Archive
Tuesday, 23 March 2021
After an overcast start, it was aday of sunny spells and a light south westerly. Watches: 0630-1000, 1430-1600.
There was a small, but welcome increase in migrant numbers with the first Sand Martin, flying south and grounded birds included a Woodcock, 1 White Wagtail at Easington lagoon, 20 Chiffchaff, 16 Goldcrest, 3 Fieldfare, 11 Redwing, 5 Song Thrush, 19 Pied Wagtail, 17 Chaffinch and a Brambling.
There was a pick up in birds heading south with a Red Kite, 1 Sparrowhawk, a Stock Dove, 25 Jackdaw, 5 Rook, 453 Starling, 4 Redwing, 5 Alba Wagtail, 30 Meadow Pipit, a Rock Pipit, 36 Chaffinch, 19 Linnet, 9 Goldfinch, 4 Siskin and 2 Reed Bunting, while over the sea, 118 Pink-footed Geese north west, 2 Shelduck, 3 Eider, 16 Common Scoter, 16 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northen Diver, a record count of 9 Great Crested Grebe (which has stood since the 17th May 1964), 2 Cormorant, 7 Oystercatcher, 4 Curlew out east and 13 Guillemot.
Other sightings were mainly from the Kilnsea wetlands area with the Whooper Swan still remaining, 59 Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, a drake Goosander, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank and 12 Avocet, with the 2 Peregrine still around the gas terminal.
Ringing: 1 Woodcock, 3 Great Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 1 Robin, 1 Chaffinch.
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Teal. John Hewitt.
Wigeon. John Hewitt.
Greylag Goose with hybrid Greylag x Canada. John Hewitt.
Monday, 22 March 2021
A mild sunny day with a light westerly. Watches: 0625-1000.
Spurn finally got on the act with 14 Whooper Swans which dropped onto Beacon ponds with the single still present on Kilnsea wetlands (hopefully it departs with the flock). The 5 White-fronted Geese put in an appaearance again on Kilnsea wetlands with decent numbers of Wildfowl still present including 21 Shoveler, 305 Wigeon, 52 Teal and 2 Tufted Duck. Further sightings in the area were 2 Greenshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Avocet and a Red Kite wandering from Kilnsea to Sammies.
Slim pickings for migrants recorded included a Woodcock, 5 Snipe, a Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest, 40000 Starling, 26 Blackbird and 3 Siskin.
The condiotions seemed to encourage a bit more southerly movement in the morning with 169 Pink-footed Geese north, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Curlew out east, 13 Wood Pigeon, 46 Jackdaw, 18 Rook, 325 Starling, 5 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, a Grey Wagtail, 1 Alba Wagtail, 24 Meadow Pipit, a Rock Pipit, 4 Chaffinch, 21 Linnet, a Siskin and 2 Goldfinch, while over the sea 4 Common Scoter, 12 Red-throated Diver, a Great Crested Grebe, 2 Gannet, 13 Cormorant and a Guillemot..
Ringing: 2 Starling, 4 Blackbird, 2 Goldcrest, 5 Chaffinch, 1 Greenfinch, 6 Linnet.
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Whooper Swan. Tony Hull.
Short-eared Owl. Tony Hull.
Sunday, 21 March 2021
A unnyy day, warm out of the light north westerly. Watches: 0630-0930.
Despite the sunny weather there is still little happening on the migration front, as the northerlies continue to dominate. A change to more southerly type winds would come as a nice change and encourage a northbound push and maybe a summer migrant ot two. The best of the sea were 2 Eider, a Velvet Scoter, 9 Common Scoter, 23 Red-throated Diver, 9 Gannet, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Guillemot and an Auk sp. Overland it was tough going with 18 Jackdaw, 2 Rook, an Alba Wagtail, 3 Meadow Pipit, 7 Chaffinch, 35 Linnet and a Goldfinch.
The best of the other sightings were 80 Pintail at Sammies, 122 Carrion Crow on Green lane and 2 Peregrine hanging about the gas terminal.
Ringing: 1 Great Tit, 2 Blackbird, 1 Dunnock, 2 Chaffinch.1 Greenfinch.
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Teal. Ian Smith.
Leucistic Brent Goose. Tony Hull.
Saturday, 20 March 2021
Overcast with afternoon sunny spells and a F3-4 north westerly. Watches: 0630-0945.
Movement over the sea 140 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Greylag Geese, 9 Wigeon, 17 Common Scoter, 3 Eider, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Gannet, 7 Cormorant, 12 Curlew out east, 9 Guillemot, a Puffin and 10 Auk sp, while overland 52 Jackdaw, 8 Rook, 16 Carrion Crow, a Pied Wagtail and 1 Siskin.
Migrants were mainly those gathering before heading off east back to the continent with 2 Short-eared Owl, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 54 Blackbird, 4 Song Thrush, a Redwing, 1 Stonechat, 2000 Starling, 11 Pied Wagtail, 83 Chaffinch and a Siskin.
Other bits of note were the Black Brant present with 2 Pale-bellied Brent among 236 Brent Geese and 88 Pintail at Sammy's, 2 Goldeneye on Kilnsea wetlands and a Corn Bunting singing in Churchfield.
Ringing: 1 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 5 Blackbird, 1 Robin, 4 Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch, 3 Goldfinch, 1 Yellowhammer.
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Friday, 19 March 2021
A foggy day only clearing by late afternoon, when the sun made an appearance with a light northerly. Watches: 0630-0930.
Maybe the first migrant Black Redstart of the year was by the Gas terminal, though few other signs to get hopes up. There was an increase in Thrush numbers with 70 Blackbird, 4 Fieldfare, 29 Redwing and 6 Song Thrush as they ready themselves for another North Sea crossing.
The breeding dress Great White Egret spent the day in the Kilnsea wetlands to canal scrape area, while the Black Brant was on the Humber at Sammies along with 133 Brent Geese. The Whooper Swan was on Kilnsea wetlands and a small Duck influx overnight here, brought a Pochard and an increase to 5 Tufted Duck along with 5 Goldeneye on the Humber.
Movement over the sea was poor the best being 18 Red-throated Diver and 2 Fulmar with 4 Curlew out east. Overland it was quiet too with just 8 Jackdaw, a Rook, a Chaffinch and 25 Linnet.
Ringing: 2 Great Tit, 2 Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 4 Chaffinch, 9 Linnet, 1 Reed Bunting.
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Great White Egret. Colin Bushell.
Black Redstart. Colin Bushell.
Thursday, 18 March 2021
A chilly day with showers in the morning and a moderate north westerly. Watches: 0635-0935.
It was a similar day to the previous with the 5 White-fronted Geese and Black Brant on Kilnsea wetlands and the Whooper Swan nearby on Easington straight. Duck numbers on Kilnsea wetlands have dropped off from the winter highs, but still decent counts are being made with 23 Shoveler, 359 Wigeon, 43 Tea, 2 Tufted Duck and 2 Goldeneye.
Movement today saw a Great White Egret north over the Obs, 32 Common Scoter, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, a Goosander, 49 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Gannet, 2 Kittiwake, 14 Guillemot and 6 Auk sp, while some Passerines were moving into the north westerly, including 3 Rock Pipit, 70 Chaffinch, 6 Linnet and 2 Snow Bunting.
Other bits of note were a Woodcock chased by a Peregrine by the Gas terminal and 2 Short-eared Owl along the canal.
Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackbird, 9 Chaffinch, 1 Goldfinch, 3 Siskin.
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White-fronted Goose. John Hewitt.
Swans, Ducks, geese and Waders on Kilnsea wetlands. John Hewitt.
Wednesday, 17 March 2021
Rain in the morning gave way to sunny spells with light winds. Watches: 0630-1000.
Highlights from today included a Red-necked Grebe south over the sea at the Warren, 5 White-fronted Geese again on Kilnsea wetlands, the Whooper Swan on Easington straight and the Black Brant still present with 2 Pale-bellied Brent. Other bits on KIlnsea wetlands were 15 Shoveler, 8 Gadwall, 277 Wigeon, 49 Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Goldeneye, 11 Avocet, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank. and a Short-eared Owl.
Moving over the sea were an Eider, 2 Common Scoter, 34 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Gannet, 11 Black-headed Gull, the frist Great Skua of the year and 13 Guillemot.
Ringing: 5 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 1 Blackbird, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Siskin, 1 Goldfinch.
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Avocets. John Hewitt.
Avocet with Black-tailed Godwits. John Hewitt.
White-fronted Geese. John Hewitt.
Tuesday, 16 March 2021
Light rain with sunny spells with a F4-6 north westerly. Watches: 0630-1000, 1535-1640.
Migrant wise its still a bit slow going for arrivals with just 3 Chiffchaff widely scattered, 2 Goldcrest and 3 Siskin, with only a Fieldfare and 1 Redwing recorded for departing Thrushes.
The Black Brant is still present at Kilnsea wetlands along with a Pale-bellied Brent, the 5 White-fronted Geese and the Whooper Swan, along with the 2 Tufted Duck and 2 Goldeneye.
Moving were 2 Wigeon, 10 Common Scoter, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 28 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe on the sea, 2 Shag, 44 Kittiwake and 5 Auk sp, while overland 12 Jackdaw, 280 Starlng, 4 Meadow Pipit and 12 Linnet.
Ringing: 2 Great Tit, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Dunnock, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Goldfinch, 3 Siskin.
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Whooper Swan. John Hewitt.
Whooper Swan. John Hewitt.
Monday, 15 March 2021
A sunny day, but cold in the moderate north westerly. Watches: 0630-0930.
There was a noticeable increase in Great Tits in the area, and some movement noted at the Warren. Hopefully we eill see some good mornings of them heading south.The best of todays sightings were in the Kilnsea wetlands area with the 5 White-fronted Geese joined by a Barnacle Goose, which then moved into the triangle, the Whooper Swan still nearby and the Black Brant still present with 610 Dark-bellied Brents. There was aslo an impressive count of 25 Shoveler, while the 2 Tufted Duck remained along with 2 Goldeneye, 10 Gadwall, 345 Wigeon, 66 Teal and 14 Mallard.
The beginnings of overland movement of Common Scoter was noted overnight with a flock detected at around 10pm over Easington. The sea was quiet again with just 24 Common Scoter, 17 Red-throated Diver, a Fulmar, 1 Great Crested Grebe on the sea, 10 Gannet, 3 Cormorant, 3 Kittiwake, 7 Guillemot and 4 Auk sp, while overland it waa quiet too with 62 Wood Pigeon, 5 Magpie, 8 Jackdaw, 21 Rook, 3 Carrion Crow, 4 Great Tit, a Starling and 3 Chaffinch.
Ringing: 6 Great Tit, 1 Redwing, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Linnet.
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Avocet at Kilnsea wetlands. John Hewitt.
Black Brant taking off. John Hewitt.
Sunday, 14 March 2021
A good varied day of sightings so far, highlights being a Woodlark at Easington playing fields, 2 Lapland Bunting and a Red Kite heading south at the Warren, 4 Tundra Bean Geese east over Easington and a Hen Harrier along Green Lane. The 5 White-fronted Geese put in another apearance for the WEBS count and the Black Brant is again pressnt with a hybrid juvenile.
Over the sea 2 Velvet Scoter went south.
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Black Brant with intergrade juvenile. John Hewitt.