Tag: Spurn

2016: Birding in Review

I have always been a birder, of sorts. Though one who, traditionally, prefers to watch birds on my local patch: formerly at Stobswood, now, Blyth. Content, for some time, to revel in the antics of the more common species that persist in our countryside and, historically, giving little thought towards twitching. The thought of traveling huge distances in search of birds an entirely alien prospect until 2014 when I began to dabble more frequently. Dabbling which, a few years down the line, has resulted in a growing interest in the pursuit, and a growing urge to bolster my presently,  minute list. A list which, as of today, stands at 258 species for Britain.

In this post, as is tradition on this blog, I will recount a few of best birding moments of 2016: giving mention to this years ‘lifers’ and special encounters. Both of which have gone some way to reminding me just why it is I spend so much time in the company of our feathered friends. And have solidified my determination to get out and about more frequently in the future.

The glaring additions

2016 has seen 21 new species observed, many of which are birds that fall into the “should have seen by now” category. Species common enough elsewhere in the country but not here, in Northumberland, where I spend the vast majority of my time. That said, among the ranks of the more familiar species observed this year there have been some rather startling rarities – most of which I was able to see solely due to the kindness of other birders. Those content to ferry me around. Thanks Sacha, Jack, and others…

Siberian Accentor is the obvious one to mention here: the bird present for some time at Easington showing delightfully during our visit in Autumn. A splendid little creature but dare I say, not half as appealing as the years undisputed highlight: the Lindisfarne White’s Thrush. A bird which, due to my tendency to avoid birding hotspots such as Shetland, I never thought I would see. Yet one that turned up close to home regardless, allowing for great views during a delightful stay on Holy Island. Matched only in the scarcity stakes by the most recent lifer, the Beeley Dusky Thrush. Which likewise put on a fine show, yet in truth, was nowhere near as appealing. You cannot beat the scaled beauty of a White’s Thrush.

Elsewhere, other highlights this year included Cou’s Arctic Redpoll at Birling Carrs, Warkworth; Baird’s Sandpiper at Newton Pools and, of course, the Saltholme Penduline Tits. The latter of which far surpassed expectations by flaunting themselves directly out of the hide as myself and Sacha watched with wide-eyes.

The best of the rest

Of the other “less rare but still rare” species seen in 2016, one of my favourites has to be the drake Ring-Necked Duck observed on Islay – a species, given my fondness for things duckish, I have wanted to clap eyes on for quite some time. The years only other new duck coming in the form of an immature male Surf Scoter back in January, at Filey. Noted on the same day as I finally picked up Richard’s Pipit at Swillington Ings – though this represents perhaps my least favourtie twitch of the year. Due, solely, to the difficulty of finding the bird. And the cold…

Elsewhere, 2016 saw the addition of two new gulls: Ring-Billed Gull and Bonaparte’s Gull respectively. The first noted on the Black Isle back in March and the second scoped from my patch in Northumberland. The same trip to Spurn that nabbed us the Accentor also providing ticks of Dusky Warbler – three of which were seen during the course of the day – and Pallas’s Warbler. And the trip home that day adding Siberian Stonechat to the mix.

Of the more regular British species I laid eyes on for the first time in 2016, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is an obvious highlight. They really are delightful little birds. Though Quail, Corncrake, Mealy Redpoll and Red-Crested Pochard were also new.

Truth be told, I quite like the ambling pace at which my list is advancing at present – it means that each year should, hopefully, see me ogling something new and exciting. I intend to build on the good start provided by 2016 next year, though I fear my attention should focus, first and foremost, on catching up with those more embarrassing omissions  So, if anyone wishes to facilitate the viewing of Hawfinch, Nightingale, Golden Pheasant, Woodlark or Dartford Warbler, I would be most grateful. I guess I will have to head South eventually…

All in all, 2016 has been a rather exciting year, despite the wider woes it has brought. I will be keeping my fingers (and other extremities) crossed that 2017 continues along a similar trajectory. But who knows, in the world of birding, not much can be predicted…

Header Image: By Martin Mecnarowski (http://www.photomecan.eu/) – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12691826

An Autumn Extravaganza

This past Saturday I had the pleasure to enjoy what was, without a shred of doubt, one of the best days birding I have ever experienced. A day jam-packed with everything which makes the hobby so appealing: globetrotting rarities, seasonal spectacles, serene settings and a wealth of fantastic people. All of which unfolded as I departed the house at the ungodly hour of 3am to hitch a lift South, to Spurn Point and the nearby town of Easington. Thanks for the lift Jack!

For many, the Spurn area represents the geographical holy grail of birding sites in the UK: so much so that it is discussed with awe by almost every avian-inclined person I have ever encountered. It’s fantastic variety of habitats, topography and well-placed setting often leading to exponential falls of rarities and common migrants alike. Though, truthfully, before now, I had never really experienced the site on a “good day”. My previous visits coming up short of the exceptional tales recited by others, and resulting in little other than a few common warblers and the odd flycatcher.

I am glad to say, however, that all of this changed on Saturday, the day starting on an otherworldly note when we merged with the crowd waiting to lay eyes on Britain’s second ever Siberian Accentor feeding with the Dunnocks at the site of a former school near Easington. Which we soon did – the bird, complete with its altogether beautiful  yellow/black head pattern, showing down to a few meters as we sat wide-eyed amid the throng. Easily one of the most appealing (and confiding) rarities I have ever had the pleasure to enjoy – though my decision to leave my camera at home proved rather foolish. And  as such, if only for enlightenments sake, I have included the below image from Wikipedia. Look at it!

By Jargal Lamjav from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – Siberian Accentor (Prunella montanella) – Сибирийн хайруулдай, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39422345

Following our success with the Siberian specialty, I could, quite honestly, have headed home content. Though given our location, it would have been rude not to explore the area further and experience fully the deluge of migrants falling around us. Something brought home with resonance as we arrived back to the car to shouts of “Great Grey Shrike” – the bird, one of my favorites no less, seen briefly on top of a nearby hedge, and proceeded by a Short-Eared Owl drifting in high overhead. Much to the annoyance of the two-hundred or so Redwing and Fieldfare also in the area. A good omen if ever there was one.

Arriving at Spurn a short time after, we were immediately greeted by another eager crowd, this time waiting for the release of a Pallas’s Warbler processed and banded a few moments earlier. A bird that I have wanted to see for many years that, until now, had managed to avoid me. This individual performing admirable upon its exoneration, flying into a small Alder right in front of me: its characteristic yellow markings alive momentarily in the growing sunlight, before it dropped out of sight. Spurring on our departure. The short walk that followed revealing hundreds more thrushes, more Robin’s than I have ever seen before in my life and no end of Goldcrests. The next highlight coming in the form of a Shorelark feeding, unphased by its admirers a stones throw from the nearby carpark. A bird I have seen on a number of occasions that never grows tiresome and never fails to delight the crowds.

From hear a leisurely stroll to the reported location of our next target ensued, stopping ever few meters to admire something new and exciting. A flock of Brambling feeding on the track, a superb female Black Redstart, flocks of Siskin, Redpoll and Skylark, alongside Blackcap, Whitethroat and yet more Goldcrest – many and more dropping into the grass beside the track as we advanced. The short walk culminating in amazing views of another lifer – a Dusky Warbler. The bird flaunting itself in the branches of a stunted Hawthorn much to my own personal delight. The experience only amplified by the steady passage of geese overhead, the best of which comprised a flock of eight Bean Geese and a personal count of thirty-one White-Fronted Geese. Both representing species I seldom see back home in Northumberland.

I could waffle on about Spurn all day – we really did have an amazing time – though I feel I should curtail such here. With other interesting odds and ends seen including three Woodcock, a second Shorelark, Wheatear, Little Egret, Scaup, Pochard and more Chiffchaff than you could shake a stick at. A brief “second helpings” stop at Easington providing more views of the Siberian Accentor alongside a ridiculously confiding Common Redstart, and a later pitstop at Saltburn in Cleveland turning up the fourth new bird of the day. And another far-Eastern gem, a Siberian Stonechat – much paler that our own russet coloured birds. Doubtless, I have missed off a few things here but that really is little wonder, with so many birds seen throughout the day. The migratory madness unfolding at Spurn like nothing I had experienced before.

On a quick side note, it was also great to catch up with a few familiar faces from social media – the day resulting in life ticks of fantastic young birders Elliot Montieth and George Dunbar, and a long overdue catch up with the lovely Sophie Barrell. Alongside others, from the local birding scene in Northumberland, from Next Generation Birders and beyond. From the ensuing Twitter posts, it looks like each and all enjoyed a similarly exceptional day.

Awaiting the Pallas’s Warbler…