Montagu's Harrier and Spotted Flycatcher in the same week...Phew!!!

It was obvious that if I was going to get anywhere near the big two-double-o in 2018, I would need to visit cliffs, and the usual location in years gone by has been Bempton cliffs.   I’ve had mixed fortunes over the years, like the year when Tony and I arrived at the car park, and were faced with thick sea mist. Gannets, Guillemots and Razorbills were visible, but we had to wait until after lunch for the mist to clear.  

This time, Wednesday 16^th May, it was very windy and cold and strangely seemed to be inhabited mainly by photographers. Tightly gripping my optics, I was able to tick plenty of Razorbills and Kittiwakes, and just a few Puffins and Fulmars. I had seen Guillemots and Gannets in Devon, but they were in good numbers on the Bempton cliffs.  This i-phone photograph shows how hard Gannets were working to ride the winds.

One problem with the winds was that any Corn Buntings were well hunkered down, so I dipped there.

I’m still not sure what I was paying the RSPB £5 admission for, as the coastal viewing path is a public footpath anyway. And I was surprised when a volunteer “greeter” had to ask a colleague when I asked which was the best location for Corn Buntings.   But the Coffee was welcome… both times. 

Rain arrived at lunch time, forcing me to  retreat to the car from the seat overlooking the quarry, a spot where Tony and I have dined many times, and enjoyed good passerine sightings such as both Whitethroats.

And if I do criticise, I must equally complement, this time the volunteers for the constructive and informative sightings board. The quality of reported information at some birding locations varies so wildly (even like sites with web sites that are anything up to a week out of date). Others could learn from Bempton. After all, what do all birders want to know on arrival?   “What’s about?”  It looks like this, and just as clever, they periodically photograph the sightings board and post it on the net. Frampton Marsh do much the same. Viz

Just as a digression, I showed the above picture to Holly, the new RSPB shop manager at Carsington Water and an hour later she and her volunteers had produced this!! Just what is needed at the Visitor Centre, and I hope that keen birders will encourage the newbies by keeping the info up to date.

I claim 10% credit for the suggestion!

 After lunch, I went to Filey Brigg, and whilst grappling with a scope in the wind prevented me spotting any Purple sandpipers ( I was told they were there!!), I did pick up 5 Scoters. (The good café on the Brigg .. good for toasted teacakes, was, at 3.30, closed???)  So with time to spare, I dropped into Filey Dam, and immediately spotted a wader that had so far eluded me… Common Sandpiper.

Found a comfortable B &B in Bridlington (£40 per night), excellent breakfast (“ No Baked Beans thank you.” “ Would you like 2 eggs?” ).

Nothing on the net to go for on Thursday 17^th May, so Blacktoft seemed a good en route venue which I reached by 10.15.

GOOD decision…. After 2 minutes in Singleton Hide, one female Montague’s Harrier drifting around the site. Me? Only the second ever sighting of a Monty, the first in July 2007, and a lifer for another birder in the hide.

Just to check that you are with me and still awake, would you shop at a supermarket that had bargains like this?

Saturday 19^th May, and whilst I am a royalist, 4 hours in front of the haunted fishtank watching a wedding is not my scene. Which is why I could be found at Carsington doing a bit of “greeting” ( and helping the RSPB on the above sightings board.) In the course of finding info on the net to put on the board, particularly the reports by Carsington Bird Club, I noticed that Spotted Flycatcher had been reported there at 3 locations.

12.15…..Tick!!  Sparky Mike gave me the best location, in the Sheepwash area, and so I ended the week on a comfortable 165…good week.

Sunday 20^th May  it was my BwB walk at Markeaton Park…  Only 21 species for the 5 people on the walk, and humanity was in the ascendance…. But the female Goosander was good compensation.

Next Sunday (27^th) we have the first Carsington BwB away day to Frampton Marsh, so the nice group of 7hsould have some good reports for next week.

Then Sunday 3^rd June, the normal Carsington BwB. (Walk Number 162, as it happens!!)

Happy Birding