why

why, when a mid October Wheatear appears in front of me does it have to be so clearly not rare?

very elusive Dusky Warbler

at Gib Point yesterday -- very very tricky in the dune scrub / vegetation -- nice views but so quick the camera was really struggling to get onto it or was that me? 7d2 at 1600 ISO is truly rough --

juvenile American Golden Plover

really enjoyed watching this superb bird for a few hours -- never heard it call unfortunately but superb views albeit in a bit of cold wind with full winter kit on -- never quite close enough and had to use the 500 with 2x and 7D2 but pleased to get some moderate record shots of a species that had evaded my camera in the digital era

Red-flanked Bluetail slight downer

was hoping to see another RFB this autumn, last one in 2009, but the edge was slightly taken off this beauty by its obvious injury on the forecrown though it did not seem to be affecting its behaviour -- amazing to look back to the football crowd crush in Dorset in 1993 and then add up my total of 8 birds from then on for even a very part time twitcher with no less than 3 in Lincs and hopefully another on still to come this autumn -- still one of my most hoped for self finds -- all shots taken late afternoon in very dull light in a brief appearance near the canal at Spurn

Siberian Chiffchaff

well I think this bird qualifies -- late afternoon Sunday October 11th Donna Nook, Lincs; this bird was feeding in a small clump of wild rose on the sunny side of the dunes so images taken tended to be warm but I have compensated a little in conversions -  looking at the key papers, British Birds June 2010 p 320 -337; the Status in Britain of Siberian Chiffchaff; Birding World 24 (1) Siberian Chiffchaff - in from the cold Anthony McGeehan, Dutch Birding 31 (2) and Birding Frontiers Challenge Series Autumn -- this bird has the following good features

Beige, sandy-buff, cafe au lait crown and mantle

Contrasting black alula

black legs with yellow soles only just visible on perched bird

supercilia tinged with buff

a darker washed line over the supercilia on the crown sides

ear coverts warm buff - described as a nicotine coloured hotspot on the ear coverts by AMcG

tinge of green in fringes of flight feathers, greater coverts and tail feathers

mostly blackish bill but with pale cutting edges (acceptable feature)

all white underparts with tinges of buff wash from throat to undertail coverts (no yellow)

unfortunately remained totally silent

another sandy Lesserthroat

a Lesser Whitethroat seen the last two days -- distinctly sandy on the upperparts but giving a quiet teck call -- certainly not like the Central Asian bird a few additional Lesser Whitethroat images
Desert / Central Asian Lesser Whitethroat  Central Asian Lesser Whitethroat?

Goldcrests

bird of the weekend really -- one crawled over a boot toe and several nearly landed on me -- always a pleasure

Black Redstart

a nice male from yesterday -- lovely habitat

Lincs Little Bunting

yet again I was the wrong side of the dunes when my two colleagues found this Little Bunting at Donna Nook yesterday-- still have not found a rare bunting in Britain -- rubbish shots as it perched briefly before flying into the realignment and disappearing as is their wont in Lincs

Snow Bunting still here

day eight for the male Snow Bunting on my patch -- cracking bird - so much feather detail -- has a real love of sea aster and there is plenty to keep it going for a few years!