15.11.14 - Siberian Stonechat and Pallas's Warbler

After typically seeing bugger all at Hartlepool in the morning I got a lift up to Cleadon for the Siberian Stonechat that had been absent for a day. It had gone missing for 3 hours but news came through just as we arrived that it was still present. It didn't take long to find and it gave reasonable views in a large clump of brambles, only my 2nd Siberian Stonechat and a welcome Durham tick!

A bit further up the coast to Whitley Bay Cemetery brought the real highlight of the day. It had proven elusive before we got there and it had gone missing for over an hour but after a bit of searching it was found in some trees that run along the back of the houses adjacent to the cemetery, a cracking Pallas's Warbler! Although it was getting dark quite rapidly it showed very well almost constantly for about 20 minutes. Like the Stonechat this was only my second ever of this species and I have been hoping for one all month. A good way to finish what is probably the end of the Autumn...

Sightings

Hartlepool Headland
Redwing 1
Chiffchaff 3
Sparrowhawk 1
Purple Sandpiper 12

Cleadon
Siberian Stonechat 1
Common Stonechat 1

Whitley Bay Cemetery 
Pallas's Warbler

Mediterranean Gull - 10.11.2014

Some pictures of a local med gull that winters in Hartlepool....

Earlier on in the year when it looked good...

Sightings

Old Cemetery Road, Hart warren and Golf course

Chiffchaff - 1

Long-tailed tit - 20+

Snow Bunting - 4

Stonechat - 4

Whooper Swan - 6 North

Newburn Bridge

Mediterranean Gull - 2

Mixed flock of Wigeon and Teal - 200+

Flatts Lane WP

Nuthatch - 1

Lesser Redpoll - 2

Grey Phalarope at Hartlepool

This year has been exceptionally good for grey phals in Cleveland with no less than 5 in the last week. The first was found on October 31st at South Gare and since then there has been 2 at Hartlepool and another 2 at South Gare. A northerly blow during the week caused a decent passage of Little Auks down the east cost with the highest numbers typically coming from Whitburn, Flamborough and the Farnes. The latter sight racking up an impressive count of 2921 birds past on the 5th November!

Gray Phalarope - Hartlepool

Little Auks - Hartlepool

  

April 2014

The first week of April was typically quiet and unproductive but regular visits to the coast brought the first spring migrants such as Willow Warbler, Swallow and Wheatears. A cream crown Marsh Harrier over the Tees estuary on the 5th and 2 Ring Ouzels at Sleddale the following day where also fists for the year. On the 10th a Great White Egret was found on Dormans Pool and showed well for just the one day, unfortunately this was as exciting as Teesmouth got in April.

(Wheatear - Harry Murphy)

(Great White Egret)

The following day was rather different. Myself, Jack Bucknall and Dan Mcgibbon where on our way down the A1 heading to Rutland for a Pied-billed Grebe when everything went down hill. First of all the Pied-billed Grebe had not been seen, the 9th Crag Martin for Britain had been found at Flamborough and we where in The Hard shoulder of the A1 while Jack got a penalty for driving to fast. Some time later we got to Flamborough to be told the Crag Martin had been lost out to sea. Game over, or so we thought, About a hour later the Crag Martin was refound at South Landing where we connected with it before watching it fly high west. The Crag Martin was refound the next day at North Landing in the afternoon and the last sighting of it was on the 13th. I was back at Flamborough on the 13th for a Tawny Pipit that I failed to see on the 11th, I connected with it in a field south of the lighthouse where It showed fairly well after giving us a bit of a run around.

 (Tawny Pipit - Harry Murphy)

Also on the 13th the Iceland Gull I saw back in February was still present at Sands End, North Yorkshire. The 18th and 19th brought more summer migrants into the estuary such as Lesser Whitethroats, Yellow Wagtails, Reed and Grasshopper Warblers. Over the Easter weekend a Richards Pipit seen at Easington Gas Terminal, East Yorkshire was thought to be a Blythe's Pipit so on Sunday morning we drove down but had no luck. It was not all a waste of time as we saw a summer plumaged Short-toed Lark on the way back at Long Nab, Burniston.

(Short-toed Lark - Harry Murphy)

(Short-toed Lark - Harry Murphy)

(Short-toed Lark - Harry Murphy)

Saturday 27th we where on our way to Wales for a Franklin's Gull but with breaking news of a Alpine Accentor at Holme, Norfolk it meant turning the car around and going to Norfolk instead.. Unfortunately Conner Rand was the only person lucky enough to see the bird early that morning. On root to Holme we saw a flock of 3 Dotterel in Cambridgeshire and a flock of 4 near Thornham. Sunday morning we where back in Whales and once again missed the Franklin's Gull, a walk around the reserve was productive with Peregrine, Mediterranean Gull, Little Gull, Whooper Swans, Black Ducks, Buffleheads, Wood Ducks, American Wigeons etc...

 

(Captive American Wigeon)

(Wild Whooper Swan)

(Little Gull - Harry Murphy)

The last good bird of the weekend was the Collard Pratnicole at Northam Burrows, Devon which showed very well on the golf course, The highlight of the month.

(Collared Pratincole - Harry Murphy)

(Collared Pratincole - Harry Murphy)

(Collared Pratincole - Harry Murphy)

(Collared Pratincole - Harry Murphy)

(Collared Pratincole - Harry Murphy)

(Collared Pratincole - Harry Murphy)

(Collared Pratincole - Harry Murphy)

 (Collared Pratincole - Harry Murphy)

(Collared Pratincole - Harry Murphy)

(Collared Pratincole - Harry Murphy)