Wednesday 17 August 2016

Mid August update

Despite some good birds since I last updated this blog, most notably a Pallid Harrier flying north here in early May (!), I have found it difficult to find the time to keep this up to date. As we are now in August, autumn migration is well under way, and although there haven't been any rare or scarce migrants just yet, the recent weather has given cause for some optimism. 


A couple of ringing sessions this week have yielded a reasonable catch of Willow Warblers, plus a few Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs and a good number of juvenile Wrens which have clearly had a good breeding season.


Willow Warbler

Another welcome catch was a smart juvenile male Sparrowhawk, only the second of this species to be netted here.


Sparrowhawk

Despite the odd report of typical August scarce and rare species such as Icterine Warbler, Greenish Warbler and Barred Warbler from other sites along the Yorkshire coast, it has been fairly slow going when exploring the hedgerows, scrub and fields here. Good numbers of Whitethroats are still about, but otherwise its been just the odd Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat and a sprinkling of Willow Warblers

Willow Warbler

Sedge Warblers are scarce here, so this one was a welcome find this morning.



Sedge Warbler