Another Sibe

We were on our way to Bempton Cliffs today when we got news about a female Siberian stonechat at Flamborough Head. This was a long awaited UK tick for me, so we made the short diversion to South landing and what a great little bird it was, showing well in the bright conditions.

UK Life: 424 (Siberian stonechat), UK year: 205

White undertail coverts, white throat and distinct supercillium, all good pointers to this being Siberian stonechat. At this time of year a typical female British stonechat would have a dark throat.

The white unstreaked rump is also an identification feature of Siberian stonechat, but from this photo it's impossible to be sure if the rump is unstreaked, though it does look pretty pale.

On our way home we called in at Blacktoft near Goole and had great views of the female Montagu's harrier which has spent the past three summers on the reserve. Only in the first year did it breed, since the other vital ingrediant, a male, has not returned since. There was also a fine supporting cast on the reserve which included a pair of garganey, wood sandpiper, yellow wagtail, four spotted resdshank in pristine summer plumage, two greenshank and bearded tits.