The generally easterly airflow continues, with low cloud, mist and drizzle persisting along the coast around Scarborough. As a result the daily arrivals of new and interesting birds continue. Up at the Nab there have been two Red-breasted Flycatchers present for the past two days. The bird in the ringing site continues its stay, but it is elusive and very difficult to see. The bird at Crook Ness has been somewhat easier to get to grips with, although the gloomy light conditions made it tricky to get decent photos of this afternoon.
 |
| Red-breasted Flycatcher at Crook Ness |
Micky and I have attempted ringing sessions on the past two days, but without a great deal of joy. This Siskin being the best of the few birds caught and the first of this species to be seen here since March.
 |
| Siskin - one of several seen at the ringing site |
After a number of fruitless net-rounds and motivated by news of a Rustic Bunting seen at Filey, we decided that ringing was not likely to be the most productive activity today. So we packed up the nets and worked the fields and bushes. An hour or so later and we had little to show for our efforts, with a few Song Thrushes and a flyover Snipe the best I could muster, and Micky's walk yielding little more than a couple of Wheatears. After views of the Crook Ness Red-breasted Flycatcher (alongside a Spotted Flycatcher) we were heading back to the car, when an unfamiliar call attracted my attention. Two more calls from the mystery bird and I picked up a wader flying across the field at Crook Ness. Yelling to Micky to get onto it (predictably he was already on the case) we had a poor view as it landed. Wondering if it was a Buff-breasted Sand, we grabbed the scope from the car went in search of it. Suspicious that the call was not right for Buff-breasted Sandpiper, and that it could be a Dotterel it was great that after a little while Micky announced he'd got it and that it was indeed a Dotterel. Fantastic! I've not heard the calls of migrant Dotterel (or for that matter Buff-breasted Sand) before so this was a most educational; always the most rewarding of bird finding experiences.
 |
| No surprise why Dotterel can be so hard to locate on the ground |
 |
| Gorgeous juvenile Dotterel |
No comments:
Post a Comment