Saturday, 22 May 2021

Sporadic showers throughout with sunny spells in the evening and a F6-3 WNW.  Watches: 0420-1325.

There were a few good birds around during the day with 2 Barnacle Geese, a Wood Sandpiper and female Blue-headed Wagtail on Kilnsea wetlands, a Curlew Sandpiper on Beacon ponds with a Spoonbill flying south here. The Turtle Dove remained in some Kilnsea gardens along with a Mealy Redpoll and the Cetti's Warbler still at the Point.

The sea had some decent movement, 119 Fulmar the standout count, along with 4 Tufted Duck, 15 Common Scoter, 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Northern Diver, 4 Manx Shearwater, 97 Gannet, 70 Kittiwake, 5 Common Tern, 8 Sandwich Tern, a Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, 19 Guillemot, 92 Razorbill, 5 Puffin and 110 Auk sp.

Ringing: 2 Stock Dove, 3 Starling, 1 Chiffchaff.

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Friday, 21 May 2021

Overcast with intermittent rain througout the day and a strong F6-F3 south westerly.  Watches: 0515-1415.

Late in the evening an ALPINE SWIFT was discovered hawking low down along the canal, being lost near the visitor centre and may have gone to roost. Overland movement was otherwise quiet with just 4 Collared Dove, 54 Swift, 2 Hobby, a Sand Martin, 41 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Goldfinch and a Corn Bunting. The sea had a bit more action with 2 Tufted Duck, 6 Common Scoter, a Red-throated Diver, 10 Fulmar, a Grey Heron, 49 Gannet, 52 Kittiwake, 2 Black-headed Gull, 69 Common Gull, 14 Guillemot, 119 Razorbill and 346 Auk sp, with an Arctic Skua and 2 Curlew out east.

Numbers of late migrants continue to fall with a Turtle Dove still in Kilnsea, 7 Whimbrel, 2 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Wheatear, a Redpoll and a Siskin.

The Whooper Swan was still at Kilnsea wetlands along with 100 Dark-bellied Brents.

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Thursday, 20 May 2021

A sunny start, gave way to rain from early afternoon driven by a F3-4 south eaterly.  Watches: 0530-1130.

Not much happening overall the best being a Turtle Dove in Easington, a Blue-headed Wagtail at Kilnsea wetlands, a Tawny Owl disturbed from a shed at Kew and the usaul Cetti's Warbler at the Point and the Whooper Swan at Kilnsea wetlands.

Migrant wise there were 4 Cuckoo, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, a Garden Warbler, 1 Wheatear, 2 Mealy Redpoll, 3 Lesser Redpoll and a Siskin.

A trickle of overland movement saw 2 Swift, 4 Jackdaw, 46 Swallow and 7 House Martin recorded, with 6 Curlew out east and 4 Tufted Duck west up the Humber.

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Wednesday, 19 May 2021

A sunny start with showers in the afternoon and more of the F3 north easterlies.  Watches: 0545-1000. 

While the overall vis migging session was quiet there were some good birds thrown in including the second Red-rumped Swallow in two days, our first Osprey of the spring heading south early morning and a Red Kite plus a Marsh Harrier, 2 Swift, 6 Jackdaw, 11 Carrion Crow, just 29 Swallow, a House Martin, 4 Chaffinch and 2 Siskin.

The best fo the grounded migarnt action was a Turtle Dove, 3 Cuckoo, 2 Wheatear, a White Wagtail, 1 Mealy Redpoll and 4 Lesser Redpoll, among a scatter of migrants and returning breeders. 

The Kilnsea wetlands area held the Whooper Swan, 2 Pale-bellied Brent, 401 Brent Geese, a Tufted Duck, 1 Common Sandpiper and a Greenshank.  

Ringing: 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 6 Starling, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Mealy Redpoll. 

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Tuesday, 18 May 2021

Sunny spells with a F3-4 south westerly.  Watches: 0500-1220.

Highlights from the day were a Red-rumped Swallow south at the Warren along with a Wood Sandpiper, a Quail singing and seen along Peter lane and a Turtle Dove in North field. Few migarnts about with 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Cuckoo, a Long-eared Owl, 3 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Blackcap, a Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Wheatear, a White Wagtail and a Siskin, with the Cetti's Warbler still at the Point..

In additon to those mentioned above other bits on the move were 2 Marsh Harrier, 4 Magpie, 22 Jackdaw, 2 Rook, 26 Carrion Crow, 2 Sand Martin, 187 Swallow, 12 House Martin, 3 Alba Wagtail, 9 Chaffinch, 11 Linnet, 11 Goldfinch, 2 Corn Bunting and a Yellowhammer, while over the sea a Manx Shearwater was the highlight, but 66 Grey Plover and 3 Curew headed out east.

The Whooper Swan was still on Kilnsea wetlands along with 455 Dark-bellied Brents.

Ringing: 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Whitethroat, 4 House Sparrow, 1 Robin.

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Monday, 17 May 2021

Sunny spells and a F3 north easterly.  Watches: 0550-1000.

The Golden Oriole remained at Chalk bank to the Potato fields area and our resident Cetti's Warbler was still at the Point, while the day saw a small increase in migrants bringing 2 Pied Flycatcher and 5 Spotted Flycatcher to the area along with 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 Cuckoo, 3 Short-eared Owl, 10 Willow Warbler, 17 Chiffchaff, a Grasshopper Warbler, 12 Blackcap, a Garden Warbler, 5 Song Thrush, a Redstart, 1 Whinchat, 7 Wheatear, 13 Pied Wagtail, a White Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipit, 3 Mealy Redpoll and 3 Siskin, while good numbers of breeders back on territory with 53 Whitethroat and at Beacon ponds 55 Little Tern around the colony.

There was less movement noted apart from decent numbers of Auks again with 2 Canada Geese, 18 Common Scoter, 8 Red-throated Diver, 7 Fulmar, 26 Gannet, 42 Kittiwake, 8 Sandwich Tern, 108 Guillemot, 22 Razorbill, a Puffin and 259 Auk sp over the sea with 82 Swallow, a House Martin, 2 Flava Wagtail, a Tree Pipit and 3 Chaffinch overland.

The usual Whooper Swan remained along with 2 Pale-bellied Brent among the 200 Dark-bellied Brent.

Ringing: 1 Wood Pigeon, 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Redstart, 3 Mealy Redpoll.

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Sunday, 16 May 2021

It was a good day all round, but as we keep repeating very poor for common migrants and as we head forwards more northerlies are predicted and unlikely to produce much except drfiting scarcities. The PURPLE HERON was again present in the triangle area, showing well on Canal scrape and last seen between Sammy's and Skeffling dropping into ditches. A nice 'green' Golden Oriole flew south past the Warren, settling in the potato fields area, while a male Grey-headed Wagtail flew south off the Point. A Temminck's Stint at Kilnsea wetlands flew south past the Warren, returning to the wetlands soon after, and a superb full spooned pale phase Pomarine Skua, settled on the Humber for a while preening, then headed purposely off high due east, over the breach where a nice dappled red Curlew Sandpiper was present. In the late afternoon a Crane flew south over Kilnsea. 

In addition to the good birds mentioned above the vismiggers at the Warren aslos recorded a Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, a Hobby, 6 Jackdaw, 7 Rook, 14 Carrion Crow, 22 Sand Martin, 481 Swallow, 21 House Martin, 4 Flava Wagtail, 6 Chaffinch, a Greenfinch, 17 Linnet, 14 Goldfinch, a Siskin and 2 Corn Bunting.

I addition to the 87 Whitethroat counted along the peninsula and the seemingly resident Cetti's Warbler at the Point, further migarnts recorded were 2 Little-ringed Plover, 2 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, 6 Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, a Redstart, 6 Wheatear, 1 Mealy Redpoll and a Siskin.

Ringing: 1 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Wren, 1 Mealy Redpoll.

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Saturday, 15 May 2021

A mixed day of cloud, sunny spells and the odd light shower with a cool F2-4 south easterly.  Watches: 0550-1230. 

The day began with a bang when Spurns 3rd, PURPLE HERON was flushed from Sykes field pond, settling in various spots during the day in the triangle then around Kilnsea wetlands and Sammy's. There was no sign of the Thrush Nightingale, but a nice male Red-backed Shrike, gave birders the run around on Beacon lane, but did occasionally show well. Despite the Shrike there were few numbers of migrants the best being a Short-eared Owl, 1 Little-ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper, 4 Willow Warbler, 10 Chiffchaff, 7 Reed Warbler, 5 Blackcap, a Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Redstart, a Whinchat, 5 Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipit and 2 Mealy Redpoll trapped at Kew.

Over the sea 2 Great Northern Diver and a Manx Shearwater flew north, along with 2 Red-throated Diver, 21 Common Scoter, 2 Fulmar, 52 Gannet, 11 Kittiwake, 24 Common Gull, 73 Lesser-Black backed Gull, 3 Sandwich Tern, 23 Guillemot, 21 Razorbill and 27 Auk sp, with 17 Arctic Tern, 7 Whimbrel and 68 Oystercatcher out east. Overland 3 Marsh Harrier, a Hobby, a Collared Dove, 4 Jackdaw, 14 Sand Martin, 133 Swallow, 3 Flava Wagtail, a Chaffinch, 32 Linnet, a Redpoll sp and 12 Goldfinch.

Other sightings included 2 Pale-bellied Brent on the Humber and the Whooper Swan was still at Long bank.

Ringing: 1 Redstart, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Mealy Redpoll. Controlled Dutch ringed Lesser Whitethroat.

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Friday, 14 May 2021

Overcast with some light drizzle and a F2 north easterly.  Watches: 0605-1005.

The THRUSH NIGHTINGALE remained at Wire Dump, singing (listen to the brilliant recording by Toby Phelps) and occasionally showing, but there were few other migrants about with a Common Sandpiper, 4 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, 7 Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 15 Reed Warbler, 12 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 11 Lesser Whitethroat, 43 Whitethroat, a Spotted Flycathcer, 1 Black Redstart by the Blue bell, 7 Wheatear, 4 Yellow Wagtail, a White Wagtail and a Tree Pipit, with the Cetti's Warbler singing again at the Point.

It was a tough day for the vismiggers with just the sea showing any life with, 9 Common Scoter, 5 Red-throated Diver, a Fulmar, 10 Gannet, 11 Whimbrel out east, 28 Kittiwake, 2 Common Tern, 74 Guillemto, a razorbill and 15 Auk sp.

The usual Whooper Swan remained around Kilnsea wetlands with a Pale-bellied Brent, 310 Brent Geese, 2 Tufted Duck and a good count of 60 Little Tern.

Ringing: 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

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Thursday, 13 May 2021

A sunny day, warm out of the F3 easterly.  Watches: 0600-0900.

It was an intrigiung afternoon when a Nightingale found at Wire Dump appeared to be a Common. When it began to sing and photgraphs analysed the ID began to be challenged, with features for Thrush Nightingale being put forward aswell as pro Commons. The overall appearance seemed Common to many, but features such as the malar stripe, breast speckling, obvious yellow gape line and wing structure, along with the song, point to the bird actually being a THRUSH NIGHTINGALE, the 16th record for Spurn, albeit an interesting challenging bird.  Rarer than this bird, a Nuthatch, the 14th record, all since 1998, but the first since 2018, was at the Warren. 

Migarnts numbers were low with just a Swift, 1 Short-eared Owl, 4 Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 24 Sedge Warbler, 6 Blackcap, a Garden Warbler, 1 Wheatear, a Redstart, 2 Yellow Wagtail, a White Wagtail, 4 Mealy Redpoll and a Siskin and the Cetti's Warbler srtill at the Point.

There was a trickle of south bound birds, the conditions not that favourable with 5 Sand Martin, 222 Swallow, 22 House Martin, 3 Flava Wagtail, 4 Linnet, 8 Goldfinch, 5 Corn Bunting and a Yellowhammer.

The Whooper Swan was still on Kilnsea wetlands along with 312 Brent Geese and 2 Little Gull with 55 Little Tern nearby on Beacon ponds. A Pale-bellied Brent was on the Humber.

Ringing: 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Wren, 1 Mealy Redpoll.

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