Flogged

Post date: Oct 10, 2010 4:51:40 AM

0615-1600 ESE 4-5 Overcast with low cloud

Absolutely hammered my coastal patch yesterday (Saturday) with the conditions being ripe for a rarity or two, as it turned out it was, just not here though...

Started off on the clifftop at Sidestrand in the dark, the occasional thrush darted in from the sea but nothing of biblical proportions. Offshore Brent Geese.were pouring through at a rate of 600 per hour. A walk from here to Trimingham Wood produced Redstart, Snow Bunting and 2 Chiffchaff on the clifftop along with a juvenile Peregrine that was obviously picking off migrants and devouring them on the wing. In the wood there were more Goldcrest (10) than I saw all of last autumn! Along with these were 5 Brambling and a couple more Chiffy's. Heading back west along the old railway line a couple more of the latter and a Tree Pipit was put up from the path and headed off inland. Hungrey Hill held another Redstart, some smart (5) Brambling feeding out in the open, many Meadow Pipits and Greenfinch and a Wheatear, Blackcap and more Chiffs(2).

Home for a quick lunch break then back out, up to Trimingham again. It was obvious that thrushes were now arriving in bigger numbers with Blackbirds and Redwings adding to the still high numbers of Song Thrush. Additionally here was a female Black Redstart, 3 Ring Ouzel, 10 Reed Bunting, Garden Warbler, at least 12 Chiffchaff (including a few paler birds, surely of the race abietinus) and another 10 or so Goldcrest...there really should have been a Yellow-browed with this lot at least!

Goldcrest Chiffchaff Chiffchaf, minus head!