Tuesday, 01 June 2021

Mostly foggy in the morning, clearing in the afternoon to leave a hot and sunny day with a F2-3 easterly. Watches: 0530-1530.

It was another day of good birds arriving, starting with a Golden Oriole at the Warren, which after perching up in the trees, flew off south being lost as it gained height in to the fog, while a Red-breasted Flycatcher at the narrows quickly moved down to the Potato fields. The birds of the day though were 4+ Bee-eater, with two singles south in the morning, then a pair which arrived from the north around 3pm and after a bit of indescision settled at Southfield farm, making short work of the local dragonfly and bee population, and even seen to mate. They flew north at around 8pm, and maybe dropped into the westmere farm area, where a female Red-backed Shrike was present in the afternoon. In addition to those mentioned above, the few other migrants included 2 Long-eared Owl, a Cuckoo, 3 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap, a Mealy Redpoll and a Siskin.

Despite the easterly wind there some decent movement for the time of year with 15 Sand Martin, 382 Swallow, 84 House Martin, a male Grey-headed Wagtail, 7 Flava Wagtail, 6 Linnet and 2 Crossbill.

The Whooper Swan continued its residence on KIlnsea wetlands making it into June.

Ringing: 1 Blackcap, 2 Dunnock, 4 House Sparrow.

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Monday, 31 May 2021

Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 60 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.

Overcast and misty to start, clearing to leave a ncie sunny day, warm out of the cool F3 south easterly. Watches: 0500-1500.

It was another day of few common migrants (how often have we said it this spring), only for good birds to save the day. This time it was a mobile GREENISH WARBLER initially seen and heard calling in Corner field, quickly moving down to the Crown area, where it showed on and off remaining flighty. It may have moved on as there were no sightings that we know of, in the afternoon. The smart male Grey-headed Wagtail was still showing well at the Point, where a Nightjar was seen flying around, being lost in the dense cover plus the usual Cetti's Warbler and an Osprey flew south east down the Humber heading out over the sea at the Breach. In the evening a Long-eared Owl was sat out in the open along the canal.

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Sunday, 30 May 2021

Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 60 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.

An overcasr start, some sun in the afternoon, becoming cooler in the f3 south easterly.  Watches: 0530-1700.

It was a quieter day overall with a clearout of all the previous days birds, apart from maybe a Woodlark which flew south at the Warren. New in today though were a cracking male Grey-headed Wagtail and singing Firecrest at the Point. The biggest surprise came in the form of a 2cy PURPLE HERON, presumably the bird last seen on 16th?, but adding to the excitement of the last few days for the visiting birders. Fewer grounded migrants with 2 Cuckoo, 4 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff and 8 Spotted Flycatcher.

There was a notable exodus of 119 Dark-bellied Brent Geese heading east out to sea, as did 13 Arctic Tern, while the sea was quiet with 2 Great Northern Diver north the best. Overland movement picked up with a Marsh Harrier, 13 Swift, a Hobby, 611 Swallow, 140 House Martin and a Redpoll sp.

The Whooper Swan was still on Kilnsea wetlands with 2 Tufted Duck and 166 Brent Geese were still on the Humber, but maybe heading off in the next few days.

Ringing: 7 Blue Tit, 5 Great Tit, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 5 Tree Sparrow, 1 Dunncok.

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Saturday, 29 May 2021

Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 60 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.

The good period of birding continues, with today offering up a female Bluethroat at the south end of the canal and a fly through Bee-eater, whcih was seen over the Obs and tracked all the way to the Point, heading off towards Lincolnshire. The EASTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER continued to show on and off, sometimes quite well during the day, a Golden Oriole seen over Westmere farm in the morning, a Woodlark north over the gate and a Black Redstart in the triangle. There were less grounded migrants about, 4 Cuckoo, a Long-eared Owl, 6 Spotted Flycatcher and a Lesser Redpoll, plus the usual Cetti's Warbler at the Point.

In addition to above there was some light movement with 3 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 193 Swallow and 2 Alba Wagtail, while the best of the sea were an Arctic Skua and 4 Pochard with 55 Brent Geese, 2 Curlew and 3 Turnstone heading out east.

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Friday, 28 May 2021

Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 50 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.

Generally overcast, but warm with a F3 south easterly.  Watches: 0535-0905.

There were more new arrivals as the conditions start to pay off, but no big numbers so late in the season. The Point scored with singing Common Rosefinch and Icterine Warbler, where the Cetti's Warbler was still present. A 'green' Golden Oriole was in the Long bank to triangle area, while the male EASTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER and male Red-backed Shrike were both still in the Narrows area. Futher migrant totals were 2 Cuckoo, a Long-eared Owl, 2 Willow Warbler, 6 Blackcap, a Garden Warbler, 21 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Whinchat, 4 Wheatear, a White Wagtail, 1 Mealy Redpoll and a Siskin.

There was a small bit of movement for observers not engroosed in looking for migarnts, but the sea was quiet with 2 Spoonbill, a Marsh Harrier, 1 Little-ringed Plover, a Golden Plover, 116 Swallow, 50 House Martin, a Chaffinch, 13 Linnet and a Redpoll sp. 

The Whooper Swan remained around Kilnsea wetlands with 68 Brent Geese and a Greenshank.

Ringing: 13 Great Tit, 7 Blue Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock, 1 Robin, 1 Mealy Redpoll.

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Thursday, 27 May 2021

A hot warm and sunny day with the wind ending up as a F2 south easterly.  Watches: 0545-0945.

The change in the weather delivered straight awy with a nice male EASTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER showing well at Middle Camp and a male Red-backed Shrike at the nearby Narrows. There was also an increase in typical late spring migrants, final totals of 15 Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Willow Warbler, a Redstart and the female Blue-headed Wagtail.

There was limited movement over land and sea, which involved a Great Northern Diver, 2 Whimbrel, 94 Auk sp and 2 Puffin.

The Great White Egret and Whooper Swan were still around the Kilnsea wetlands area plus 3 Tufted Duck, 9 Avocet and 54 Little Tern.

Ringing: 2 Peregrine pulli, 1 Whitethroat.

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Wednesday, 26 May 2021

Cold and wet clearing with sunny spells and a F4 southn west to northerly.  Watches: 0545-1230.

The sea recieved plenty of attention in the morning with rain dominating and returning 128 Common Scoter, 3 Red-throated Diver, 109 Fulmar, 3 Manx Shearwater, 46 Gannet, a Shag, 40 Kittiwake, 2 Sandwich Tern, 171 Guillemot, 42 Razorbill,, 30 Puffin and 206 Auk sp.

A Great White Egret flew north over the Warren settling at Kilnsea wetlands, where the Hiobby was still present hunting from frnce posts and the Whooper Swan and 3 Tufted Duck remained.

There was a few migrants noted the best of which were 12 Spotted Flycatcher plus a Common Sandpiper, 2 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl and the Cetti's Warbler still at the Point.

Ringing: 1 Ringed Plover, 8 Tree Sparrow.

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Tuesday, 25 May 2021

A cool day with prolonged heavy showers and a F3 westerly.  Watches: 0650-1000.

An Osprey flying south was the best on offer today, but with some change in the weather imminent  and maybe some warmer easterlies, the prospect of some unusual species is on the cards. In the mean time there was a smidge of movement, with Marsh Harrier, 3 Swift, a Sand Martin, 103 Swallow, 19 House Martin, a Flva Wagtail and 3 Chaffinch with the sea having 24 Common Scoter, 17 Fulmar, a Little Gull and 111 Auk sp the best,

There were few migrants about though 6 Spotted Flycatcher, (including one in/off) maybe hinting at what is to come along with 4 Cuckoo, a Hobby at Kilnsea wetlands, 1 Wheatear and a Tree Pipit.

The usual Whooper Swan was still present along with 2 Tufted Duck.

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Monday, 24 May 2021

Generally sunny and warm, heavy showers in the late afternoon with a F5 north westerly dropping to a F3 south westerly.  Watches; 0550-1300.

There was some movement over the sea dominated by Auks, though mainky too distant to ID properly with 1440 Auk sp (Razorbill or Guillemot), 7 Razorbill, 6 Guillemot and 7 Puffin, while also moving 2 Tufted Duck, 45 Common Scoter, 2 Fulmar, a Manx Shearwater, 20 Gannet, a Shag, 15 Kittiwake and a Mediterranean Gull, with 3 Whimbrel out east. Overland a Stock Dove, 1 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 77 Swallow, 41 House Martin, 2 Grey Wagtail, an Alba Wagtail and a Tree Pipit.

The 2 Barnacle Geese were in the Kilnsea wetlands area aloing with the Whooper Swan, 2 Pale-bellied Brent, 110 Brent Geese, 23 Mute Swan, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Common Tern and the female Blue-headed Wagtail seemingly paired with a male Yellow Wagtail. 

Migrants numbers were fairly typical for the time of year with 4 Cuckoo, a Long-eared Owl, 3 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Wheatear, a White Wagtail, 1 Tree Pipit and a Redpoll sp and the Cetti's Warbler again at the Point.

Ringing: 1 Stock Dove, 1 Tree Sparrow.

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Sunday, 23 May 2021

A day of sunny spells and the odd shower with a F5-6 westerly.  Watches: 0530-1215.

Despite the westerly wind there was little overland movement, the best of which was an Osprey and Spoonbill both north west up the Humber, while heading south 2 Barnacle Geese, 5 Carrion Crow, a Sand Martin, 62 Swallow, 7 House Martin, a Tree Pipit, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Linnet and 4 Siskin. The sea was much quieter with a Great Northern Diver the highlight, but only 3 Fulmar after yesterdays glut, though a nice 108 Grey Plover headed out east along with 22 Dunlin.

The Turtle Dove remained in Kilnsea, the Blue-headed Wagtail at Kilnsea wetlands and the Cetti's Warbler at the Point, while the few migarnts seen included 3 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, 4 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler and 2 Wheatear.

On Easington straight the Whooper Swan, 2 Pale-bellied Brent and 200 Brent Geese were present.

Ringing: 4 Tree Sparrow, 1 Blackbird, 17 Starling, 1 Chaffinch.

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