Iberian Chiffchaff and Spring migrants

Excellent early Spring weekend. Stayed local Saturday and saw Ring Ouzel Wheatear and male Merlin Cheesegate Nab.
Then onto Spurn for Sunday where the surprise was a singing Iberian Chiffchaff. Also saw drake Garganey Firecrest and first Swallows of the year

Woodlark

Several displaying Woodlark seen at Budby Common. Great to listen to the amazing song. Plenty of Yellowhammer and a 4 Mandarin Ducks too. Then onto Long Eaton GP to see a Black necked Grebe. We also saw several Sand Martin and 2 Swallow. It was also nice to see and here several Chiffchaff. We finished off at Carr vale NR for a drake Garganey

Invisible Singing Quail

Nice local day birding yesterday. Great to hear  singing Quail but despite wading through a field for an hour and getting very close they just moved through the undergrowth. Also seen were Little Owl, Short Eared Owl, and drumming Snipe. A tame Meadow Pipit proved to be the photographic star.

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

Barred Warbler and Red necked Phalarope

Saturday 18th. August had myself and Dave off to Spurn nice and early. We stopped off on the way at Bank Island in Wheldrake where a Red necked Phalarope had been seen the previous day. No joy but a cracking spot consisting of some water and flooded fields. It was alive with Snipe and a Spotted Redshank was on view. Also several Greenshank and Green Sandpipers.
Onto Spurn we saw Reed Warbler, a cracking Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler and a lovely female Sparrowhawk. The main target though was a Barred Warbler and after a lot of waiting around we had two brief flight views of the elusive bird confirmed by a couple of expert birders including Steve Webb who is allegedly "number one" bird spotter as he proudly told one of the Spurn staff birders!!
We were about to sack the day when the bird messenger came up with a Red necked Phalarope at Frampton. So off we went. What a superb site it is too. Hundreds of Black tailed Godwits, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Ruff, Dunlin, Wood Sanpiper, Ruddy Duck and a fantastic adult Red necked Phalarope. A great day with two lifers for me and five for Dave.