September 2014 Bird Sightings Round-up

Sat 4th Oct, 2014

It was one of those times when you just knew it was coming. With a classic weather system holding firm during the middle of the month, yielding a constant turnover of scarcities day after day, it was only ever going to be a matter of time before the big one arrived. So when a Woodchat Shrike was reported from Kilnsea on the morning of 20th, no doubt there were more than a few coastal (and inland) birders simultaneously wondering if it wasn't maybe something appreciably more pulse-quickening... 

Sure enough, within the hour the bird had been re-identified as nothing less than Britain's third-ever Masked Shrike, and naturally all hell (or indeed heaven, for those of a twitching disposition) broke loose soon after. Staying for almost a fortnight, this most wanted of rarities was not only the poster bird of the year so far, but also a first for Yorkshire and only the third for Britain. 

Two other national rarities also made the headlines during the month, the first of which involved an extraordinary story of a (virtually) shared thrill for many, showing just how far communications (and our attitude towards them) have come in recent years. Strong northerly winds meant all eyes turned eastwards on the morning of 21st, and sure enough, the sea provided - in the distinctively angular shape of very accommodating and much enjoyed Fea's-type Petrel. 

Shearing effortlessly past appreciative audiences at Flamborough, Filey and Long Nab,  the bird was tracked steadily north at numerous watchpoints during the day, at least as far as the Farne Islands, with the constant updates via mobile devices allowing many to connect with the bird as it approached each watchpoint. Somewhat overshadowed by such events (especially as it chose not to stick around), a juvenile Pallid Harrier at Sammy's Point and then Spurn on 15th was a cracking bird for the county nonetheless. 

But back to those ideal conditions that delivered the glittering prize to the Spurn area. Thankfully pretty much everywhere else received a share of the spoils - especially over the course of the week leading up the shrike's discovery – with easterly winds, fog and precipitation depositing a fine cast of continental drift migrants along the length of the coast. 

Of scarcities, Red-breasted Flycatchers were exceptionally numerous, with as many as thirty different birds arriving during the month (after the first at Filey on 5th). Not far behind,  a welcome influx of Barred Warblers brought at least 15 to our coast, with Flamborough and (particularly) Spurn hosting multiple, and often surprisingly tame, birds. Wrynecks were hardly thin on the ground either, with Spurn again accounting for the lion's share, the same site again near-monopolising sightings of Common Rosefinches. 

In stark contrast, Icterine Warblers were noticable by their absence, with just a single bird, at Hawsker on 3rd. Yellow-browed Warblers – increasingly expected but still very welcome – arrived even earlier this year, with the firsts at Spurn on 12th, Flamborough and Hawsker on 13th, Filey on 14th, Buckton on 15th and Scarborough on 16th; from there on, new birds trickled in and their presence was ubiquitous. Arguably of more interest, candidate Siberian Lesser Whitethroats also arrived notably early, with birds at Kilnsea and Flamborough on 7th and 8th respectively, followed by others at Filey (14th & 19th), Flamborough again (15th), and Spurn (19th). 

Filey scored an Emberiza double on 18th, when the previous day's reported Rustic Bunting was briefly re-found, before a Little Bunting (the first there in 13 years) was discovered nearby that evening; in a good autumn so far for the latter species, other individuals were found at Bempton, Flamborough and Spurn. More passerine goodies included an Olive-backed Pipit at Spurn, found a few minutes before the Masked Shrike (and ignored by many in pursuit of the latter), a Richard's Pipit in the same area from 28th, a Great Grey Shrike (not far from its smaller cousin) at Spurn from 14th and a Red-backed Shrike at Bempton from 27th. 

Dotterels were logged at no fewer than four sites, with this enchanting and usually hard-to-come-by wader checking in at Filey, Easington, Buckton and Long Nab mid-month. European Honey-buzzards also graced several coastal sites, with both Flamborough and the greater Spurn area accounting for several each; a single Rough-legged Buzzard, meanwhile, was reported from Patrington Haven on 30th. 

After a relatively muted August, the sea produced plenty of interest during the month (and not just rare Pterodromas). Long-tailed Skuas graced many sites, and Pomarines also came to the fore, with a peak of 21 passing Flamborough on 22nd. A healthy cast of shearwaters included several Greats, a couple of Cory's, and Balearics into double figures, supported by good movements of Sootys, into the hundreds on several dates and at several watchpoints (with Flamborough enjoying the majority). 

A first-winter Black Guillemot in Filey Bay for several days from 9th proved popular with a succession of county listers, while Caspian Gulls were picked out at at least six locations - Flamborough again scored highly, with the same site continuing to host at least one candidate Baltic Gull. An expected seasonal handful of Sabine's Gulls were reported, while a couple of European Storm-Petrels (off Staithes) and a single Leach's Petrel (off Mappleton) were also logged. 

Huge numbers of Little Gulls off the coast later in the month involved an amazing peak of 7,824 at Flamborough on 22nd, while on the land, excellent Meadow Pipit movements included 2,318 at Filey on 13th and 2,113 at Spurn on 1st. Grey Wagtails were especially numerous as migrants, with a site record 55 over Spurn on 19th. And then there was the Nightjar at Buckton, a mini-influx of Wood Warblers, the first Lapland and Snow Buntings... but we have to stop somewhere. Here's to an equally exciting October.

Mark James Pearson