Epic East Coast Birding!

It is October, so it has to be the east coast! I met Chris and Ash in Carlisle and we made our way to the Northumberland Coast. We decided to check the areas of scrub on the banks of the ash lagoons at Newbiggin. There were not masses of birds around but Robins, Song Thrush, Redwing, Brambling and Goldcrests gave us a little bit of optimism! However nothing to exciting showed itself and after receiving a news of a Paddyfield Warbler nearby at St Mary’s Island we soon changed tact! I have only seen one Paddyfield Warbler in the UK before and I knew it would be a British tick for Chris!

Luck was on our side and as soon as we arrived at the area of bushes at St Mary’s Island the bird was in full view. This bird had been reported as elusive, so we felt very privileged to see it so easily! However all was not what it seemed! The bird we were watching was not like any Paddyfield Warbler any of us had seen before! That was because it wasn’t one! The bird was only my second UK Blyth’s Reed Warbler and a British tick for Chris and Ash! Result!

 

 

 

 

We also managed great views of an always stunning Yellow-browed Warbler. Chiffchaff and Siskin were also present in the bushes. Nearby a painfully elusive Red-breasted Flycatcher also put in a brief appearance!

We finished the days epic birding off at Tynemouth. There were good numbers of Robin and Blackbirds here. Chiffchaff were also present in small numbers. A large tit flock containing Continental Coal Tit and a fair number of Long-tailed Tits kept us occupied. The sharp-eyed Ash picked out our second Yellow-browed Warbler of the day!

Another epic trip to the east coast in great company!