But I never got a black eye in the process

Geoff, how about the Western Isles?

Superb write up Simon...I am glad everyone enjoyed themselves. Some great shots too...put me to shame!

-- Edited by Adrian Dancy at 20:30, 2007-09-07

Excellent report and a lovely spread of photos. A fitting write up for a great day.

Ok guys the trip report is on the Articles section

Some cracking photo's (well done Annette and Adrian) sum up the day nicely

Ahhh right well I guess you can never rush a genius lol!

who me..

Nope I am awaiting an imminent write-up of the day from it's organiser, Simon Warford, where upon I will add in the photos along with a few comments and publish it onto the 'articles' page of the website.

I only knew cause one of the locals told me at Spurn

I think its historical that the landlady doesnt like birders, somehow they can never get used to the hundred's of birders and cars in all corners of the car park on certain days in September and October when that mega turns up. Youd think they would be glad of the trade in October!

One or two I'll do anything to get thrown out of a pub, not that it'd take much with the 'miserable trout', no names equals no slander, no doubt she's scanning the website now trying to find where we live so she can come down and rearrange our furniture like she promised. Probably on her broomstick too

John, doing a trip report which Ian should put on the website soon along with some photo's if i can keep away from Elton for abit

COME ON SOMEONE STICK A PICTURE ON HERE OF YOU LOT AT SPURN!!!

I had a great day too. Was good to put so many faces to names. Im sure Ive probably passed half of you whilst out at some time or other. My thanks go to Simon and his dad for the lift and for everyone good enough to share views of birds with me through their telescopes, especially judith who gave me views of 2 garden warblers together (one of two life ticks for me) My other lifer was Spoonbill which sadly spent all thier time asleep but then thats birding for you!
Had 2 UK ticks with red backed shrike and 2 sand lizards.
I think my highlight had to be the shrike, a gorgeous bird that at the begnning gave some close views, Will give the photo to Ian for the gallery along with a photo I took of the whole group busy counting waders at Patrington haven. ;)
Look forward to more trips and alot more rarities which can only add to my meagre list.

Hopefully not the last Genetically Modified birders day out. A great laugh from start to finish, and even some good birds. Thanks to Warfy for organising it, and to the people who did the driving.

Highlight of the day? It's got to be that insane landlady!

Yeh thanks to Simon for organising a superb day, i actually had 8 lifers today some very common, just never ticked em. Nice meeting a great group of people, look forward to the next one
Cheers everyone

Dean.

ps what was the landlady's problem?


pps it was deffinately Simon's idea, he mentioned it on the way in

The day started slow at Spurn and got even slower until midday until someone, dont know who suggested we go to Patrington Haven on the way home where we had some pretty decent birding. Some people also had a lifer or two. Weather was better for sunbathing rather than looking for fresh arriving migrants.

These are collective highlights, apologies for any omissions-

Spurn Point/Kilnsea :-

Turtle Dove - Seen by all except the rabble that headed off up Beacon Lane
Med Gull - Grip back by Ian/Tom and Paul.
Common Scoter Pair
Arctic Skua
Razorbill
Gannet
Whitethroat lots
Sedge Warbler 2
Reed Warbler 3/4
Garden Warbler 4+
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Blackcap 1
Yellow Wagtail 10+
Whinchat 2/3
Wheatear
Whimbrel Few
Snipe
Grey Plover
Turnstone
Sanderling
Bar Tailed Godwit

Rather unproductive brief seawatch where we just watched a Yacht sinking off the tank blocks.

After a quick beer in the Crown and Anchor we headed off to Patrington Haven where we had :-

RED BACKED SHRIKE - Juv - nice one Mr Mckerchar! Right near the car park and gave excellent views to us all Well we were on a roll now.
Kingfisher
Marsh Harrier
Sparrowhawk
Wheatear
Little Egret 3-4
Spoonbill 2 Adults
Knot - fair to say there was quite a few, maybe 10,000.
Grey Plover - alot maybe up to a 1000 loads in stunning summer plumage
Greenshank - 7+
Common Sand 3+
Green Sand - found by Simon Johnson (cant you tell hes used to seeing Green Sands at Ringley)
Dunlin lots
Redshanks lots
Ringed Plovers lots
Black Tailed Godwit 7+
Bar Tailed Godwit 50+
Snipe
Little Gull 3 adults 1 juv
Eider
Gadwall
Teal
Wigeon
Shelduck
Turnstones
Partridge 2
Common Tern

So at least we managed to find our own Red Backed Shrike

Man of the Day - Ian Mckerchar for finding Red Backed Shrike(we gotta keep him happy)
Photo of the Day - erm well Annettes pic of the Red Backed Shrike.
Highlight of the Day - Red Backed Shrike again, and a lifer for some
Tip of the Day - never rearrange the tables in the Crown and Anchor when theres more than 4 of you that want to sit together! You are expected not to chat and sit in opposite corners of the pub.
Dissapointment of the Day - Mr Woosey's dissapointment at the point cafe being a caravan (bet the chips made up for it though).

Right bit tired now, until next time


-- Edited by warfy at 21:35, 2007-08-27

Barred Warbler this evening at the Canal Zone.

Thanks Rez, just dont find any county rarities tomorrow!

Well hopefully it will be a fun day anyway with fellow county birders even if we fail to find anything good!

Maybe we should be going to Crosby Marine Park Tom?

Cya all in the morning.

Well unfortunately the overnight forecast and tomorrow's weather looks crap for any interesting passerines. But NW winds are strangely the best for east coast seawatching (don't ask me why cuz I don't know), although the feeble inshore strength of them and the predicted beautiful unbroken sunshine throughout the day may hinder things a bit/a lot/completely. Nevermind. My tip for the day would be to check the Starling flocks for a Rose-coloured, and the terns for a Roseate or 2, or failing that just sit in the sun and get burnt all day, occasionally paying a quick visit to the Crown and Anchor for refreshments.

See you all nice and early!

-- Edited by Tom McKinney at 10:53, 2007-08-26

count me in. will meet at birch at 5am. i have 3 spaces in my car if needed. see you all on monday.

Now also in Suffolk and Kent, Spurn on Monday, Crown and Anchor car park

It will probably sail past behind you Ian whilst your gazing out to sea

Greenish warbler already on the east coast so could very well be seeing them on monday!

I thought that's what you like doing Simon

As for the dipmeister Woosey, we'll all be fighting to get away from him when we're there, incase we catch his curse (now sit back and await his response )

Just to reiterate the arrangements for Monday, we will be meeting at Birch Services on the M62 at 5am (so please try not to engage me in any meaningful conversation, as I will be largely incapable at that time!) and will be setting off about 10 minutes later, so if you're going to be late for any reason please give Simon or myself a ring to let us know to hang on. We will be journeying in convoy, other than Woosey who will be left behind when the big hills come and struggles to keep up, but hey you've gotta make some sacrifices eh . On arrival at Spurn we will be running around like headless chickens finding allsorts of major rarities in the huge fall of migrants that awaits us, no doubt finding one or two Fea's Petrels in a short seawatch as a change to finding Greenish Warblers all over the place (and the latter is a definate intention of mine ). After exhausting ever blade of grass and bush Simon will be treating us to a pint in the Crown and Anchor pub as a thank you for making his trip so successful, where upon Long-toed Stint will fall to the Manc invasion as we scan the Humber from the benches oputside the pub!

Then again it could be quiet but then...that's birding