and singles of Eider, Great Skua, Sooty Shearwater, Red-throated Diver and Red-necked Grebe.   On the shore were 3 Cormorants, 120 Oystercatchers, 86 Dunlin, 22 Sanderlings, 15 Redshanks, 71 Knot and 69 Curlews.

         Raptors at the south end were 6 Kestrels, one Merlin, 2 Peregrines, one Sparrowhawk, 3 Common Buzzards and 3 Marsh Harriers.   On the flashes were 3 Greenshanks, 12 Redshanks, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Little Grebes and 70 Swallows.   35 Golden Plovers were on the fields.

         A Pied Flycatcher and a Willow Warbler were in my garden in the afternoon.

Saturday 5 September 2015

         The strong winds and regular showers resulted in only half coverage of the realignment area.  Use of the telescope proved difficult at such an exposed site.   The Ruddy Shelduck was present until around 0900 when it was scared away by dogs.   Other ducks were 80 Shelducks, 60 Mallard, 60 Teal and 2 Pintail.   Waders included 250 Golden Plovers, 80 Redshanks, 2 Greenshanks and a Common Sandpiper.   Also of note were 8 Little Egrets, a Sparrowhawk and a Marsh Harrier.

Friday 4 September 2015



                                               Distant record shots of the Ruddy Shelduck.


                                                                         Ringed Plover.

         Waders on the realignment area included 140 Redshanks, 4 Greenshanks, 95 Golden Plovers, 380 Dunlin, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Little Stints, 9 Ringed Plovers, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, one Ruff, 10 Black-tailed Godwits, one Common Snipe, 2 Turnstones and 3 Common Sandpipers.   Ducks were 99 Common Shelducks, one Ruddy Shelduck, 120 Mallard, one Wigeon, one Pintail and 35 Teal.

         Also of note were 8 Kestrels, the Osprey, 2 Common Buzzards, a Kingfisher, 4 Little Grebes, 2 Grey Herons, 17 Little Egrets and 12 Cormorants.   A further 16 Cormorants were out on the shore where there were 600 Oystercatchers, 30 Knot, 600 Black-headed Gulls, 10 Sandwich Terns and 2 Gannets.   92 Wigeon in five parties came along the tide-line and into the Humber.

Thursday 3 September 2015

         A seawatch from 0900-1030 covered the high tide period.   Despite a marked drop in temperature, some birds on the horizon could not be identified because of the very strong haze.   Heading north were 130 Sandwich Terns, 50 Common Terns, 3 Arctic Terns, 2 Black Terns, 42 Gannets, 16 Kittiwakes, one Mediterranean Gull, 3 Arctic Skuas, 2 Great Skuas, 2 Fulmars, 2 Teal and 5 Wigeon.   To the south were 19 Gannets, 2 Red-throated Divers and an Arctic Skua.

         Only 16 Cormorants were seen today, and other birds around the shore area included 1,400 Black-headed Gulls, 45 Redshanks, 40 Oystercatchers, 40 Grey Plovers, 30 Knot, 90 Dunlin, 85 Curlews, 4 Whimbrels, one Ringed Plover and one Turnstone.

         Moving north along the dunes were 3 Marsh Harriers, 120 Swallows and 58 House Martins.   The landward side was quiet, with the best being 2 Common Buzzards, one Sparrowhawk, one Merlin, 4 Grey Partridges, 7 Little Egrets, 4 Little Grebes, 3 Greenshanks, a Reed Warbler and a Yellow Wagtail.

Wednesday 2 September 2015

         A seawatch from 0830-1030 (high tide at 0830) saw northerly movement of 44 Common Terns, one Arctic Tern, 70 Sandwich Terns, one Black Tern, 47 Gannets, 2 Fulmars, one Sooty Shearwater, 3 Arctic Skuas, one Great Skua, one Great Crested Grebe, 11 Teal, 5 Shelducks, 4 Common Scoters and 2 auks.    To the south were 5 Black Terns, 5 Gannets and 2 Eiders.

         At least 30 Cormorants were present, while 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1,500 Black-headed Gulls were on the flooded outmarsh.    Wader numbers were low on this piece of the coast, hence 14 Redshanks, 25 Oystercatchers, 93 Curlews, 5 Whimbrels, 50 Knot, 90 Dunlin, 4 Grey Plovers and 4 Ruffs.

         170 Swallows and a Peregrine flew north and a further 30 Swallows were over the flashes where there were 9 Little Egrets, one Grey Heron, 4 Coots, 4 Little Grebes, 5 Greenshanks and a Common Sandpiper.   6 Kestrels and a Common Buzzard were over the dunes.