Halloween treat

Having spent the last two weeks being gripped by the Buckton Rough-legged Buzzard I was keen to get on patch and to find another, but despite my determination deep down I sensed the moment had gone. Saturday morning started off well with a fly through ringtail Hen Harrier - the first here this year. After a bit of ringing I decided to work the cliff top fields to locate the Lapland Bunting flock as I had heard a few moving around whilst checking the nets. This proved to be a very good move as I managed to find a flock of 70, yes 70 Lap Bunts and whilst watching these my attention was draw to a raptor being mobbed in the distance off to the west near the trig point. Even before lifting the bins I just knew this was going to be a Rough-legged Buzzard! But I was more than shocked when through the bins it proved to be startling pale with black carpal patches and had a huge black belly patch ! Whats more, as soon as I starting thinking just come closer it banked and starting heading my way, a bit of rally driving through the stubble and 30 seconds later I was directly underneath it and staring up at it, in great light and at around only 50ft distance. After several leaps in the air I remembered I had a camera ! The bird then started heading off to the south and inland, I watched it as far as I could with binoculars and it appeared to land just over the Buckton to Filey road. After putting the news out I quickly made my way to the south of Buckton along Grindale Road. After 20 mins of scanning I simply could not relocate the bird, then two middle-aged cyclists came past me and enquired what the eagle like bird was perched in the small bush just back along the road ! A quick u-turn and once more no sign of it, I was really confused then suddenly realised that the brown clod of earth just in front of me was moving, no time for bins, one blast of the camera shutter which thankfully coincided with its take off . The bird then hung around and gave reasonable views for the next 2 hours, roosting nearby. The rest of the weekend was rather uneventful with a total of 67 new birds ringed, bringing the October total to over 800 new birds. Rough-legged Buzzard oh yes !

Rough justice

These fantastic images of a 1st winter (fem) Rough-legged Buzzard were taken by Nick Dawtry over Buckton village pond on Sunday 17th (1345hrs). With several arriving over the weekend including four birds at Spurn and one which went over Flamborough it was no surprise that one headed over Buckton, just great that it was photographed so well!

A bit of rough justice having spent the week on site but not as bad as what happened to one observer the day before, I called the Flamborough boys over to help locate a large pipit, which turned out to be one of the Richard's that had been present during the week. One observer who had been seawatching managed to damage their car getting to the pipit field, which then put them out of action for the afternoon, just when a Fea's Petrel sailed past the head, oops!

In from the east

Just spent a productive week at Buckton, ringed an amazing total of 716 new birds and witnessed the third major fall of the autumn with Robins, Chiffchaffs and thrushes predominating. Highlights included finding four Richard's Pipits, these being the 2nd-5th site records and a new patch bird for me with two together on October 14th, a now resident flock of 16 Lapland Buntings and 6 Ring Ouzels.

Ringing wise, Robin (86), Goldcrest (78), Long-tailed Tit (27), Brambling (32), Redwing (36), Song Thrush (52), Chiffchaff (34), Goldfinch (94) and Reed Bunting (91). More interestingly, a possible halimodendri (central Asian) Lesser Whitethroat, an 'eastern' chiffchaff and yet another Scandinavian control, a Chiffchaff with a Norwegian ring. (Richard's Pipit pic Clive McKay)

Utklippan ! (55º57’N 15º42’E)

Just heard back from Lina Jansson of the Swedish Bird Ringing Centre, the Robin that I caught at Buckton last week had been ringed on the Baltic island of Utklippan in April 2010. Utklippan is a tiny island with a ringing station off the SE Swedish coast in the provence of Blekinge. Recoveries like this are what its all about, a tiny insight in to the life history of an individual bird. Can't wait for the results of the two birds from Norway !

Coal Not Droll !

With only a single record in the last ten years Coal Tit is a true Buckton rare, then a single bird last week and yesterday (October 2nd) four turned up togther in a net in the main dell. Today an un-ringed bird on the feeders at the caravan. Biometrically, all had wing lengths ruling out 'continental' origins but still puzzling as to where they have come from and why? Others were also seen on a vismig watch at nearby Speeton.

Other birds over the w/e included Merlin, now up to 40 Lapland Buntings on site, a few Redpoll and a retrap Redstart that has put on 1.7 grammes in a few days. Had great views of a 1st winter Rustic Bunting at Flamborough North Landing. September produced 516 new ringed birds including 110 Meadow Pipit, 15 Redstart, 56 Robin, 22 Brambling, 33 Willow Warbler, 19 Chiffchaff and 58 Reed Bunting,