Olive Backed Pipit

I had a day off today and set off for Spurn, but with clear skies the night before I didn't hold out too much hope.

heading down Spurn Road I saw 2 merlin and a sparrowhawk as well as common waders, brent geese and 2 little egrets.

I had a walk round the point with birding guru martin garner (surely if anything was about he would find it!) we did see a lesser redpoll, chiffchaff and 3 flyover sparrowhawks but nothing really of note, so i headed back up Spurn Road towards Kilnsea in the hope of seeing the pallas's warbler. There was no sign and news of the Olive backed Pipit at filey had me heading north.

As soon as I got there it was showing down to 10ft, it looked a little unsteady and had a missing eye, despite feeding constantly most of the afternoon it didn't look in hte best of health.

I'd be surprised if it makes it.

Filey Brigg

I had a ride out to Filey Brigg this morining, got there just before sunrise and it was a pretty spectacular one at that.

At first it looked pretty quiet with only common waders, a few distant scoter and shag on the end of the Brigg. Then the long tailed duck came into view but it was pretty distant so I had a look on the sea side-I was pretty surprised to see a tern fishing not too far out to sea, plus a couple of red throated divers, a fulmar and a few gannet.

back to the bay side and the ltd had come much closer so I crept over the rocks to get closer. It didn't seem bothered by my presence and although the light was harsh I was happy with my shots. there was also a few common scoter and 3 velvet scoters did a u turn in the bay. On the way back the common waders were very obliging in the corner.

Yellow Browed Warbler

capped off a great extended weekends birding today. i was a bit pushed for time but i thought I'd have an hour at Kilnsea for a yellow browed warbler. caught this beauty in late afternoon sunlight, also got a distant view of a red-backed shrike and ring ouzel.