π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ Wednesday 4th October 2023 π¦️ 12C ~ Wind NE @ 9MPH ~ A much calmer day today with hardly any wind to start but a few heavy showers in the afternoon. It was actually a good day to go hedge bashing or in this case, willow bashing. The long-staying Veery at Lunna, along with the elusive River Warbler at Brae had it seemed finally departed and with nothing to really temp me on the Whatsapp groups I decided to spend the morning at Hoswick in the hope of finding a few rarities myself.
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| At least 3 Yellow-browed Warblers at the Orca Hotel. |
The 30-minute drive to Hoswick, south of where I'm staying produced 3 Whooper Swans on a small voe and three separate flyovers of Red Grouse while on route. Hoswick is a great spot to look for migratory birds as there are many gardens to explore, the Hoswick Burn, and the shoreline. I started my search at the carpark of the Orca Hotel, which unfortunately is now closed. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of a Red-breasted Flycatcher that had been previously sighted there. No sign of the flycatcher at this point but at least 3 Yellow-browed Warblers.
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| Record shot of a Barred Warbler as it made its way through a Sycamore. |
A few other birders were on site and while looking down from our vantage point into some gardens below a large warbler caught our eye as it flew into a Sycamore tree, a Barred Warbler. I did see a second, or possibly the same bird later in the morning in flight as flew across the burn.
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| Red-breasted Flycatcher |
In the end, I did eventually catch up with the Red-breasted Flycatcher at the road bridge which crosses the burn. While here a Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and yet another Yellow-browed Warbler in willows. Probably the same flycatcher was back in the gardens of one house some time later a Tree Pipit was also noted in the same garden. There was a steady passage of Swallows today and walking along the south side of the village great views of a Merlin which seemed to take umbrage with a Hooded Crow.
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| A Lesser Whitethroat at Hoswick Burn |
I attempted a Marsh Warbler later in the day at Quendale but gave up after 45 minutes. However, I did manage the Siberian Chiffchaff just before a Rustic Bunting was reported back at Hoswick. When I returned to the place, it was mobbed and there was no further evidence of the bird, so I decided to call it a day.
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| An inquisitive Wheatear while I was enjoying my picnic lunch at Hoswick Visitor Centre. |
