Iberian Chiffchaff and Spring Migrants

Excellent birding weekend while the wife is in Spain!. Yesterday we dipped on the Rock Thrush at Spurn but made up for this with the Iberian Chiffchaff at Flamborough. No pics but an excellent write up with pics and sounds by Martin  Garner http://birdingfrontiers.com/2013/04/28/iberian-chiffchaff-at-flamborough/
Then onto Tophill Low for several Yellow Wagtails and a Blue headed Wagtail. We also bagged my first Little Owl of the year near Spurn.
Today a quick visit to Padley Gorge provided excellent views of 3 Whinchats 2 males and a female and a pair of Pied Flycatchers

Blue headed Wagtail or possible Channel Wagtail

Spotted an interesting Yellow Wagtail at Audenshaw today.Initial thoughts were it was a Blue Headed Wagtail but the head is on the pale side and with this amount of white on the throat it could be a hybrid between Yellow wagtail and Blue headed wagtail- A so-called Channel Wagtail. Also present were nominate British Yellow wagtail, White Wagtail, Wheatear the first Swifts of the year, Great Crested Grebe and  Common Sandpiper

Firecrest and Black-necked Grebe

Mixed bag this weekend. Arctic Tern Swillington Ings. Bittern heard booming. A flock or about 15 Yellow Wagtails and singing Blackcap Fairburn Ings. Firecrest, Avocet sitting on eggs and Yellow Wagtail at Spurn.
Today a quick visit to Altrincham sewage works produced 2 Black-necked Grebes and yet more Yellow Wagtails.

Wagtails and Plovers

Some great local birds today at the rough ground at Kingsway Business Park Rochdale. Three Yellow Wagtails, several White and Pied Wagtail and a good selection of plovers. More Little Ringed Plover than Ringed Plover. Also present were Lapwing and many Meadow Pipits, Skylark, 2 Dunlin and a Redshank.
Back at home some Lesser Redpoll are enjoying the free seed as well as a Treecreeper who I have seen several times over the last weeks feeding on the ground

Garden Lesser Redpoll

Great to see a single Lesser Redpoll feeding on niger seed in the garden this lunchtime with several Siskin as usual

Little Bunting

Good day yesterday in the northeast. We were straight onto the Little Bunting at Houghton le Spring County Durham with excellent close views. Then onto Saltholme RSPB where we saw little as it was incredibly windy although a first Swallow of the year was nice. Then onto Flamborough Head for some sea watching and the hope of a spring migrant in the Old Plantation. Sadly nothing amazing but we did bag a female Black Redstart by the lighthouse. Also seen during the day were several Goldcrests, a Chiffchaff, several Redwing and a Barn Owl plus a selection of Auks on the sea

Red necked Grebe

A quite disappointing day despite all efforts. We bagged the Red necked Grebe at Tophill Low but the Black necked grebe was not there. Also saw Grey Partridge, Red legged Partridge and a pair of Kingfishers. First singing Chiffchaff of the year too

Wren

Felt like Spring has finally arrived, warm and sunny lots of birds singing including this Wren. Lesser Celandine flowers were shining in the sunshine