June 2011

Another very good month, and is the third month running having a record number of species for the month - 145 one more than in June 2008, also 494 birds were ringed of 40 species

Migration/sea-watch – 06.10 – 09.00, 14.00-14.45. Bright and sunny to start clouding over later with some showers, a force 3 NW wind becoming light and variable.

Moving south were 6 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 17 Dunlin in, 229 Swift, 76 Sand Martin, 1 Grey Wagtail.

Other birds seen included 1 Brent Goose, 2 Wigeon, 1 Shoveler, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Little Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Barn Owl and a Treecreeper caught at Kew.

A juvenile Wheatear was at Beacon Ponds.

Migration/sea-watch – 06.45 – 11.00. Plenty of sunshine with occasional showers and a force 2 N-NW wind.

A Bee-eater flew south at 09.32 and continued the run of good birds through the summer, other birds moving south included 1 Fulmar, 2 Manx Shearwater, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and 17 Curlew in, 13 Little Gull out east; 161 Swift + 71 N, 113 Sand Martin, 1 House Martin, 3 Meadow Pipit, 8 Siskin + 7 N, 1 Crossbill.

Other birds seen included 1 Brent Goose, 4 Little Egret, 1 Hobby, 74 Golden Plover, 5 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grasshopper Warbler.

Migrant moths caught overnight were 3 Diamond-back, 10 Silvery Y and 1 Rusty Dot Pearl.

Sea-watch – 06.00 – 10.00, 17.30 – 18.30. Cloudy with heavy rain at times and thunder and lightening, a force 2-3 N wind.

Over the sea 11 Teal flew south as did 5 Eider, 497 Common Scoter and 99 north, 2 Red-throated Diver, 85 Gannet, 10 Curlew south and 4 Kittiwake north.

The only other birds of note were 50 Swift blogging and Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Blackcap.

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Migration-watch – 05.45 – 19.00. A hot, humid day with cloud building late afternoon and a light west wind.

Birds on the move included 114 Shelduck, 5 Eider, 52 Common Scoter, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Curlew, 548 Sand Martin, 31 House Martin, 10 Goldfinch and 77 Linnet all south.

Other birds seen included 1 Brent Goose, 8 Little Egret, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Barn Owl and 1 Yellow Wagtail.

The highlight was 3 ALPINE SWIFT sightings during the day, and it asks the question is it just the same bird going round? Well we can’t prove anything but we think there probably were three different birds today as there was a very heavy passage of Common Swifts moving south during the day. 8,000 flew south, flying low, direct and straight towards Lincolnshire, with no birds appearing to be u-turning. The times of today’s sightings were at 12.12, 14.09 and 18.10 and all flew south past the Warren.

Swift passage at Spurn peaks between 22nd June and 20th July, all the high counts (10,000+) have occurred in this period. The funneling effect of Spurn concentrates passing birds through a very small area making it much easier to pick out rare swifts, hence having the best ‘Swift list’ of anywhere in the UK –2 Chimney, 2 Pallid, 2 Pacific, 1 Little, and 20 Alpine! We know that swifts can go (in large flocks) on large feeding forays in front of stormy weather and probably go on large circular routes (i.e the Little Swift in 2008 was seen at Old Moor in Barnsley, which is c.60 miles WSW of Spurn) a few days after flying south at Spurn. However we don’t think that these birds are flying round in just a few hours, but there is every possibility that Saturday’s bird was one of the birds seen today!

Migration-watch – 05.00 – 17.00. Bright, hot and sunny with a light force 2 W-SE wind.

A juvenile Crossbill by the Borrow Pit in the morning and a good passage of Sand Martins (723 south) were the highlight. Other birds seen today included 1 Teal, 8 Little Egret, 7 Curlew in, 1 Green Sandpiper in Triangle, 1 Barn Owl, 117 Swift S, 13 House Martin S, 2 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Siskin and 45 Linnet S.

Migration-watch – 09.45 – 13.00, 15.00 – 17.45, sea-watch 07.00 – 10.45. Varying amounts of cloud with long sunny spells and a force 3 W wind.

Another quiet day that was saved when an Alpine Swift flew south past the Warren at 16.20. Other birds moving included 100+ Common Scoter, 2 Red-throated Diver, 110 Gannet, 1 Dunlin, 8 Curlew, 1 Arctic Skua, 19 Kittiwake, 21 auk sp, 110 Swift, 112 Sand Martin, 1 House Martin.

Other birds seen included 1 Brent Goose, 2 Teal, 4 Little Egret, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Whimbrel, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Barn Owl and 2 Blackcap.

An Epiblema grandaevana today is the 7th record for Spurn but is nationally rare.

Sea-watch – 06.00-06.40. Sunny spells with varying amounts of cloud and a force 3-2 W wind.

A fairly quiet day with a few birds on the move: 64 Shelduck out east, Common Scoter (56 N, 32 S), 2 Fulmar, 1 Manx Shearwater, 312 Gannet, 4 Oystercatcher, 3 Curlew in, 46 Kittiwake, 40 auk sp, 63 Swift, 46 Sand Martin, 1 House Martin and 2 Jackdaw.

Other birds seen included 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Cuckoo, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, and singles of Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Siskin.

Sea-watch - 06.25 – 07.25, migration-watch – 06.30 – 11.00, 13.50 – 14.10. A changeable day of sunny spells and heavy showers, with a light and variable wind.

2 immature Spoonbills flew N to Beacon Ponds at 05.30 where they spent a short while before continuing north.

Birds seen over the sea included 30 Common Scoter, 2 Red-throated Diver, 27 Manx Shearwater, 61 Gannet, 6 Cormorant, 4 Kittiwake, 44 auk sp, 11 Razorbill, 1 Puffin.

Other birds seen included 1 Brent Goose, 5 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Water Rail, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Barn Owl, 983 Swift S, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker , 394 Sand Martin S, 5 House Martin S, 2 juv Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler and 5 Siskin S.

Migration watch 07.25 – 11.30, 15.001-18.30. Cloudy with some sunshine and some thundery showers in the afternoon, a force 2-3 W-SW wind.

A Common Rosefinch was on Beacon Lane early in the morning, the first Green Sandpiper of the autumn was in the Triangle, and a Little Ringed Plover was on Canal Scrape before flying off south.

Moving south were 21 Manx Shearwater, 1 Kestrel, 1 Hobby, 3 Curlew in, 1 Arctic Skua, 23 auk sp, 14 Razorbill, 394 Swift, 67 Sand Martin, 4 House Martin, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Siskin.

Other birds of note seen included 2 Little Grebe, 3 Little Egret, 2 Water Rail, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Cuckoo, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Blackcap and 1 Chiffchaff.

Migration-watch 06.50 – 12.30. Sunny spells with showers some heavy, a force 2-3 SW-W wind.

A Spoonbill flew N at 08.10, and moving south were 2 Common Scoter, 4 Oystercatcher, 346 Swift, 87 Sand Martin and 4 House Martins.

The only other birds noted were 2 Little Egret, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Blackcap and 1 Chiffchaff.

Sea-watch 07.30 – 08.30, 15.30 – 17.10. Mainly bright, sunny and warm with some light cloud building later, a light W-SE wind.

An Osprey flew north mid-morning but the most interesting bird of the day was a first-summer male Common Rosefinch trapped at the Warren in the morning sporting a BTO ring which was later found to have been ringed on Fair Isle on 3rd June!

The only other birds seen included 2 Common Tern, 1 Swift, 8 Sand Martin, 2 House Martin all south, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Blackcap and 1 Chiffchaff.

Sea-watch 07.00 – 10.20, 17.30 – 18.00. A mainly cloudy day with some short showers and sunny spells and a light NW wind.

Another quiet day, even over the sea: 3 Fulmar, 1 Manx Shearwater, 195 Gannet, 9 Curlew and 2 Redshank in, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Little Gull on the Humber, 41 auk sp, 21 Guillemot, 20 Razorbill.

The only other birds seen included 1 Cuckoo, 12 Swift and 9 Sand Martin south, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Blackcap including a juvenile proving breeding this year, 2 Chiffchaff and a Yellowhammer.

Migration/sea-watch 07.00 – 19.15, mainly cloudy with some rain showers in the afternoon and a pleasant evening, a force 4-5 W wind veered to the NE and dropped to force 1 by the evening.

Yet another first of the year, an unseasonal Long-tailed Duck flew south, most other activity took place over the sea – 1 Tufted Duck, 53 Common Scoter, 4 Red-throated Diver, 6 Fulmar, 125 Manx Shearwater, 405 Gannet, 8 Cormorant, 2 Shag, 11 Curlew, 16 Redshank, 20 Kittiwake, 1 Black Tern , 112 auk sp, 27 Guillemot, 40 Razorbill, 1 Puffin.

Other birds seen included 6 Brent Geese, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Cuckoo, 164 Swift S, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff and a Crossbill found dead on the lighthouse.

North of the area there was a Curlew Sandpiper at Beacon Ponds.

Migration watch 06.00 – 11.00. Sunny spells and light showers with a fresh SW wind.

A Willow Tit the first since 2006 was another nice addition to the year list when one was trapped and ringed at the Warren. Passage was lighter today, flying south were 1 Curlew, 350 Swift, 7 Sand Martin, and 4 House Martin.

Other birds seen included 5 Greylag Geese, 21 Golden Plover, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 5 Razorbill, 1 Cuckoo, a Mistle Thrush, 1 Blackcap and 1 Chiffchaff.

North of the area there were 2 Avocets at Beacon Ponds.

Migration watch 0500-1100, 1330-1500. A nice day with plenty of sunshine and a moderate W wind.

A better day for passage with the first decent movement of Swifts which totalled 1,920 and more early returning waders. Birds moving south were 2 Grey Heron +1 out, 10 Greylag Goose, 52 Common Scoter +4 north, 1 Hobby + 1 in, 11 Lapwing, 11 Curlew in, 1 Redshank in, 29 LBBG, 1 Common Tern, 1 Stock Dove, 5 Skylark, 8 Sand martin, 1 Swallow, 13 House Martin. An adult Spoonbill which came south at 0830 before turning east and then possibly back north was probably the same which flew south at 1430 to be followed 25 mins later by an immature which went the same way.

Grunded birds included 3 Brent Geese, 25 Shelduck, 4 Golden Plover humber, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Cuckoo, female Wheatear at the warren, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiff-chaff and a Treecreeper trapped at Kew. Also of interest a Large Skipper in church field which is a rare butterfly at Spurn.

Migration watch 06.40 – 11.30, 14.30 – 18.15. Sunny spells clouding up later with a light to moderate SW wind.

A few birds moving included the start of the first broods of Sand Martins when 63 flew south, also moving south were 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing, 2 Curlew in, 1 Puffin N, 760 Swift, 33 House Martin.

Other birds seen included 52 Common Scoter, 2 Little Egret, 1 Hobby, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff.

Migration watch 06.00 – 10.00. Bright, sunny and warm, with a light WNW – SE 2-1-3.

Late news of an adult Pomarine Skua at Beacon Ponds last night was confirmed today when the bird was seen several times in the recording area.

Other birds seen today included 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Cuckoo, 11 Swift (1 S, 10 in), 1 Black Redstart, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 1 Siskin S.

Migration watch 06.20 – 10.30, 12.00 – 14.00, 14.35 – 15.35. A dully cloudy start brightening to leave a sunny afternoon a decreasing W-WNW wind.

Swift passage picked up a little today with 550 recorded moving south, the only other birds moving were 21 Common Scoter, 8 Curlew + 3 in, 18 House Martin and a blue Budgerigar!

Other birds seen today were 1 Shoveler, 1 Red-throated Diver, 4 Little Egret, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Cuckoo, 1 Black Redstart and 1 Chiffchaff.

Sea-watch 07.00 – 10.00, migration watch 06.00-11.30. A bright start but clouding over by mid-day and heavy rain in the afternoon, a stiffening W-SSE wind reaching force 5 by the evening.

Moving south were a Greylag Goose, 6 Common Scoter, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 1 Hobby, 1 Lapwing, 1 Stock Dove, 3 Swift + 8 in, 1 Sand Martin, 7 House Martin, 205 Starling.

Other birds seen included a 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Redshank and a Spotted Redshank on the Humber, 1 Black Redstart at the Point, a Stonechat in the Triangle and a Yellowhammer at the Warren.

Sea-watch 06.15 – 10.30, migration watch 08.00 – 11.45. A sunny start with showers in the afternoon, some heavy, a force 2 N wind moved to the WSW and picked up to 3+.

Much the same as the last few days at this cross over time of year when we still have a few migrants trying to find where they should be this summer eg hirundines and the first autumn migrants heading south like Teal (10) and a few waders, and a few birds we haven’t got a clue what they are doing!

Migrants today included 59 Common Scoter, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Golden Plover, 200 Sanderling, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel, 3 Curlew in, 115 Swift S, 3 Sand Martn, 9 Swallow and 3 House Martin all south, 2 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Siskin S, and 2 Crossbill at the Crown before flying NW.

Sea-watch 12.25 – 12.50, migration watch 12.50 – 13.55, 17.55 – 18.40. A bright start with thunder and lightening in the afternoon and a light NE-E wind.

There was very little changed from the last few days, the Hooded Crow was still present, a Stonechat was in the Triangle and 3 Crossbills were in the churchyard, otherwise the only birds worth mentioning were 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Puffin, 3 Cuckoo, 12 Swift S, 2 migrant Reed Warblers, 2 Blackcaps and a Chifchaff.

Sea-watch 06.00 – 08.00, migration watch 05.45 – 10.15. A bright and sunny day with variable amounts of cloud and a force 2 SW – SSE wind.

An Ortolan Bunting was found along the Canal bank late evening and 2 immature Spoonbills flew south in the afternoon, otherwise it was a quiet day. The Hooded Crow was still present and other birds worth mentioning were 2 Teal, 3 Eider and 16 Common Scoter S, 6 Grey Heron including a flock of 5 in/off the sea, 1 Water Rail, a Common Snipe south, 1 Cuckoo, 41 Swift S, 13 House Martin S, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Wheatear and 2 Blackcap.

Migration watch 05.45 – 11.15, 12.30 – 15.00. A bright and sunny day with the odd shower from time to time, a force 3-4 WSW wind.

The raptors keep coming, over 270 raptors have flown south through Spurn this spring (inc 120 Marsh Harriers, 70 Sparrowhawks and 50 Kestrels), added to the total today was a fine female Red-footed Falcon, which was first picked up at Beacon Ponds and flew south past the sea-watching hut and cut out towards Lincolnshire from the Narrows at 14.40. Also moving south were 1 Hobby, 33 Woodpigeon, 135 Swift, 10 Swallow, 19 House Martin, 3 Chaffinch, 17 Goldfinch, 32 Linnet and 1 Redpoll. sp.

Other birds of interest included 1 Little Egret, 1 Water Rail, 2 Golden Plover, 300 Grey Plover, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Wheatear, 1 Chiffchaff and the Hooded Crow still blogging about.

A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was seen at the Warren

Sea-watch 07.00-10.30, Migration watch 06.30 – 11.00, 13.00 – 15.00. Mainly cloudy with sunny spells and a stiffening S wind force 1-5.

The Hooded Crow was still at the Point before flying off north, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 3 Crossbill flew south, while other birds flying south included 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Marsh Harrier, 6 Lapwing, 11 Wood Pigeon, 109 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 9 Swallow, 21 House Martin, 1 flava Wagtail, 51 Starling, 2 Siskin, 1 Corn Bunting U-turned.

Other birds seen included 3 E ider, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Fulmar, 43 Gannet, 2 Little Egret, 1 Water Rail, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Wheatear, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Spotted Flycatcher.

Sea-watch 06.00 – 09.30. Mainly cloudy with some sunshine, a very light W wind which switched to SE in the afternoon and picked up to force 3.

Late news and an accompanying photograph of a male Red-backed Shrike at Beacon Ponds was received late in the day. Also still present was the Icterine Warbler at the Point but no sign of the Marsh Warbler.

Other birds seen included 10 Fulmar, 1 Manx Shearwater, 317 Gannet, 2 Marsh Harrier S, 1 Peregrine, 1 Greenshank, 180 auk sp, 5 Puffin, 2 Turtle Dove, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Swift, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Wheatear, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Hooded Crow and 1 Siskin S.

Sea-watches 06.00 – 09.30, 10.30 – 12.30, 14.30 – 15.30, 15.55 – 16.55. Mainly cloudy with some sunshine in the afternoon but cool in a fresh NNE force 4 wind.

A typical early June day with a sprinkling of common migrants and a few nice scarce migrants to dotted amongst them. A Common Rosefinch was the first of the year and was singing at the Warren briefly before flying off north towards Kew, a singing Marsh Warbler was still at the Point which showed briefly occasionally, as did the Icterine Warbler which started singing in the evening; a ‘green’ Golden Oriole was seen between Chalkies Point and Kilnsea while other migrants included 1 Hobby, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Stonechat, 4 Wheatear, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 9 Spotted Flycatcher and a Pied Flycatcher

There was noticeable activity over the sea 5 Eider, 23 Common Scoter, 4 Red-throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver, 63 Fulmar (inc a blue bird), 122 Manx Shearwater, 430 Gannet, 106 Kittiwake, 550 auk sp, 86 Guillemot, 39 Razorbill and 1 Puffin.

North of the area there were 4 Little Stints, 2 Redshank and 4 Teal at Beacon Ponds and an Icterine Warbler was reported singing in Easington.

No migration watches. A much cooler today with a fresh force 3-4 NNE wind, a sunny morning clouding over mid-afternoon.

A singing Marsh Warbler was found at Chalk Bank at 05.30 and by 8am other singing males had been found at post 62 and the Point. An Icterine Warbler was found at the Point mid-afternoon, while other migrants included 1 Cuckoo, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Whinchat, 1 Stonechat, 1 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 5 Spotted Flycatcher.

Other birds of interest included 16 Eider, 66 Common Scoter, 1 Goosander out, 2 Red-throated Diver out, 1 Great Northern Diver out, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 10 Bar-tailed Godwit out, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull.

North of the area 2 Little Stints were still at Beacon Ponds, 1 Garden Warbler on Beacon Lane.

Migration watch 06.30 – 12.00, another hot and sunny day with a light NE wind and hazy conditions.

A nice addition to the year list was the 11th Observatory record of Black-necked Grebe, which was in breeding plumage and sat on the sea off the Narrows late morning, it slowly drifted north as the tide went out.

Only the 4th Garden Warbler of the spring was at the Point and other migrants included 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Stonechat, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 3 Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Siskin.

Other birds seen included 5 Eider out, 3 Little Egret, the first juvenile Grey Heron of the year south, 1 Yellow-legged Gull and 124 Kittiwake on the Humber, 5 Razorbill, 2 Puffin; 10 Swift, 1 Sand Martin, 42 Swallow and 11 House Martin all south. While north of the area there were 2 Little Stints on Beacon Ponds and a Garden Warbler at Sammy’s Point.

Migration watch, sea-watches, a hot and sunny day with just a few light white clouds, a light WNW wind veered round to the NE and then E by early afternoon.

A few common migrants arrived but nothing out of the ordinary, a Yellow Wagtail, a Stonechat, an increase in Reed Warblers to 15 (a new record count for Spurn), 1 Willow Warbler, 9 Spotted Flycatchers.

There was a very little passage of Swifts (80, Swallows (40) and House Martins (24) and the sea was very quiet. Other birds of note included 2 Teal, 25 Common Scoter, 2 Little Egret, 2 Lapwing, 2 Little Stint and a Mediterranean Gull.

North of the area there was a Little Stint on Beacon Ponds and an Arctic Skua on the beach there.

Migration watch 05.30 – 14.00, sea-watches 05.55 – 09.30, 14.40 – 16.00, a cold start but warming up to leave a warm sunny afternoon, a fresh SW wind dropping to force 1 in the afternoon.

Another quiet day with light passage and few grounded migrants. Moving south were 2 Brent Geese, 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Grey Heron, 2 Marsh Harrier U-turned, 1 Turtle Dove N, 22 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 87 Swallow, 156 House Martin, 3 flava Wagtail, 6 Jackdaw, 7 Chaffinch, 9 Goldfinch and 20 Linnet. The only migrants on the land were a Cuckook, a Wheatear, a Reed Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Spotted Flycatcher.

Over the sea were 4 Eider, 4 Red-throated Diver, 10 Fulmar, 8 Manx Shearwater, 282 Gannet, 59 Lesser B.B.Gull, 1364 Kittiwake, 42 Sandwich Tern, out, 1 Common Tern out, 3 Arctic Tern out, 257 auk sp, 5 Guillemot and 12 Razorbill.

North of the area there were 2 Little Stints, a Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Gull at Beacon Ponds and 4 Canada Geese flew over Willow Cottage in Easington.