Thankfully it was and we made our way to this Cleveland village,got the car parked and made our way to the birds chosen little copse.There was about 100 birders present and it wasn't long before i was watching my 'First' Eastern-crowned Warbler as it flitted about in a nearby sycamore....Yessss!.This was great compensation after dipping Britains first record,at Trow Quarry near to South Shields in October 2009 and since then i had hoped another would be found,hopefully a bit nearer home.
The bird was as stunning as i had hoped,with its striking head pattern,green mantle(Slightly paler green than Arctic),striking silky white underparts,lemon yellow undertail coverts and double wing bars,how this species could ever be mis-id'd i don't know,as it was distinctly different to both Arctic and Yellow-browed Warblers and its feeding habits reminded me of Barred or Icterine Warbler,being quite sluggish and not as hyperactive as the other Phylloscs and it often sat still for long periods allowing for some opportunities to gain some images of the bird providing you were in the right area,as the trees still had quite a lot of leaves.The distinct crown stripe could at times be difficult to see,but the other ID features confirmed it's identity without seeing this feature.
This constitutes my first sighting of this cracking Phyllosc and is only the 7th record for the Western Palearctic and 3rd for Britain with earlier records from Trow Quarry as mentioned above and the unbelievable record of one trapped inland in Hertfordshire in October 2011.More importantly,it was also the first record for the 'Old' county of Yorkshire.The only other sightings while present on site were a single Yellow-browed Warbler and a south bound flock of Pinks.
After seeing this asian beauty it was time to relax and we visited beautiful Staithes to the north of Whitby,no notable birds were seen here,but it is a lovely picturesque seaside town.
Next day after a lovely brekkie at the B&B,saw us travelling over to Whitby and the lovely Ravenscar,with more fantastic scenery and a few sightings of note which included a colour-ringed adult Herring Gull,6 Purple Sandpiper and a Harbour Porpoise at Whitby and at least 15 Grey Seal at Ravenscar.
Monday saw us reluctantly travelling home,but a quick visit to Holbeck car park at Scarborough saw at least 6 Med Gulls present,with 5 adults and a 2nd winter giving the usual stunning views expected from these cracking gulls.While watching them a flock of 15 Siskin flew south and earlier one of the adult Peregrines had been seen along Marine Drive.
With the super tame Rough-legged Buzzard still present along the Wolds at Grindale,we paid this stunning raptor a visit also.It was seen straight away on arrival sat hunting from it's perch along a nearby hedgerow and then began to hunt along the roadside verges.Unfortunately an inconsiderate idiot in a car chased it up and down the road pushing the bird further away while i was present,but it was still great to see this beautiful bird.
Well what a cracking weekend was had and we travelled home after another great weekend away.
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| First views of the Eastern-crowned Warbler,Brotton,North Yorkshire. |
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| Eastern-crowned Warbler,Brotton,North Yorkshire. |
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| Eastern-crowned Warbler,Brotton,North Yorkshire. |
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| Staithes,North Yorkshire. |
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| Staithes,North Yorkshire. |
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| Whitby,North Yorkshire. |
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| Colour-ringed adult Herring Gull,ringed at Scarborough,Whitby,North Yorkshire. |
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| Watery sun,Ravenscar,North Yorkshire. |
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| Adult Mediterranean Gull,Scarborough,North Yorkshire. |
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| Adult Mediterranean Gull,Scarborough,North Yorkshire. |
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| Juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard,Grindale,East Yorkshire. |
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| Juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard,Grindale,East Yorkshire. |
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