Mark Lawlor's Nature Blog

In the final week of October I managed to sneak away to Yorkshire for almost a week to visit the family. A hoped for rare bird fest was not on the cards due to the constant stiff southerly breeze which lasted the whole time I was there, without even a break. Nevertheless I knew there was something to go for as I made my way down the M62 in the hire car. I pulled into the car park at Blacktoft around lunchtime, a site I had not visited for years and years. (Maybe the last time I was there was when the warden kicked me out when I had sneaked on to see a Broad-billed Sandpiper before the reserve had opened for the day!).

As I paid, they pointed out the direction to walk and I made my way down the path. I could hear geese approaching and was overjoyed to see a large flock of Pink-footed Geese fly overhead - I had not seen a big goose flock for quite a while. On the way out I also saw some of these feeding in a potato field by the roadside.

Pink-footed Geese - Blacktoft, 26 Oct 21

Of course the target in question was not the geese but a rare wader which had been present at the reserve for quite a while and I was quite surprised it was still present. At the furthest east hide there were a few birders looking out and they directed me to where the WHITE-TAILED PLOVER was resting with a small flock of waders. I had the obligatory momentary panic when I couldn’t see it as it was huddled up pretending to be an oversized Dunlin. This was a new species for my British List, although I saw at least one in Israel back in the day. Still a really rare bird in Britain with just a handful of records, only two of these recently, in 2007 and 2010. This bird had arrived on 26th August so this was its two-month anniversary. It was a murky day on the Humber and so it was difficult to take good photos. Something quickly spooked the birds and they were suddenly off, the WTP disappearing to the west before I’d hardly had a look.

WHITE-TAILED PLOVER - Blacktoft, 26 Oct 21

Of course, it hadn’t gone far and so I investigated the other hides, seeing bits and bobs along the way. I was actually surprised how few birds there were on the lagoons to say this was a premier bird reserve! Eventually, in the last hide I checked, I saw that there were quite a few birders in, and the bird was probably here. After clattering in like a loud idiot, they silently pointed out of the flaps as the plover was right in front of us! I managed to stop being clumsy and had superb, extended views of the bird - and the sun even came out for a short period. I could not have asked for any better views of such a rare bird.

The other main birds of interest on the lagoons were some Black-tailed Godwits and a double-figure flock of Spotted Redshanks - I don’t think I have ever seen so many of these at once before.

Black-tailed Godwit - Blacktoft, 26 Oct 21

Even though the winds were not ideal, I did spend a morning checking the headland at Flamborough but it was very quiet in the strongish southerlies. Migrant-wise it was mainly the common winter migrants seen like Redwings, a few Skylarks and finches and such like. There was a few Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff also and a few seabirds off the cliffs, including my first Red-throated Divers for ages. The most exciting thing was a Jay which seemed to have just arrived off the sea, flying straight up from the bay below Bay Brambles, over my head and inland.

The Coastguard in action, presumably just practising - Flamborough, 28 Oct 21

Other than that, it was just the common birds around Driffield seen. A Coal Tit showing well in my parents’ estate was a highlight (I don’t see many!). Also notable was lots of sightings of Pink-footed Geese all over the place around the area flying to and fro feeding and roosting areas. They must be really increasing in Yorkshire. The weather driving back to Manchester was astoundingly awful and the M60 was an absolute pain. But I made it to the airport in time, just to see that my flight was delayed - the last one out of the airport - and arrived back home at about 1:00 am ready to be back at work the next morning. Isn’t travel fabulous.

Unusual foilage in Driffield - I think this is the Tulip Tree

Local football match IN DRIFFIELD DURING A STORM

The drive back to manchester airport was one of the trickiest ever - and this was just outside driffield!

October, despite being “rarity month” does not seem especially better than any other month for rarities in Guernsey. I think that part of the reason is that there does not seem any notable increase in intensive bird-finding in October compared to many sites in the UK which can get saturated with birders at this time of year. Birding in Guernsey seems to be quite spread out over the whole year. You don’t tend to see lots more people out and looking any more in October than there is in November or April or even non-migration months. The only time when there does seem to be more people out is when there is “a lot about” already. I suppose that this is because most people, like myself, do not have much spare time.

However, despite no really rare birds this year, October can always be relied upon for some great visible migration. I was first up on Pleinmont on 3rd where there was plenty of Chiffchaffs but nothing very uncommon. A Common Sandpiper was at Pulias on 4th but the first sign of “winter” migrants for me was on 13th when a flock of at least 50 Redwing flew over me when I was getting into my car at first light.

On 17th, I wasn’t able to get out at first light but I stopped briefly for a chat at Pleinmont during a morning drive and had a Brambling and about 40 Siskin go over in just a few minutes. When I got home, I stood out in the garden and saw that there were plenty of things going over and quickly had a calling Brambling which was a new species for the garden list. I also had about 20 Siskin in a couple of flocks, 4 Skylarks and a few Swallows racing south. It was nice and sunny in the afternoon and I had a free hour so I popped out to Grand Pre where the highlight was excellent views of c.25 Siskins in the Alders. They seemed everywhere over the next week - an unusually large influx. Siskins can often feed deep in cover and flick around like warblers in the low vegetation which is always a surprise since they are usually in the tree tops.

The next weekend saw me back up at Pleinmont on 23rd October, again avoiding anything rare, even Yellow-browed Warblers are non-existent this year. Visible migration was pretty good though with at least 3 Bramblings in amongst a few hundred Chaffinches and small groups of Siskins flying in from the north in small groups totalling three-figures. I saw about 15 Skylarks, a Wheatear and at least 5 Firecrests but the best bird was finally seeing the ringtail Hen Harrier which has been knocking around the headland for a while. Looking at my records, this is the first Hen Harrier I have seen in Guernsey for 9 years which is incredible.

On the way home I called in at Rue des Hougues, St. Andrews as I thought something might have dropped in. There was a nice and vocal Golden Plover there as well as another flock of Siskin, but what I didn’t expect was to turn a corner and come face to face with a Great White Egret right in front of me! We both startled each other and the bird flew to the back of the field. Here it was happy to stalk the field edge, no doubt looking for voles and mice feeding in amongst the vegetated hedge banks. There had been one around the island for the previous few days but it was nice to bump into it myself.

Great White Egret - Rue des Hougues, SA, 23 Oct 21

GOLDEN PLOVER - Rue des Hougues, SA, 23 Oct 21

Half-term began on the 24th and the first Black Redstart was seen right on cue at Pulias. I had another sojourn up Pleinmont on 25th but it was again quiet, with the Hen Harrier seen again, another Brambling and more Siskins. A quiet end to the month in Guernsey.

Just A Bird

Just A Bird

Mark Lawlor's Nature Blog

Just A Bird

October 2021 pt ii

October 2021 pt i

Just A Bird