Early morning news of a Thrush Nightingale on Holy Island was enough to get me out of Rothbury very quickly. Superb find by Steve Rippon who followed up his Franklin’s Gull at Whittle Dene Reservoir ! Showed really well on hide tide mark of Sandham Bay near Emmanuel Head. Normally very secretive and a delight to see in open. European tick for me as only previously seen in Turkey. Well pleased though took 75 minutes for bird to show & a dash off island so no time for the Red-breasted Flycatcher & Yellow-browed Warbler at Half Moon Slack near Snook. Greenish Warbler of yesterday has departed and very few migrants on island , only 1 Wheatear & a Willow Warbler. Popped in to Newton on way home & a seawatch had one Sooty Shearwater though missed the Long-tailed Skua which moved through Tynemouth at 2:50. Had look at Newton scrape which had single Little Stint, Ruff & Black-tailed Godwit plus female Pintail. Also 1 Curlew Sandpiper on tideline.
Tim Dean
