Archive
Sunday, 21 February 2021
A mild day with light winds, drizzle late morning and sunny spells in the afternoon. Watches: 0715-1040, 1400-1610.
The best of today's action over the sea was a welcome Red-necked Grebe heading south, while also moving were 3 Shelduck, 3 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 5 Pintail, 2 Mallard, 12 Teal, 17 Common Scoter, 2 Goosander, 124 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Gannet, 18 Cormorant, 6 Oystercatcher, 63 Lapwing, 48 Dunlin, a Sanderling, 37 Black-headed Gull, 327 Common Gull, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 221 Herring Gull, 14 Guillemot and 20 Auk sp, while overland a Red Kite headed off towards Lincolnshire and 11 Skylark also flew south.
The resident Black-necked Grebe maintained its star status on Kilnsea wetlands along with the Scaup and 4 Goldeneye, with 2 Pale-bellied Brent nearby on Long bank. The best of the rest, saw 7 Woodcock still about, 8 Song Thrush all in song in the area and 2 Marsh Harrier wandering the area.
Ringing: 1 Sparrowhawk.
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Goldeneye. Tony Hull.
Goldeneye. Tony Hull.
Red Kite. John Swallow.
Saturday, 20 February 2021
Overcast and mild with sunny spells, but a cold feeling moderate south westerly. Watches: 0715-1125.
The Black-necked Grebe was still on Kilnsea wetlands, being only the second to remain more than a day in the area. There was at least 1 Black Brant picked out at Sammies, along with 2 very persuasive adult Black Brant lookalike intergrades plus a more recent juvenile too. The flock of 650 Dark-bellied Brents also containing 2 Pale-bellied Brents. There were 12 Woodcock recorded today, while on Kilnsea wetlands the Scaup was till present along with 5 Goldeneye, 63 Black-tailed Godwit and the Greenshank.
Moving today were 2 Gadwall, 6 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, 2 Mallard, 3 Teal, 2 Common Scoter, a Goldeneye, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 94 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northen Diver, 10 Gannet, 3 Cormorant, a Knot, 2 Dunlin, 24 Guillemot, a Razorbill and 72 Auk sp.
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Dark-bellied Brents. John Swallow.
Little egret. John Swallow.
Black Brant. Mick Turton.
Intergrade adult Black Brant x Dark-bellied Brent. Mick Turton.
Black Brant with intergrade juvenile. Mick Turton.
Friday, 19 February 2021
Overcast with showers on and off amd a strong south east to south westerly. Watches: 0730-1100.
Highlights from today were a 2cy Glaucous Gull lingering at the Point, with a Snow Bunting here also, the Black-necked Grebe again on Kilnsea wetlands, and the Scaup on nearby Beacon ponds and the Black Brant, 2 Pale-bellied Brent along with 500 Dark-bellied Brent Geese at Sammies. Other bits of note were just 3 Woodccok, 4 Goldeneye on Kilnsea wetlands, 2 Rock Pipit on Easington lagoon, 60 Carrion Crow and 40 Yellowhammer at Sammies.
The wind still being in the south, saw some decent movement again with 9 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, 7 Teal, 5 Common Scoter, an Eider, 39 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver, 4 Gannet, a Shag, 6 Cormorant, 14 Oystercatcher, a Curlew, 1 Knot, 10 Dunlin, a Little Gull, 32 Black-headed Gull, 4 Guillemot, 9 Razorbill and 20 Auk sp, while overland 4 Chaffinch west south.
Ringing: 6 Redwing.
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Woodcock. John Hewitt.
Black-necked Grebe. Tony Hull.
Black-necked Grebe. John Hewitt.
Glaucous Gull (top bird). Steve Webb.
Thursday, 18 February 2021
Rain in the morning gave way to sunny spells with a strong southerly. Watches: 0715-0945, 1200-1530.
Strong southerlies can at some times of the year, induce quite decent movement of Waders and Wildfowl. The highlight today being 2 Red-crested Pochard, which were seen at Hornsea mere earliera, and a nice reward for the seawatchers, along with 3 Brent Geese, 4 Pintail, 7 Teal, 7 Common Scoter, a Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Cormorant, 3 Dunlin, 2 Purple Sandpiper, a Kittiwake, 13 Herring Gull, 2 Guillemot, 7 Razorbill and 17 Auk sp.
The Black-necked Grebe and Scaup, both remained in the KIlnsea wetlands area and a 3cy Yellow-legged Gull was at Easington boatyard then flew south, while 7 Woodcock were counted today.
Ringing: 3 Redwing.
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Stonechat. Colin Bushell.
Black-necked Grebe. Tony Hull.
Black-necked Grebe. Tony Hull.
Black-necked Grebe. John Hewitt.
Wednesday, 17 February 2021
A mild overcast day with sunny spells and a light to moderate south westerly. Watches: 0730-1000, 1330-1530.
The Black-necked Grebe remained, but moved onto Kilnsea wetlands, giving nice views, while the Scaup did likewise. There were 2 adult Black Brant in fields in KIlnsea, along with a Pale-bellied Brent among 800 Dark-bellied Brents. KIlnsea wetlands had 2 Gadwall, 16 Shoveler and 5 Goldeneye among the usual Wildfowl and the wintering Greenshank was still present. Nearby on the Humber 150 Black-tailed Godwit, 257 Grey Plover and 370 Dunlin were present.
The sea was a bit better with 4 Brent Geese, 18 Pink-footed Geese, 5 Teal, 10 Common Scoter, a Goldeneye, 50 Red-throated Diver, 3 Shag, 2 Cormorant, 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Guillemot, 1 Razorbill and Auk sp.
Ringing: 2 Wood Pigeon, 1 Blackbird, 2 Redwing.
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Black-necked Grebe. Steve Exley.
Scaup and Goldeneye. Jonny Fisk.
Pink-footed Geese. Colin Bushell.
Tuesday, 16 February 2021
Sunny spells and generally overcast with a mild moderate south westerly. Watches: 0730-1050.
The first Black-necked Grebe since 2011, was the highlight of the day, feeding on Beacon ponds with 9 Little Grebe and a Scaup. The immediate area also held 2 Gadwall, 450 Wigeon, 75 Teal, 6 Goldeneye, 2 Little Egret, 121 Curlew, 2 Snipe, 139 Redshank and a Greenshank. There were still 450 Black-tailed Godwit nearby on the Humber.
The warmer weather saw just 7 Woodcock recorded today, no doubt able to move into areas away from footpaths, while the first Goldcrest for a while was in Easington.
The sea was customary quiet with 2 Shoveler, 2 Wigeon, a Teal, 3 Common Scoter, 16 Red-throated Diver, 2 Gannet, 4 Dunlin, 2 Guillemot and 8 Auk sp.
Ringing: 1 Redwing.
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Black-necked Grebe. John Hewitt.
Black-necked Grebe. Ian Smith.
Scaup/ Tony Hull.
Black-necked Grebe and Wigeon. Colin Bushell.
Monday, 15 February 2021
A mild sunny day and a moderate south westerly. Watches: 0730-1000.
The best of the days action was centred around the KIlnsea wetlands area with 8 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 400 Wigeon, 50 Teal, the Scaup, 6 Goldeneye, 2 Little Egret, a Marsh Harrier, a fanastic 730 Black-tailed Godwit, 500 Dunlin, a Kittiwake, 1 Mediterranean Gulla and Barn Owl.
There were 52 Woodcock in the area, remaining the bird species of the winter and a Jack Snipe was in Sykes field, while a few Thrushes remain with 12 Fieldfare, 41 Redwing and 6 Song Thrush.
Ringing: 1 Woodcock, 2 Blackbird.
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Water Rail located by thermal camera. Paul French.
Woodcock at night. Paul French.
‘Flock’ of Woodcock feeding in fields, undisturbed by the use of a thermal camera. Paul French.
Saturday, 13 February 2021
A sunny day, but remaining cold in the strong south easterly. Watches: 0730-1200.
The cold weather continues making birding difficult and difficult for birds. There were 31 Woodcock recorded today along with 14 Snipe, 52 Fieldfare, 14 Redwing, a Song Thrush, 2 Meadow Pipit and 27 Chaffinch, while the frist Coal Tit of the year was in Easington. The best of the other sightings were 280 Black-tailed Godwit on the HUmber.
Moving over the sea were 5 Scaup, 2 Common Scoter, an Eider, 5 Goldeneye, 4 Red-throated Diver, 2 Gannet, a Cormorant, 2 Guillemot and 3 Auk sp.
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Wigeon sat on the ice. John Hewitt.
Carrion Crow. John Hewitt.
Friday, 12 February 2021
Snow showers and sunny spells, but cold with a strong easterly. Watches: 0730-1205.
There were signs that arrivals were still ongoing, 16 Woodcock recorded today, included a bird seen arriving in/off at the Gas terminal, while 6 Mstle Thrush in Easington was a good count
The usual good birding around Kilnsea wetlands had 9 Shoveler, 627 Wigeon, 100 Teal, 4 Goldeneye, a Marsh Harrier, 8 Snipe, a Greenshank and a Peregrine with 110 Black-tailed Godwit on the Humber.
Moving today were 5 Wigeon, 4 Tufted Duck, an Eider, 5 Common Scoter, 6 Red-throated Diver, 2 Gannet, 79 Common Gull, 40 Herring Gull and 2 Auk sp.
Ringing: 1 Redwing.
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Short-eared Owl. Mark Andrews.
Thursday, 11 February 2021
A day of blue skies with a decreasing east north eaterly. Watches: 0730-1030.in quite a few soecies as the thaw slowly takes effect.
There was an increase in quite a few grounded species as the thaw slowly takes effect, highlighted by another great count of 82 Woodcock along with 16 Snipe, 61 Blackbird, 68 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 36 Meadow Pipit and 19 Chaffinch. The ringtail Hen Harrier was again hunting the Sammies area, along with 2 Short-eared Owl, looking out for easy prey amoong the weakened survivors of the freeze.
The previous day saw almost nothing on the move over the sea, but an obvious increase today, while still meagre gave some reward with 13 Brent Geese, 2 Pale-bliied Brent (north), 2 Eider, 3 Common Scoter, 33 Red-throated Diver, 5 Shag, 11 Coromorant, 3 Oystercatcher, 143 Common Gull, 1 Guillemot and a Razorbill.
Other bits of note were an increase to 5 Goldeneye on Kilnsea wetlands (one previous day), along with 8 Shoveler, 520 Wigeon, 110 Teal and 128 Lapwing, with 250 Black-tailed Godwit and 1000 Dunlin on the Hmber.
Ringing: 1 Woodcock, 1 Redwing, 1 Robin, 1 Chaffinch.
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Woodcock landing in stubble fields. John Hewitt.
Woodcock. John Hewitt.