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Flamborough Foot-it Part 6: The Final Walk
Mon 10th Nov, 2014
The final week (classic end of October) should have been a great one for migrants… However with a warm southerly airflow there were few new birds arriving, so after a very good previous week I now had to hope for a lucky break. A Black-throated Diver in summer plumage flying north past the Fog Station on 26th was just what I was looking for. This was quickly followed by a fly-past Twite on the cliff top. These delicate finches arrive from northern Europe in October and specialise in feeding on tiny wild flower seeds.
Twite at Flamborough © Richard Baines
It has been a good autumn for Grey Phalarope sightings but an unlucky bird for my foot-it list. A call regarding one on South Landing beach on 21st sounded like good timing so I stomped the three miles along the cliff. Predictably, the phalarope had moved on, preferring the Brigg of Filey to set up home for a few days. However on the beach I was able to ‘bag’ Sanderling, a species I should really have seen earlier. It’s always a relief to get these so-called easy species! As the tide was on the rise, pushing the seaweed high up the shore, there were huge numbers of Black-headed Gulls, a single Little Gull, Turnstone, Redshanks and the long-staying Curlew Sandpiper: a wonderful mix of birds showing really well.
Sanderling © Richard Baines
A final South Landing walk on 25th was a success, earning me Mistle Thrush in the village and Purple Sandpiper on the beach. My final species was Black Redstart, a bird I had left till very late, but then three turned up on a walk from my home to the Lighthouse! Final Total Money Raised £1,000 Species of Bird Seen: 164
Black Redstart © Richard Baines
This project has been a great success, not only in raising funds for bird conservation but also in finding out how many species can be seen over two months on foot in this great place for birding. My biggest surprise was that I didn’t have to walk to Danes Dyke woodland; I managed to see all the usual woodland species on the Outer Headland. Autumn dispersal combined with mild weather meant that many birds such as Bullfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Coal Tit arrived on the clifftop! Read more about this project on my past blogs click here
We have started work on two conservation projects this month, keep checking the FBO web site Flamborough Bird Observatory for news on these projects and where we have spent the money raised.
Richard Baines
Flamborough Conservation Working Group