Peak Autumn Migration

 

BLUE TIT...

News from da norf-east

 Yes indeedy, it has been all going on oop north. Imagine my delight when Reg sent me the following this very am...

"Latest Collieston patch update- great progress with the year patch list- good numbers of less than annual species seen in last few weeks and a couple of Scot Rares with the big shears [he jammed a great shear and a cory's in the same day - cory's was full fat] - now at 164 which is 103.05%-pushing now for a new annual  record total (172 currently)!"

Thats all we need.

And, last nite, Big Royzah got in on the act in the form of a buff-breasted sandpiper on the Don of all places! Luckily, some other birder found it while Roy was watching Home & Away or whatever passes for televisual entertainment these days, but it was also a full fat patch tick for him. Proof of life thusly...

A buff-breasted sandpaper, yesterday

All going on!

Fondooooooo

Thought it worth highlighting the whinchat I had a few weeks back. In the same bushes as pretty much every whinchat I've seen on my patch. Than and fillers means 104.40%, breaking to 100.

Heating up for a big finish

 Yes indeedy, Big Roy has been on the blower again, blawin' on about what he's been seeing. All about him innit. Not that anywan asked. Hey ho.

Anyway, suffice it to say that Royzah is claiming to have banged in both peregrine and kingfisher today, which is all well and good, but where are the rares hey? Its not like he lives in the Pentlands or anything is it?

anyway, scores duly updated, don't shoot the messenger etc etc

The adventure continues....

 Yes indeedy, the beach at Long Strand has been producing the goods the last couple of days. Friday's dog walk started well with a brace of turnstones on the rocks, while just offshore, a cracking adult little gull was in amongst the black-heads - my first here since 2022.

I had to go home to get the camera, and then of course forgot to do anything other than press the button when it flew by...

A little gull, yesterday

Fast forward to saturday and news of sanderlings on the beach dragged me back down there - sure enough, 8 sanderlings were duly added to the burgeoning year list. A scan of the gulls and a surprise as there was a 1st winter little gull flying along the beach - unfortunately it didnt hang around for a photo.

The increasing SE wind with persistant rain all Saturday afternoon and evening boded well for a plethora of migs on sunday. Unfortunately it didnt really pan out that way, with only 1 chiffchaff, 2 whitethroats (which could be breeders), and fortunately a nice, tho distant pied flycatcher, thusly...

a pied flycatcher, yesterday, er today

Onwards...

Patch Gold on The Don

 Yes indeedy, it was absolute scenes on Royzah's South Don patch this pm when he pulled a fine pochard out of the bag! Twas his first one (presumably he means on the Don??) since 2004, and takes his total to a whopping 125 species.

Apparently he had 2 little gulls the other day too.

Annoyingly, he's also risen to third spot, knocking me off the podium. The git.

Signing off on his magnificent find, Roy then ominously turned up the heat, adding "Need to keep up the effort this year, I might have a chance for once....."

We'd all best get back out there.....