Will's bird blog: Birding and ringing over the last week (Filey ringing and migration week)

It was the annual Filey ringing and migration week, this year I would be ringing. The first day Saturday the 15th of October was simply fantastic. As dad and I pulled up, Top Scrub was alive! Endless thrushes were dropping out of the sky after making the north sea crossing. This was due to the light precipitation on the coast and slight rain just offshore. These were mainly Redwing but there were also Song, Fieldfare, Blackbirds and Mistle Thrushes over the course of the day. Just about every net round was bird filled. I got to ring lots of Redwings, a bird I had never ringed before. There was also an influx of Goldcrests and Robins and two Yellow-Browed Warblers could be heard calling in the scrub. In my opinion the best birds of the day were three Woodcock, of which I got to ring one of. These are a big powerful bird. Other highlights were Brambling and both Lesser and Mealy Redpoll. 230 birds were ringed that day. In just the northern coastal area of Filey a Woodlark, 3,700 Redwing, 630 Song Thrushes, 450 Fieldfares, 18 Mistle Thrushes, 260 Blackbirds, 230 Siskins, 85 Redpoll (incl. at least 4 Mealy), 125 Brambling, 370 Skylarks, 12 Woodcock, 65 Robins, 90 Goldcrests, 6 Yellow-Browed Warblers and a Ring Ouzel were counted (I missed the Woodlark and Ring Ouzel) (counts via the FBOG website). Just after dad and I left a Great White Egret flew over Top Scrub. This truly was a fantastic day and a true migration spectacle.

Woodcock

Mealy Redpoll (right) with two Lesser Redpoll

The second day of ringing and migration week was quieter, however a Yellow-Browed Warbler was trapped and ringed. Along with Brambling and Siskin. Around 60 birds were ringed that day, compared to yesterday's 230. The Yellow-Browed Warbler had alluded the nets for some time. Up close this tiny phyllosc was absolutely beautiful. I wouldn't be able to do a full days ringing until Friday the 21st so it was great getting the Yellow-Brow.

Yellow-Browed Warbler

The next time I could get to Filey was Tuesday the 18th. Rain had delayed opening the nets. I managed to get some extracting done but I had only ringed a few birds by the time I had to go to college. However that day a combined total of 1000 Pink-Footed Geese flew south. Later that day after I had gone a second Yellow-Browed Warbler was trapped and ringed.

Pink-Footed Geese

Ringing was cancelled on Wednesday because of wind but I couldn't have gone anyway due to college. The highlight on the 19th for me was 32 Barnacle Geese northeast over my house, I therefore also added these to Patchwork Challenge.

The next time I was ringing in Filey was Friday the 21st, I was annoyed as I had missed a Pallas's Warbler which was ringed the day before. That day did see a Mealy Redpoll ringed and a few smart Brambling, along with some commoner birds such as Redwings. As it was quiet dad and I decided to go and see the Snow Bunting on Carr Naze. In classic Snow Bunting fashion it wasn't put off by people and was fairly tame, whilst watching it a Short-Eared Owl came in off the sea.

Snow Bunting

Mealy Redpoll

Redwing

Short-Eared Owl

Brambling

On Saturday the 22nd dad and I went to Buckton to ring with Mark Thomas, it was quiet. Until around 12 we ringed a handful of birds including Redwings, Robins and (best of all) a Siberian Chiffchaff. 3 Lapland Buntings also flew south. The good thing about the 22nd was that I got to use a Heligoland trap (a large wooden and mesh structure with trees planted inside which funnels birds towards a catching box). That same morning Filey had it quiet too, their best was a Norwegian ringed Mealy Redpoll. Both we and Filey packed up at around 12 o'clock. Dad and I briefly went to Hunmanby Gap after this but it was very quiet there as well.

Siberian Chiffchaff

Saturday the 22nd was supposed to be the last day of the ringing and migration week but because the team packed up early on Sunday and cancelled on Wednesday an extra morning was organised. That morning was very quiet but a few Blackcaps, a couple of Redwing and Blackbirds and a couple of Greenfinches were trapped and ringed. Part way through the morning the news got out that there was a Red-Breasted Flycatcher in Arndale. Me and a few others walked to see it and got decent views although it was quite high in the canopy. The team stopped early afternoon due to the lack of birds. I called off at home on my scooter and then noticed on birdguides that the Hume's Leaf Warbler was still showing at Thornwick Pools, I drove there and managed to get decent views. This ended a fantastic week (and a day) of birding, ringing and migration.