Rocking Awesome

Managed to get over to Spurn this evening to connect with the female [Rufous-tailed] Rock Thrush. Got a record-shot on my phone (below). Also had the Black Brant amongst a flock of Dark-bellied and Pale-bellied Brent Geese. A couple of Whimbrel flying about and several Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail about too. A good evening. Unfortunately we missed the Caspian Tern! But can't really complain!

[Rufous-tailed] Rock Thrush (phone-scoped)

Tim got a great digiscoped photo of the Rock Thrush - Spurn's second record, the first being a male, in May 1984 and only the third Yorkshire, and 29th UK record (I think!). Certainly pleased to get that one! Check out Tims picture of the Rock Thrush (and the Black Brant) here.

The day had started well as a dog walk on the edge of the village got me a fine male Whinchat (patch tick), a showy Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 pairs of Common Whitethroat and several each of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap, 6 summer-plumaged Golden Plover, and finished with my first Common Swift of the year over my house this afternoon (with a flock of 5 House Martins) and a Wheatear on the edge of the village this evening. Spring is in!

I haven't really had time to post recently due to work duties, York Ornithological Club duties, and best-man duties, though I have seen some ok birds including a range of common passage migrants - mainly all on the local patch.

Am now looking forward to another few year-ticks as more migrants continue to arrive...