Filey Brigg

I had a cracking day on Filey brigg today. I figured that with the tides being so big it might be worth going to see what was about at low tide.

The walk round had the usual oystercatchers, turnstone, redshank, knot and a feeding seal close to the beach.

Further round, halfway to the end of the brigg was a rock pipit, common scoter and the target bird-velvet scoter, at first they were quite close then flew out and re-settled at quite a distance.

My mate Dave joined me for a short while before heading off to the end 'to see if there are any phalaropes about'.

It was at the end of the brigg where most of the action was-at least 10 purple sandpipers constantly feeding at times very close, a single sanderling, 2 grey plovers a ringed plover and a single curlew.

The tide ebbed back quite a distance revealing lots of starfish and other sea life not normally on view.

It was here that there was almost a constant stream of scoters flying in and out of the bay-at times the velvets were quite close.

the wind was whipping up all the time making standing up quite difficult, but the birds kept coming, a red throated diver sneaked past us and then the star of the show-initially i thought the sanderling had flown up but when it settled on the sea I knew staright away it was a grey phalarope. Initially it disappeared but then after a while spent the best part of an hour feeding amongst a kelp bed straight in front of us.

We left just after 1 to check out Hornsea mere but a half hearted scan produced very little.

Olive Backed Pipit

I had a day off today and set off for Spurn, but with clear skies the night before I didn't hold out too much hope.

heading down Spurn Road I saw 2 merlin and a sparrowhawk as well as common waders, brent geese and 2 little egrets.

I had a walk round the point with birding guru martin garner (surely if anything was about he would find it!) we did see a lesser redpoll, chiffchaff and 3 flyover sparrowhawks but nothing really of note, so i headed back up Spurn Road towards Kilnsea in the hope of seeing the pallas's warbler. There was no sign and news of the Olive backed Pipit at filey had me heading north.

As soon as I got there it was showing down to 10ft, it looked a little unsteady and had a missing eye, despite feeding constantly most of the afternoon it didn't look in hte best of health.

I'd be surprised if it makes it.

Filey Brigg

I had a ride out to Filey Brigg this morining, got there just before sunrise and it was a pretty spectacular one at that.

At first it looked pretty quiet with only common waders, a few distant scoter and shag on the end of the Brigg. Then the long tailed duck came into view but it was pretty distant so I had a look on the sea side-I was pretty surprised to see a tern fishing not too far out to sea, plus a couple of red throated divers, a fulmar and a few gannet.

back to the bay side and the ltd had come much closer so I crept over the rocks to get closer. It didn't seem bothered by my presence and although the light was harsh I was happy with my shots. there was also a few common scoter and 3 velvet scoters did a u turn in the bay. On the way back the common waders were very obliging in the corner.

Yellow Browed Warbler

capped off a great extended weekends birding today. i was a bit pushed for time but i thought I'd have an hour at Kilnsea for a yellow browed warbler. caught this beauty in late afternoon sunlight, also got a distant view of a red-backed shrike and ring ouzel.