Archive
Saturday, 29 February 2020
Rain early morning with sunny spells and the odd storm with hail thrown in.
A busy work party day with much to do, so little birding done. Most of the decent sightings were again from the Kilnsea wetlands area with a nice male Common Scoter showing well infront of the hide, where there were also 600 Brent Geese, 25 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 18 Mallard, 3 Goldeneye, a Peregrine and 4 Stonechat.
Other sightings of note included a Water Rail, 29 Stock Dove, 21 Magpie and 15 Yellowhammer.
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Common Scoter. Jo Fisk.
Male Common Scoter. Jof Isk.
Friday, 28 February 2020
After early morning sunny spells it became a washout day with heavy horizontal rain and a gale force winds. Watches: 0700-1000.
Another day added to the list of difficult birding so early in the year though 255 Pink-footed Geese made the journey back north aith also 4 Wigeon, 2 Teal, 7 Common Scoter, 4 Gannet, a Shag, 6 Cormorant, 5 Stock Dove, 85 Wood Pigeon, 8 Jackdaw, 79 Starling, 2 Chaffinch and 2 Reed Bunting.
Sightings from the Kilnsea wetlands area saw the usual 2 Scaup still present along with 200 Brent Geese, 23 Shoveler, 5 Gadawlll, 400 Wigeon, 70 Teal and 8 Goldeneye.
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Thursday, 27 February 2020
After a rainy start it cleared to a sunny day with a cold F5 W wind.
The Kilnsea wetlands area held 400 Brent Geese, 27 Shoveler. 5 Gadwall, 300 Wigeon, 25 Mallard, 43 Teal, 2 Scaup, 7 Goldeneye, a Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 10 Little Grebe and 135 Curlew.
Other sightings of note in the area were 26 Stock Dove, 4 Stonechat, 35 Skylark, a Chiffchaff with some decent numbers of Thrushes.
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Wednesday, 26 February 2020
A generally settled sunny day but with a cold F4 WNW wind. Watches: 0715-0915.
There were some good counts returned again from the KIlnsea wetlands area (after none recently) with 7 Barnacle Geese dropping in for the day, the 2 Jack Snipe and 2 Scaup nearby on Beacon ponds plus 15 Whooper Swan, 400 Brent Geese, a Pale-bellied Brent, 13 Mute Swan, 8 Shelduck, 24 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 600 Wigeon, 126 Teal, 7 Goldeneye, 8 Little Grebe, a Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 90 Lapwing, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Snipe, a Greenshank and 2 Mediterranean Gull made for a very good day.
On the move today were 17 Stock Dove, 13 Jackdaw, 3 Rook, 133 Starling, 1 Alba Wagtail, 1 Rock Pipit, 3 Chaffinch and a Bullfinch while over the sea only a Canada Goose and 5 Cormorant of note.
Ringing: 1 Blue Tit, 4 House Sparrow, 1 Robin, 1 Chaffinch.
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Barnacle Geese with Wigeon and a Shelduck. John Hewitt.
Barnacle Geese. John Hewitt.
Barnacle Geese. John Hewitt.
Tuesday, 25 February 2020
Sunny spells with showers on and off with a F3-5 WSW wind. Watches: 0720-1025.
Maybe the first hint of spring with a nice selection of species on the move, though no big numbers yet.
Highlights of some southerly movement today included a nice Woodlark and 2 Snow Buntings plus 7 Stock Dove, 11 Jackdaw, 2 Rook, 11 Carrion Crow, 7 Blue Tit, 1 Skylark, 158 Starling, 1 Alba Wagtail, 5 Rock Pipit, 3 Chaffinch and 6 Reed Bunting while over the sea an Eider, 1 Goldeneye, 19 Red-throated Diver, 10 Gannet, 8 Cormorant, 1 Kittiwake, 22 Herring Gull, 5 Guillemot, 1 razorbill and 5 Auk sp.
There were 15 Whooper Swan again on Easington straight along with 21 Mute Swan with 450 Brent Geese nearby. Other sightings included a Chiffchaff and Goldcrest in Sykes field, a Mistle Thrush on Clubleys, Song Thrush at the Obs and 200 Starling in North field.
Ringing: 1 Robin, 3 House Sparrow.
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Woodlark. Jacob Spinks.
Woodlark. Jacob Spinks.
Rook. Jacob Spinks.
Monday, 24 February 2020
Sunny spells, rain on and off with an increasing F0-5 SSW-SE wind.
The Black Brant was again in Kilnsea with 450 Brent Geese with 13 Whooper Swans on Kilnsea wetlands along with 35 Shoveler, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank.
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Sunday, 23 February 2020
Calm and overcast to begin with intermittent rain and an increasing F0-4 wind.
Sightings during the day reflected few observers out and about with 26 Mute Swan on Easington striaght, 15 Whooper Swan and an Avocet on Kilnsea wetlands, 2 Scaup on Beacon ponds, 970 Oystercatcher, 120 Curlew and 1500 Knot on the Humber, a Mediterranean Gull, 5 Barn Owl in the area, 23 Magpie in North field and 3 Meadow Pipit in Clubley's.
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Saturday, 22 February 2020
Sunny spellls with a Blustery F6 WSW wind. Watches: 0745-1230.
Strong winds yet again made birding diifficult away from sheltered spots.
Over the sea were 2 Brent Geese, an Eider, 35 Red-throated Diver, a Fulmar, 33 Gannet, 1 Cormorant, 2 Oystercatcher, 4 Kittiwake, 12 Black-headed Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull,43 Common Gull, 105 Herring Gull, 25 Guillemot, 3 Razorbill and 119 Auk sp while overland 3 Skylark, 20 Starling and 2 Blackbird were on the move.
Other sightings included 600 Brent Geese and 120 Curlew in Kilnsea, 2 Mediterranean Gulls in Well field, a Merlin blogging and 3 Meadow Pipit by the Borrow pit.
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Friday, 21 February 2020
Sunny spels in yet another windy F5-6 SW wind. Watches: 0800-1030.
A ringtail Hen Harrier was in the Easington area, the 2 Scaup still on Beacon ponds, 600 Brent Geese in Kilnsea and a Snow Bunting at the Warren.
Over the sea 6 Teal, 2 Common Scoter, a Red-breasted Merganser, 54 Red-throated Diver, 72 Gannet, 8 Dunlin, 21 Black-headed Gull, 7 Guillemot, 1 Razorbill and 7 Auk sp.
Also today were 2 Gadwall, 240 Wigeon, a Buzzard, 30 Lapwing, 60 Curlew, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 20 Stock Dove and 300 Starling in the Long bank area with a Barn Owl in Well field..
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Mute Swan. Bethan Clyne.
Roe Deer. John Hewitt.
Thursday, 20 February 2020
Another wet and windy day with a F5-6 SW-W wind. Watches: 0740-1015.
A Hen Harrier was in the triangle before heading off northwest, 550 Brent Geese on Easoington straight, 320 Wigeon on Long bank, 244 Lapwing in the Sammies area, a Mediterranean Gull, 1200 Wood Pigeon in Easington and 3 Stonechat at the Borrow pit..
The sea had 13 Red-throated Diver, a Fulmar, 1 Gannet and a Guillemot.
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Hen Harrier. Jacob Spinks.
Mallard. Bethan Clyne.
Mallard. Bethan Clyne.
Mallard. Bethan Clyne.
Snipe flushed by the harrier. Jacob Spinks.
Wednesday, 19 February 2020
After a calm start with sunny periods it tuned into another wet, wild windy day with a F5 W wind. Watches: 0715-1115.
A Woodlark in Easington was a nice early record, while the day also had a Water Pipit and 3 Red Kite highlights among a decent days vis-mig movement which aslo included 3 Blue Tit, 4 Great Tit, 23 Skylark, 68 Starling, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Greenfinch, 7 Linnet and 2 Goldfinch.
Over the sea it was a bit quiet with 3 Wigeon, a Great Crested Grebe, 87 Red-throated Diver, 7 Gannet, 8 Cormorant, 88 Black-headed Gull, 108 Herring Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 Auk sp.
Also today were 500 Brent Geese in Kilnsea, 2 Mediterranean Gull on Easington straight and a Short-eared Owl along the canal.
Ringing: 1 Tree Sparrow.
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Woodlark by Easington sewage works. Bethan Clyne.
Woodlark. Bethan Clyne.
Red Kite. Jacob Spinks.
Jackdaws on the move. Jacob Spinks. A species along with Rook, that most people dont realise, undertake movements especially in spring when big numbers can go south.
Starling on the move. Jacob Spinks. 'Spring' sees movements of many species which head south at Spurn, the thinking being for some that they head into East Anglia or Kent then cross over to the continent with a smaller safer sea crossing.
Tuesday, 18 February 2020
Overcast with sunny spells with a blustery F5-4 SSW wind. Watches: 0750-1030, 1430-1615.
The generally mild weather continues and maybe soon paserines will begin to drift off back west. In the mean time our winter continues with strong winds heaping havoc making general birding difficult.
Today saw a ringtail Hen Harrier in the Beacon ponds area along with a Marsh Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine and 2 Barn Owl with the Black Brant and 400 Brent Geese in the area.
Over the sea a Wigeon, 1 Teal, 29 Red-throated Diver, 9 Gannet, 4 Cormorant, 1 Avocet, 25 Black-headed Gull, a Mediterranean Gull, 114 Herring Gull, a Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 50 Guillemot and 6 Auk sp.
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Shoveler. Steve Clipperton.
Monday, 17 February 2020
Rain showers with sunny spells and a breezy F5-4 SW wond. Watches: 0750-1015, 1350-1435.
An increase in Curlew in the Long bank area maybe hints at birds building in numbers before departure, taking advantage of the wet fields and the glut of worms to be had.
The best birding again was in the Kilnsea wetlands area with 400 Brent Geese, 22 Mute Swan, 23 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 630 Wigeon, 110 Teal, a Pochard, 2 Scaup, 6 Goldeneye, a Red-breasted Merganser, 85 Lapwing, 230 Curlew, 430 Redshank, 2 Mediterranean Gull and a Barn Owl.
Over the sea were a Brent Goose, 4 Pintail, 2 Teal, 12 Red-throated Diver, a Fulmar, 43 Gannet, 2 Cormorant, 50 Kittiwake, 362 Guillemot and 11 Auk sp.
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Sunday, 16 February 2020
A wild day with some rain but a continuing F6 S wind. Watches: 0800-1045.
Sightings from the Long bank area included 450 Brent Geese, 4 Gadwall and 192 Wigeon, while on the Humber 770 Oystercatcher, 800 Lapwing, 500 Golden Plover, 155 Curlew, a Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 350 Common Gull and a Peregrine. A Water Rail was at Rose cottage, 12 Magpie in North field and good numbers of both House and Tree Sparrow remain around the Obs.
Over the sea were 2 Wigeon, 12 Red-throated Diver, a Manx Shearwater, 58 Gannet, 8 Guillemot and 48 Auk sp.
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Peregrine. John Hewitt.
Collared Dove. John Hewitt.
Saturday, 15 February 2020
A complete washout of a day with high F6 S wind and heavy rain. Watches: 0755-1050.
Over the sea 2 Brent Geese, 22 Wigeon, 38 Teal, 85 Red-throated Diver, a Shag, 19 Gannet, a Purple Sandpiper, 14 Black-headed Gull, 6 Little Gull, 3 Auk sp and a Razorbill.
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Friday, 14 February 2020
A calm, but grey and chilly day with an increase to F4 S wind. Watches: 0750-1005.
On the move today were another 150 Pink-footed Geese plus 9 Red-throated Diver, 6 Gannet, 4 Cormorant, 2 Auk sp and 3 Guillemot with a Jackdaw and 3 Skylark overland.
Otherwise a Chiff-chaff was at the Warren and 2 Stonechat in the Triangle.
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Barn Owl. Mick Turton.
Thursday, 13 February 2020
Heavy rain gave way to a clear sunny day with a F3-2 SSW-W wind. Watches: 0800-1100, 1510-1610.
The highlight of the day was a Raven which flew south, returning back north soon after over the Humber.
The Black Brant re-appeared today in a small flock of 400 Brent Geese in the Kilnsea area while some Wader counts on the Humber saw 13 Black-tailed Godwit, 175 Grey Plover, 2100 Knot and 70 Curlew with a Short-eared Owl by Rose cottage, a Rock Pipit at the Warren, 2 Barn Owl in the area, 50 House Sparrow and 30 Tree Sparrow in Kilnsea and 24 Linnet along the Canal.
Over the sea were 198 Pink-footed Geese, 4 Whooper Swan, 2 Common Scoter, 90 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver, 41 Gannet, a Cormorant, 4 Kittiwake, a Little Gull, 5 Auk sp, 8 Guillemot and a Razorbill.
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Barn Owl. Bethan Clyne.
Barn Owl. Bethan Clyne.
Wednesday, 12 February 2020
A better day weather wise with a reduced F4 WSW wind. Watches: 0745-1030.
Another great total of 140 Pintail were counted on the Humber off Sammies, while nearby on Long bank 230 Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 43 Lapwing, a Black-tailed Godwit and 36 Curlew.
Over the sea were a Red-breasted Merganser, 122 Red-throated Diver, 3 Fulmar, 3 Gannet, 4 Cormorant, 67 Herring Gull, 76 Auk sp, 26 Guillemot and 2 Razorbill.
Other sightings included 2 Barn Owl along the Canal.
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Roe Deer. Bethan Clyne.
Tuesday, 11 February 2020
Wild and windy again with a F6-7 WSW wind. Watches: 0745-1030.
Over the sea were a Wigeon, 2 Mallard, a Velvet Scoter, 2 Eider, 11 Red-throated Diver, 27 Gannet, 2 Cormorant, 92 Herring Gull, 6 Guillemot and 10 Auk sp.
There were 9 Whooper Swan on Easington straight with 21 Mute Swan with the resident pair of Scaup remaining on Beacon ponds, while also in the area 21 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 265 wigeon, 60 Lapwing, 7 Black-tailed Godwit and a Peregrine.
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Sparrowhawk. Mick Turton.
Black-tailed Godwit. Steve Clipperton.
Monday, 10 February 2020
A blustery day with rain and hail and a F6 WSW wind. Watches: 0815-1115.
There was relatively more action over the sea today with 2 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, 3 Common Scoter, an Eider, 49 Red-throated Diver, 62 Gannet, 15 Kittiwake, 113 Herring Gull, 8 Guillemot and 86 Auk sp.
There were only 3 Whooper Swan today on Easington straight along with 31 Mute Swan. The Kilnsea wetlands area held 30 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 460 Wigeon, 2 Scaup, 55 Lapwing, 4 Black-tailed Godwit and a Barn Owl.
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Whooper Swans. John Hewitt.
Sunday, 09 February 2020
A foul day with rain, hail battering the area driven by a F7-8 SSW wind. Watches: 0815-1200, 1515-1600.
A day to bird from the car or the shelter of a hide. There were 15 Whooper Swan on Easington straight along with 26 Mute Swan while nearby the Kilnsea wetlands area held 35 Shoveler, 192 Wigeon, a Pochard, 2 Scaup, 7 Goldeneye, 6 Little Grebe, the first returning 2 Avocet and 479 Redshank.
The sea had little to offer with only a Red-throated Diver, 53 Gannet, 45 Cormorant, an Avocet and 42 Guillemot though a Short-eared Owl maybe came in/off.
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Whooper Swans. John Hewitt.
Saturday, 08 February 2020
A fine and sunny day became wild and windy by the evening. Watches: 0735-0935, 1015-1215.
Some good movement over the sea, saw 10 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 73 Teal, 5 Common Scoter, a Red-breasted Merganser, 253 Red-throated Diver, 13 Gannet, 2 Cornorant, 9 Knot, 51 Common Gull, 53 Herring Gull, a Mediterranean Gull, 33 Guillemot, 2 Razorbill and 489 Auk sp pass the seawatch hut.
Also today were 200 Brent Geese plus 1 Pale-bellied Brent, 2 Barn Owl and 175 Lapwing on the Humber.
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Male Yellowhammer. Steve Clipperton.
Male Goldeneye and Wigeon on Kilnsea wetlands. Steve Clipperton.
Friday, 07 February 2020
Another clear and sunny day with a F3 W wind. Watches: 0750-0950.
A little flurry of movement over the sea with 38 Pink-footed Geese, 1 Pintail, 10 Gannet and 68 Red-throated Diver with 25 Starling and a Skylark overland.
The Kilnsea wetlands area had 200 Brent Geese, 2 Whooper Swan, 14 Shoveler, 100 Wigeon, 70 Teal and 40 Lapwing with 500 Oystercatcher and 250 Redshank on the Humber, 18 Stock Dove at Long bank and 2 Stonechat in the triangle.
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Dark-bellied Brent Goose. Steve Clipperton.
Brent Goose. Steve Clipperton.
Thursday, 06 February 2020
Still and sunny all day. Watches: 0830-1025.
A beautiful sunny 'spring' day saw a few birds on the move with around 1560 Pink-footed Geese heading north-west with also 3 Shoveler, a Red-breasted Merganser, 53 Red-throated Diver, 9 Gannet, 5 Guillemot, 2 Razorbill, 2 Stock Dove, 3 Skylark, 7 Starling and a Yellowhammer.
Highlights from the day were a fantastic count of 126 Cormorant at the Point, with 15 Whooper Swan and a Barn Owl on Kilnsea wetlands, 3 Woodcock and 16 Meadow Pipit by Easington gas terminal and a Stonechat at the Warren
Ringing: 1 Song Thrush, 1 Robin, 3 House Sparrow.
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Pink-footed Geese on the move north. John Hewitt.
Pionk-footed Geese. Jason Spinks.
Cormorants at the Point. John Hewitt.
Cormorant. John Hewitt.
Wednesday, 05 February 2020
The 4 Barnacle Geese were still around Kilnsea wetlands with the 2 Scaup nearby on Beacon ponds while a Manx Shearwater flew south from the seawatch hut.
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Barnacle Geese. Bethan Clyne.
Male Shoveler. Steve Clipperton.
Tuesday, 04 February 2020
A bit of a wild windy day. watches: 0710-1015, 1115-1510.
Much of todays action was a bit out of the blue being over the sea with 21 Red-throated Diver, 103 Gannet, 6 Fulmar, a Manx Shearwater, 15 Kittiwake, 68 Herring Gull, 6648 Auk sp and a Puffin.
Otherwise sightings were mainly in the Kilnsea wetlands area with 4 Barnacle Geese, 250 Brent Geese, 45 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 250 Wigeon, 110 Teal, 2 Scaup, a Pochard, 2 Goldeneye and 13 Little Grebe though a Stonechat was in the triangle and 7 Skylark on Clubleys.
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Female Teal. Bethan Clyne.
Male Teal. Bethan Clyne.
Male Teal. Bethan Clyne.
Barnacle Geese. John Hewitt.
Monday, 03 February 2020
Sunny spells with a F5-2 SW wind. Watches: 1420-1600.
The Black Brant was present with its hybrid young while 4 Barnacle Geese arrived on Kilnsea wetlands along with 200 Brent Geese, 500 Grelag Geese, 26 Shoveler, male Pintail, female Pochard, the 2 Scaup, 4 Goldeneye, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Peregrine hunting the area. On the Humber a decent count of 4500 Knot were made and 140 Pintail were off Sammies.
Over the sea a Black-throated Diver flew north as did a Yellow-legged Gull along with 5 Pink-footed Geese, 33 Red-throated Diver, 131 Herring Gull, 7 Guillemot and a Razorbill.
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Barn Owl. Steve Clipperton.
Barnacle Geese. Bethan Clyne.
Barn Owl. Steve Clipperton.
Sunday, 02 February 2020
Overcast and drizzly, clearing to sunny spells and a F3-1 SW wind.
The month began as the last ended with 41 Shoveler on Kilnsea wetlands along with the 2 Scaup, Pochard, 565 Wigeon, male Pintail, 129 Teal and 4 Goldeneye, but with all the mild weather surely they will begain to depart? Also in the area were the 4 Whooper Swan, 18 Little Grebe, a Marsh Harrier, 18 Stock Dove, a Short-eared Owl and 1 Peregrine.
Other sightings involved a Water Rail in Church field, 6 Skylark at Long bank and a scatter of 'returning' winter Thrushes in the area.
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Male Shoveler on Kilnsea wetlands. Bethan Clyne.
Shoveler. Bethan Clyne.
Shoveler. Bethan Clyne.
Shoveler. Bethan Clyne.
Saturday, 01 February 2020
A mainly cloudy cool day with a stiff F4-5 SW wind.
An overnight clearout saw only 3 Whooper Swan remain on Easington straight, but in general few observers were were out looking with the best being 700 Brent Geese on long bank, a Marsh Harrier and Stonechat along the Canal, 30 Pied Wagtail and the Little Owl on Easington straight with a Chiffchaff nearby at the sewage works and 26 Fieldfare on peter lane
Over the ridiculously quiet sea were 31 Red-throated Diver, 17 Gannet and an Auk sp.
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Golden Plover. Steve Clipperton.