Red-backed Shrike
The East coast of Britain is synonymous with the arrival of migrant birds from Scandinavia during the autumn migration period, and along with the Norfolk coast and the islands of Scotland, one other area stands out for its amazing track record of producing rare and scarce birds – the East Yorkshire coast between Flamborough Head in the North and Spurn Head in the south. This tour will be based at the wonderful Georgian Farmhouse at West Carlton near Aldbrough. Positioned midway between the two aforementioned hotspots, we are ideally placed to explore this fantastic stretch of coastline at a time when anything can arrive and large numbers of common migrants should be moving south. As always the weather plays a big hand in producing optimum conditions for arrivals of migrant birds, but whatever happens during our stay we are sure to enjoy our time here and see some great birds. Farmland birds around West Carlton include Tree Sparrow, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, Grey Partridge and Barn, Tawny and Little Owls with the possibility of waders and ducks in the valley behind if water levels permit. Rarities seen from the farm include Common Crane, Dotterel, Green-winged Teal and Osprey, and our coastal position means we should remain vigilant! The Spurn area can be fantastic for birds and we will walk the length of the point during our stay, checking the various areas of scrub and dunes as we go. Visible migration at Spurn can be impressive, with huge southward movements of finches and pipits in particular as birds migrating along the coast are funnelled together as they pass the neck of ‘The Narrows’, the narrowest part of the spit before it swings southwest into the Humber Estuary. The estuary itself can be brilliant for viewing waders as the tide pushes them closer and large numbers of Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, European Golden Plover, Red Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank and European Oystercatcher can be expected. Careful scrutiny however, could well reveal a Curlew Sandpiper while Long-billed Dowitcher and Broad-billed Sandpiper have been recorded. In the scrub, warblers may typically include Common and Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Common Chiffchaff with Ring Ouzel and Firecrest always possible and Barred and Yellow- browed Warblers regular. Scarce migrants such as Wryneck and Red-backed Shrike are also frequently recorded at this time. A similar selection can be expected at the chalk headland of Flamborough which sticks out into the North Sea and acts as a beacon to tired migrants making their overnight sea crossing from Scandinavia. We will spend a full day birding around the headland including the sheltered spots at North and South Landing and Old Fall Plantation, classic locations for scarce birds. Old Fall Plantation provides shelter for migrants and is ideal for warblers and flycatchers. The sycamores can hold Common Redstart and Pied or Spotted Flycatchers, but Red-breasted Flycatcher is also regularly recorded and a Yellow-browed Warbler could appear. In onshore winds, seawatching from the head can be fantastic and as well as the species already mentioned, could include Arctic, Great, Pomarine and Long-tailed Skuas, Arctic Tern, Manx, Sooty, Balearic and even Cory’s Shearwaters, Leach’s and European Storm Petrels, Sabine’s Gull and Grey Phalarope. Wetland habitats at Hornsea and Filey complete the scene, offering the chance of terns, grebes, ducks and waders to complement our trip list!
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Introduction
