Donna Nook, Saturday 26th October & Sunday 3rd November 2024

Saturday 26th October

After receiving a message from GPC that he had found a 1st Winter Black-faced Bunting on Friday 25th, it was an absolute no brainer to go and try to see this bird, as it was not only the 12th record for Britain, but also another county first for Graham and incredibly his 13th!!!!. 

Saturday morning came around and as i travelled towards Donna, few patches of mist soon subsided to a fairly clear sky.

The sunrise was stunning and i stopped along with Jon to admire it and take a few photos, before we began to search in hope for the Bunting along with a handful of others.

As we walked a few parties of Whooper Swans flew south totalling 24 birds and a single immature Spoonbill was also logged, my latest record.

Very few migrants were in the dunes, but quite a lot of Reed Buntings had us grilling every group in the hope we would find the Black-faced.

After a while GPC arrived and myself, Jon and Wayne Gillatt, Neil D and Dave H all spread out in the continued search for the star bird.

Just as we were about to give up, GPC received a phone call that the bird had incredibly been trapped at quad 3, approximately 2 miles south of Stonebridge Car Park and it was going to be released at the car park at 10am.

We all made our way to back to Stonebridge to a beaming Owen Beaumont as he arrived with the bird and quickly showed it to all present before he released the bird into the adjacent Hawthorn scrub.

Talk about being in the right place at the right time!. 

The bird flew off with a few tick calls on release and about ten minutes later appeared in the top of a Hawthorn showing briefly, before flying off slightly south of the car park, disappearing into thick scrub, and that was that for us.

It all happened so quickly, but i was very glad to have been in the area to see this mega. It was my second sighting of the species, after twitching the 1st at Pennington Flashes with GPC in March 1994, which was also the first record for Britain.

We stayed around the general area of Stonebridge after Tim and Arash arrived in case the bird was seen again and added some other nice sightings to the day list which included a Great-northern Diver sat on the sea, 3 Little Gull which flew south, Merlin, Peregrine, 5 Greenshank and a late Swallow making for a cracking day out.

The events surrounding the Bunting were very fortuitous and a big thank you must go to Owen for bringing the bird to show us all. 

Sunday 3rd November

After hearing Graham had relocated the Bunting again near to Pye's Hall on Tuesday 29th October, i thought to myself i would try again at Donna and spend the whole day on site and see what i could find.

A cloudier day today than on our last visit saw me covering the area between Stonebridge and Pye's during the day and putting together a very impressive day list which added up to a brilliant 78 species.

Highlights went to 13 Whooper Swan which flew south, the 2 immature Spoonbills still, 2 Greenshank, a 1st winter Spotted Redshank, 2 White-fronted Geese which flew south, a Red-breasted Merganser which flew north along the tide edge, 6 Great-white Egret, Peregrine, Kingfisher, female Hen Harrier and a Donna Nook tick for me, a Raven.

The latter showed brilliantly at Pye's with that awesome cronking call.

As the day wore on a few migrants began to arrive which included a couple of Woodcock which flew in off the sea, my first Fieldfare of the autumn and a handful of Redwings and Blackies.

A scan of the saltmarsh, located the bizarre looking leucistic Dark-bellied Brent Goose 'Lucy' which had wintered at Spurn the previous winter and she gave some great views as she fed out on the developing foreshore.

As i walked a well timed WhatsApp message from GPC to say a Pallas's Warbler had been found back at Stonebridge car park, ten minutes later and i was watching this stunning little Siberian sprite as it flitted about in the willow at the entrance to the car park.

It gave some cracking views and it even called on a few occasions with that canary like 'Chuee' call they have, what a belting bird to end the visit......well almost, as i watched the Pallas's a Black Redstart was seen on the roof of the house were the Pallas's was feeding, what a great day and this site really is a special one!.

Donna Nook Dawn, 26th October.

A Stunning Sunrise, 26th October.

Common Buzzard, 26th October.

1st Winter Female Black-faced Bunting, Note the distinct pink lower mandible, head pattern, Dunnock like mantle pattern and yellowish wash to the underparts.

Dozing Spoonbill, 3rd November.

Black Redstart Record Shot, 3rd November.