Saturday 29th October was spent in the North East – Skinningrove in Cleveland and South Shields in County Durham. A couple of good birds were on offer including one that I had not seen before, a sub-species of Black Redstart. A first winter male Eastern Black Redstart, of the race semirufus, had been faithful to the rocks by the pier at Skinningrove in Cleveland. What a cracking place Skinningrove is, I had never visited this area of Cleveland before. What a little belter of a bird. After spending a few hours here, we then moved 30 odd miles further north to South Shields, where an adult female Daurian Issabelline Shrike had been frequenting the scrubby area of The Leas. It has been a long time since I have seen a Daurian Shrike. Year List moves on to 239
Eastern Black Redstart – Phoenicurus ochruros semirufus – first winter male – Skinningrove, Cleveland- An attractive race, from central Asia, of the Black Redstart – Tony Davison©
Daurian Shrike – A taxa of Isabelline Shrike – Adult female – South Shields, Co.Durham – Tony Davison© – There are 2 Taxa of Isabelline Shrike – Daurian and Turkistan
Dunnock – Above 2 images – Skinningrove, Cleveland – Tony Davison©
Rock Pipit – Above 3 images – Skinningrove, Cleveland – Tony Davison©
Good stuff.