Eastern Black Redstart at Skinningrove 31st October

Shortly after the Easington bird an Eastern Black Redstart was found at Skinningrove in Cleveland and I decided to take a look as it was showing well. They are superb looking birds and I wasn't disappointed.

Eastern Black Redstart

Similar birds were also found at Donna Nook, Lincs and Hartlepool Headland, Cleveland and Cayton Bay, N Yorks

Spurn 25th & 26th October - Red-flanked Bluetail and Eastern Black Redstart

I returned to Spurn on the 26th October, initial searches at Sammy's Point produced a few Goldcrest and single Chiffchaff but by mid-day there seemed to be a few more Goldcrest appearing. Then came news of a Red-flanked Bluetail at Kilnsea Wetlands. I was at Kew so it was only a short drive but I had visions of watching it across the pools. I was very pleased therefore to arrive and find it perched on the fence right by the hide where it sallied for insects for about 15 minutes before disappearing in front of the hide.

Red-flanked Bluetail - first winter female

Whilst there I heard news of a second bird, a male still in breeding plumage at the Point and an Eastern Black Redstart at Easington Cemetery found by Mick Cunningham.
The redstart was distant along the edge of a ploughed field and looking directly towards the sun but after about 45 minutes it came on to a nearby muck heap where Mick had originally found it and gave good views in still rather difficult light. It appears to be of the central asian subspecies phoenicuroides, and only the 7th record for Britain.

Eastern Black Redstart