With good conditions suggesting grounded migrants along the east coast I headed to Newbiggin post-school run. Chiffchaff called from the plantation beside the Mound as I donned waterproofs. Arriving at the first ash lagoon scrub I was joined by Tim Cleeves and Maurice Hepple then a few minutes later by Andy Mclevy and Mark Welfare.
A couple of Redwing calls in the mist along with Blackbirds and Song Thrushes rushing around the scrub set the autumnal feel, first decent bird was a smart looking Lesser Whitethroat, quickly followed by 2 Blackcaps. A flash of bright green and a Yellow-browed Warbler zipped across the back of the scrub, eventually showing well. At least one Chiffchaff was here too.
As conversation turned to elephants and India, a loud croaky bugle call had everyone looking skyward, at first distant and then almost overhead a Common Crane moved over us calling but remained unseen in the heavy mist.
ADMc/MW and I headed north, more Chiffchaffs and a female/1st-winter Brambling dropping into the scrub were the highlights at the gorse, Common Whitethroat and Blackcap here too.
Beacon Point produced a single male Snow Bunting flying north and later a phone call from Alan Priest added a second Yellow-browed Warbler just to the south of Beacon Point.
A second circuit alone added nothing more exciting than a female-type Stonechat around the gorse and 12 Bar-tailed Godwits on the beach.
Alan Tilmouth