Archive
Sunday, 02 May 2021
A sunny start, with showers more frequent in the afternoon, with a chilly F3 West north westerly. Watches: 0615-1515.
It was a much better day all round, with increases in grounded migrants and visible migration, with a few good birds thrown in too. A Richard's Pipit in Walker butts was a good spring find, calling as it flew off north in the evening, a drake Garganey was on Kilnsea wetlands, where an immature Spoonbill dropped in for a feed and a bath then flew south, the Great White Egret still present, but flew off north west, as did a ringtail Hen Harrier, while the Cetti's Warbler continues its stay at the Point.
Grounded migrants/local breeder numbers were again up slightly with 2 Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Cuckoo, 4 Short-eared Owl, 60 Sand Martin, 10 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 4 Wilow Warbler, 9 Chiffchaff, 11 Sedge Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 7 Lesser Whitethroat, 19 Whitethroat, 6 Goldcrest, 2 Ring Ouzel, 42 Fieldfare, a Black Redstart, 1 Redstart, 5 Wheatear, 7 Yellow Wagtail, 4 White Wagtail, 2 Bullfinch and 3 Siskin.
The vis-miggers had a much better morning, but numbers are still lower than normal for the time of year with a Swift, 4 Jackdaw, 6 Rook, 9 Carrion Crow, 105 Sand Martin, 349 Swallow, 17 House Martin, 18 Yellow Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail, 3 Chaffinch and 6 Goldfinch, with 68 Curlew, 11 Black-headed Gull and 11 Common Gull out east.
The usual Whooper Swan remained on Kilnsea wetlands along with 2 Pale-bellied Brent among the 372 Dark-bellied Brents while there are now 5 Tufted Duck.
Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Wheatear, 2 Robin, 1 Linnet.
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Spoonbill. Luke Nash.
Spoonbill. John Hewitt.
Short-eared Owl. Bethan Clyne.
Great White Egret. John Hewitt.
Great White Egret with Little Egrets and Grey Heron. John Hewitt.
Saturday, 01 May 2021
A wet start, cleared to leave a sunny afternoon, but with a continuing cold F4 north easterly.
A day where it was much the same, sprung to life with news of a WHITE-TAILED EAGLE heading south over Withernsea, and with that location being so near to Spurn, birders vacated to higher ground and saw it come south high over the Humber, spending some time sat on the mud, before continuing south across to Lincolnshire. At the time of writing it is an apparently wild bred bird.
Grounded migrants were similar to previous days, though an increase in Hirundines was apparent, 16 Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank, a Cuckoo, 2 Short-eared Owl, 80 Sand Martin, 45 Swallow, 6 Willow Warbler, 15 Chiffchaff, 11 Sedge Warbler, a Reed Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 12 Whitethroat, 6 Goldcrest, 26 Fieldfare, 8 Song Thrush, a Redstart, 11 Wheatear, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 2 WhiteWagtail, a Hawfinch north over Pancho ponds, 1 Lesser Redpoll and a Siskin.
Apart from the Eagle there was little on the move, 12 Arctic Tern and 2 Curlew out east and a Great Skua south the best.
The KIlnsea wetlands area held 300 Brent Geese, a Barnacle Goose, the Whooper Swan, 2 Tufted Duck, the Great White Egret and 5 Little Egret with now upto 40 Little Tern on nearby Beacon ponds.
Ringing: 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Goldfinch.
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Orange Tip. Dave Constantine.
Great White Egret. Dave Constantine.
White Wagtail. John Hewitt.
White tailed Eagle. Neil Hunt.
Friday, 30 April 2021
A fine and sunny day, with some cloud and the cold F3 north easterly. Watches: 0630-0945.
Migrants numbers were slightly up for some species and boosted by returning breeders to the area with, 30 Whimbrel, a Green Sandpiper, 24 Little Tern, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Short-eared Owl, 100 Sand Marttin, 7 Swallow, a House Martin, 5 Willow Warbler, 30 Chiffchaff, 7 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 9 Blackcap, 9 Lesser Whitethroat, 27 Whitethroat, 14 Goldcrest, 70 Starling, a Ring Ouzel, 26 Fieldfare, a Redwing, 4 Song Thrush, 2 Black Redstart, 2 Wheatear, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 3 White Wagtail, a Brambling and a Siskin.
The Great White Egret was around the KiInsea area, a Pale-bellied Brent and 2 Little Gull on KIlnsea wetlands, where small numbers of Duck remained including 7 Gadwalll, 5 Wigeon, 10 Teal and 3 Tufted Duck.
The best of the movement today were 78 Curlew out east, while a Grey Heron, 16 Carrion Crow, 5 Swallow and 2 Lesser Redpoll went south.
Ringing: 1 Moorhen, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Brambling.
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Little Egret. Thomas Willoughby.
Grasshopper Warbler. Bethan Clyne.
Wheatear. Thomas Willoughby.
Cuckoo with Caterpillar. Dave Costantine.
Swallow. Dave Constantine.
Thursday, 29 April 2021
Sunny spells with rain/hail showers and a F4 north easterly. Watches: 0615-0915.
Migrant numbers and returning breeders were up for some species like the 11 Little Tern now at Beracon ponds, back on territory. There was also 25 Whimbrel, 50 Swallow, 25 Swallow, 9 Willow Warbler, 26 Chiffchaff, 8 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, a Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 16 Whitethroat, 11 Goldcrest, 70 Starling, a Ring Ouzel, 26 Fieldfare, 3 Song Thrush, a Black Redstart, 1 Redstart, 11 Wheatear, 14 Yellow Wagtail, a White Wagtail, 2 Barmbling, a Bullfinch and 1 Siskin.
The day aslo saw a Great White Egret still present which then went south, the Cetti's Warbler again at the Point and the Whooper Swan remain at Kilnsea wetlands along with 418 Dark-bellied Brent and 4 Tufted Duck.
A trickle of movement saw 2 Barnacle Geese go north and 9 Curlew go out east, while Passerine movement was again poor, a Sand Martin, 8 Swallow and a House Martin the best.
Ringing: 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 4 Goldcrest, 1 Blackbird, 2 Robin, 1 Bullfinch.
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Brambling. Paul Willoughby.
Bar-tailed Godwit. Tony Hull.
Bar-tailed Godwit. Tony Hull.
Barnacle Geese. Paul Willoughby.
Wednesday, 28 April 2021
A generally sunny day with the continuing F4 north easterly. Watches: 0615-0915.
A small arrival of migrants brought the first 'rattling' 3 Lesser Whitethroat to the area plus 45 Whimbrel, 16 Willow Warbler, 20 Chiffchaff, 4 Sedge Warbler, a Grasshopper Warbler, 14 Blackcap, 12 Whitethroat, 4 Goldcrest, 7 Fieldfare, 5 Song Thrush, a Black Redstart, 1 Redstart, 9 Wheatear, 6 Yellow Wagtail, a White Wagtail, 2 Lesser Redpoll and 4 Siskin. The drake Garganey was presewnt again on Kilnsea wetlands along with the Whooper Swan, the 2 Great White Egret in the long bank/kilnsea wetlands area and the Cettis's Warbler still at the Point.
The best of the movement today saw 107 Arctic Tern fly out east, but apart from 10 Fulmar, 4 Sandwich Tern and a Little Tern it was quiet.
Ringing: 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Blackbird.
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Peregrine. Thomas Willoughby.
Fox and cubs. Bethan Clyne. "I spent 2 hours yesterday evening in the cold SE wind watching and photographing them as they ran and rolled around, playing with each other and annoying their mum as she protectively watched the area. A very special experience"
Fox and cubs. Bethan Clyne.
Fox and Cubs. Bethan Clyne.
Tuesday, 27 April 2021
A grey overcast day with showers throughout and a cool F3 north easterly. Watches: 0630-0930.
The month is slowly ticking to an end, and again migarnt numbers are low. Saying that the first drake Garganey of the spring was on KIlnsea wetlands and the first House Martin flew south sawy from the cold weather. The day aslo saw 2 Hawfinch, singles at the Point and in the triangle, 2 Great White Egret in the Kilnsea wetlands/Easington lagoon area and the resident Cetti's Warbler at thhe Point.
Migrant numbers were a Little-ringed Plover, 6 Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Cuckoo, 24 Sand Martin, 7 Willow Warbler, 9 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, 7 Whitethroat, 2 Goldcrest, 4 Fieldfare, 3 Song Thrush, a Redstart, 32 Wheatear, 5 Yellow Wagtail, a Lesser Redpoll and 5 Siskin.
The usual Whooper Swan remained at Kilnsea wetlands, 200 Brent Geese and 4 Tufted Duck.
Ringing: 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldfinch, 2 Siskin, 1 Lesser Redpoll.
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Hawfinch. John Hewitt.
Grasshopper Warbler. Tim Jump.
Little-ringed Plover. Tony Hull.
Monday, 26 April 2021
Sunny morning, clouding over with a chilly F3 north easterly. Watches: 0630-0940.
Migrants numbers remained steady, though the first Swift of the year, flying south, was very welcome along with a Little-ringed Plover, 28 Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, 62 Sand Martin, 9 Swallow, 4 Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 5 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, a Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 11 Whitethroat, 5 Goldcrest, a Ring Ouzel, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Redstart, 13 Wheatear, 4 Yellow Wagtail, a Brambling, 3 Lesser Redpoll and a Siskin.
Yet again poor for overland movement, the continued winds from the north not conjusive with just 7 Jackdaw, 3 Rook, 11 Carrion Crow, 2 Skylark, 8 Sand Martin, 11 Swallow, 2 Flava Wagtail and an Alba Wagtail, with 23 Curlew and 11 Arctic Tern heading out east.
A Great White Egret was on Kilnsea wetlands along with the Whooper Swan, 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Little Egret and 2 Greenshank.
Ringing: 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff. 1 Goldfinch.
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Great White Egret. John Hewitt.
Great White Egret. John Hewitt.
Greylag Geese with young. John Hewitt.
Cuckoo. John Hewitt.
Sunday, 25 April 2021
Sunny spells with a F4 north easterly. Watches: 0530-0900.
Migrants totals remained at decent levels including a good total of 29 Whimbrel, plus a Woodcock, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl, a Coal Tit, 10 Willow Warbler, 12 Chiffchaff, 3 Sedge Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 7 Whitethroat, 7 Goldcrest, a Ring Ouzel, 2 Fieldfare, 3 Song Thrush, 3 Redstart, 18 Wheatear, 6 Yellow Wagtail and a Brambling.
It was quiet again for the vis miggers, but another Common Buzzard went south along with 15 Sand Martin, 16 Swallow, a Flava Wagtail, 1 Alba Wagtail and 12 Goldfinch.
The Whooper Swan continued its stay on Kilnsea wetlands along with a Pale-bellied Brent and 2 Tufted Duck.
Ringing: 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Wren, 1 Robin, 2 Chaffinch.
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Swallow. Luke Nash.
Pale-bellied Brent with 2 Dark-bellied Brents. John Hewitt.
Whooper Swan. John Hewitt.
Saturday, 24 April 2021
Overcast clearing to a sunny day, warm out of the chilly F3 north easterly. Watches: 0530-1225.
A Woodlark gave fantastic views on Canal scrape, having flown south, then retunring back north and possiblty the bird from yesterday. A Hawfinch was in the triangle, while further totals from today were 3 Short-eared Owl, 6 Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, 5 Cuckoo, 45 Sand Martin, 24 Willow Warbler, 23 Chiffchaff, a Siberian Chiffchaff, 7 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler at Sammy's (first of year), the Cetti's Warbler still at the Point, 14 Blackcap, 19 Whitethroat, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Ring Ouzel, 4 Fieldfare, a Black Redstart, 2 Redstart, 27 Wheatear, 10 Yellow Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, 2 Brambling, a Mealy Redpoll at Kew, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Siskin and a Snow Bunting.
It was a good day for birds heading out east with 205 Bar-tailed Godwit the highlight plus 21 Oystercatcher, 30 Whimbrel, a Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 14 Black-headed Gull, 5 Little Gull, a Sandwich Tern and 2 Arctic Tern, while overland south bound were a Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Jackdaw, 7 Rook, 97 Carrion Crow, 37 Sand Marttin, 15 Swallow, 6 Flava Wagtail, 4 Alba Wagtail, 2 Chaffinch, 9 Goldfinch and 2 Corn Bunting.
Ringing: 1 Wood Pigeon, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 1 Blackbird, 1 Brambling.
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Woodlark. Bethan Clyne.
Woodlark. Bethan Clyne.
Common Sandpiper. John Hewitt
Friday, 23 April 2021
A nice sunny day with a brisk F3 south easterly. Watches: 0605-1135.
The best of today's sightings was a Woodlark, which flew south at the Warren early morning, while migrant totals were 19 Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, a Cuckoo, 4 Sand Martin, 4 Swallow, 6 Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, a Sedge Warbler, 2 Grasshopper,5 Blackcap, 13 Whitethroat, 2 Goldcrest, 3 Ring Ouzel, 4 Song Thrush, 15 Wheatear, 12 Yellow Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, a Tree Pipit, 2 Lesser Redpoll and a Snow Bunting.
There was a bit of movement overland, 3 Canada Geese, 3 Jackdaw, 12 Rook, 30 Carrion Crow, 3 Skylark, 19 Sand Martin, 24 Swallow, 5 Alba Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, 2 Alba Wagtail, 9 Chaffinch, 17 Linnet, 3 Goldfinch and a Siskin, (aswell as the Woodlark mentioned above), while over the sea a Goldeneye and 15 Curlew and 16 Little Gull out east.
The best of the sightings around the Kilnsea wetlands area were the Whooper Swan, 400 Brent Geese and 2 Marsh Harrier.
Ringing: 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Blackbird, 1 Goldfinch.
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White Wagtail? Thomas Willoughby.