RECENT migration reports mainly involve winter visitors arrivals so there has been very much a feeling of autumn fading fast.

The range of species sharing our shortest, coldest days may be smaller than in summer, but still a great incentive to head out into the field.

A trickle of waxwings from the northern Scandinavia or Russia has produced one at Amble, Northumberland, up to the 10th, then this week two flew over Skelton, East Cleveland, on Monday, and one on Tuesday. Meanwhile a smew, a diving duck from a similar region turned up at Holywell Pond, Seaton Delaval, at the weekend.

Northumberland's other wildfowl reports included an American green-winged teal at Cresswell Pond, Druridge Bay, 120 whooper swans at nearby Warkworth Lane Pond, many pink-footed geese in fields near Queen Elizabeth II country park, Ashington, and nine much more unusual white-fronted geese well inland at Grindon Lough.

It's also continued to offer hen harriers opportunities, with the Druridge area again having two on show at Widdrington Flash, while there is still at least one at Prestwick Carr, near Ponteland. In North Yorkshire, another lingered at Starr Carrs, Scarborough, and on Friday a rough-legged buzzard was seen over Kildale Moor. Coastal fields between Staithes and Port Mulgrave continued to hold up to 23 shore larks, with at least 15 still in the ploughed field south of Cliff Farm on Monday. Sometimes they can be hard to find and were apparently missing on Tuesday, but 40 snow buntings in the same field were some consolation.

There have also been further bearded tit reports from Teesmouth's Long Drag and, in Northumberland, Holy Island Lough. Increased reed bed habitat in our region in future could lead to a more regular presence of this rarity.

Late autumn passage migrants included Richard's Pipits at Flamborough Head and Spurn and three black redstarts at Whitburn.