The weekend started in Lincoln on Saturday 23rd September. I was at a Uni open day with my dad at Lincoln University. I saw that there was Red-Necked Phalarope and Long-Billed Dowitcher about 30mi away on the coast and we decided that on the way back we would go for them. After getting the info from fellow birders we set out first to Covenham Reservoir. Once we got there we could see some birders along the wall, we headed that way. We walked a little way and could see the Phalarope in the distance, but there were birders watching something nowhere near it. To our amazement there was a Curlew Sandpiper just a few metres away. We continued onto where the Red-Necked Phalarope was, but just as we got there, it along with Little Stints and Dunlin took flight. They annoyingly went back to near the Curlew Sandpiper so we headed back that way. Once there we were graced with fantastic views of the waders and also a pair of Ruff. We then hopefully continued onto Saltfleet where the Dowitcher was. Once we got to the area it suddenly dawned on us we didn't really know where to go. We knew that it was around 'paradise pools' but neither of us knew where this was (what did we expect a big sign?!). We eventually found a small carpark and map and realised we had driven passed the area where it was. When we went back we found a birder who had just seen it go around the corner in a creek. We drove around to the other side of the creek and got fantastic views of it feeding fairly close to us. The Dowitcher and Phalarope were also UK lifers (I had seen both abroad).
The next day I was volunteering as part spotter team (including Harry Witts @polychloros) on the penultimate RSPB Autumn Highlights cruise out of Bridlington. We set off at 0830hrs. We first headed south towards Barmston and Hornsea. There was a lot of feeding activity. We came across many flocks of Little Gulls (100+ by the end of the trip), a Juvenile Black Tern, Razorbills, Guillemots, 2 Puffins, 2 Arctic Skuas and a Great Skua. 74 Teal, 2 Pintail, Common Scoter flocks, Brent Goose, 2 Bar-Tailed Godwit and a feral pigeon also flew by. After this success we continued further out off Flamborough Head. We saw a further 7 Arctic Skua, 3 Great Skua (2 with metal rings), 2 Juvenile Black Terns, more Little Gulls, 4 Puffins, 7 Red-Throated Diver, 2 Yellow-Legged Gull, Lesser-Blacked Backed Gull, 20 Redshank and 3 Knot. Unfortunately no shearwaters could be tempted in by the chum, but that was probably down to the winds. That being said the cruise had a great selection and ended with lots of happy faces!
I ended the day up at Bempton. The Red-Backed Shrike continued it's residence as did the Yellow-Browed Warbler (but I missed it). 2-3 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 5+ Goldcrests, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Whinchat, 4 Stonechat, 1 Rock Pipit and a Ruff (flew SE) were on reserve today. The start of next week look promising and may turn up some migrants, though typically I'm back in college. Hopefully anything that does arrive will stick around.
