Alex and Liz Cruikshanks

Some pics of today’s sighting of the Pinkfeet flock at Cowpen Marsh north of Holme Fleet—-flock size now estimated at 260.
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Flock of 200 plus Pinkfeet back on Cowpen Marsh north of Holme Fleet
12.99
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A cracking ad. male Merlin was the highlight of an otherwise quiet hour am at Holme Fleet.
Other birds included Buzzard, MHarrier, db Brent Goose and, unusual here, Mistle Thrush with the more usual Roe Deer on Cowpen Tip.
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DB Brent Goose just flown over Holme Fleet towards Brinefields /Long Drag 11.20
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Holme Fleet am—- before heavy rain
2 Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Cetti’s, 3 Reed Btg and 220 Pinkfeet.
Latter looked as if they had just arrived, circling several times before nervously settling. Flushed by aircraft and circled low towards the Greatham Creek area.
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220 Pinkfeet briefly at Cowpen Marsh before being flushed by RAF jet and flying north towards the Greatham Creek area. May still be in the area.
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Blackhall Rocks am
Still Chiffchaff in the car park Willow hedge—2 there a week ago. 27 Blackbirds, 5 Redwing and 1 Song Thrush upto and inc. Blue House Gill, plus a dozen Tree Sparrow and Willow Tit of note.
H’pool Harbour pm held GND, RTD and GC Grebe.
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GND at Hartlepool Harbour 14.00.
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YBW and Chiffchaff lingering at Blackhall Rocks but elusive. Initially favouring the car park end of the willow hedge.
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Hi Neil
Miscounted these passing along the cliffs at Blackhall Rocks at 09.25.
Alex

16 Whoopers just gone south along the cliffs at Blackhall Rocks 9.25
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Blackhall Rocks
YBW and Chiffchaff in willow hedge leading up to the railway line from the main car park. 12.00
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Yesterday at Holme Fleet 2 Marsh Harriers and a Merlin. Today 2 Buzzards and 2 Marsh Harriers, one with conspicuous white line on breast extending past the carpal and on to the mantle. Also Cetti’s, Water Rail and Stonechat.
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Took a trip to Norfolk to finally join the Merveille du Jour club. Hopefully local one soon.

Just finishing a half- term family/birding trip to Norfolk and amongst the highlights was today’s incredible sight of something like 8000 Starlings in a constant stream west over the sea at Titchwell in just one hour (12.30-13.30).

Snook today Skylark and Redpoll most numerous in 2 hr count.
116 Skylark
32 Redpoll (several flocks feeding on birch seeds in the bushes)
23 Tree Sparrow
14 Mipit
11 Linnet
11 Goldfinch
7 Chaffinch
70 Finches sp (Not sp id’d)
Plus 3-400 Goldies and c30 Twite in Samphire.
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Yesterday little vismig at Snook but bushes held GSW, Woodcock, 3 Blackbirds, 3 Chiffs and a Redpoll.
Today 08.30-09.30
173 Starling
41 Goldfinch
19 Redpoll (17.2)
16 Linnet
13 Chaffinch
64 Finches (Distant flocks not sp id’d)
9 Skylark
1 Blackbird
Total 336 passerines in hr.

Woodcock and 4 Blackbirds ZWR bushes. Asio owl in off and appeared to come down on South Gare. 09.15
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Pics of migrants in the ZWR bushes Sat.
Totals:- 12 Blackbirds (inc. some pristine ad. male birds), 7 Redwing, a Fieldfare, 4 Redpoll and 2 Chiffchaff.
Snook 08.30-09.30 no vismig (passing birds) despite nearby Boulby enjoying good nos and variety-the vagaries of vismig!
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Not exactly Flamborough, but ZWR bushes briefly held a Fieldfare, 7 Redwings, 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Redpolls 08.30.
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Dark-Bellied Brent Goose just flown into Seal Sands from the Snook at 10.10.
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7 Barnacle Geese flew north from the Snook 09.50.
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Whooper Swan still on Holme Fleet and Short Eared Owl on Cowpen Tip 11.15.
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Close views of Whooper Swan and distant view of Merlin at Holme Fleet/Cowpen Marsh mid- morning.
Supporting cast of Marsh Harrier, vocal Cetti’s, and 50 nervous Wigeon coming and going on the rising tide.

Whooper Swan, Marsh Harrier, Merlin and vocal Cetti’s Warbler at Holme Fleet 11.30.
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Unable to get out today until late afternoon. Quick check of the ZWR bushes produced 16 Redwing and 2 Blackbirds, with 62 Barnacles west (16:00) and 74 south (16:30).
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Barnacle Geese movement still ongoing with two large skeins, one westbound at 16.00 and one southbound at 16.30. (Nos to follow from pics)
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Some autumnal tidying up in the garden always improved by calling Pinkfeet overhead—c80 south at 12.50
6 noisy Tree Sparrows and a Grey Wagtail plus calling Skylarks over nearby farmland were bonuses.
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Two distant and high skeins of Pinkfeet (24.15) just gone south over Holme Fleet/Cowpen tip. 11.10.
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3 Whoopers south over Holme Fleet. Looks as though they went through Saltholme without stopping 10 50.
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