22/09/24 Flamborough, East Riding of Yorkshire

Barred Warbler: Today started with so much promise, with the hope of twitching my first Pallas's grasshopper warbler or PG tips. One was found by a local birder the day before although news broke late which left us leaving very early on Sunday morning for Tynmouth. 

Unfortunately, but not surprisingly the PG tips did a bunk over night, not surprisingly. We stayed until we were sure it was gone before heading down to South Gare, an area of reclaimed land and breakwater on the southern side of the mouth of the River Tees in Redcar and Cleveland.

It was here that a showy barred warbler had been seen pretty consistently in a small area of dense scrub in a small hollow that the locals call the Bomb Hole. 

Yellow-browed Warbler: After having our fill of the brilliant barred Kris and I headed further south to Flamborough where the weather started to deteriorate with thick fog and drizzle greeting us upon our arrival. 

Blackcap: By the time we pulled up the Eastern olivaceous warbler, which had been showing well all morning had also done a bunk. Luckily I had bagged the bird last year at Long Nab, Burniston.

Kris and I ended up meeting up with Gary and Sarah before searching for RBF and YBW that showed well despite the thinning fog.

Red-breasted Flycatcher: One our way home kris got a message from Carl saying that there was a hoopoe on the way home in Stamford bridge near York. The bird was flighty but we had some brief  views before it went to roost in a willow behind the houses. Big thanks to Carl for the heads up. 

03/12/2022 North Lancashire , Leighton Moss and Fleetwood

Yellow-browed Warbler: Chris and I had a plan to get to Leighton Moss for first light and get some point blank shots f their showy bittern. But our best laid plans went array, when the bittern decided to show briefly before flying to the opposite reedbed, still we had plenty of other good birds to find. 

In amongst the flocks of usual Leighton Moss favourites, like long tailed tit and marsh tit there was a rare YBW.  It’s been seen regurally along the path towards Lower Hide over recent weeks – we found it c50m from the Causeway turn. These small warblers are generally seen in passage, with very few numbers overwintering in the UK.

Marsh Tit: In the same area as the YBW there was a small clearing where some thoughtful birder had placed some seed on the ground and it was here there was a furry of activity. 

Leighton Moss in one of the premier and reliable sites for marsh tit, I see them on every visit to Leighton Moss, but rarely as good as this. There were three birds that kept coming down to the seed and showing incredibly well. 

Nuthatch: The seeded areas also attracted the more usual tits and even a nuthatch who bullied all the other birds away and kept the seed to itself. 

Bearded Tit: We put a birder and his son on the YBW and he repaid the favour by telling us that the beard tit were on the grit trays, so we hot-footed it back down the causeway.

The gathering crowd were firing their cameras as we approached and we sone blowed our way into the middle of the pack as the beards emerged out of the reeds and on to the grit. 

Really good to see these little stunners up close and personal.  

Snow Bunting: Our next stop was to Fleetwood hoping to see the long staying snow buntings that have been faithful to the beach at the back of the marina lake. 

When we arrived there was no sign of the birds, we spent the next hour scanning the dunes, walking over the shingle and scanning the tide line. 

Nothing, so sight or sound. 

We were starting to get a bit fed up before giving it one more walk over, when the birds flew around the corner and landed at our feet!

Great day out locally. 

 

09/10/2020 The Isles of Scilly

Swainson's Thrush: A Swainson’s thrush, classed as “mega rare” in the UK, landed on St mary's last week, having taken a wrong turn. Instead of being in jungle it found itself several thousand miles off course in a autumnal Scilly field.

Scilly's was not only playing host to this mega rare bird, but the day before Patrick and I decided to change our plans for Shetland a black a white warbler was found on Trecso. A few phone calls later and a and we had rearranged to travel down to the Scilly's instead. 

Unfortunately our luck didn't hold out as the black and white warbler didn't buck the trend and was a one day bird. Still the helicopter ride ver was pretty cool. 

Lapland Bunting: Although we missed the black and white warbler we struck lucky, very lucky incat with the Swainson's as previously while one was found on St Marys its was elusive and very few people connected with it. 

On our second day there was a report of a very showy Swainson's on Bryher. After missing the fisrt boat acreos we were on the next one and rewarded with some crippling views. of the bird. 

Patrick and I were made up, connecting with this bird reinforced pour last minute decision to change plans. 

Snow Bunting: There were a few migrants on the islands and I was pleased to find a snow bunting in the same area as the American golden plover on Tresco. 

I've been to the Scilly's a few times but this was my fisrt time I had a chance to travel to some of its other islands other than St marys. I really enjoyed getting a feel for the place from St Martins, to Tresco and getting to know them a little better. 

Red-eyed Vireo: Another bird that was responsible for our last minute change of plans was this REV, another American scarcity that I have yet to have caught up with, despite missing the Spurn bird the bay it left.   

Here again Patrick and I struick lucky. The REV was on St Martins and during its time here it had been a extremely difficult bid to pin down. The frustrating thing was after I took this image I was accused of tape lurng the bird, not a big issue in my mind, but still something that I did not do and there was no evidence from the bloke who was throwing about the accusations.  

Yellow-browed Warbler: I think he was just bitter, that he was unable to use his own field craft skills and common sense to see the bird.  

The following day there was a big fall of YBW, with reports from across the islands. We found six birds ranging from Telegraph road, Lower Moors and the area near the dump clump.    

Although there were many YBW all over the place they still proved difficult to photograph. I wanted better then these images, but I guess that's the way it goes sometimes. 

This was a great trip overall with two new ticks and a solid supporting cast, plenty of beers and good company. 

11/10/2016 Houghton Green Pool

Yellow-browed Warbler: Well done to Colin Davies who does it again and finds yet another local YBW.










Colin shows us that if you put the time in and look hard enough and be patient you will soon find something of interest.

The bird was typically very elusive and often gone for long periods, it is located in the corner near Cloverdell foraging in the Sycamores and Hawthorn bushes and at times can be found in the Willow.

I woke up today hoping to see another YBW, especially after missing the Pennington Flash bird due to attending Destination Star Trek Europe in Birmingham over the weekend, my first Star Trek convention.

YBW are famously tricky birds to grab an image of, they are particularly small birds who seem to be Duracell operated and don't stop moving as they forage within thick trees and bushes.

They are also brilliant little birds and one of my favourites.

14/10/2015 Spurn, East Yorkshire

Jack Snipe: To put it simply Spurn has been brilliant this year especially over the last few days and I've spent many an hour up there, all of which I have really enjoyed.


Today was no exception, a one tick day for me as I finally added American Golden Plover to the list.

Despite today not being as good as the last few days (typical luck for me) Spurn still has plenty of familiar faces and plenty of good birds on offer.

The amazing thing about Spurn today were the shear amount of Goldcrest, I was literally stepping over them at one point.

Yellow-browed Warbler: The YBW was showing really well in the trees next to Kew although I kept my distance.

The bird as per most YBW was really difficult to pin down with my camera it must have been on speed or something as it constantly foraged away.

Other highlights included a very showy Jack from the scrape hide a Firecrest opposite the Crown & Anchor and plenty of Redwing and Fieldfare.

01/10/2013 Leasowe Lighthouse

Yellow-browed Warbler:  I placed my bets today on seeing a YBW on the Wirral over the Red Necked Grebe at Marton Mere.


I struck luck as one turned up at Leasowe, where I also bumped in to Scott, Liam and Allan to name a few.



In my opinion this is one of the most stunning LBJ's I have come across. But what a total bugger to pin down. This individual was almost totally silent and extremely elusive and when it does make an appearance everyone sees the bird but me!




I was gutted - better directions needed, but after another long wait the bird came back and gave me some stunning views and after not seeing it the first time I decided to put the camera down and enjoy the bird.

The bird showed for several minutes before becoming invisible again as it skulked behind the bush. After another short appearance when the bird came back this time foraging on the ground I decided its time to take a few pics, these are the best I could do! Gives me something to improve on for my next YBW.