13th October 2017

Highlights, 7th to 13th October inclusive:

7th – Grey Phalarope north (CW et al.), also Great Northern Diver, Med Gull, 139 Wigeon all north. The male Velvet Scoter still in the bay. Gap highlights included three Whooper Swans north, a Black Tern (KC), a Little Gull, two dark-bellied Brents, 150 Pink-feet, 181 Tree Sparrow and 65 redpolls south.

8th – Three Yellow-browed Warblers in Top Scrub (DL et al.); 35 Barnacle Geese, three Velvet Scoters (also past the Gap) and two Arctic Skuas south and a Scaup north at the Brigg; 19 Barnacle Geese, and a Little Egret north plus 87 Redwings, five Barnacle Geese and four Bramblings south at the Gap. 40 Red-throated Divers in the south of the bay. A Black-tailed Godwit, single Green and Common Sandpipers and at least one Kingfisher still at the Dams. 

9th – Reighton Sands produced a (locally very rare) Hawfinch (MJP), plus 20 Barnacle Geese, a Whooper Swan, a Red Kite (MJP, TGD), at least 12 Common Buzzards all south and good numbers of passerine migrants on the move; the Gap logged 230 Pink-feet south and a high count of 74 Red-throated Divers in the bay. Note that full counts from both sites, as well as seawatch tallies, can be accessed at http://trektellen.org/ .

10th – A Great Northern Diver and a Bonxie passed the Brigg, with single Twite and Merlin (KC) and 21 Rock Pipits (a particularly high count) past the Gap. A Kingfisher at Primrose Valley fishing lake. 

11th – a juvenile Hen Harrier drifted north through the Dams late morning (MJP), with a Med Gull north and two Arctic Skuas south at the Brigg and single Whooper swan, Swallow and House Martin south at the Gap. 

12th – A Lapland Bunting and seven Whooper Swans south plus Great Northern Diver and two Arctic Skuas north on the seawatch; the male Velvet Scoter still in the bay; 141 redpolls, 14 Mistle Thrushes, 268 Tree Sparrows and 93 Siskins all south at the Gap. 

13th – a Great Northern Diver and singles of both common skuas north on the sea-watch, three Black-tailed Godwits, two Ruff and a Shoveler at the Dams, and a House Martin and seven swallows south at the Gap.