Archive
Wednesday, 24 May 2017
A warm, sunny day with a light F1 NW- 2 SE wind.
Migration Watches: 0530-1030, 1300-1500.
A totally unexpected vocal Cetti’s Warbler along the Canal which then flew to behind the canal scrape hide, and then vanished not to be seen again.
Migrant numbers again low with 1 Little Stint Beacon ponds, 2 Cuckoo, female Ring Ouzel still at the Warren, 3 Redwing with 2 at the Obs and 1 Canal hedge, 2 Blackcap and 6 Spotted Flycatcher.
Viz-migging produced 83 Brent Geese and 200 Grey Plover out east, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hobby, 3 Flava Wagtail, 10 Sand Martin, 190 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 20 Jackdaw, 3 Rook, 2 Chaffinch, 7 Goldfinch and 18 Linnet.
Over the equally quiet sea were 7 Gannet, 54 Kittiwake, 4 Sandwich Tern, .
Other birds of note were the 30 Brent Geese, the male Red-crested Pochard remained on Canal scrape, immature Peregrine over the Obs, 9 Whimbrel triangle and 1 Little Gull.
A Red-veined Darter was in Churchfield.
Ringing: 3 Blue Tit (pulli).
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Red-crested Pochard. Steve Exley.
Tuesday, 23 May 2017
A warm, sunny day with a light F1 NW- 2 S wind.
Migration Watches: 0530-1100, 1300-1530.
The beginnings of the high arctic waders exodus began in earnest today and one of the great flock calls as groups of Grey Plover headed off north-east.
After the adult the previous day an immature Spoonbill was over Beacon ponds then drifted off north.
Migrant numbers stayed low with 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Wheatear, 1 Ring Ouzel still at the Warren, 1 Mistle Thrush, 3 Blackcap and 2 Spotted Flycatcher.
Viz-migging produced only 150 Grey Plover out east, 2 Marsh Harrier, 4 Flava Wagtail, 5 Sand Martin, 130 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 6 Jackdaw, 3 Chaffinch, 7 Goldfinch and 9 Linnet.
Over the equally quiet sea were 1 Tufted Duck, 30 Common Scoter, 3 Great-crested Grebe, 3 Cormorant and 6 Sandwich Tern.
Other birds of note were the 75 Brent Geese, 2 Wigeon, male Red-crested Pochard on Canal scrape (6th record), 1 Gadwall, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Grey Partridge, 1300 Grey Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Hen Harrier long bank, 1 Barn Owl and 1 Short-eared Owl.
A Red-veined Darter was in Churchfield.
Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 5 Great Tit (pulli), 7 Tree Sparrow pulli, 1 Chaffinch. (14 of 4 species)
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Red-crested Pochard. J. onifisk.
Monday, 22 May 2017
A hazy sunny day feeling warm with a F1-3 SE wind.
Migration Watches: 0530-1200, 1315-1500.
A quiet day overall for birds on the move south and in the bushes, but the 1st Spoonbill of the year was present and showing well on Kilnsea wetlands.
Migrant numbers again low with 2 Cuckoo, 1 White Wagtail, 2 Wheatear, 1 Black Redstart at the Warren, 1 Ring Ouzel still at the Warren, 1 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler and 2 Spotted Flycatcher.
Viz-migging produced only 22 Oystercatcher out east, 1 Swift, 2 Flava Wagtail, 7 Sand Martin, 278 Swallow, 88 House Martin, 11 Goldfinch and 26 Linnet.
Over the equally quiet sea were 2 Eider, 11 Common Scoter, 2 Red-throated Diver, 1 Fulmar, 25 Gannet, 22 Kittiwake and 50 Auk sp.
Other birds of note were the 116 Brent Geese, 1 Wigeon, 3 Tufted Duck on the Humber, 3 Grey Partridge, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Lapwing, 2 Curlew Sandpiper Humber, 1 Greenshank Point, 1 Whimbrel, and Short-eared Owl.
Ringing: 1 Wren, 1 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Linnet (pulli).
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Spoonbill. John Hewitt.
Spoonbill. Dave Tucker.
Ring Ouzel. John Hewitt.
Sunday, 21 May 2017
Mostly sunny with some cloudy periods and a light F1 SW-SE wind.
Migration Watches: 0530-1100.
Migrant numbers were 1 Little Stint on the Humber, 3 Whinchat Triangle, 2 Ring Ouzel at the Warren, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Spotted Flycatcher.
Viz-migging produced 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Red Kite, 45 Grey Plover out east, 2 Arctic Tern, 2 Turtle Dove back north, Flava Wagtail, 13 Sand Martin, 317 Swallow, 127 House Martin, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Alba Wagtail, 3 Swift, 1 Chaffinch, 31 Goldfinch and 46 Linnet.
The sea was awful with 1 Great Northern Diver and 4 Cormorant the only birds of note.
Other birds of note were the 64 Brent Geese, 1 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 2 Short-eared Owl while the Ring-necked Parakeet remained in Easington.
Ringing: 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Tree Sparrow (pulli), 1 Goldfinch.
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Saturday, 20 May 2017
Bright start with showers in the late afternoon with a F2 SW wind.
Migration Watches: 0530-1540.
Overnight recording to see what species are passing overhead unseen and generally unheard has recently become quite popular and a useful way of recording what happens while most of us are asleep. In particular Tim Jones has been pushing this interesting concept at the Observatory, and has been getting some amazing results which no doubt will get a proper write up in the near future.
Recordings from last night included Little Grebe, Spotted Redshank and Water Rail along with the usual species like Oystercatcher and the resident amorous Foxes which make for fascinating listening!
Interest in the morning at the Warren came in the form of an apparent Iberian Chiffchaff trapped and ringed. Potentially the 3rd this spring, a loose feather was obtained, but unfortunately no calls were heard. Features seemed consistent with this species, but it seems we may have to rely on DNA this time.
It was a great day for viz-migging, with the 4th Red-rumped Swallow of the spring south late morning.
Also on the move today were a nice diverse selection of species so late in the month with 5 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Hobby, 1 Little-ringed Plover, 27 Grey Plover, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and 24 Curlew all out east (which should be a big feature of the next week or so as the high arctic waders head off to breed), 6 Swift, 22 Sand Martin, 841 Swallow, 180 House Martin, 1 Tree Pipit, 3 Flava, 20 Jackdaw, 2 Rook, 4 Carrion Crow, 9 Chaffinch, 18 Goldfinch, 2 Siskin, 18 Linnet and 3 Corn Bunting.
Migrants numbers were 8 Whimbrel, 1 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Ring Ouzel, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, 2 Reed Warbler, 10 Sedge Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler and 4 Spotted Flycatcher.
On the move over a generally quiet sea were 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Common Scoter, 6 Eider, 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Fulmar, 11 Gannet, 1 Cormorant, 1 Common Tern and 7 Auk sp.
Other interesting sightings were 2 Barnacle Geese, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Wigeon and 50 Common Scoter on the Humber.
Ringing: 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Ring Ouzel, 1 (Iberian) Chiffchaff, 1 Linnet (pulli).
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Red-rumped Swallow. Tim Jones.
Red-rumped Swallow. Scott Reid.
Turtle Dove. Tim Jones.
Little-ringed Plover. Tim Jones.
Observers at 'Numpties watchpoint' at the Warren, 'Viz-migging', counting anything that is on move especailly what is going south, This year has not been a classic with a lack of SW winds, but has still produced a few highlights and is becoming ever more
Friday, 19 May 2017
Overcast with rain most of the day and a F2-1 N-SE wind.
Migration Watches: 0600-1100, 1430-1630.
Quiet again migrant wise due to the weather with only 2 Cuckoo, 8 Yellow Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Redstart, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff and 3 Spotted Flycatcher of note.
Over the sea were 3 Grey Heron, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 171 Common Scoter, 1 Red-throated Diver, 3 Fulmar, 94 Gannet, 1 Great-crested Grebe, 4 Sandwich Tern, 11 Guillemot and 1 Puffin.
Other birds of note were the 3 Wigeon 1 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Golden Plover Kilnsea wetland, immature male Hen Harrier, 1 Barn Owl and 2 Short-eared Owl.
Ringing: Nil.
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Thursday, 18 May 2017
Bright, sunny start and warm with a F2-1 WNW wind.
Migration Watches: 0600-1630.
One of the projects that the Observatory takes a lead on (along with partners the RSPB and YWT), is the protection of Little Terns at Beacon ponds. We employ 2 wardens to protect this beach nesting species in a challenging and busy area which has popular caravan sites either side, is popular with dog walkers from nearby Easington, Foxes are a regular problem and suffers from motorbikes disturbance. Today staff from the RSPB undertook the instillation of the electric fencing which will hopefully keep all these factors at bay. If visiting the colony please view only from Long bank, which is accessed from Kilnsea wetlands carpark.
On the move today were 5 Cormorant, 2 Gannet, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Red Kite, 2 Common Buzzard, 4 Whimbrel out east, 25 Black-headed Gull, 2 Turtle Dove, 3 Swift, 2 Skylark, 48 Sand Martin, 795 Swallow, 270 House Martin, 6 Flava, 18 Jackdaw, 5 Rook, 12 Carrion Crow, 1 Chaffinch, 5 Goldfinch, 1 Siskin and 39 Linnet.
Migrants numbers were 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Ring Ouzel, 1 Wheatear, 9 Reed Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler and 2 Spotted Flycatcher.
Other interesting sightings were 3 Barnacle Geese, which are maybe the birds that flew out east a few days ago?, 4 Tufted Duck, 7 Common Scoter, 2 Kittiwake and 1 Short eared Owl.
Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 House Sparrow.
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Red Kite. John Hewitt.
Arctic waders pre-migration. Tim Jones.
Electric fence installation.
Little Tern breeding habitat. Also loved by humans!
Wednesday, 17 May 2017
Showers early morning, but rain from late morning with a light variable wind.
Migration Watches: 0600-1130.
Some movement early on before the rain set in for the day with 24 Sand Martin, 572 Swallow, 152 House Martin, 5 Flava Wagtail, 3 Alba Wagtail, 1 Greenfinch, 32 Goldfinch and 23 Linnet.
Migrant wise little was seen with only 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Ring Ouzel and 1 Spotted Flycatcher of note.
Over the sea were 53 Common Scoter, 1 Cormorant, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Fulmar, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 25 Kittiwake, 5 Arctic Tern out east and 2 Sandwich Tern.
Other birds of note were the 1 Mediterranean Gull on Kilnsea wetlands,
Ringing: Nil.
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Shelduck. Tim Jones.
Tuesday, 16 May 2017
Bright and sunny start clouding over with rain showers and a F3-2 SW wind.
Migration Watches: 0600-1200, 1340-1700, 1800-1900.
The full breeding bird survey is well under way and already getting some interesting results in areas which generally have little coverage.
A fine ‘green’ Golden Oriole flew south in the morning past numpties watchpoint. A great viz-mig bird and a bit of a Spurn speciality on the east coast, being almost annual, with 2-3 each spring. Autumn records though are almost unheard of, being much rarer in that period.
Also on the move were 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hobby, 1 Whimbrel and 2 Curlew out east, 7 Swift, 16 Sand Martin, 620 Swallow, 73 House Martin, 8 Flava, 3 Jackdaw, 8 Carrion Crow, 9 Chaffinch, 23 Goldfinch and 42 Linnet.
Migrants were 1 Little Stint, 2 Cuckoo, 8 Yellow Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 7 Wheatear, 3 Song Thrush, 14 Sedge Warbler with 5 holding territories along the peninsula for the last 2 weeks, which is very unusual, 63 Whitethroat, 2 Spotted Flycatcher and the male Snow Bunting still at Middle camp.
Other interesting sightings were 92 Brent Geese, 2 Wigeon, 1 Eider and 4 Common Scoter on the Humber, 25 Tundra Ringed Plover, 190 Sanderling Chalk bank, 41 Turnstone, 2 Little Owl on Peter lane, a singing Goldcrest in Easington, 1 Corn Bunting and 5 Yellowhammer.
Ringing: 9 BlueTit (pulli).
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White Wagtail. Richard Willison.
Snow Bunting. Martin Standley.
Monday, 15 May 2017
A bright start soon clouded over with frequent showers and prolonged rain with a F2-3 SW wind.
Migration Watches: 0500-1000, 1600-1700.
The highlight of the day was a Turtle Dove flying south, a species that we wait for with baited breath each spring, hoping that it will not be the last year we record this rapidly declining species. Habitat loss and changing farming practices in the UK and unregulated shooting in Mediterranean countries taking a toll.
Other species on the move today were 4 Swift, 2 Skylark, 12 Sand Martin, 343 Swallow, 89 House Martin, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Flava Wagtail, 1 Alba Wagtail, 7 Jackdaw, 3 Carrion Crow, 8 Chaffinch, 11 Goldfinch, 22 Linnet and 1 Corn Bunting.
Migrant numbers were reduced further still with 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Little Stinton Beacon ponds, 2 Cuckoo, 1 Wheatear, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler and 1 Pied Flycatcher.
Over the sea were 41 Common Scoter, 1 Cormorant, 10 Gannet, 1 Razorbill and 50 Auk sp.
Other birds of note were the 45 Brent Geese Humber, 1 Wigeon, 1 Gadwall, 1 Tufted Duck Kilnsea wetland, 220 Oystercatcher and a Corn Bunting singing by Easington lagoon, while the Ring-necked Parakeet is still in Easington.
Ringing: 5 Peregrine (pulli), 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 6 Great Tit (pulli), 1 Linnet. (14 of 5 species).
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Yellow Wagtail. Richard Willison.