Spurn today 07.30 - 17.30 - ten hours of sunshine birding with the Poynton Birder during which time we saw some 55 species including 2 Black Redstart (juv & fem), Common Redstart, lots of Swallows going through, and Robins everywhere. 16 Pink footed Geese over and 12 Brent Geese on the river. Wheatear, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Spotted Flycatcher, Brambling, 3 Lapland Buntings, Redwing, Siskin, Redpoll and on the mud Dunlin, Grey Plover, Knot, Curlew, Redshank, Little Egret, Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Shelduck, Golden Plover over. House and Tree Sparrows, Sparrowhawk and really impressive views of two of the three Great Grey Shrike present today. Unfortunately, despite putting in a lot of time we could not do better than only uncertain, fleeting views of both the Barred and Yellow-browed Warblers. So despite no big rarities or new birds for our lists a good day was had. Further, thanks to Ms O for driving, her astute observations and the sustaining KitKat during our first long session at the Point

Today was a 'fall' that doesn't happen very often....wow l am delighted to have witnessed it.

Robin's littered the paths and roads,Redwings and Ring Ouzels everywhere, Redstarts wherever you looked.Plus loads of other birds not begining with R
Goldcrests at my feet is something l'd never thought l'd see.

l thought the Spotted Flycatcher on the beach seemed to be contemplating the journey

Best for me was the Wryneck

Superb day Warfy, thankyou

-- Edited by Melanie Beckford on Monday 27th of September 2010 11:21:44 PM

Absolutely gutted!
Was planning to go today after looking at weather on magicseaweed but clutch on car broke over weekend!

Full day today with Melanie.
Today was one of them days that come around once every 10 years or so, a remarkable fall of migrants, l have only ever seen the likes of once before. Perfect conditions with mist, drizzle and NE wind.

The drive to the point was slow due to trying not to run over the hundreds of Robins and other passerines sheltering all down the road.

Highlights for us were Wryneck, Lapland Bunting & Snow Bunting(all self found). Determined not to chase other peoples finds we only saw the Little Bunting(found by Tony Disley) because it popped up in front of Melanie while we were watching our Wryneck, all while the assembled Little Bunting crowd of 20 birders were looking in the other direction!

Redstarts, Robins and Redwings were everywhere, according to the locals well over 1000 Robins were recorded with hundreds ringed at the Obs. Bramblings were also everywhere, probably in the hundreds. Ring Ouzels likewise well over 50. Also at the point a Jack Snipe came in off the sea and circled around the point while overhead a Hen Harrier had nowhere to go so headed back north. Spotted and Pied Flys sat on the beach, Goldcrests flying around our feet almost hitting us. Near the point cafe, dozens of Reed Buntings & Chaffinch were joined by a dozen or so Brambling just feeding on the grass in front of us. Shattered Siskins that you could almost touch if you wanted.

At Sammys point we found Yellow Browed Warbler, 15+ Twite, 25 Brambling, 10 Ring Ouzels, Redstarts & Robins almost in every bush, Pied Flycatchers, Tree Pipits, Garden Warblers and migrant Reed Buntings everywhere. Redwings and Song Thrush covered the horse paddocks as did Wheatears.

Full list obviously on the Spurn website which must make very impressive reading indeed.

Or perhaps anyone...

Ah well, that's their look out and their loss

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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Thanks Sid it's a good site alright. I'm sure everyone reads the Manchester Birding website (not just this forum) regularly though and will already be aware of it on the links. The again...

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Not everyone it would seem Ian

Thanks Sid it's a good site alright. I'm sure everyone reads the Manchester Birding website (not just this forum) regularly though and will already be aware of it on the links. The again...

Anne Wilkinson wrote:

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Just returned from a trip to Spurn. It was absolutely dead on land, not a single bird of note apart from a Curlew sandpiper at Sammy's Point. Lesson learned - dont go to Spurn after a week of north westerlies unless you are a sea watching fan. That was good, with dozens of shearwaters and gannets going back north after being blown into the North Sea, and plenty of divers and skuas going south.

---

Anne I have sent you a PM but others may also be interested in the Spurn website, www.spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/

Just returned from a trip to Spurn. It was absolutely dead on land, not a single bird of note apart from a Curlew sandpiper at Sammy's Point. Lesson learned - dont go to Spurn after a week of north westerlies unless you are a sea watching fan. That was good, with dozens of shearwaters and gannets going back north after being blown into the North Sea, and plenty of divers and skuas going south.

If anyone is interested in staying overnight at Spurn, I can highly recommend Westmere Farm which is just before the Crown and Anchor. Fabulous breakfast, lots of goodies in the rooms incl fruit, bottled water, biscuits etc and nice helpful people. All for £25 pppn.

http://www.westmerefarm.co.uk/

No problem John as we left around 10am to spend the afternoon there.

I can imagine it being pretty bad during rush hour though.

Phil, You travelled on a week day, what was the traffic like on the M62 ?

John

-- Edited by John Barber on Wednesday 8th of September 2010 11:46:45 AM

Mike Duckham and his friend kindly invited me along for the Brown Flycatcher yesterday, but unfortunately the bird didn't play ball so a trip to Spurn en-route was decided upon.

on arrival , the wind really was blowing a gale and made birding very difficult but despite the conditions, there were lots of Pied Flys, Spotted Flys, Wheatears and Redstarts about.

We searched for the Common Rosefinch in the spot where it had been seen previously and had a possible sighting of one flying off from an Elderberry bush but we couldn't get on it in time to be absolutely certain.

No sign of the reported Barred Warbler which was keeping low in the conditions.

It came to a point due to the conditions, where we decided enough was enough and a sea-watch was in order and we were rewarded with good close-up views of Arctic Skuas which had been blown in.

Also seen between us were Great Skuas, lots of Gannets, 1 Kittiwake, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 1 probable juvenile Pomarine Skua, Kittiwake, Common Scoter, Fulmar and Little Gull and Sandwich Terns amongst others.

In the evening, we were rewarded with a nice suprise, a Wryneck which had arrived late afternoon and had been trapped and ringed before release.

A cracking place to visit, topped off with the Wryneck and a nice meal and drink in the pub there.

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Tuesday 7th of September 2010 08:34:39 PM

My first visit to Spurn today, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect.

I new there were a few good birds around, the question is, where to start looking ?Answer - tag on to the first birder who looks like he knows what he's doing ! ( I was there before the information centre opened )

A very helpful chap soon had me pointing in the right direction and it wasn't long before I had a quota of smart birds: Curlew Sandpiper, Whinchat, Yellow Wagtale and Common Sandpiper on the small pool at the Warren.

Turning to the sea I was expertly informed there was a Artic Skua out in the distance but watering eyes in a strong breeze made a sighting impossible for me. Plenty of Sandwich and Commom Turns though.

Decided next to head down to the far end on rumours of three Scarlet ( common) Rosefinch. No luck there, but I did find a Lesser amongst the Whitethroats. Heading back up the track in the car I just happened to notice about 50 birders looking at a bush - something of interest perhaps ? I walked ( ran ) over just in time to hear that a Rosefinch had just departed - dam ! However, some birders remained, convinced the bird would be back - and 15 minutes later, they were right. My first Common Rosefinch, superb. Also in that area were Redstarts and Wheater.

Back to the information centre on radio news ( ! ) of a Barred Warbler. I then spent the next hour looking at a bush that the bird had apparently flown into - never to reappear; how do they do that ?

Belatedly, I turned my attention to the mud flats, which held large numbers of waders including Grey Plover, Goldern Plover, Sanderling, Knot and Greenshank.

Now it was time for the long drive home, the end of a great day on Spurn. I'm sure I'll be back ( but I'll pick a week day next time )

-- Edited by John Barber on Monday 6th of September 2010 09:18:31 AM

02/09/2010 - After successfully twitching Eastern Olivaceous Warbler further up the coast at Flamborough, myself and Mike Duckham motored on south to Spurn via Hornsea Mere. At the mere the Common Crane showed well near the viewpoint and at least 5 Little Gulls hawked low over the water further out in the body of water.

This was to be my first visit to Spurn in a birding capacity and it turned out to be every bit as good as i'd heard! Hitting the peninsula late in the afternoon with high pressure and sunny conditions dominating, we only had a few hours to see a couple of interesting reported birds and to check the bushes for anything new in. A Pied Flycatcher briefly showed at Kilnsea Churchyard; a promising start. Near the point, a Barred Warbler had been reported behind the VTS tower so that was our next port of call. Checking the bushes it was obvious there were plenty of migrants about with Common Whitethroats frequent and a single Lesser Whitethroat popping up. Almost immediately Mike picked up an active phyllosc behind the VTS tower, with a single wing bar! We confirmed the ID as a GREENISH WARBLER and it continued to rapidly flycatch in the large privet bushes there, right in front of us. Nice! Thankfully everyone in the area was able to twitch the bird before it moved off into the tamarisk and sea buckthorn further south. Stood in the same spot for a while letting it sink in, the Barred Warbler showed itself brilliantly. It just sat in the front of a bush for 10 minutes or so, looking a bit bloated after a long day gorging itself on juicy berries. Setting off up to Chalk Bank to see a Rosefinch, we immediately stopped and saw a chunky finch fly across the road and land deep in cover ahead of us. We were both thinking 'Rosefinch' based on the flight view but it didn't pop it's head up before dark, thus with daylight beating us we dipped the definate Rosefinch further up the road. I can't complain, it had been a great day allround, finished off with a pint and a pud at the Crown and Anchor in the evening.


-- Edited by Henry Cook on Friday 3rd of September 2010 10:22:19 AM

Had a trip to Spurn this week to get some more photographic/birding tuition from Marcus [ebirder] and had a good day with highlights of:

Water Rail
Hundreds of dark bellied Brent
Little Egrets
Large number of Blackbirds [in]
Large flocks of Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher, Redshank
The [feral] Black Swan
Lots of Little Grebe
Woodcock
14+ Stone chat
Sanderling
Five Roe deer in the fields and evidence of them on the beaches!

and the highlight of the day a Skua which is now being id'd as a juvenile Pomarine - a very interesting bird which caused some debate!

It was interesting to visit Spurn with someone who knew their way round: we walked the point, walked right round the triangle, visited the scrapes and the Beacon Ponds and I'll certainly go again. Didn't see any snow bunts or twite which I really wanted to see but notice there were some in GM today! Cheers, Peter


-- Edited by Pete Welch on Friday 13th of November 2009 08:52:40 PM

2 days (should have been three but ended up having to cut it short) trip resulted in me successfully missing the Red-flanked Bluetail and the Richards Pipit Very quiet overall with virtually no passage barring a few Pink feet. Three Lapland buntings went through yesterday which I also contrived to miss!

My timing of visits to Spurn over the last 15 or so years can only be described as 'useless'.

Yes Sid - I missed most of the traffic as well! Just got stuck for about 10 mins in Hull during rush hour. Half-term - roads a bit quieter!
Interestly when I got home about at 7.30pm I could hear lots of Redwings passing over in the dark! - probably arrived on the east coast earlier the same day. Popped outside a few times after and could still hear them overhead.

Henry - it's about a 2 and a half hour drive (and a very early start!) but well worth it when you get a good day. Even on the 'quiet' days there's usually something of interest. I've been every Oct for 25 years! Easterly winds best but yesterday was SE moving S later. North/Northwesterlies can be good for seabirds. Large 'falls' a bit pot-luck but I've had them a few times including Goldcrests. Literally tip-toeing through exhausted Goldcrests on the ground is memorable! I keep meaning to try a day in Spring sometime.

Simon - the 20,000 thrushes was a 'very conservative' count according to the Spurn website ! I'd say a lot more were involved! It was interesting to see large flocks of Blackbirds coming in not just Redwings and Fieldfares. Great to stand at the Point as flocks of all species waited to pluck up the courage to head out across the Humber mouth. They didn't settle for long at Spurn as the Sea Buckthorn crop has completely failed this year so no food for them! 'Vis Mig' at it's very best!!

Well done Steven on finding the Swallows, im rather envious! Around 20,000 thrushes in over Spurn yesterday according to the Spurn website, not to mention the 1000's at other sites in Yorkshire.

What a day Steve! Nice one with the Red-rumped self-finds.
Never been to Spurn myself but after reading your report I am itching to make the pilgrimage.

Expect that you missed all of the traffic as well Steve

Cracking day at Spurn today. Huge arrival of Redwing & Fieldfare plus large no's of Blackbirds. Just falling out of the mist. Thousands of bird involved. 1 male Ring Ouzel showed well for me.
Other star birds of the day:
Red-flanked Bluetail again by the Heligoland Trap at the point ,
Siberian Chiffchaff
2 Red-rumped Swallows with 1 normal Swallow - FOUND BY ME!!!biggrin:: - WELL CHUFFED!
Woodcock
40+ Little Gull at sea
1 Water Rail - Canal Scrape
2 Little Egret
60+ Brent Geese
a few Brambling
Grey Wagtail
13 Lesser Redpoll

Didn't get the Richard's Pipit though

But leaving Kilnsea in the dark a Barn Owl flew over the car. Nice end to a good day!


-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Tuesday 27th of October 2009 10:05:02 PM

Was invited to visit Spurn today and having looked at the weather decided it was maybe a resonable day to go. The day however started badly with long delays on the M62 and even longer delays on the way back particlarly in Hull - the moral of the story - don't go to Spurn on weekdays if it can be avoided.

We stopped off at the Crown car park - not for a drink I hasten to add, bit early but to try for the reported Firecrest - we did have a nice little flock of Goldcrest, a Chiffy, a male Blackcap and at least two Sparrowhawks creating havoc but no Firecrest. A bit of a seawatch gave Gannet, Red-throated Diver, Common Gull, Common Scoter, Eider Duck and Brent Geese. Tried hard for the Barred Warbler and wasted further time looking for the Firecrest at the Point and in the Potato Fields - no joy.

The only other species of note were a common Snipe and a Jack Snipe on the Canal Scrape - rather a diappointing day with little of great interest made worse by two bad journeys.

Not actually the best day weatherwise but saw a very good selection of birds from 08.00 - 17.30. We had 48 species in total including:-

8 Brent Geese (dark bellied) over, numerous Gannet, Red-throated Divers, Common Scoter, Manx Shearwater, Common Gulls and Kittiwake from the sea watch at the observatory hide.

A big walk to the point found amongst others Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Mipit, Redshank, Ruff, Turnstone, Little Egret, Sanderling, the Brent Geese again, 2 Pink Feet and a single Barnacle Goose.

And finally a walk down to the Beacon Lagoons - lots of Knot, some more Brents, Bar tailed Godwit and the stars of the day 5 Snow Bunts feeding on the beach.

Back at the Blue Bell cafe car park a few House Sparrow and passing at sea a Red throated Diver, Common and Sandwich Tern.





-- Edited by sid ashton on Sunday 4th of October 2009 10:35:20 AM

Day out with Riggers, Chorley and the Oldham RSPB group.... didnt think would be as good as last few days with birds clearing out but.....

Woodchat shrike still at sammys
Red Backed Shrike still at point
Lapland bunting also still at the point
Barred warbler near the sheep field
Firecrest near the narrows
Richard pipit picked up on call possibly coming in off the sea landing in fields with cows near blue bell and then moving to clubleys

Also Snow Bunting, 6 Redstart, 2 Spot Fly, Pied Fly, 5 Wheatear, 9 Whinchat, 7 Stonechat, 10 Yellow Wags, Garden Warbler, 2 Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler

So all in all a pretty good day

Si

Cracking day today though missed Icterine Warbler by 2 minutes and Barred Warbler by 5 minutes.

Star today (for me) was a superb male Red-breasted Flycatcher with supporting cast of:

Short-toed Lark
Lapland Bunting
Red-backed Shrike
Woodchat Shrike
4 Redstarts
2 Spotted Flycatchers
2 Pied Flycatchers
Curlew Sandpiper
Wheatear etc etc

Made the mistake of dropping in to Flamborough in the morning first - sod all to report

18/9/09

Decided yesterday to take today off and head to Spurn in the hope of finding something decent, with a few birds being reported this week it was good opportunity for some relaxed birding. It turned out to be a good day with a scattering of migrants..

Arriving at Sammy's point where a Woodchat Shrike had been seen, there was only me and one other birder present, he hadnt seen anything of note and there didnt seem to be many migrants around. A closer look in the bushes revealed at least 6 Redstarts and 2 Whinchats, a Snow Bunting flew over allowing us to listen to its short sharp call. Two other birders arrived and located an interesting locustella warbler that was identified as a Gropper. Back in the car park the juvenile Woodchat Shrike was located right next to our parked cars! Then a Hobby flew through and a Peregrine hunting over the humber where a solitary Barnacle Goose was on the mud. While watching the shrike, 6 more Snow Buntings flew right over the car park, self found but not a self found tick

At the point the juvenile Red Backed Shrike showed itself after a short wait. I had just ordered my Panini for lunch in the Bluebell cafe when a birder shouted Rustic Bunting trapped and to be released at the warren, i took my panini but had to leave me brew but it was worth it a fine 1st winter male Rustic Bunting in the hand showed to about 20 birders, it was released and flew straight into another mist net! Doh. Photo's on the spurn website no doubt. After this i went to Kilnsea in search of a Barred Warbler seen earlier in the day, which turned out nicely as a superb adult male Red Breasted Flycatcher had just been found nearby which showed very well, I even scoped Jimmy Meadows while watching the flycatcher from the canal. A Barred warbler was eventually seen near the point but i couldnt find a Wryneck which had been seen, my personal totals including sammy's were..

Redstart 14
Pied Flycatcher 8
Lesser Whitethroat 3
Whinchat 7
Spotted Flycatcher 2
Wheatear 9
Willow Warbler 4
Chiffchaff 2
Garden Warbler 1
Blackcap 3
Yellow Wagtail 5
Song Thrush 25
Meadow Pipits 45 South
Wigeon 4
Little Egrets 5

Riggers said to me yesterday "what are you going to Spurn for?" Perhaps not like the falls of years gone by but its still a special place, I chatted with a Spurn regular for a while reminiscing about when Spurn had 800 Redstarts in a single day.


-- Edited by Simon Warford on Friday 18th of September 2009 10:17:16 PM

Wednesday 20 May 2009Spent the day watching "Vis Mig" at the Warren from 05:30 to 17:00. 63 species seen while standing in one spot. The highlights were:
A Red-rumped Swallow amongst the 1800+ Swallows going south.
A Golden Oriole hanging around the Warren.
And 6 species of raptor including Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Hobby and Peregrine.
Hoping for more of the same tomorrow

As of 1300hrs today: significant numbers of Redwings at last had a corridor across the North Sea (5,500+ in-off in two hours) all heading W and NW "Eyes to the skies" in the next few days when its not raining or blowing a gale.

ouch. sorry I missed this offer.
Is anyone else heading over and happy to bring along another soul?
Brown Shrike should stay a day or two more goin by old records.
Thanks. Henry.

Place to Flamborough now taken

Are you still sticking to the Spurn plan, Simon? A bit further north looks like it might have a rare bird tomorrow.

-- Edited by Tom McKinney at 19:51, 2008-09-24

1 place available to Spurn (also going for male Red foot at Tophil Low) tomorrow if anyones interested pm me,

Update 23/09/08

Back again today with Mr. Rigby to mop up the latest arrivals.

Yellow-browed & Wood Warblers Crown & Anchor car park first thing

Seawatch: highlights Great Skua & 10 Sooty Shearwaters (we missed the Leach's)

Yellow wag. & Shorelark (again) Chalk Bank plus most of Sunday's birds with Redstart & Pied Flycatcher around the triangle

Then on to Sammy's Point where Riggers found a 2nd Yellow-browed and a Red-breasted Fly. along with Redstart, Pied Fly. and 3 Whinchats. Unfortunately Oldham's answer to David Baillie (or should that be Bailey's ?) only managed a record shot before it disappeared into the depths of a hawthorne, never to be seen again. At least not by those who succumbed to the lure of the pager, whom we left looking at an immature Pied

Another good day's birding with a total of 73 species

Assorted Bolton, Bury & Oldham birders met up here today. Despite? nice weather some good birding. Highlights: Merlin, Spotted Redshank, Barred Warbler, Shorelark, immature Red-footed Falcon, Whinchat, Wryneck & Red-backed Shrike.

Five of us went on to Alkborough Flats, a new reserve with great potential on the opposite bank of the Trent to Blacktoft. Amid a good range of waders and waterfowl highlights here were Wilson's Phalarope, (congrats on the lifer, Simon), curlew-sandpiper, little stint and an incognito John Rayner!

88 species in total, a good days' birding

Just had a couple of days at Spurn staying in the observatory (£8/night but don't expect luxury!)

Nothing rare but some good birds including perfect views of a Wryneck feeding for 10 minutes at an ant colony, Shorelark, Yellow-browed Warber, Red-backed Shrike plus loads of common migrants: Redstarts, Whinchats, Wheatears, Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats, Garden Warblers etc. Yesterday a large passage of Meadow Pipits and today lots of Redpoll - it's a great place to watch visible migration.

We saw a total of 101 species in 2 days and finished in Lincolnshire with a couple of Ruddy Shelduck on Reed's Island and Wilson's Phalarope at Alkborough.

At the latter site apologies to any out-of-county Manchester birders whom I might have inadvertantly 'blanked'. My only excuse - I hadn't seen the bird yet and had my head down and my blinkers on

Cheers, John

Rob Thorpe wrote:

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Has anyone seen the last few days records for Spurn!!!?!???!!!

Link

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Always nice to see the piccies of the birds you've missed Make mental note to improve the timing of my visits from now on!

Went on Wednesday afternoon (28th) for the Sprosser and spent most of my time sat in the Crown and Anchor car park waiting for it. Took a quick walk along Beacon Lane and had Marsh and Icterine Warbler, then Icterine Warbler at Rose Cottage and a Red-backed Shrike at Long Bank. Not bad really! Sadly no Sprosser.

-- Edited by Tom McKinney at 10:34, 2008-06-03

Has anyone seen the last few days records for Spurn!!!?!???!!!

Link

Nice one on the oriole - to be honest I didnt even try for it when it turned up, they've led me a merry dance too many times. Like you though, the quiet times dont put me off going (too much) and I'll be back in the Autumn, unless I persuade the missus that we should take the kids for a weekend in summer. That would be some achievement.

just back from 4 days at the obs... very quiet considering the wind was mainly E or SE.
I saw that Golden Oriole craig, was in the hawthorns in the fields between sammy's and the riverside yesterday. Only saw it because we were looking for a Red-backed Shrike that some bloke said he'd found at sammy's, nobody managed to find it though.
plenty of Spotted Flycatchers and a few Winchat's about, but the only other highlights were a Wood Warbler at willow cottage and a possible Honey Buzzard that flew N high over the narrows (one that got away!).
Got a nice tan/sun-burn though. I'll be back in august

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe at 20:14, 2008-05-22

Anothey stint at the Obs over and done with and...well...not brilliant really. Weather (mostly clear with a brisk NE wind) meant it was poor for passage and for vagrants/migrants (cause anything coming in just kept flying).
As it was I decided to leave a bit earlier than planned and was back home for 1pm instead of the usual 10.30pm. List below in no particular order - plus those I didnt get to see but that were recorded.

Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Fly, Red-Breasted Fly, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Lsr Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Barn Owl, Pheasant, Raven, C. Crow, Magpie, House Martin, Sand Martin, Swift, Swallow, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Sanderling, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ringed plover, Bonxie, Lsr BB Gull, Gt BB Gull, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Little Tern, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Coot, Moorhen, Little Grebe, Goldcrest, Lapwing.

Amongst the numerous species I didnt see but were seen by others - Golden Oriole at Sammy's Point, Hobby and Merlin at Beacon Ponds, Sandwich and Arctic Terns, Eider and Brent Geese.



-- Edited by Craig Higson at 23:04, 2008-05-18

-- Edited by Craig Higson at 00:11, 2008-05-19

April 24-27 2008

4 Days staying in the luxurious Room E, 97 species (list below) :o)

back again 18-22 May!

Little Grebe
Fulmer
Gannet
Cormorant
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Brent Goose
Shelduck
Mallard
Gadwall
Teal
Eider
Common Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Marsh Harrier
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Grey Partridge
Pheasant
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Avocet
Ringed Plover
Grey Plover
Dotterel
Knot
Sanderling
Turnstone
Dunlin
Common Sandpiper
Redshank
Bar-tailed Godwit
Curlew
Whimbrel
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Iceland Gull
Little Tern
Sandwich Tern
Arctic Tern
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Cuckoo
Short-eared Owl
Barn Owl
Swift
Great Spotted Woodpecker a good bird for Spurn, honest!
Skylark
Sand Martin
Swallow
House Martin
Meadow Pipit
Pied Wagtail (including White)
Yellow Wagtail (including Blue-headed)
Grey Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Black Redstart
Wheatear
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Fieldfare
Blackbird
Ring Ouzel
Blackcap
Lesser Whitethroat
Whitethroat
Sedge Warbler
Grasshopper Warbler
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Firecrest
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow
Chaffinch
Brambling
Linnet
Lesser Redpoll
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Siskin
Reed Bunting
Yellowhammer

Just got back last night from a four day stint at Spurn Bird Observatory. No great rarities, although I did miss Bee Eater which was present before we arrived, and Spoonbill on Sunday morning (due to spending too much time in the pub on Saturday evening). The weather looked promising on Thursday with light E/SE winds, but Friday and Saturday it switched to a full blown SW, which would probably have been alright for a bit of passage had they not been in excess of 25mph. Sunday again was light easterlies but alas no rarities again but a hint of some passage and arrivals with Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher being new. Plenty of other interest - Common Lizard, Porpoise, Grey Seal and Butterflies and Dragonflies, and Billions (yes I do mean Billions) of Brown Tail Moth caterpillars. There is not a bit of sea buckthorn for about two miles that has any vegetation left on it. There are even caterpillars below the high water mark. I left the car for an hour and when I came back they were crawling all over that too. Amazing. Anyway the trip list is below. If anybody has ever considered going but not got round to it, you should its superb. Little Grebe, Fulmar Manx Shearwater Gannet Cormorant Mute Swan Shelduck Mallard Wigeon Tufted Duck Common Scoter Marsh Harrier Sparrowhawk Kestrel Pheasant Moorhen Coot Oystercatcher Avocet Ringed Plover Grey Plover Lapwing Knot Sanderling Turnstone Dunlin Curlew Whimbrel Arctic Skua Black headed Gull Herring Gull Lsr Black backed Gull Gtr Black backed Gull Kittiwake Little Tern Sandwich Tern Roseate Tern Stock Dove Wood Pigeon Collared Dove Turtle Dove Cuckoo Long eared Owl Common Swift Skylark Sand Martin Swallow House Martin Meadow Pipit Pied Wagtail Yellow Wagtail Wren Dunnock Robin Redstart Northern Wheatear (Greenland) Whinchat Song Thrush Blackbird Blackcap Lsr Whitethroat Whitethroat Sedge Warbler Grasshopper Warbler Reed Warbler Willow Warbler Chiffchaff Spotted Flycatcher Great Tit Blue Tit Long tailed tit Magpie Jackdaw Carrion Crow Starling House Sparrow Tree Sparrow Chaffinch Linnet Goldfinch Greenfinch