A couple of weeks of high pressure dominated fine weather, with unseasonal temperatures in the high teens did not suggest I would be inundated with migrants on the island, but at this time of year, it is always worth a visit as anything can turn up and it had been foggy overnight,which can ground migrants. Also, there is a vast array of birds to be seen on the mud flats as wintering geese,duck and wader numbers build up as birds arrive on their winter quarters or pass through.
Starting at the Snook,I was joined by a few other local birders and we began a search of the dunes and bushes here. At Snook House, a pair of Stonechats fed from bushtops,the male in sub-song at times.A second pair seen further east along the beach. A few Redpolls overhead,calling as they headed west, several Meadow Pipits here too. Three Chiffchaffs,a Great Tit, Robin and Dunnock were feeding in the house garden. In bushes in the dunes, six Song Thrushes were found,a common breeder on the island,however these could be newly arrived migrants, a few more were in the village later. A flock of around 120 Linnets fed in the weedy areas,the first of four flocks seen during the day.A tacking call was thought to be from a Lesser Whitethroat,but the culprit could not be seen? So fairly quiet here.
On to the village and the Straight Lonnen,where a thin seeping call revealed an island scarcity,a Treecreeper. A few years since the last island record I believe? It fed on the thin trunks along the Lonnen,with several Goldcrests,one of which sang frequently. 2 Coal Tits,2 Great Tits, Lesser Whitethroat,Song Thrushes and then 11 Redwings noted here,with two dozen Blackbirds. A call alerted me to the presence of a Yellow browed Warbler , but in thick foliage it could not be seen. In fields along the Lonnen,a Short eared Owl hunted before alighting on a post where it sat preening .A few more Redwings overhead arriving from the North East. A second large Linnet flock bounded over the fields,as a young Kestrel called from bushes to a male nearby. Then a female Sparrowhawk glided into the Crooked Lonnen garden. As I returned down the Lonnen, two birders had seen the Treecreeper and were watching the Yellow browed, which then showed well feeding in the bright sunshine. More Redwings were around the church gardens in the village. A third Linnet flock of around 150 were near the main island car park.
On to the vast mud flats along the causeway,where a lunch stop revealed large numbers of birds. A flock of Golden Plover numbered 1,800-2,000 calling away as they sat resting and preening on the mud,allowing quite close approach. Here too, were large flocks of Bar tailed Godwits and Knot,Dunlin and around 40 scattered Grey Plover. Curlews,Redshanks and Oystercatchers in good numbers added to the scene. Groups of Brent Geese fed in the shallows,and along the mainland shore to the west at least 2,000 stretched all along the shoreline. Here too fed a large number of Wigeon and few Pintail and Shelduck . With the Brents 163 Barnacle Geese were counted and a skien of Pink Feet flew over. A Little Egret fished the pools . Finally, a fourth Linnet flock seen at Beal of 100+.
Other recent sightings;
Barred Warbler 02/10 St Mary’s. Yellow Browed Warbler, Whitley Bay Cemetery 30/09 and 04/10. Yellow browed and Redwings Briar Dene 05/10. Peregrine and Kingfisher regular at St. Marys recently,c. 2,000 Golden Plover.
Alan S. Jack.