Red-backed Shrike, Gristhorpe Bay (Mark Pearson)
An excellent day for landbound migration here at Filey, with north-easterly winds and variable fog and cloud (unfortunately) punctuated by warm sunshine. Four local rarities stood out, with the autumn’s first Firecrest in Top Scrub this morning (MJP), a (very) strong candidate Siberian Lesser Whitethroat trapped by the ringing team also in Top Scrub (which dropped feathers for potential mtDNA analysis – hopefully more to follow), a smart male Red-backed Shrike at Gristhorpe Bay (MJP et al.), and a Hoopoe, which was watched overflying the Dams before unfortunately disappearing (PR, MR et al.).
(Candidate) Siberian Lesser Whitethroat (Mark Pearson)
The supporting cast was rich and varied – all in the Carr Naze / Top Scrub area unless stated otherwise – and included at least four Yellow-browed Warblers (mo), a Mealy Redpoll (MJP) and several Lesser Redpolls, single Spotted and Pied Flycatchers, a Tree Pipit, 10 Siskins, eight Bramblings, 55 Song Thrushes, 20 Dunnocks, 25 Chaffinches, a Reed Warbler, three Whitethroats, five Blackcaps, six Chiffchaffs, five Whinchats and 15 Reed Buntings (both at Gristhorpe Bay), 10 Redwings and a Redstart.
(Recent days summaries to follow soon).