Tuesday, 04 January 2022

Frosty start, soon bright and sunny with a F2-4 north westerly. Watches: 0815-1000.

The Barnacle Goose and Cetti's Warbler were again in the triangle and at least 1 Siberian Chiffchaff at the sewage works with a Chiffchaff, while a small increase in grounded birds saw 2 Woodcock, 46 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush and 3 Stonechat in the area.

Some decent sightings from the Kilnsea wetlands area saw 518 Wigeon, 2 Pochard, 2 Tufted Duck and 4 Goldeneye coiunted.

Ringing: 3 House Sparrow.

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Monday, 03 January 2022

Bright and sunny with a F5-6 south westerly.  Watches: 0830-1015.

It was just about 'as you were' with pretty much all the same bird present, including the Barnacle Goose and Cetti's Warbler in the triangle, 2 Siberian Chiffchaff at the sewage works and a Black Redstart at the gas terminal.

Up in the Kilnsea wetlands area the 2 Pochard and 2 Tufted Duck were still about along with a Pale-bellied Brent. 

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Sunday, 02 January 2022

A bright sunny day and a F4-6 south westerly. Watches: 0735-0900.

It was the Michael Clegg memorial bird race with teams on foot and by bike around the area and bird wise a similar day to the previous with the Barnacle Goose and Cetti's Warbler still in the triangle and the 2 Siberian Chiffchaff and a Chiffchaff at the sewage works, but 3 Black Redstart at the gas termional is probably a winter record count. 

Grounded migrants included 2 Woodcock, a Goldcrest, 4 Redwing and a Siskin, while the best of birds on the move were a Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Wigeon, 12 Common Scoter and a Siskin.

Little cgange at Kilnsea wetlands though there are now 2 Pochard, 8 Little Egret and 28 Little Grebe.

Ringing: 1 Water Rail, 1 Moorhen, 2 Blackbird, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Siskin.

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Saturday, 01 January 2022

Sunny spells and mild with a F4-6 south westerly.  Watches: 0830-1000.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ALL OF US AT SPURN.

The year got off to a good start with the 4 White-fronted Geese still in the triangle before flying south while a Barnacle Goose here also with the 180 Greylags. The day also saw 2 Snow Bunting fly south with 2 Siberian Chiffchaff and 2 Chiffchaff at Easington swage works and the Cetti's Warbler again in Sykes field. 

The Kilnsea wetlands area was aagin alive with birds including 15 Shoveler, 4 Pintail, a Pochard, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Goldeneye, 16 Little Grebe, a Little Egret, 361 Curlew, 7 Black-tailed Godwit and 300 Redshank.

Some bits were on the move with 198 Pink-footed Geese, 3 Shoveler, 8 Wigeon, 6 Teal, a Red-throated Diver, 1 Shag, 7 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 2 Turnstone and 32 Black-headed Gull in/off.

Ringing: 1 Blackbird.

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Friday, 31 December 2021

Overcast start, sunny spells and a F4 south westerly.

The last day of 2021 saw a Richard's Pipit head north over the triangle, where the 4 White-fronted Geese remained with 176 Greylag Geese, the Cetti's Warbler still in Corner field and 2 Siberian Chiffchaff at the sewage works with 2 Chiffchaff.

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Friday, 31 December 2021

Birding review of 2021.

The year was yet again not a classic but did include some top class rarities including a first for Spurn, record movements of both Pink-footed Goose and Siskin, but a largely flat autumn for any arrivals of common migrants, such as Goldcrests and Robins which so often give such memorable days.

The list of rarities is as always impressive despite the common migrants back up, the highlight being the 1st Two-barred Greenish Warbler which spent five days in canal hedge often giving close views, while the 2nd Rufous Turtle Dove was a totally unexpected garden bird in July also present for five days. The 3rd Purple Heron spent plenty of time in the area if only seen intermittently, there were the 5th records of Isabelline Wheatear and Black Stork (Easington) and a showy male Eastern Subalpine Warbler at Middle camp, our 8th Western Bonelli’s Warbler around the crown continues our recent mini run of this species, the 10th Cattle Egret which we expect to become annual, a wild bred White-tailed Eagle was our 12th, the 15th Arctic Warbler graced the crown carpark, while our 16th White-rumped Sandpiper on the usual spot of Kilnsea wetlands and a Thrush Nightingale singing at wire dump continues Spurn as being the place to see this species on the east coast. Finally, our 20th Rustic Bunting in church field continues our record of one every two years.

As usual for local listers, locally scarce birds came in the form of our 7th Red Crested Pochard (2), our 14th Nuthatch and our 25th Black-necked Grebe but the first since 2011.

It was yet again good for scarce birds seen during the year, with some additions on previous years and expected birds missing, but Rose-coloured Starling was recorded in maybe double figures and the 20 Bee-eater were unprecedented despite being annual for us. Other notable birds were 2 Cory’s Shearwater, 10+ Great White Egret , 2 Montagu’s Harrier, a male Red-footed Falcon, 2 Dotterel, 3 Temminck’s Stint, a Red-necked Phalarope, a Quail, 2 Common Crane, 5 Golden Oriole including a stunning showy adult male, 4 Turtle Dove, a Hoopoe, the annual records of Red-rumped Swallow (3) takes us to the verge of 100 records, 2 Alpine Swift were almost expected these days, 4 Richard’s Pipit (inc a spring bird), an Olive-backed Pipit, a male Grey-headed Wagtail, 5+ Cetti’s Warbler (and maybe now a resident), Barred Warblers, 2 spring Icterine Warbler, 1+ Dusky Warbler, 2 Greenish Warbler including another spring bird, just 5 Yellow-browed Warbler in a poor year for them, 3 Red-breasted Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrikes, 3 Wryneck, a Bluethroat, an elusive Nightingale, 2 Serin, 3 Rosefinch, Hawfinches, an Ortolan Bunting and 3 Little Bunting. (All sightings and totals need to be ratified and accepted).

The year was mixed for both the vis miggers and seawatchers alike with a record 12,245 Pink-footed Geese heading south, 14,393 Starling in/off and a record autumn for Siskin, but poor for Hirundines and Swift in both seasons while a mix for other species. Long-tailed Skua appeared in the spring yet again while it was a brilliant autumn for them with several lingering offshore. The year as mentioned was poor for common migrants, but good numbers of Pied Flycatcher were present in late August. Also noteworthy were a big influx of Woodcock in February and a record number of Caspian Gulls in the second half of the year. Happy Birding in 2022.

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Thursday, 30 December 2021

Overnight rain petered out early mprning with a F4-5 south westerly.  Watches: 0830-`1015, 1150-1305.

The adult Bewick's Swan appeared on Easington straight today with 10 Whooper Swan (6 still near Skeffling) eventually flying south east out to sea after some loud bird scarers went off, the Whoopers returning to Skeffling. The 4 White-fronted Geese remained in the triangle, 2 Siberian Chiffchaff at the sewage works, a Cetti's Warbler at canal scrape and a ringtail Hen Harrier at Sammy's.. 

There were a few more birds on the move today with 25 Pink-footed Geese, 24 Teal, 3 Mallard, an Eider, 8 Common Scoter, 5 Cormorant, 4 Lapwing and an Arctic Skua.

Othe bits from today were a Pale-bellied Brent with 550 Brent Geese, 3 Woodcock (Church field and Sammy's), a Greenshank on Beacon ponds and 2 Stonechat on Beacon lane.

Ringing: 1 Woodcock, 2 REdwing, 1 Song Thrush.

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Wednesday, 29 December 2021

Overcast day, rain in the morning cleared with a F4-5 south westerly. Watches: 0820-1100.

The family part of 4 White-fronted Geese remained in the triangle and 2 Siberian Chiffchaff plus 1 Chiffchaff remained at the sewage works with the Cetti's Warbler still in Sykes field.

There was a clear out of grounded migrants, but 2 Woodcock were seen while it was quiet for birds on the move though 49 Teal flew south.

The KIlnsea wetlands area held 130 Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, the drake Red-breasted Merganser and 21 Black-tailed Godwit among all the usual.

Juts outside the area an adult Bewick's Swan was present with 16 Whooper Swan between Sammy's and Skeffling.

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Tuesday, 28 December 2021

Overcast with rain till early afternoon and a F1-3 northerly.  Watches: 0945-1115.

Despite the continuing overcast conditions there were a few bits of interest the best being 2 Bewick's Swan which flew south past the 4 White-fronted Geese which were still in the triangle with 90 Greylag Geese, while a Black Redstart was at the gas terminal, 1 Siberian Chiffchaff at the sewage works and a Jack Snipe and Cetti's Warbler in Sykes .

There were fewer grounded migrants about with 3 Woodcock, 2 Goldcrest, 26 Fieldfare, 35 Redwing, 14 Redwing and a Song Thrush.

Among all the usuals on Kilnsea wetlands the 5 Pochard and male Red-breasted Merganser were joined by 4 Tufted Duck with 221 Lapwing were on Easington straight.

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Monday, 27 December 2021

Overcasy and grey with a F1-3 south easterly.  Watches: 1030-1145.

The day saw a small arrival of grounded migrants presumably continental with 4 Woodcock, 2 Goldcrest, 70 Fieldfare, 66 Blackbird, 56 Redwing and 3 Song Thrush, while the same conditions also brought a family party of 4 White-fronted Geese to the triangle. Usuals in the area saw a Cetti's Warbler still vocal in Sykes field and 1 Siberian Chiffchaff at the sewage works along with a Chiffchaff.

The Kilnsea wetlands area gathered 21 Shoveler, 769 Wigeon, 168 Teal, 5 Pochard, 2 Goldeneye and a Red-breasted Merganser onto this small pool with also 90 Greylag Geese, 1200 Brent Geese nearby containing 6 Pale-bellied Brent, 2 x hybrid Brants and the leucistic bird.

Ringing: 3 Fieldfare, 1 Blackbird, 9 Redwing. 3 Song Thrush, 1 Tree Sparrow, 2 House Sparrow.

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