1/3

Just returned from a third visit to St Mary's for this week. It's the second "dip" on the elusive greenish warbler, and thanks to a price increase by North Tyneside council, I've only wasted £1.20 in parking fees - less than others who have not caught up with this county rare. That's a 1 in 3 strike rate for me so far.

A beautiful morning no less, with common whitethroat and willow warbler in the "gut", sandwich tern off shore and the occasional barn swallow over. Robin "ticking" gave a nice autumn feel to the air.

The East Yorkshire twitch is still on hold (and unlikely to happen) as lateshifts at work and a much looked-forward-to Muse concert in Manchester on Saturday obstruct.

Shifts next week are better for some birding, so if the east coast continues its good run there should hopefully be birds to go and look at...

Greenish before work...

A text from IF got me moving towards St Mary's this morning - a greenish warbler was showing intermittently near the dipping pool. No photographs in my brief sortie, but  some good banter with the lads was had. News of barred warbler near the rifle butts had a few trekking north, but a text just received is negative. With the Bonaparte's gull seemingly settled at Whitburn Steele it looks like the pace is quickening...