Archive
Tuesday, 13 June 2017
A hot humid day with plenty of early sunshine clouding up later with a F1 W-WNW wind.
Migration Watches: 0510-1040.
A few decent bits about today with 10 Crossbill mobile around the area, while a male Blue-headed Wagtail was on Holderness field then flew off north.
The ongoing breeding census continued producing some good results with 1 Cuckoo, a juvenile Pied Wagtail in Easington, 21 singing Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap with juveniles at Rose cottage, 3 Long tailed Tit inc 1 juvenile in canal hedge and 400+ Starling in the area.
Moving overland were 3 Swift, 2 Sand Martin and 13 House Martin.
On the move over the sea were 35 Common Scoter, 26 Manx Shearwater, 4 Fulmar, 96 Gannet, 1 Cormorant, 50 Kittiwake, 448 Auk sp and 6 Sandwich Tern.
Other birds of note were 2 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, 162 Oystercatcher, 60 Grey Plover, 43 Bar tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, 12 Knot, 85 Dunlin, 11 Sanderling,1st summer Mediterranean Gull, Short eared Owl
Ringing: 1 Wood Pigeon, 2 Barn Owl pulli, 1 Dunnock pulli, 1 Robin, 1 Blue Tit, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Tree Sparrow pulli.
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Broad-bodied Chaser. Mick Turton.
Monday, 12 June 2017
The Red-necked Phalarope is still in the Beacon Ponds area this morning while upto 0730 over 2000 Swift had flown south.
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Swifts on the move. Richard Boon.
Hare. Richard Boon.
Red-necked Phalarope. Mick Turton.
Sunday, 11 June 2017
Sunny spells with a stiffening F2-4 SW wind.
Migration Waltches: 0435-1330, 1430-1935
A female Red-necked Phalarope was the highlight of the day, first found on Easington Lagoons it flew to Holderness Field where it showed well for the rest of the afternoon. Also a Quail (first of the year) was flushed from the path around Beacon Ponds.
Viz-migging was productive with the first decent Swift movement plus a few other bits to keep some interest going. Moving were 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Red Kite, 1 Hobby, 5 Collared Dove, 1 Stock Dove, 6 Sand Martin, 1170 Swift, 20 Swallow, 3 House Martin, 1 Grey Wagtail, 7 Goldfinch, 78 Linnet and 3 Siskin.
On the move over the sea were 7 Canada Geese, 4 Tufted Duck, 8 Common Scoter, 2 Manx Shearwater, 2 Fulmar, 4 Gannet, 24 Black headed Gull, 30 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 12 Common Gull, 1 Common Tern, 15 Sandwich Tern, 10 Auk sp and 2 Guillemot.
Other birds of note were 2 Wigeon, 5 Gadwall, 4 Teal and 2 Tufted Duck Kilnsea wetlands, 3 Golden Plover, 57 Grey Plover, 50 Oystercatcher and 150 Bar tailed Godwit at Chalk Bank while a Corn Bunting is still in the Easington lagoon area.
Ringing: 3 Little Owl pulli
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Red-necked Phalarope. Colin Bushell.
Red-necked Phalarope. Colin Bushell.
Saturday, 10 June 2017
Heavy rain till mid morning then drizzle, dry after mid-day with a F3-4 SW wind.
Migration Watches: 0520-1230.
Moving over the sea were 4 Teal, 39 Common Scoter, 2 Fulmar, 8 Manx Shearwater, 60 Gannet, 3 Cormorant, 1 Shag, 16 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Arctic Tern, 9 Sandwich Tern, 101 Auk sp, 81 Guillemot, 32 Razorbill and 1 Puffin, while the few bits overland were 62 Swift, 1 Sand Martin, 44 Linnet and 8 Goldfinch.
Other birds of note were 2 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 2 Tufted Duck Kilnsea wetlands, 10 Common Scoter Humber, 11 Little Egret, 142 Bar-tailed Godwit, 178 Oystercatcher, 49 Grey Plover, 119 Little Tern Beacon ponds and 2 Cuckoo.
1 Red-veined Darter was on Clubleys.
Ringing: Nil
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Friday, 09 June 2017
A much better day with plenty of sunshine and a F2-1 SW wind.
Migration Watches: 0515-1715.
The 1st Common Crane of the year flew north, circling over the Obs, having been tracked up the Lincolnshire coast, then further up to Bempton. Also today a Spoonbill circled over the campsite, then headed out to sea, while an Iceland Gull flew south over the sea in the morning, then back up the Humber towards Sammys. Late evening a male Garganey was on Holderness field and Kilnsea wetlands.
Other bits moving overland were 1 Marsh Harrier, 25 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 25 Swallow, 36 House Martin, 1 Grey Wagtail, 5 Jackdaw, 2 Siskin, 15 Goldfinch, 18 Linnet and 2 Siskin.
On the move over the sea were 9 Greylag Geese, 4 Common Scoter, 2 Fulmar, 9 Gannet, 24 Black headed Gull, 36 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 15 Kittiwake, 13 Common Tern, 1 Arctic Tern and 4 Sandwich Tern.
Other birds of note were 2 Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 5 Tufted Duck Kilnsea wetlands, 2 Grey Partridge, 1 Peregrine, 68 Grey Plover, 196 Oystercatcher, 140 Bar tailed Godwit, 20 Knot, 60 Dunlin, 21 Sanderling, 2 Cuckoo and 1 Short eared Owl.
Ringing: 1 Whitethroat, 5 Blue Tit pulli, 5 Tree Sparrow pulli.
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Crane. Ian Smith.
Crane. John Hewitt.
Iceland Gull. Ian Smith.
Thursday, 08 June 2017
Overnight rain petered out by mid morning with some sunny spells and a decreasing F6-3 W wind.
Sea Watches: 0525-1100, 1115-1440, 1500-1645.
Most coverage was limited to the the sea with 2 Eider, 34 Common Scoter, 1 Red-throated Diver, 4 Fulmar, 8 Manx Shearwater, 122 Gannet, 1 Cormorant, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Kittiwake and 6 Sandwich Tern while the few bits overland were 1 Grey Wagtail, 27 Swallow, 4 House martin and 1 Swift.
Other birds of note were 2 Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 3 Tufted Duck Kilnsea wetlands, 1 Short-eared Owl
Ringing: Nil
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Wednesday, 07 June 2017
Another wild day with overnight rain petering out, remaining cloudy and a strong F6-4 NW wind.
Migration Watches: 0530-1030, 1250-1630.
The less than ideal conditions meant that little was on the move today, but that didn't stop yet another Red-footed Falcon from going south. A nice 1st summer male and the 6th this spring.
The Nightingale was still occasionally singing by Rose cottage in the morning.
Most coverage was limited to the the sea with 8 Teal, 1 Tufted Duck, 9 Fulmar, 4 Manx Shearwater, 170 Gannet, 1 Cormorant, 67 Auk sp, 12 Guillemot, 15 Razorbill, 5 Kittiwake and 6 Sandwich Tern while the few bits overland were 49 Swift.
Other birds of note were 2 Wigeon, 4 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck Kilnsea wetlands, 1 Lapwing, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Cuckoo and 1 Barn Owl.
Ringing: Nil
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Tuesday, 06 June 2017
A dry start but soon developed into a very wet and windy day with a F6+ W-WNW wind.
Sea Watches: 0530-1100, 1150-1440, 1550-1700.
Despite the continuing poor weather the Nightingale was still occasionally singing from thick cover by rose cottage and on the odd occasion even showing. This is only the 2nd ever record for June, for a species which is normally recorded in mid April to mid May.
The only other migrant was a Spotted Flycatcher by Easington gas terminal while the 21 Barnacle Geese on the Humber continued the late spring movement.
There was a bit more interest over the sea with 80 Common Scoter, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Northern Diver, 16 Manx Shearwater, 101 Gannet, 47 Kittiwake, 5 Sandwich Tern, 77 Auk sp, 2 Guillemot and 10 Razorbill while the few bits overland were 5 Swallow, 11 House martin and 68 Swift.
Other birds of note were 2 Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 5 Teal, 1 Grey Partridge, 45 Grey Plover, 5 Curlew and 1 Short-eared Owl.
Ringing: 2 Tree sparrow pulli.
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Monday, 05 June 2017
A very windy day with frequent showers and a F3-6 S-SSE wind.
Migration Watches: 0505-1125, 1330-1630.
Despite the poor weather a Nightingale was heard singing from thick cover by rose cottage. The song seemed to rule out Thrush Nightingale, but hopefully will be around tomorrow, but again the weather does not look too good.
Viz-migging produced 52 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag Goose,1 Bar-headed Goose, 1 Hobby, 825 Swift, 23 Wood Pigeon, 2 Sand Martin, 26 Swallow, 21 House Martin, 1 Chaffinch and 2 Goldfinch.
Over a poor sea were 2 Cormorant, 1 Shag, 16 Gannet, 9 Auk sp, 3 Guillemot and 30 Razorbill.
Other birds of note were 42 Shelduck Humber, 3 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 1 Grey Partridge, 1 Short-eared Owl
Ringing: Nil.
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Record shot of Bar-headed Goose with Canada Geese. Tim Jump.
Sunday, 04 June 2017
A day or two ago, I was thinking of writing about the lack of late spring Scandinavian breeders which we are lucky enough at Spurn to record on an almost annual basis. Of course with the thought fresh in my mind, it happened and both Rosefinch and Icterine Warbler were seen yesterday. Looking back through the website from 2011, of the 5 usuals, Red backed Shrike have occurred in 5 years excl 2015, (2017 so far), Rosefinch every year except 2015, Icterine every year except 2012, 2015, Marsh Warbler every year bar 2017 (so far) and Golden Oriole every spring except 2013. Other species have been recorded as thus- Bluethroat 2013, 2014, 2016, Ortolan 2011, 2013, Red-breasted Flycatcher 2013, 2014, 2016, Thrush Nightingale 2013, 2016 while in the same period from the Mediterranean Bee-eater has been recorded every spring
Sunny spells and largely cloudy with a F1-3 SW-W wind.
Migration Watches: 0445-1600.
A slow day, with no sign of any of yesterdays good birds, but a few new migrants in to keep interest going. An unseasonal Redstart at Sammys, the Redwing still at the Warren , Grasshopper Warbler by Easington gas terminal, 3 Spotted Flycatcher and a male Bullfinch.
Viz-migging produced 70 Canada Geese out east, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Curlew out east, 163 Swift, 13 Wood Pigeon, 8 Swallow, 34 House Martin, 1 Flava Wagtail, 16 Jackdaw, 5 Carrion Crow, 17 Chafficnh, 11 Goldfinch and 63 Linnet.
Over the sea were 18 Shelduck, 14 Common Scoter, 20 Cormorant, 6 Gannet, 3 Sandwich Tern, 6 Common Tern, 1 Arctic Tern and 2 Auk sp.
Other birds of note were 3 Gadwall, 4 Wigeon, 2 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 1 Tufted Duck, 6 Grey Partridge, 1 Peregrine, 1 Little-ringed Plover and 1 Little Gull Beacon ponds.
11 Red-veined Darter were on the wing today while 30+ Azure Damselfly were in Churchfield plus 2 Broad-bodied Chaser and the 1st Brown Argus at sammys.
Ringing: 1 Avocet pulli, 1 Dunnock, 4 House Sparrow (3 Pulli).
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Common Lizard. Richard Boon.