30 September 2010

An early morning decision to do the North Dunes led to sightings of two more Lapland Buntings, a Ring Ouzel, a Redstart and a ringtail Hen Harrier. Also six Wheatears and several Reed Buntings.

Later in the day I discovered that had I turned South in the morning I would have had a chance of seeing the Wryneck that had been found the day before. A quick return trip at lunchtime failed to produce the Wryneck but there was a Redstart, a Brambling and a very impressive flock of Med Gulls flycatching in amongst a larger group of gulls - there were at least six but there easily could have been twice that present.

Another trip down the Valley after work eventually produced the Wryneck but unfortunately it had slipped away into the gloom just before Colin arrived.

29 September 2010

The best bird on the North Dunes today was a Lapland Bunting and the best bird in Sean's garden was a male Siskin.

Also seen by Tim on the South Dunes, 2 Ring Ouzels and a Redstart (added by Ted pm Thursday)

28 September 2010

Early morning visit to the North Dunes revealed lesser numbers of Robins and a few Song Thrushes. Also two Ring Ouzels, ten Bramblings, lots of Siskins and Reed Buntings. A fine ringtail Hen Harrier also present. The only Common Redstart seen was in Sean's garden.

Peter

The evening produced two more Redstarts in the N Dunes but I spent most of my time on a wild bunting chase. It turned out to be a Reed.  The redstart in my garden hurts - I need to put up higher fences...
Sean

Tim's Sightings - South dunes

6 Med Gulls (4ad, 1stw, 2ndw), 6 Ring Ouzel, Pied Flycatcher, 4 Wheatear

North Dunes, Hen Harrier, Whinchat, Redstart, Lesser Redpoll, 3 Wheatear

I saw 2 Bramblings near the blocks.  

Ted

27 September 2010

A big fall of Robins has occurred, along with smaller numbers of Redstarts, Song Thrushes, Redwings and Siskins.  This evening at dusk Robins were zipping everywhere, and newly arrived Redstarts were sitting around on the grass as darkness fell... Could be good tomorrow - hopefully the Scandinavian source of the wind will keep away those pesky Empodinaxes - we don't want their sort round here...

26 September 2010

Another seawatch this morning produced a steady trickle of decent birds, although, in a cruel replay of yesterday's Puffin, the best of all, a juv Sabine's Gull, flew by ten minutes before I arrived (in fact there may have been two this morning as Tim saw one which, judging by the timings, couldn't have been the same bird).  Still, excellent views of Sooty Shearwater, Red-necked Grebe and Great Crested Grebe, plus various Little Gulls, Great Skua, Arctic Skua, Gadwall and Bar-tailed Godwits, and a Grey Plover, was good enough for me.

26 September 2010

Sabine's Gull juv 7.00am,10 Sooty Shearwaters,2 Manx,1 Red-Breasted Merganser,Pom Skua on sea watch Tim.

25 September 2010

A sea watch this morning was not as good as hoped in such high northern winds, but just before I arrived a Puffin flew north, and 3 Sooty Shearwaters went in the same direction.  Some unknown blokes reckoned they might have had a Grey Phalarope, but it could not be refound on the choppy sea.  A few good ducks, including 6 Pintail and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers Sean.
9 Sooty Shearwater, 2 Red-Breasted Merganser,2 Red-necked Grebe,Med Gull 1st Winter,Rock Pipit,on sea watch Tim.

24 September 2010

A brief seawatch this evening produced two firsts for the Autumn - three Brent Geese going north and a Snow Bunting on the beach.  This morning near the Totem Pole bushes Pete caught a brief view of a rapid flyby Cuckoo, which changed into a Hobby before settling down as a small Kestrel which bombed through with a weird flight action, straight inland.  If a Lesser Kestrel is found tomorrow in the West Midlands he will certainly have it on his list...Sean.
Hobby by carpark, Wheatear Tim.

23 September 2010

Short-Eared Owl over sea,Hobby north beach,Pied Flycatcher south dunes below restaurant Tim.

22 September 2010

Lapland Bunting south beach, Yellow Wag Tim.

21 september 2010

Lapland Bunting north beach,Red-Backed Shrike still Tim.

20 September 2010

Red-Back Shrike still,Hobby 2,Greenshank,Swift,4 Med Gulls 2 ads,2nd winter,1st winter on south beach,Wheatear, Tim.

18 September 2010

5 Lapland Buntings on the dune tops today, as well as the Red-backed Shrike opposite Colin's, accompanied by several Reed Buntings.  Two Hobbies drifted north, and there was a Lesser Whitethroat on the bank.

16 September 2010

7 Lapland Buntings south beach showing well, 1 Bonxie, Hobby north beach, 5 Wheatears, Tim.

15 September 2010

Red-backed Shrike still beach road, 2 Lapland Buntings over beach carpark, Peregrine over chalet park south, 3 Arctic Skua, Greenshank, 7 Wheatears. Tim

14 September 2010

The Red-backed Shrike still in the bushes N of Beach Road today. Also a Swift over S Dunes.

Med Gull 1st winter chalet park,Wheatear 2,Swift 3,Tim.

12 September 2010

Red-Backed Shrike still beach road, 2 Med Gulls 1ad 1 1st winter chalet park, 4 common Redstarts.

9 September 2010

2 Common Redstarts, 2 Pied Flycatchers south dunes,Tim.

8 September 2010

A walk this evening with my Pete and my eldest son (who worked very well as a bush basher) produced a nice smattering of migrants.  The lovely male Red-backed Shrike which Pete found this morning was being mobbed by assorted tits at the start of the dunes from North Market Road, and the Totem Pole bushes held Whinchat, Redstart, a Black Redstart and a flypast Hobby.  A little further north there was a Pied Flycatcher and in the fading light a tantalisingly unclinched Barred Warbler.

7 September 2010

8 Common Redstarts, 5 Spotted Flycatchers, 4 Pied Flycachers, 4 Whinchats, 2 Yellow Wags,
2 Greenshank, Swift, 30 Wheatears Tim.

6 September 2010

Sooty Shearwater north, 3 Arctic Skuas, 3 Common Redstarts, 1 Whinchat, 27 Wheatears,Tim.

5 September 2010

Hobby south dunes, Spotted Flycatcher north dunes, 4 Common Redstarts Tim.

3 September 2010.

Sooty Shearwater 7.30pm,Spotted Flycatcher south dunes Tim.

30 August 2010

Sooty Shearwater 4 north, Manx Shearwater 2 north, Fulmar 2 north, Arctic Skua 13 south, Pied Flycatcher south dunes, Spotted Flycatcher, south dunes, 2 Wheatears.

28 August 2010

9 Ruddy Shelduck south, Spotted Flycatcher south dunes, Hobby.