Monday, 25 October 2021

Sunny spells and a F4 south westerly.  Watches: 0700-1600.

Despite the conditions there was a small, but noticeable arrrival bringing a Woodcock, 1 Jack Snipe, 3 Swallow, a Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 2461 Starling in/off, 3 Blackcap, 8 Goldcrest, 350 Blackbird, 478 Redwing, 17 Song Thrush, a Mistle Thrush, 8 Stonechat, 18 Dunnock, a Tree Pipit, 5 Brambling, 6 Twite and a Lesser Redpoll to the area. 

It was another decent day of moveement with 372 Pink-footed Geese, 13 Whooper Swan, 5 Shoveler, 793 Wigeon, 13 Pintail, 286 Teal, a Tufted Duck, 8 Eider, 51 Common Scoter, 3 Great Northern Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe, a Marsh Harrier, 1 Red Kite, 49 Lapwing in/off, 2 Woodcock in/off, an Arctic Tern, 11 Jackdaw, 187 Skylark, 2 Swallow, 98 Tree Sparrow, 118 Rock Pipit, 15 Chaffinch, 22 Greenfinch, 12 Twite, 196 Linnet, a Lesser Redpoll, 241 Goldfinch, 555 Siskin and 27 Reed Bunting. Full counts on Trektellen.

The KIlnsea wetlands as usual was good for birding and photgraphers alike with 1200 Pink-footed Geese, 21 Whooper Swan, 25 Shoveler, 20 Little Egret, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, a Ruff, 1 Little Stint, a Spotted Redshank and 4 Mediterranean Gull, along with all the usual Wildfowl and Waders.

Ringing: 32 Blackbird, 2 Song Thrush, 6 Redwing, 3 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 1 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 25 Tree Sparrow, 1 House Sparrow, 9 Goldfinch, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Chaffinch.

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Sunday, 24 October 2021

A cloudy day with the odd sunny spell and a F5-6 south westerly. Watches: 0645-1350.

The day  was again dominated by movement over land and sea, with a brilliant 14,393 Starling arriving in/off and continuing west with also 56 Lapwing, 2 Woodcock, 9 Snipe, a Ring Ouzel, 2 Blackbird, 48 Redwing and 4 Brambling going the same way. Also on the move were 18 Brent Geese, 7 Gadwall, 930 Wigeon, 20 Pintail, 141 Teal, 21 Tufted Duck, 12 Eider, 12 Eider, 4 Goldeneye. a Black-throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver, 53 Dunlin, an Arctic Tern, 1 Arctic Skua, 34 Rock Pipit, 66 Siskin and a Snow Bunting.

Despite the arrival during the day, there were few actaul grounded migrants with a Jay, 2 Swallow, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 10 Goldcrest, a Ring Ouzel, 47 Blackbird, 2 Fieldfare, 44 Redwing, 5 Stonechat, 6 Brambling and 6 Twite.

Other bits during the day were 1200 Pink-footed Geese and 22 Whooper Swan at Kilnsea wetlands plus a Green Sandpiper and 1 Spotted Redshank.

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Friday, 22 October 2021

Sunny spells and showeres with a F1 northerly.  Watches: 0700-1120.

It was a good day for movement over land and sea, the best of which were 111 Whooper Swan, a Scaup, 3 Goldeneye, 3 Manx Shearwater, a Grey Phalarope, 88 Kittiwake, 135 Little Gull, 39 Mediterranean Gull, 227 Common Gull, 2 Arctic Tern, a Great Skua, 14 Arctic Skua, 3 Little Auk, 44 Skylark, 4 SWallow, a House Martin, 4 Twite, a Mealy Redpoll, 14 Siskin, 3 Lapland Bunting and 13 Snow Bunting.

There were a few bits of note out and about in the area, a brute of a Glaucous Gull on Kilnsea wetlands was nice and 8 Twite about the area plus 2 Beared Tit and a Hawfinch at the Warren, a Ring Ouzel at the Point and 5 Snow Bunting at Beacon ponds. There was aslo a wide scatter of common migrants to hep tick the day over with 7 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, a Whitethroat, 14 Goldcrest, 37 Blackbird, 3 Fieldafre, 163 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, 11 Robin, 9 Stonechat, 17 Brambling, 10 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Siskin.

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Wednesday, 20 October 2021

A mild day and after early showers, sunny spells with a F4-5 south westerly. Watches: 0650-0905.

The TWO-BARRED GREENISH WARBLER was still present for its 5th day, showing very well at close range, after the wet weather the previous day. There was a few other bits of note during the day with a Hawfinch at Cliff farm, 2 Bearded Tit on Beacon lane and 3 Ring Ouzel in the area, plus 10 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 11 Goldcrest, 50 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, 8 Stonechat, 3 Grey Wagtail and 35 Brambling.

It was also a fantastic morning for birds on the move for the vismiggers at the Warren with 873 Siskin the highlight along with 4 Jay, 24 Jackdaw, 34 Rook, 252 Skylark, 12 SWallow, 4 House Martin, 28 Starling, 240 Tree Sparrow, a Grey Wagtail, 13 Alba Wagtail, 210 Meadow Pipit, 125 Rock Pipit, 37 Chaffinch, 8 Brambling, a Bullfinch, 21 Greenfinch, 225 Linnet, 29 Lesser Redpoll, 631 Goldfinch, 2 Lapland Bunting, a Snow Bunting, 1 Yellowhammer and 73 Reed Bunting, while the best of the sea was 21 Whooper Swan, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 30 Kittiwake and a Great Skua.

The roost movement of Pink-footed Geese revealed at least 1200 birds on to the Humber, where 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese remained while on Kilnsea wetlands the Caspian Gull was again present along with 2 Whooper Swan, 24 Pintail, 82 Black-tailed Godwit, 600 Redshank and 3 Spotted Redshank. 

Ringing: 3 Blackbird, 4 Redwing, 1 Goldcest, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 1 Wren, 2 Dunnock, 3 Brambling, 22 Lesser Redpoll, 4 Goldfinch, 3 House Sparrow, 8 Tree Sparrow, 

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Tuesday, 19 October 2021

A cloudy wet day with a warm F4-5 southerly. Watches: 0645-1315.

The TWO-BARRED GREENISH WARBLER continued to entertain, despite the rain and a Serin flew south over Easington playing field, while a nice arrival brought a good total of 17 Ring Ouzel, 390 Redwing and 27 Brambling to the area plus a late juvenile Hobby, 1 Jack Snipe showing well on canal scrape, a Woodcock, 4 Song Thrush, 6 Stonechat, 500 Starling, a Reed Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 10 Goldcrest, 20 Chaffinch, 32 Siskin and 2 Snow Bunting..

The Caspian Gull was again on Kilnsea wetlands along with 2 Whooper Swan, 446 Wigeon, 19 Pintail, 41 Little Egret, 70 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 700 Redshank, 3 Spotted Redshank, 8 Greenshank, 10 Mediterranean Gull and a Little Gull with 1250 Pink-footed Geese nearby on Easington straight.

It was quiet overall for movement over land and sea, the best being a Tufted Duck, 12 Goldeneye, a Marsh Harrier, 18 Little Gull, 2 Arctic Tern, a Great Skua, 3 Arctic Skua, 22 Skylark, 55 Tree Sparrow and 62 Rock Pipit. Full totals on Trektellen.

Ringing: 2 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Brambling.

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Monday, 18 October 2021

It has come to our attention that Short-eared Owls are being repeatedly flushed in our area. Needless to say, the Observatory does not condone this behaviour. Your flight views or photograph do not come before the welfare of these birds.

A murky start brightening alittle, but drizzle in the afternoon with a F4 southerly.  Watches: 0650-1245.

The TWO-BARRED GREENISH WARBLER continued to entertain, showing very well in the canal hedge area. Migrant totals were boosted slightlyby a small arrival with a Long-eared Owl, a Bearded Tit, 6 House Martin, 5 Chiffchaff, an Eastern type Lesser Whitethroat 'churring' by the Warren gate, 5 Goldcrest, 748 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 9 Song Thrush, 12 Robin, 16 Stonechat, a White Wagtail, 2 Brambling and 3 Snow Bunting..

Despite the coindiotions there was still a bit of southerly movement over sea and land with the best being 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Scaup, an Eider, 3 Goldneye, 3 Goosander, a Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Snipe, a juvenile Arctic Tern, 1 Arctic Skua, 4 House Martin, 9 Swallow, 122 Skylark, 28 Rock Pipit, 197 Linnet, 11 Redpoll, 228 Goldfinch and 26 Siskin. Full counts on Trektellen.

Kilnsea wetlands held 2 Whooper Swan, 18 Shoveler, 12 Pintail, 22 Black-tailed Godwit, a Curelw Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 8 Mediterranean Gull, a Caspian Gull and 1 Little Gull, with upto 800 Pink-footed Geese near Essington. On the Humber there were 4 Pale-bellied Brent in the 350 Dark-bellied Brent flock which also included a leucistic bird and the hybrid Black Brant x Brent.

Ringing: 2 Blackbird, 10 Redwing, 2 Goldfinch.

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Sunday, 17 October 2021

A cool cloudy overcast day and a F3 south westerly.  Watches: 0645-1100.

The star bird was still present in the canal hedge area with the TWO-BARRED GREENISH WARBLER, sometimes showing down to a few yards and heard to call on at least three occasions. It was again tough going for any back up species with just a Jack Snipe, 1 Woodcock, 5 Bearded Tit, 13 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 13 Goldcrest, 36 Wren, 42 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, 14 Blackbird, 2 Mistle Thrush, 6 Stonechat, 2 Grey Wagtail, 4 Brambling, 1 Siskin, a Lapland Bunting over observers at the Warbler and the occasionally showy Snow Bunting.

Unfortunately, the highlight of the sea was a Leach’s Petrel found freshly dead, having impaled its wing on a barbed wire fence at the gas terminal, while also seen were 2 Velvet Scoter, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 32 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver, a Sooty Shearwater, 2 Manx Shearwater, 57 Gannet, 129 Little Gull, a Caspian Gull, an Arctic Tern and 1 Arctic Skua, while the best overland were another good count of 49 Rock Pipit.

Today’s offerings from the Kilnsea wetlands area were 2 Whooper Swan, 26 Pintail, 20 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank and 2 Greenshank.

Ringing: 1 Redwing, 4 Goldcrest.

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Saturday, 16 October 2021

 cool start, sunny spells during the day with a F4 westerly. 

It would have been fair to say that when news of a Tiaga Flycatcher broke from Flamborough the atmosphere at Spurn was a bit flat and with few obvious migrants about, it felt like we had been truly gazumped. Fast forward into the afternoon to news of an elusive Yellow-browed Warbler near the gate, then in canal hedge and better views an hour or so later showed it be Spurns first ever TWO-BARRED GREENISH WARBLER, which then showed very well on and off upto dusk. The few migrants about today included a flyover calling Olive-backed Pipit at Kew, (but with no photos or call recording it may not go far), 4 Jay, 5 Bearded Tit, a Swallow, 2 House Martin, 13 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, 6 Goldcrest, 15 Blackbird, 17 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, 19 Robin, 9 Stonechat, a Grey Wagtail, 1 Tree Pipit, 7 Brambling and the Snow Bunting.

On the move today were a 43 Whooper Swan, Great White Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Little Egret, a Common Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 31 Rook, 10 Great Tit, 72 Skylark, 4 Swallow, an Alba Wagtail, 117 Meadow Pipit, 58 Rock Pipit, 17 Chaffinch, 26 Greenfinch, 47 Linnet, 6 Redpoll, 486 Goldfinch, 24 Siskin, 8 Yellowhammer and 29 Reed Bunting, while the best of the sea were 310 Pink-footed Geese, 3 Tufted Duck, a Velvet Scoter, 1 Sooty Shearwater, a Great Crested Grebe, 43 Little Gull, an Arctic Tern, 2 Arctic Skua and a Great Skua.

A few bits around the Kilnsea wetlands area with 1034 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Whooper Swan, 68 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank, a Little Stint,  2 Greenshank and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. 

Ringing: 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Great Tit, 2 Blackbird, 1 Wren, 14 Tree Sparrow, 2 House Sparrow, 4 Lesser Redpoll, 10 Goldfinch, 2 Yellowhammer, 1 Dunnock.

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Friday, 15 October 2021

A bight and sunny day but cold in the F3 northerly.  Watches: 0700-1755.

The wind direction brought us a few bits over the sea, while more arrivals of Thrushes occured. There was no sign of the Bonelli's Warbler, but a brief Red-breasted Flycatcher was in Easington. The Eastern type Lesser Whitethroat was again in the Obs garden, 10 Bearded Tit were along the canal and the showy Snow Bunting along the canal on the beach plus a Jack Snipe, 1 Jay, 3 Swallow, a Willow Warbler, 16 Chiffchaff, a Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 15 Goldcrest, 90 Blackbird, 6 Song Thrush, a Mistle Thrush, 546 Redwing, 14 Robin, 5 Stonechat, a Wheatear, 17 Dunnock, 4 Grey Wagtail, 2 Rock Pipit, 43 Chaffinch, 8 Brambling and 4 Lesser Redpoll.

Over the sea were 17 Pink-footed Geese, 29 Wigeon, 20 Teal, 3 Scaup, 90 Common Scoter, 48 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 3 Manx Shearwater, 88 Gannet, 217 Kittiwake, 210 Little Gull, 43 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Common Tern, 2 Great Skua, 2 Pomarine Skua and 5 Arctic Skua.

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Thursday, 14 October 2021

Overcast with a chilly F4 westerly.  Watches: 0715-1500.

It was a quieter day, but there was still plenty of migrants about in the area, the WESTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER still giving observers the runabout in the Corwn area, a Hawfinch on Vicars lane, the Eastern type Lesser Whitethroat at the Obs the Water Pipit again by the Crown, a Siberian Chiffchaff at canal scrape, 10 Bearded Tit along the canal, Ring Ouzel at the Point and a Snow Bunting along the canal plus a Jack Snipe, 1 Jay, 18 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 7 Goldcrest, 120 Blackbird, 275 Redwing, a Fieldfare, 7 Song Thrush, 8 Stonechat, a Wheatear, 3 Grey Wagtail, 25 Brambling and 16 Lesser Redpoll. 

There was again some decent movement over land and sea, the best of which were 20 Whooper Swan after a stop on Beacon ponds, 2 Goosander, a Great Northern Diver, 81 Little Gull, 2 Sandwich Tern, 109 Skylark, 4 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 10 Alba Wagtail, 82 Rock Pipit, 89 Linnet, 26 Redpoll, 514 Goldfinch, 59 Siskin and 31 Reed Bunting.

Kilnsea wetlands among all the usual commoner species had a Caspian Gull, 22 Pintail, 56 Black-tailed Godwit, a Spotted Redshank and 3 Greenshank.

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