Each spring I spend time searching through flocks of hirundines and swifts hoping to find something unusual with Alpine Swift and Red-rumped Swallow (as well as rarer species!) among the species I hope to find. Largely this has been a rather fruitless task, until yesterday that is. I had spent the morning doing some breeding bird surveys in Cleveland, but increasingly strong SW winds meant that I had to cease work somewhat earlier than planned. As I drove towards home I considered dropping in to Ravenscar but on the spur of the moment I decided instead to turn down Harwood Dale instead. As it turned out this was a very good move and goes to show that you never know how or when you may bump into something interesting! As I drove along I noticed some swifts and swallows hawking by the road. Although expecting the usual slight sense of disappointment, I decided I had better have a quick look, just in case. I stopped, began scanning through the flock and amazingly within 30 seconds or so I locked onto a hirundine with pale underparts including the throat, black undertail coverts and long black tail streamers. Immediately I realised I was watching that Red-rumped Swallow I had been searching for all these years. Although I have seen this species many times before both in the UK and and overseas, this was a special moment. I was able to enjoy watching it for a couple of minutes noting the pale rump and collar before it drifted off towards Harwood Dale lake. I headed off after it but was unable to relocate it. Mobile coverage is awful here, but I decided that reinforcements were needed so drove off in search of a signal and phoned Nick Addey so that he could release the news to local birders via the Scarborough Bird News text service. I continued to search for the bird, but my searches were unsuccessful. However, I was delighted to hear that Nick and Tony Ford had managed to see it, but disappointingly it was not seen again.
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A morning walk at Long Nab produced little in the way of the hoped for spring migrants. Hardly surprising given the leaden grey skies and cold northerly wind. A few Whitethroats were singing and a lone Wheatear was along the cliff top path. Hghlight of the walk was a Short-eared Owl which afforded nice views as it hunted over the remnants of the cover crop. Although the light was hardly conducive to good photography I managed to get a few reasonable pics.
I have spent most of the past two weeks in Scotland. An enjoyable week on the Outer Hebrides produced some nice experiences with Great Northern, Black-throated and Red-throated Divers in breeding plumage, Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, Merlin, Short-eared Owls, Long-tailed Ducks and the breeding waders amongst the highlights. Returning summer migrants were generally in short supply, although a Cuckoo on the 15th was my first of the year, whilst Swallows, the odd Willow Warbler and a few Arctic Terns were beginning to arrive as I left the islands. A hybrid Ring-necked Duck x Tufted Duck, briefly quickened the pulse whilst the real thing in the form of a female Ring-necked Duck on Benbecula was presumably the same bird last seen in the same general area in March. A selection of images taken during the trip can be seen by choosing the Hebridean Gallery option under photography.
Surveys on the mainland have been hindered by the weather, but I have been able to enjoy displaying Short-eared Owls, a couple of nice encounters with male Hen Harrier plus Osprey, Red Kite, displaying Black Grouse and the usual upland breeding waders. However, highlight of the week was perhaps the male Ring Ouzel I saw in the wind and rain on the 25th, which certainly brightened up and otherwise miserable day! Have spent the last week or so conducting breeding bird surveys at various locations in and on the edge of the North York Moors. True to form the beautiful weather of late March has turned much more unsettled and presented a few difficulties, but nevertheless it has been a productive period. Short-eared Owls have been in evidence at a number of locations, with seven sightings. I've also had enjoyable encounters with Merlin, Willow Tit and the usual moorland breeding waders namely, Curlew, Lapwing, Snipe, Golden Plover and the odd Redshank. Summer migrants have included a few Wheatears, Willow Warblers and Blackcap, but although small numbers are widespread none of these species are back in full strength as yet.
A nice surprise yesterday morning when I discovered two Common Cranes on Potter Brompton Carr. A very welcome and long overdue 'Find Tick' for me. Fantastic, but this is a private site, so special arrangements have to be put in place to allow a wider audience. This done people were invited to meet at 1730 hrs. The birds were looking settled at 1700 hrs, but promptly flew off at 1720! Typical. Fortunately they chose to land in a recently sown field close to a public road on Sherburn Carr, so much easier for numbers of people to view. Most local birders managed to connect in the evening or this morning, when I managed the record shots below. A few passage waders are also starting to appear with a flock of six Ruff yesterday and a Spotted Redshank this morning. After spending the morning on Potter Brompton Carr I had a short visit to the Wykeham Raptor Viewpoint, where the Goshawks were performing well with at least four birds seen. Also wonderful to enjoy Siskins displaying plus a few Crossbills in the nearby pines. Cracking!
After a fairly slow period early summer migrants are now starting to arrive in force with Chiffchaffs singing at a number of locations this morning. An obliging drake Garganey was still present in the somewhat atypical surroundings of Northstead Manor Gardens. A visit to Potter Brompton Carr was fairly quiet although a Snow Bunting heading NW was new for that site. Two Dunlin were also new, whilst duck numbers continue to decline here with 38 Teal, 22 Wigeon and 14 Gadwall present.
A sunny morning with just a light SW wind encouraged me to have a look at Long Nab this morning, hoping for some early signs of spring. Sure enough there were a few Skylarks heading north, whilst Goldfinch and a party of Linnets headed south. Of greater interest was a group of three Bean Geese heading north, whilst out at sea a Whooper Swan flew south.
Before heading home I elected to have a look in Scarborough harbour where the female Goldeneye was still present and the ridiculously confiding Knot was still with the Turnstones. So out with the camera... A late start for me this morning. I began at Long Nab, but despite the seawatching hut being full there was very little going on, with a trickle of Gannets and a Common Scoter about the only birds on the move. 120 Tree Sparrows were in the game crop. I then headed down to Jackson's Bay where a nice selection of waders included 15 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Knot, Sanderling, Purple Sandpiper and a few Grey Plover, Ringed Plover and Dunlin. Before returning home I decided on a look into Wykeham Lakes. A good move! In the fields to the south of the lake the White-fronted Goose flock numbered 57 and at least 13 Tundra Bean Geese were new. On the lake itself Goosander, Goldeneye plus small numbers of Pochard, Tufted Duck and Wigeon completed an enjoyable morning.
I spent yesterday morning at Long Nab. A seawatch was pretty slow going, with apart from the Gannets streaming south, just a flock of 9 Goldeneye, 2 Pale-bellied Brents, a Shelduck and single Grey Plover and Golden Plover moving offshore. After two hours a walk was in order and heading off along the cliffs it was not long before I located a Red-necked Grebe not too far offshore. A nice find, as this species is pretty scarce hereabaouts and a poor record shot is below. Continuing along to my ringing site at Hundale the cold weather had produced a decent influx of Woodcock with 9 present, plus a couple of Goldcrests and Redwings. The game crop at Long Nab has been attracting a decent number of Tree Sparrows for a while, but 75 was noteworthy. However, 53 Reed Buntings in the same area smashed the site record. Great evidence of the benefits these species gain from the HLS scheme.
The first significant snowfall of the winter and a lovely walk in the Forge Valley.
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AuthorFreelance ornithologist and tour leader based in Scarborough, N Yorkshire. Archives
January 2023
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