The Audibles

Headed north with Mark and Phil today for an attempt at the Sardinian Warbler. The bird has been present a week or so now, and with Mark and Phil both "needing it", it seemed to close not to go and have a look.

Looking we did, but it was more of a listen. Yellow-brows were heard frequently while traversing the west bank of the loch, and a firecrest joined in during the vigil.

We had one or two probable views, and frustratingly the bird started calling loudly from deep within the scrub mere meters from us...

Time beat us, and with a pitstop for a delightful quail & black pudding scotch egg, we headed back to the sanctuary and safety of Northumberland.

Fired

Conditions looked a bit better for grounded migrants this afternoon, and a trip to St Mary's via Rocky Island and the Cemetery was moderately successful, with all the "action" in the latter stages of the trip out:

3 redwing in the gut area, a yellow-browed warbler calling occasionally from the willows at the north end of the wetland, and along the track en-route to the car as light began to fade, a cracking firecrest and a single redstart.

Contender for photo of the month, the St Mary's firecrest... 1/15 second exposure at 1600 :-(

More of the same?

 ...Nearly not, as I discovered a disinct lack of memory cards when I set the camera up at St Mary's this afternoon. Thanks to AC for the lend of a compact flash card!

No easier than yesterday, but with a little assistance of the tripod (remembered it today!), a few snaps were managed as the firecrest(s) (two?) fed actively on the northern most mound.

1 woodcock flew in, a peregrine circled, and redwing frolicked... all very nice.

Crest has fallen...

Every now and then I have the smart idea that leaving the tripod in the car is a good idea, and that it's easier to photograph very small migrants hand holding the 500. Wrong!

This afternoons trip to St Mary's was on the back of promising weather, a rainy start with south easterlies. 2 firecrest and a yellow-browed warbler had already been put out on the pager, and since SMI is only a few minutes away it seemed the best bet in the decreasing amount of light that afternoons currently have.

All quiet round the wetland - I did not see or hear the YBW, but there were loads of blackbird and robin, plus a single male blackcap.

A tip off had me walking north to the first mound, where very quickly I was watching the dazzling firecrest. Had I had the tripod I suspect I may have fared better...

Plenty of amusing chat was had and tales of the Shetland rubythroat [you can get there by train apparantly :) ] were gripping. Unlike my autumn so far....

Firebrow

A late morning/early afternoon visit to St Mary's Wetland produced glimpses of both firecrest and yellow-browed warbler. Both species were camera shy. Plenty of redwing dropping in, but were very skittish and quickly moved inland and only one goldcrest was seen.

The cemetery at Whitley Bay prove to be quiet, I could not relocate the yellow-brow that had been reported earlier and made do with further redwing, mistle thrush, grey wagtail, great and blue tit.

It was annoying to hear that the radde's at Druridge had been booted a bit this morning after being battered with mp3... anyone remember fieldcraft and patience? Or is that not convenient for "listing" in this day and age?