It was very windy yesterday, with rain in the afternoon and night until early morning, the wind, mostly Westerly, continued in the morning. I headed towards Pickering Park in the morning to complete my overdue core count WeBS. Migration was obvious, with Siskins and Redpolls flying over all through the walk. I have made a lot of progress in my 100 birds in Hull challenge, my attempt to see (or hear!) 100 bird species this year at Hull. Four bird species took me to 99: a Pied Flycatcher at the Western Cemetery on the 26th August, in the company of a mixed tit flock. I failed to photograph it or refind it. Three or four Common Sandpipers in my WeBS of the River Hull at the Museums Quarter on the 10th September, and a flyover Meadow Pipit yesterday over the Newland Avenue area. The flyover Siskins and Redpolls made me optimistic, maybe today I would reach 100.
I thought about Spotted Flycatcher after passing a group of birch where I had first seen them, but no joy. As I walked around the aviary, sunshine shining and the surrounding trees sheltering the spot, a pale bird landed on the aviary perimeter fence (top shot). A Spotted Flycatcher! This was bird 100 for the challenge. It sat, as flycatchers often do, on the fence for a while and gave plenty of opportunities for photos. Then it moved onto a tree, where more naturalistic frames were taken. Chiffchaffs, Great Tits and Blue Tits were also feeding in the area.
Spotted Flycatcher, Pickering Park.
Migrant Hawker males were on territory around the lake in the most sheltered spots. I was pleased to find my first Willow Emerald Damselfly. Distant, as it was on one of the islands, this was the first I've seen in this site.
As I walked home, the vis-migging continued, particularly with Redpolls. Then, at Stables Walk just off Spring Bank West, a bonus Spotted Flycatcher! Also very obliging, although a bit more distant than the first.
Spotted Flycatcher, Stables Walk.