August sightings roundup

The month started slowly, with three Cuckoos being the most noteworthy sightings on the 1st, although the reappearance of the American Golden Plover and White-rumped Sandpiper on the Humber off the Warren on the 2nd was notable. Both species were seen frequently throughout the month, with the American Golden Plover last observed on the 25th and the White-rumped Sandpiper on the 19th.

On the 4th, a Sooty Shearwater flew north, and a minimum of eight Caspian Gulls were recorded in the area—a species that featured heavily throughout the month at Kilnsea Wetlands and during seawatches. A Green Woodpecker was briefly seen at the Warren before moving to Kilnsea. A Balearic Shearwater flew north on the 6th, and the following day brought sightings of 10 Curlew Sandpipers.

On the 8th, an immature Sabine’s Gull was briefly seen on Kilnsea Wetlands in the afternoon before moving to Easington Straight. The 9th produced Spurn’s ninth record of Red-crested Pochard, which flew south past the seawatching hut. On the 11th, a Storm Petrel flew west up the Humber, and the first significant passerine fall of the autumn was highlighted by 92 Willow Warblers in the area. Force 4 southeasterlies on the 12th pushed 137 Manx Shearwaters south, along with sightings of nine Black Terns and nine Pied Flycatchers. A Norfolk Hawker dragonfly, Spurn’s fourth record, was also recorded—not captured in a Heligoland Trap!

A Red-necked Grebe flew south past the seawatching hut on the 13th, as did a Roseate Tern. On the 15th, a new record count of Caspian Gulls was set with nine individuals recorded, while four Egyptian Geese flew south. An Osprey flew south on the 17th, and on the 19th, a Citrine Wagtail was briefly seen in Clubley’s area before flying north. The following day, two Sooty Shearwaters flew north, and a Balearic Shearwater flew south.

The four Egyptian Geese turned back again on the 21st, while five Roseate Terns flew south in the evening. The Kilnsea Wetlands area produced 10 Curlew Sandpipers and a ringed Yellow-legged x Caspian Gull hybrid, with four more Roseate Terns flying south the next evening. On the 23rd, an Osprey flew low south over the sea during strong southwesterly winds, and the evening Tern roost movement produced 1,780 Arctic Terns moving south—setting a new day-count record for Spurn. Additionally, 3,820 Common Terns and three Roseate Terns were recorded.

A Rosefinch was ringed in Church Field on the 27th. A light southeasterly on the 28th brought 15 Pied Flycatchers into the area, while a Bittern was seen at Sammy’s Point. On the 29th, a surprise Tawny Pipit flew over Easington, heading northwest. A light northwesterly the following day resulted in a Wryneck and Ortolan Bunting being found near each other at the Cottages at the Point. However, the bird of the month appeared that afternoon at Beacon Ponds—a Stilt Sandpiper, which attracted a growing crowd. The Stilt Sandpiper was still present the following day, accompanied by a juvenile Red-breasted Flycatcher at the Narrows, and a Storm Petrel flew north in the evening.