Flamborough 29/10/23

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I arrived at Flamborough at 9:45, driving through wet weather with flooded roads in that part of Yorkshire. The walk to where the Red-Headed Bunting was being seen was very muddy and I was glad to have Wellingtons.

Together with 40 other birders I waited in light rain for nearly an hour before the bunting appeared. It was then in view for about 10 minutes in the favoured strip of bramble, along with Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers. The bird is in heavy moult and has been identified as a first-winter male.

There was a big flock of Pink-footed Geese in the field behind.

Walking back, then driving round to the lighthouse the rain had stopped and it was becoming brighter. By good fortune the Two-barred Warbler was seen soon after arrival, the bird frequenting a hedgerow alongside a narrow crop field. It was watched for about half an hour, at one point disappearing behind the hedge for a while. My second following the Two-barred Greenish on St. Agnes (Gugh) in 1987, when it was still designated as a sub-species. 

In the same hedgerow a small flock of Common (Mealy) Redpoll was enjoyed, while the adjacent field had many Goldcrests, some of which were very close. A Woodcock flew in off the sea.

The remaining time at Flamborough was spent watching a Pallas's Warbler in scrub below the cliffs, and a Pallid Swift just offshore.

Site for Red-headed Bunting 

Two-barred Warbler 

As above 

Common Redpoll

As above

As above 

Tree Sparrow 

Goldcrest 

Pink-footed Geese 


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