Spurn Bird Obsveratory - Migfest

  Having missed the Spurn Migfest last year, I was keen to make amends, whilst simultaneously taking Lia to her first of these fantastic birdwatching festivals. A promising forecast got everyone excited but it failed to deliver any notable arrival of migrants, although this was compensated for with a few rarities and a healthy Meadow Pipit passage.

  We spent most of our time in Churchfield where we missed most of the Pipit action but did manage to connect with most of the rarities as well as ring a few nice birds. The best of these were five Tree Pipit on the Friday morning, as well as a couple of Pied Flycatcher during the week as well.

  It was also on Friday morning that I had my weekend highlight, when a stunning adult Honey Buzzard came cruising straight over Churchfield showing extremely well. This is a Spurn and Yorkshire tick for me and afforded me better views than the only other one that I have seen in the UK, the bird in Suffolk earlier in the year. We also visited the Citrine Wagtail that had been present for at least a week prior, and although our views were limited we did get to hear the bird calling multiple times, a beautiful sound to hear among the commoner species present in the same area.

  Sadly the rest of Friday and Saturday morning were spent in Hull Royal Infirmary for reasons I won’t go into here. Once we returned to Spurn we enjoyed more pleasant birding with poor views of the female Pallid Harrier that visited the area on the Sunday. The fog arrived at the worst time for us to see the bird, and being in Church Field we did not have good views across the area being hemmed in by hedges on all four sides.

  Other nice birds included a 1^st-winter Caspian Gull on Kilnsea Wetlands, along with three Spoonbill. A couple of Hobby were seen flying south. An Arctic Skua was mobbing terns offshore and there were the usual brilliant numbers of waders moving with the tide. Another brilliant weekend was spent here, and another fantastic Migfest.

  And during the weekend I finally got a new Odonata species when I at last connected with the Willow Emerald Damselflies that have recently established themselves in the area. Since 2020 when the species was first recorded it has gone from strength to strength and is now common at Spurn. I only had one individual which was perched on branches overhanging Pallas’ Pond.

-Tree Pipit

-European Honey Buzzard

-Citrine Wagtail

-Pallid Harrier

-Willow Emerald Damselfly

Species List:
Spurn Bird Observatory: Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Common Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Eurasian Teal, Common Pheasant, Little Grebe, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Swift, Common Moorhen, Pied Avocet, European Golden Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Eurasian Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Ruff, Dunlin, Common Snipe, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Arctic Skua, Black-headed Gull, Little Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Red-throated Loon, Great Cormorant, Little Egret, Eurasian Spoonbill, European Honey Buzzard, Pallid Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Hobby, Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Common Blackbird, European Robin, European Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Western Yellow Wagtail, Citrine Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Common Reed Bunting, 

Soil Hill birding; updates from the week 04th - 08th September

 This was another shorter week on Soil Hill due to the latter half of the week been spent at Spurn participating in the MigFest there. Although there was an absence of pleasant and sunny conditions, we were still able to make it out birding every day and there were good birds to see, as you would expect for the second week of September. There were no MEGA species as such, but there was a nice scattering of notable migrants to enjoy, especially since it may be the last time I see many of these species this year. 

• On the 5^th there was probably the standout migrant of the week with just the second Common Redstart of the year, which was extremely elusive in the Entrance Copse. After some brief views we then lost the bird in foggy conditions.   

• Once again Whinchats trickled through the Hill with two on the 4^th and a single lingering until the 5^th. Interestingly the two on the 4^th were on the walls near the mast, where the bird on the 5^th was in the usual location at the bottom of the North Slope. It is getting to the impossible stage trying to work out how many have passed through during the autumn, but I would think the two were both new birds, and the single was probably a lingerer from the previous week, given the location. As such, this brings the estimated total to 15 for the autumn, but I have no idea really. 

• The 5^th was a bumper day for Grasshopper Warbler with no less than three appearing at different locations around the site. This is a new record total for me on Soil Hill, although there have no doubt been occasions where the species has been in greater numbers, although undetected. These will almost certainly be the last of the year here. The only other different warbler was Blackcap, where singles were seen on all but one day, with a male and a browncap both been seen on alternate dates. 

• The last few Willow Warblers are still being seen occasionally this week, with as many as six recorded on the 5^th, and still three the following day. Otherwise just singles have been seen, and the species has been harder to find, in contrast to Chiffchaff which is being seen daily with the peak count being seven on the 6^th, with six still present the following day.

• Another species making a much less dramatic exit from Soil Hill is Common Whitethroat. While seven on the 5^th was an impressive total, generally we have only been able to find one or two on each day, and it will not be long before they leave us completely. 

• There was a nice and sudden passage of House Martin on the 8^th, when a flock of 16 birds all headed east together in rather gloomy conditions. Barn Swallow remain ever-present but in fluctuating numbers, varying from just a single on the 4^th to 15 on the 7^th. No noticeable vizmig has occurred as yet, but it will not be long before these two all leave us.  

• There was an impressive six Grey Wagtail recorded blogging on the 5^th, with another two seen on the 7^th. Hopefully there will be some reasonable vizmig of this species as the autumn progresses.  

• Two Jay flew south over Ned Hill Track on the 2^nd. Before this, a single had been jumping between trees on the North Slope Tree-Line and this was assumed to be one of these birds heading south. A nice Jay passage would be appreciated, so it is off to a good start. 

  Birding generally has been poorer compared to recent weeks, in response to poorer weather conditions. However, we made the most of it and there were still a few highlights for us to enjoy. Not least of these was a fantastic view of the covey of seven Grey Partridge in a field off Perseverance Road on the 7^th. They sat for some time in the open allowing for us to really watch them, rather than them dashing for cover or hiding in the grass. This same field has been particularly popular with Rook this week, with up to 28 seen feeding there together on the 6^th.

  A juvenile Buzzard has been hanging around the hill all week, and can even be seen perched on the walls at the bottom of the North Slope. On the only truly sunny day of the week, the 5^th, there was a light passage of three additional birds going south, but otherwise raptor activity remained pretty muted.

  On the 8^th a Curlew was heard at the bottom of the North Slope, which was the only occasion where the species was recorded this week. Two Snipe seen flying over together on the 4^th were also the only observations of this species during the week. For snipe this is a particularly poor return for a species that was nearly daily in early September last year. Hopefully the weeks rainfall will restore the bottom fields and that the species will once again return to winter in good numbers. 

-Common Redstart

-Common Buzzard

-Grasshopper Warbler

-Willow Warbler

-Grey Partridge

Species List:
Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Grey Partridge, Common Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Little Owl, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting, 

Whiteholme Birding; updates from the week 04th - 06th September

  The rainier conditions this week has seen us return to Whiteholme for some birding. Initially, this was simply so we could go somewhere that the birding would not be so affected by the weather, but as it happened the birds were good to us and so we kept going throughout the week. In total we made three visits to the reservoir on consecutive days and on each day the birding was brilliant with good numbers of waders.

• The rarest visitors of the week were a pair of Ruff that we found on our first visit on the 04^th. They were not super confiding but a new island that has emerged in the Northeast of the reservoir has proved popular with wader throughout the week, and we were able to get good views of them as they fed here. The birds remained present until the 06^th, which was our last visit of the week. This is a Halifax tick for me, and certainly helped pay off the effort of visiting this site. 

• A message from JJL reporting big numbers of waders during the afternoon of the 05^th, including some Sanderling, was all the motivation we needed to find ourselves heading back up to Whiteholme for our second day. John was not wrong, as the wader numbers were really quite impressive, and lurking among them were no less than five pristine juvenile Sanderlings. The juveniles of this species are some of my favourite waders, so this was well appreciated. The birds kept their distance at all times, so no close photos, but when they flew as a flock it was like being back on the Humber. Nice one John.

• As mentioned, there were good numbers of waders present on the 05^th, but there were also good numbers before and after this date. The two species involved were Common Ringed Plover and Dunlin. On the 04^th there was a small group of four Ringos and seven Dunlin, but the numbers really peaked on the 05^th with no less than 13 Ringed Plover and 10 Dunlin. The following day the Ringed Plover total remained the same but the Dunlin count almost halved with just six remaining. Crucially however, we noticed that one of these Dunlin had a yellow Darvic ring, as well as another ring that, after talking with PC, is probably a standard metal ring stained by the peat. Frustratingly we could get close enough to read the code, so the bird's story will remain a mystery. 

• Also on the 04^th was a nice group of six Common Snipe feeding on the edge of the reservoir, the first time I have seen them doing this here. The following day there were two snipe on the edge of the pools on the northeast side of the reservoir, presumably birds settling in to their winter quarters. 

Although Waders form most of the billing for this site, they are not the only points of interest and this there were a few migrant birds also at the site. 

• There have been really good numbers of Wheatears feeding on the rocks and shoreline of the reservoir. We estimated at least 10 on the 04^th, which was our only morning visit of the week, with the other afternoon visits providing six and eight respectively. Its always good to see these handsome birds before they leave.

• On the 04^th there were four Stonechat feeding with the Wheatears on the reservoir dam wall, including two very dapper males. Strangely we did not see any on either of the other days we visited, but they could have only been passage migrants quickly on their way after a quick stop. 

• There was no visible passage as such, but on the 04^th two Sand Martin flew to the east, and on the 05^th a Swift flew high south, which will almost certainly be my last Swift in the UK this year.  

-Ruff

-Common Snipe

-Sanderling with Dunlin & Ringed Plover

-Dunlin carrying a Darvic ring

-Wader flock

-Northern Wheatear

-Stonechat

Species List:
Whiteholme Reservoir:  Eurasian Teal, Red Grouse, Common Swift, Common Ringed Plover, Ruff, Sanderling, Dunlin, Common Snipe, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Wren, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, 

Soil Hill Birding; updates from the week 29th August - 4th September

  The warm August gave way to a much wetter September, with the final arrival of rainy conditions and strong east wings. Nevertheless, the daily visits to the Hill continued unabated and still birds were being produced. We did also spend some time away visiting other areas, mainly for tourism but also visiting friends, and this meant a few of our visits were in the afternoon or early evening, obviously changing the dynamic of the birding.

• The bird of the week appeared during a late afternoon visit on the 3^rd, when a child riding an ATV on Ned Hill Track flushed out a roosting Tawny Owl. Fortunately, once the rider had moved on, the bird settled and we were able to get some amazing views. It understandably remained alert throughout our time watching, in stark contrast to the only previous time I have seen this species here, when the individual never opened its eyes. 

• The only true Mega of the week, or at least it was before this August, was on the 29^th when three Yellow Wagtails flew over Perseverance Road together. I fudged my camera settings but Lia was able to get a brilliant recording of the birds as they flew off heading east. We checked the horse paddocks along the road, but didn’t find them anywhere. 

  The change in conditions has not slowed down the stream of migrants passing through Soil Hill this autumn. As the season draws on the composition of migrants begins to gradually change, and that has already begun to take place this week.

• The most abundant of the notable migrants this week was absolutely Whinchat, with sightings on almost every single day. Generally the birds were found at the bottom of the North Slope where they remained distant, but on the 04^th there were also two at the top on the walls near the masts. The highest count of the week was 3 on the 30^th. It remains difficult to judge the total number of birds this autumn, but from our observations I suspect that there have been a minimum of five new birds this week, meaning an absolute minimum of 13 Whinchat so far this autumn. 

• The only Spotted Flycatcher of the week was actively feeding on Ned Hill Track at the end of the afternoon on the 02^nd. It showed well at times in lovely evening light.  

• The change in conditions had a dramatic effect of Tree Pipit observations this week, with just a single bird on the 29^th. Notably, this bird was not a flyover but was instead seen feeding on the short grass above the Ned Hill Track, quite the behavioral difference from the usual migrating individuals.   

• The local warbler squad remained on and off throughout the week, with Sedge Warbler still being seen until the 01^st, while Grasshopper Warbler was only seen on the 31^st. Blackcap was also seen on just one date, when an individual was seen at the bottom of the North Slope on the 04^th. 

• Willow Warblers completely dropped off a cliff this week, with no counts higher than four birds, and with my first blank dates since the spring.  In fact, three on the 30^th was the only date where more than one individual was seen. Conversely, Chiffchaff passage continued unabated, with multiple individuals recorded on every day this week peaking with four on the 03^rd. 

• A warbler I have generally left out of these summaries is Common Whitethroat, but numbers have already begun to drop as the autumn draws on and it has been most noticeable this week. With between four and six individuals were recorded until the 02^nd, after which only a couple of birds were noted. 

  The general birding also continued to provide some goodies, with the Grey Partridge putting in an appearance again with a single on the 30^th and the group of three seen again on the 01^st. A distant Collared Dove was seen flying north on the 31^st, which is the first I’ve recorded here since May. A rather dozy juvenile Common Buzzard has been around most of the week, perching on various posts at the bottom of the North Slope, where it takes the heat from the local corvids. And on the 01^st, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen flying south from the Koi Farm Copse.

  A distant Curlew was heard calling on the 29^th, but the individual eluded us. A small group of Lapwings has reappeared on the Bottom Cattle Fields, seen on and off throughout the week with a maximum count of 19 on the 03^rd. These bird have presumably started using the field again in , response to the wetter weather. Another species that will benefit from the fields becoming wet again are the Common Snipes, which also started to reappear more consistently this week with birds being seen on three dates this week. Sadly there was no repeat of the impressive snipe arrival seen last September, but as the fields become wet again hopefully the birds will return in good numbers. 

-Tawny Owl

-Spotted Flycatcher

-Tree Pipit

-Whinchat

Species List:
Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Grey Partridge, Common Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Eurasian Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Moorhen, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Sedge Warbler, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Common Blackbird, Spotted Flycatcher, European Robin, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Western Yellow Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting,

Spurn Bird Observatory

This is our first of no doubt many autumn visits to Spurn, and it was a nice return to things, if not a little steady. While the migrant front was pretty quiet, it's nice to just see a lot of birds again, especially the waders and seabirds in the Kilnsea Wetlands and Beacon Ponds area.

The impressive numbers of common waders were joined by a very smart Red-necked Phalarope which we visited on our first evening at the north end of the Beacon Ponds. It showed nicely in the evening light as it weaved its way between the high-tide roosting Dunlins. And sat among the Dunlins was an adult Curlew Sandpiper, a good few years since my last. There was also a Great Egret on the ponds, but this is not a rare bird here anymore, how times have changed.

While the migrant front was quiet it was nice to spend a sunny afternoon in the Crown car park watching two Pied Flycatchers whilst enjoying a few ciders. Other migrant activity to a pair of Whinchat down the Canal, but on Saturday evening a Wryneck appeared in Mark Andrews garden in Kilnsea, so we had a view of a very showy bird bathing in the evening light.

On our final afternoon, we had a look in the Driftwood-sponsored set-a-side field at the top of Kilnsea Wetlands where a few Corn Buntings had occasionally appeared. It took us some time before we finally found a Corn Bunting which then took some time before it showed well, but once it did both Lia and I were able to watch the bird sat atop the crops before it dropped down.

Again, although steady, it is a completely different birding experience to that of inland Halifax. We will be back here in two weeks unless the forecast easterlies deliver something incredible…

-Great Egret

-Red-necked Phalarope

-Great Spotted Woodpecker

-Woodpigeon

-Wryneck

-Corn Bunting

Species List:
Spurn Bird Observatory:  Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Common Shelduck, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Eurasian Teal, Common Pheasant, Little Grebe, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Swift, Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Pied Avocet, Eurasian Oystercatcher, European Golden Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Eurasian Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Red Knot, Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper, Sanderling, Dunlin, Common Snipe, Red-necked Phalarope, Common Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Common Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Northern Gannet, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Great Egret, Little Egret, Eurasian Spoonbill, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Eurasian Wryneck, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Sedge Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Common Blackbird, European Robin, European Pied Flycatcher, Whinchat, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Western Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Corn Bunting, Common Reed Bunting, 

Soil Hill birding; updates from the week 22nd - 26th August

This is the last full week in August for this year, and what an August it has been with an incredible 75 species recorded, an absolutely unbelievable month for inland birding generally, let alone Soil Hill. This week the good birds continued with a steady trickle of commoner migrants and a few other goodies sprinkled in for good measure. When the birding is like this it makes you excited to get out in the morning to see what you can find. 

• The bird (s) of the week were undoubtedly Yellow Wagtails. Remarkably, over the course of the week we recorded this species on four occasions, three in the same morning in what seems to be a remarkable run for the species at this site where I have only recorded it once previously.

  -The first of the week was on the morning of the 23^rd when we were at the bottom of the North Slope.  Fortunately, I was quickly able to pick up the bird and had some time to set up my camera to make sure I got a few photos. The bird was a little distant, and in the fog and panic I managed only a couple of blurred record shots, but since I failed to get anything when I last saw the species here, I am pleased I got something. The bird didn’t stop and continued west towards Ogden.

  -The next three records were all on the 26^th, with an individual flying over Taylor Lane at 06:44, and two flying over the bottom of the North Slope at 07:26 and then finally at 08:29. This corresponded with a trickle of other species, all of which were flying South-West. Sadly I only managed a few photos of the first bird, especially since the second bird flew really low over us.

Compared to the previous weeks, totals of migrants dropped off somewhat this week but there was still plenty to look at, including a long overdue addition to the year-list here. 

• On the 25^th the first Common Redstart of the year finally appeared on the Ned Hill Track, picked out excellently by Lia. This bird is the first time I have ever found a male here, and the lack of covert hooks suggests it may even be an adult. It was elusive and mobile so photos were at a premium. In the evening JJL found a redstart in the fields near Bradshaw which we went to look at, and superficially appears to be the same bird, showing how these migrants move through once they arrive.

• During the week we only recorded Whinchat on three dates, but that did include two together on the 24^th, the others being singles on the 25^th and 26^th. All of these birds have been in the same area at the bottom of the North Slope, which makes judging the total number difficult. However, by my reckoning, there have now been seven different individual Whinchat pass through so far this autumn. 

• There was a light scattering of Wheatear during the week, with observations on three dates; three on the 22^nd, two on the 24^th and a single on the 26^th.   

• The only Spotted Flycatcher of the week appeared in the garden of Rabbit Dell during the afternoon of the 22^nd, as we drove back over the Hill on our return from the supermarket. The bird did not appear present in the morning, so could have been brought down by the arrival of rainfall around lunchtime. It then stayed in the area until the 24^th.  

• Despite the many rarities so far this August, the month really belongs to Tree Pipit. This week was no exception with birds recorded every single day. Almost all of these were birds on vis-mig, with the highest counts being four on the 23^rd, five on the 24^th (within an hours period), and an incredible 11 on the 25^th; where nine flew south and two were grounded on the summit, the first grounded individuals this year.   

• The contingent of warblers remained present for this week, with Sedge Warblers making an appearance on the 23^rd and then two on the 24^th, again both juveniles. The juvenile Grasshopper Warbler was still present on three dates this week, and was even reeling, or attempting to, on the 23^rd. And a male and female/immature Blackcap have also been seen on and off at the bottom of the North Slope. 

• There were still a few Willow Warbler passing during the week, with 10 on the 22^nd and 11 on the 23^rd, before numbers dropped to just single figures. Chiffchaff is now being seen almost daily, with three on the 25^th being the highest count. This count included the first singing bird of the autumn.  

• The final few Common Swifts continued to pass through this week. A single was seen on the 22^nd, followed by a late group of six on the 26^th. Also on the 26^th there was a flock of nine House Martin that slowly flew south, the only sightings of the week. 

• Although it is not yet the time for true migrants, Goldcrest has already begun to appear more regularly, especially along Taylor Lane where at least one individual has been seen daily, and three seen together on the 23^rd. As the autumn draws on we can look forward to more of these beauties.    

On the none migrant front there continued to be a steady trickle of other interesting birds. The most notable of which is the first Green Woodpecker of the year which was on Taylor Lane on the 23^rd. Two Great Spotted Woodpecker were also seen flying south distantly on the 26^th, but this is a more regularly encountered species at this time of year.

The full contingent of 10 Grey Partridge was seen again on the 23^rd, although in two smaller groups of seven and three. There was one Curlew during the week, with a single on the 26^th which was calling further up the valley. Common Snipe was also recorded on the just the 26^th, but this was three individuals dropping in to the bottom  Cattle Fields, as hopefully numbers build up into the autumn.

And finally, we recorded our second highest total of Mistle Thrush of the year on the 22^nd when 24 flew over Taylor Lane. 

-Yellow Wagtail 23.08.2022

-Yellow Wagtail 26.08.2022

-Sedge Warbler

-Goldcrest

-Spotted Flycatcher

-Whinchats

-Tree Pipits

-Common Redstart

Species List:
Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Grey Partridge, Common Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Swift, Common Moorhen, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Western Barn Owl, Little Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, European Green Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Sedge Warbler, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Common Blackbird, Spotted Flycatcher, European Robin, Common Redstart, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Western Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting, 

Blackstone Edge Reservoir twitching Wood Sandpiper

A brilliant find by JJL saw Lia and I racing up to Blackstone Edge reservoir during the afternoon to try and connect with the first Halifax Wood Sandpiper in 26 years, the first one since I was two years old. When we arrived JJL had kindly waited to make sure that the bird did not depart, and as such we were able to quickly connect.

We stayed with the bird for a few hours in which time it moved away before returning to near shore where it showed well. The bird seemed to be feeding well and we saw it tackle a few large food items. It was good to see many of the Halifax birders who also made the trip up to connect with this local mega. 

-Wood Sandpiper

Species List:
Blackstone Edge Reservoir:  Mallard, Wood Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Kestrel, Carrion Crow, Northern Wheatear, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit,