Dirty Twitching

It had been over 18 months since my last twitch and British lifer (the Derbyshire Red-throated Pipit) having been restricted to mostly patch birding due to family and work commitments. Not that I had really missed twitching (despite being stuck on 449 species!); I had fallen in love with patch birding over the last few years. That all changed on Thursday 13th October when news came out of a Siberian Accentor at Spurn, one of those near-mythical Sibes that dreams are made of.....but with work and family commitments I wasn't able to make it over until Sunday! Argghhh!

Fortunately it decided to stick around and went to roost on Saturday evening following it's usual pattern. I quickly made plans to pick up Iggy and head over to Spurn for first light. The drive over was painful, with clear skies prompting fears of an overnight departure. A Woodcock sat on the road was the only highlight of the drive over to Spurn. Reaching Easington we were greeted with news that the Accentor was still present (clearly my prayers had been answered). The hedges around the field held shed loads of Tree Sparrow, Fieldfare and Redwing, whilst Goldcrest seemed to be bouncing around everywhere. The short walk to the old school resulted in a brief snippet of Firecrest, Siskin and Lesser Redpolls moving over, but there was no waiting around!

Fortunately there was no queue and I was able to join the viewing area straight away. I was amazed to see the Siberian Accentor straight away, and not a distant dot but mooching around no more than 10 meters away! WOW! WHAT. A. BIRD! What else can I say? I took some quick shaky pics, but mostly enjoyed just watching the bird feeding away through the scope, catching a few snippets of quiet "Dunnock-like" chattering. Having composed myself and returned my jaw to my upper mandible  I took time to get some more pics.

I was amazed at how confiding it was, but mostly I just couldn't stop smiling. My 450th British species, and what a way to bring it up. Aside from the Siberian Accentor the whole area was swarming with Goldcrest, 3-4 Chiffchaff whilst Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Brambling were constantly moving overhead. Having spent about an hour with the Accentor we decided to head down towards the Crown and Anchor and catch up with some of the other Scarcities that were about.

We arrived just at the right time as the Radde's Warbler had just been reported at the north end of the Canal Zone. Parking up we wandered around, kicking up a few Robins and Goldcrest from beneath our feet! Brent Geese and a fine selection of waders were feeding on the Humber as we reached the huddle of birders staring at the bushes where the Radde's Warbler had last been seen. Almost immediately the Radde's Warbler started to call in front of us, and I quickly picked it up working along the hedge/grass line. We got some superb views, and it was great to listen to the call (in person) again - a softer "tchak" compared to the rather harsh "tak" of Dusky.

A familiar "ping" from above us alerted us to 3 Bearded Tit flying high south, always great to see post-breeding birds dispersing. We decided to carry on and do a loop around the Canal Zone and head to the Blue Bell Café. The whole area was swarming with Goldcrests, Meadow Pipits and Robins and a mix of Thrushes moving over, but sadly we couldn't find anything rarer. As we walked towards the Blue Bell the first rain started to pelt down, but we decided to head on and have a look at the Shorelark that had taken up residence. 

Shorelark (pic 3 courtesy and copyright of Ian Igglesden)

Although I used to see Shorelark regularly in Suffolk, I haven't seen one for a number of years. I had forgotten how smart they are! It was remarkably confiding and allowed some nice pics (for me). The rain was really starting to pelt it down now as we headed back towards the Crown and Anchor. We decided to shelter in Kilnsea Churchyard, hopeful that something decent may think the same. After a long birdless wait (other than a few wet and windblown Blackcap and Chiffchaff) we decided to just get wet and wandered round to the car park at the Crown and Anchor. After a short wait I picked up a very smart Mealy Redpoll among a group of Siskin. Getting Iggy onto the bird as small Phyllosc flew into the same bush....a Pallas's Warbler. We managed to get the small group of birders onto it before it flew into the roadside hedge. Again, this was my first Pallas's since I moved back to Liverpool - what cracking little birds!

Tundra Bean Geese (all pics courtesy and copyright of Ian Igglesden)

As we were totally drenched we decided to have a quick look for the Tundra Bean Geese that were north of Kilnsea Wetland. Despite a few blank looking faces in the car park, we quickly located them in the field from the road. There was no sign of any Taiga , despite news services reporting to the contrary?! The fields were full of Golden Plover, Starling and Thrushes, whilst Meadow Pipits and Skylark bounced around in the rain. Returning to the car we stumbled across a stunning male Redstart sat on the fenceposts, whilst a few Chiffchaff were hopping around looking rather bedraggled.

With rain forecast well into the afternoon we (well I) decided to head to Alkborough to try and catch up with the Western Purple Swamphen (I had so far resisted the urge to head over for the plastic purple chicken!!). By the time we arrived the rain had cleared and left behind a beautiful bright sunny afternoon. What a cracking little reserve this is! Cetti's Warbler and Bearded Tits were calling from the reedbeds, whilst at least 5 Marsh Harrier were quartering the same area.

We spent he next couple of hours scanning the edges of the Pools without success, but enjoyed a really good selection of waders including Avocets, 2 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 7 Ruff, Spotted Redshank, 60+ Common Snipe and plenty of Dunlin, Redshank, Black Tailed Godwit. A Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch joined a few typical woodland birds, and a single Chiffchaff crept through behind our position. Time was marching on, and we decided to call it quits and head back to Liverpool....too soon by the sounds as the Swampdonkey was reported about 30 minutes after we left! Ah well, one to pop back for next week when I'm back in the area.......if I can really be bothered?! 

A great days birding, and it felt amazing to be back on the east coast. The number of common passerines and migrants reminded me just what I had left behind when I moved to Liverpool. Then again it makes visits back to places like Spurn even more magical. I'm just hoping that the (surely) imminent Hawk Owl turns up whilst the birding is still so good..........

  

Bouncing with Sibes (sadly of the same species!!)

A day off work meant a chance to have a thorough search of the patch. It was a cool and clear start to the day, but the cloud soon crept in leaving a rather overcast day with drizzle appearing by mid-afternoon. The easterly wind swung between a light to moderate breeze throughout, and made it feel rather cold (a stark reminder that we are not far away from Winter).

I decided to head straight for Hale Park, and within minutes was watching 2 Yellow-browed Warblers. Despite my best attempts I failed to get a single usable picture (that wasn't a leaf or a blur - as can be seen above!), fortunately Mike Roberts managed to get a few much better shots (below) of one of the birds before I arrived. There was still some good vizmig with flocks of Redwing, Skylark and Meadow Pipit moving through with the odd Siskin and Lesser Redpoll. The park was alive with the usual Tits, Nuthatch and Treecreeper, but Chiffchaff and a single female Blackcap were the only migrants I could dig out.

Yellow-browed Warbler (pics courtesy and Copyright of Mike Roberts)

Continuing into the main part of Hale Park I picked up a few more tit flocks failing to find anything of great interest other than a few Goldcrest (including a few very grey-naped birds). Birds were still moving overhead and I picked up a few nasally Brambling heading south, among the Chaffinches. Deciding to work the rough fields seemed like a good idea, but only resulted in me getting soaking wet feet and jeans.....and no birds. I am still convinced that I will find something in this area.

Returning along the north edge of the old football pitch I again checked the small flocks of 'crests and Tits, and eventually picked out a smart Firecrest. I walked back to the car via the outside of the main park and bumped into a number of birders looking without success for the Yellow-browed Warblers. Within a few minutes I had picked up the birds again, and managed to get everyone onto them (always a pleasure to see the excitement in peoples faces when they see a new bird).

Driving round to Within Way a small group of Pink-footed Geese were flying over Church Lane. Parking up by the Childe statue, I could immediately hear a Yellow-browed Warbler calling above my head. I had good views as it fed in the Sycamore above my head among a mixed flock of Tits, which also contained a single Chiffchaff. Walking along Within Way produced plenty of overhead movement, but very few grounded birds.

Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Redwing and the occasional Fieldfare, Grey Wagtail, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll were moving through. A Merlin zipped through chasing a few of the lower flying Meadow Pipit, and an occasional Common Buzzard floated through. Reaching the last patch of bushes at the bottom of Within Way, and yet another Yellow-browed Warbler was feeding along the hedgeline! My 4th of the day!! There seem to be a large number of partial leucistic Carrion Crow on patch this year (this is one of the less striking birds), it would be interesting to know whether they have all originated from a single brood?

I continued to work the field edges and rough ground to the east of the Lighthouse with next to no results. A Chiffchaff in one of the copses, a few more Siskin and Lesser Redpoll the only real highlights. The potato field was being harvested, attracting shed loads of Black-headed Gulls and it was no real surprise to pick out a single adult Mediterranean Gull amongst them.

A Great White Egret was feeding west of the Lighthouse, and it made a nice change to actually get some good views of a bird that is now relatively common on patch. More surprising was a Guillemot that was actively feeding mid-channel in the Mersey (a patch year-tick and only my 2nd patch record). There were still good numbers of waders feeding out on the Mersey with a nice selection of Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Dunlin and Redshank. Whilst over Frodsham Score there was a Marsh Harrier and good numbers of Raven.

Continuing to work every bit of cover I managed to find a 5th Yellow-browed Warbler at the base of the cliff (off Hale Park) with a couple of Chiffchaff and Long-tailed Tit. Walking through the shore flushed out a few Common Snipe, Meadow Pipit, single Rock Pipit and a few Reed Bunting. A few more Brambling were moving through, with a larger group of 8 Lesser Redpoll. The ditches around the wooden bridge held a couple of Stonechat, but very little else.

A Great spotted Woodpecker spiralled down from on high (a migrating bird?) and landed on one of the trees in Hale Park. I kicked out a few flocks of Linnets and Goldfinch, but very little to get the juices flowing. Walking back along Lighthouse Lane the light drizzle turned into more substantial rain, and birdlife seemed to drop off even more. The end garden held a few Goldcrest and a single Great spotted Woodpecker, whilst the ploughed fields were covered in Stock Doves, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove and Feral Pigeons.

A more thorough scan picked up some decent sized coveys of Grey Partridge, with at least 36 counted around the edges. A sizable flock of 49 Skylark were feeding in the field, but despite a good grilling I couldn't pick out anything of greater interest. With time marching on, and starting to feel cold and tired I thought I would check along Carr Lane before heading home.

The flooded field held 3 Common Snipe (with at least another 4 birds flying around), 3 Black Tailed Godwit, 36 Eurasian Teal and a single Shoveler. A Kestrel was keeping a watchful eye over proceedings, and probably was the reason why there were next to no passerines around. A quick look over Carr Lane Pools picked up a good selection of ducks including 5 Pintail, but only 3 Redshank and 5 Black Tailed Godwit. The wires around the Pools held good numbers of Meadow Pipit and Linnet, but sadly very little else; it seemed like a good time to head home and get myself a well earned coffee!

  

    

   

Three-a-Penny

Despite having a busy day with the family, I managed to get out for a few hours in the afternoon. It was a bright and generally sunny afternoon, with a moderate ESE'ly blowing. Out of the wind and in the sun it felt warm, but in the wind you could definitely tell it was autumn. With the continued Easterly airflow I was hopeful that there would be a few decent bits about still.

The flooded field along Carr Lane held a few Eurasian Teal, a single Shoveler, 2 Mallard but very little else. Carr Lane Pools were equally quiet with only a single Redshank, 3 Black Tailed Godwit and a smattering of Eurasian Teal, Shoveler and a few Mallard. Phil Oddy had tweeted that a Yellow-browed Warbler was showing well in Hale Park, so I decided to head over.

Arriving at the car park I could immediately hear the Yellow-browed Warbler calling away, but despite being in a little sun trap I only got a few brief views of it. A single Chiffchaff and a few Coal Tit, Nuthatch and the normal tit flocks containing Long Tailed, Blue and Great Tits. A few Redwing and Siskin were moving over, but it soon went rather quiet as the flock moved away from the area.

Phil joined me as I walked the outside of the park grounds and then into Hale Park itself. We stumbled across the usual Treecreeper, Nuthatch and Goldcrest, but as we reached the paddock at the north end of the football pitch we came across a small flock of birds. (Un?)surprisingly it also contained a Yellow-browed Warbler, which gave a few fleeting views, but was frustratingly quiet. Despite a fairly good search we only dug out a few more Goldcrest, but the flock appeared to disperse. 2 Crossbill flew over chipping as we (or I) dragged Phil through the rough ground looking for passerines.

The gardens backing onto the rough grass held numerous Redwing, Mistle and Song Thrush, but the main grassy area was pretty birdless, and didn't produce the hoped for "big" Pipits. Finally moving back onto the track I picked up a smart male Stonechat which was feeding along the edge of the carrot fields heading down to the Mersey. However with time running out I decided to head back to the car and have a quick look over Hale Marsh.

Parking at the top of Within Way I was greeted by a near face on collision with a Nuthatch that zoomed over my car and into one of the gardens. I quickly made my way to the corner by the farm, and could immediately hear a Yellow-browed Warbler calling away within the small group of mixed Long-tailed, Great and Blue Tits. Amazing, my 3rd of the day! Even more amazing given that a week ago I had never seen one on the patch! Returning to scanning the Marsh I eventually picked up the Pale Bellied Brent Goose feeding amongst the Canada's - a very good local record (and only my 3rd on patch).

In a further brief scan I picked out the Egyptian Goose but there was little else of note, and the hedges seemed surprisingly quiet. I was seriously pushed for time now, but annoyingly I realised that I had lost my scope cover......a sprint covering my tracks for the day failed to find it!! Grrrrr!! Not a great finish to the day, but at least the birding was half decent.