Missing the Leach’s Petrel bonanza of last week on the Wirral, due to work commitments, I failed miserably on Friday 15th September. The wind had abated and birds had all moved through. A consolation was a Cattle Egret at Burton Wetlands Reserve and a juvenile Black Tern at New Brighton in the mouth of the Mersey at Fort Perch.
On Saturday 16th an afternoon visit to Spurn Observatory, East Yorkshire, produced a few early autumn migrants – Single Yellow-browed Warbler and single Red-breasted Flycatcher were at the Warren, along with a Whinchat and Great Spotted Woodpecker, at sea we saw a Sabine’s Gull and a juvenile Long-tailed Skua in the company of an Arctic Skua. Also in the area a Wood Warbler, a Garden Warbler and a 1st year Pied Flycatcher. Year List moves on to 224.
Red-breasted Flycatcher – adult female – above 4 images – The Warren, Spurn, Yorkshire – Tony Davison© – Close inspection reveals that this bird doesn’t seem to show the typical pale tips to the greater wing coverts of a 1st year bird. Shortly after photographing this bird, it was trapped and ringed as an adult female.
Cattle Egret – RSPB Burton Wetlands Reserve, Wirral. – Tony Davison©
