Sighting Stories

Despite having driven back from southwest Ireland the previous day, I woke up early on Bank Holiday Monday planning to get my photo’s developed in Scarborough. I stopped off at the Country Park Café for breakfast but was barely settled before a pager message alerted me to the fact that a Fea’s Petrel had just gone north past Flamborough. I ran to my car and sped to the top of the Country Park whilst juggling my mobile phone and then ran along Carr Naze, struggling with coats, bins and ‘scope. I passed a somewhat bemused visiting birder who was making his way towards the Brigg and shouted the info into the air as I passed. Having slid down the end of Can Naze, I arrived in the hide where six locals were scanning intently, but without too much expectation. As my breathing and heart rate returned to normal, I was told that a few Sooty and Manx Shearwaters and skuas were moving in the northerly breeze. At about 9:15am Anthony Norris announced: “dark petrel in the flags off Brigg End!” Then: “It’s got dark underwings!” Some were on the bird quickly (not me!), some were unable to keep still as cries of “I can’t see it” and “directions please!” mingled with expressions of delight and some shocking language from the Barnsley representative. We needn’t have worried, as everyone obtained good views, including the visiting birder who had settled himself outside the hide and who alerted the by now over excited group to the presence of a Red-breasted Flycatcher hopping about in front of us.

The bird was viewed at a range of about 30 yards, heading north for roughly five minutes. The bird appeared dark smoky-grey above, with a pale tail and back. The head showed a dark patch through the eye and a grey cap. A dark “smudge” was visible on the shoulder and the underparts were bright white. The underwings were dark and contrasted sharply with the white body. The wings were long, slim and pointed. They were held bowed with a noticeable angle at the elbow.

-Jon Horton