Flamborough Head tips... (1 Viewer)

[Pete Mella]

OK, I hope no-one minds me starting a new thread rather than tacking it on to the Yorkshire thread.

I'm off to Flamborough Head for only the third time ever this weekend, and the first time I've got time to explore properly and actively look for stuff.

I'll be getting there about 13:15 on Sat, and aim to stay til early dusk. I'll be getting the bus from Brid, and my plan, looking at the OS map, is to get off at Flamborough village, walk down the path to Beacon Hill, along the cliffs past South Landing, New Fall, Old Fall (checking out the plantation) and then amble my way to North Landing. From then on I'll just mill about as the mood takes me (scanning the hillsides for crowds of twitchers with long lenses!).

Does this sound like a productive journey? Is there anywhere I should be looking that I haven't mentioned? As well as finding assorted migrants, I'm also interested in mopping up a few residents such as red-legged partridge and corn bunting if there's any about.

 

[Hotspur]

To be honest Id be tempted to try the actual head itself - South Landing is very difficult at the moment because of all the leaves still being on the trees plus its a bit early for the leaf warblers. The head around the lighthouse has been very productive the last week or so. Check the fences. Old fall is a must. North Landing has probably had some goodies and is worth checking.

 

[James Thomas]

Had a discussion with Graham on Sunday about working Flamborough head. Personally I always try and get there for dawn as I think many birds landing from the N/NE go straight into the cover on the cliff, onto the path and onto the golf course and don't move until it's daylight and they've fed/rested a bit. Evidence? Circumstancial I suppose but

1. in my experience the willows and the brambles around always have more variety and a greater number of birds than at any other time of the day.
2. Having seen a fieldfare obviously exhausted on the golf course at first light and not moving for nearly an hour.
3. Chiffchaff and willow warblers on the cliff top in and out of long grass and weeds rather than heavier cover.
4. Many of these birds aren't there in the afternoon as they have presumeably found more suitable habitat.

So after a walk on th coastal path I'll do Old Fall for the rest of the morning. Afternoon I will go back to the cliff top and see what is still hanging round, by then you have an idea if anything has been found elsewhere on the headland.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

There are a couple of trees always worth a check in October and possibly other months. They are the sycamore by the old light house and the apple tree in the back of one of the houses at the head (viewed from the footpath!). I have found three yellow browed warblers in just these two trees as well as brambling and a firecrest.

I like the Dell at Bempton and Speeton Church yard, whether they class as part of this thread I am not sure. Bing a bit of later riser than Jim and Graham I guess I may miss the early falls. There is plenty of general info about fall progression witten by the Ian Wallace covering the intial hours to subsequent days, and well worthy of a read.

 

[Mike Richardson]

Whelkie Woods is worth a bash, especially if you are interested in finding your own birds. This relatively new woodland is on Lighthouse Road on the right hand side (if your coming from Flambro village) and is under-watched compared with other areas. There is room for several cars on the grass verge at the roadside. A cracking Male Golden Oriole spent several days in Whelkie this spring.

The hay bales and Sycamores at the pig farm on Lighthouse road are worth checking for Little Owl.

 

[dantheman]

When I saw the title I was wondering if an almighty splash and tsunami type waves in the north sea were going to result lol!

You ought to find out if there's any local birders/visiting birders you could hang out with (easier said than done?) - that'd be one way to suss it out. Good luck and have a good day.

 

[Pete Mella]

Well I had quite an unsuccessful visit in terms of rare stuff, but I think that was more due to the good weather meaning birds weren't in need of shelter, and the amount daytrippers perhaps kept the passerine numbers down on the main paths.

I really appreciate that Old Fall is the place to be though... I watched it for about 15 minutes and new things popped out all the time. Apart from a pied fly nothing too exciting, but I really do imagine an early morning or a time when more shelter is needed would produce a lot of potentially exciting stuff. I think the tip I'd give based on Saturday is don't dwell too much on the sea and look inland.

I guess it's luck of the draw... two weeks earlier I may have picked up all sorts of crazy stuff.

 

[Hotspur]

a few days later and it could have been yellow-brow mungous - id be very surprised if i dont see one there this week

 

[Mike Richardson]

a few days later and it could have been yellow-brow mungous - id be very surprised if i dont see one there this week

Well if you do, nail it down and call me on my emergency number. (Please!)

 

[Hotspur]

Will do!