Spurn Bird Observatory Sightings January 2024
With so many birders covering the Spurn area it is always helpful for us to get as many records submitted to us as possible. Please try to send in sightings on the same day so we can get them added to the log.
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Wednesday, 31 January 2024
A mild day with long sunny spells and a light F4 westerly increasing as the day went on.
What was presumably the same Glaucous Gull flew south at the warren where 1093 Pink-footed Geese headed west up the Humber. The sea was quite busy again bringing 5 Pintails, a Velvet Scoter, 151 Large Auk sp, a Great Crested Grebe, 146 Red-throated Divers and a Gannet.
The Whimbrel was again in well field, 29 Whooper Swans and a Mediterranean Gull on Easington straight and 13 Tree Sparrows and 115 House Sparrows around the Obs.
Ringing: Moorhen 2, Starling 23, Blackbird 4, Reed Bunting 1. 30/4 four Moorhens caught today (two retraps), all of which fitted with orange darvic rings as part of National Scheme. Watch times: 07:25-10:00, 13:30-14:00
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Tuesday, 30 January 2024
A cloudy day with drizzle and a F4 north westerly.
The north westerly produced a few bits over the sea a Glaucous Gull heading north the highlight being quite a difficult species to cacth up with these days. Also moving 22 Pintails, 4 Teal, 2 Eiders, 27 Common Scoters, a Goldeneye, 2 Long-tailed Ducks, 28 Kittiwakes, 481 Guillemots, 740 Large Auk sp, 4 Razorbills, 86 Red-throated Divers, 2 Manx Shearwaters and 4 Gannets.
There were still 23 Whooper Swans on Easington straight while ngiht time wandering with the thermal saw 6 Woodcocks, 3 Jack Snipes and 4 Grey Partidges seen.
Ringing: Grey Partridge 4, Woodcock 2, Jack Snipe 1, Starling 4, Blackbird 1, Skylark 1. 13/6 Watch times: 07:30-10:00, 11:00-12:30, 14:30-14:45
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Grey Partridge - Charlotte Foote.
Grey Partridge - Charlotte Foote.
Monday, 29 January 2024
Cloudy with rain throughout but light southerlies.
Little change overall, a quiet day seeing some movement over the sea with 4 Gadwall, a Goldeneye and 3 Goosanders while Passerine interest saw a Brambling head south.
Aslo today around the area 3 Goldeneyes at the ponds, the Whimbrel in the triangle and 3 Woodcocks in church field.
Ringing: Water Rail 1, Blackbird 1, Redwing 1, Reed Bunting 2. 5/4 Watch times: 07:30-10:00
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Sparrowhawk - Harry Appleyard.
Sunday, 28 January 2024
Generally sunny with a moderate south westerly.
It was another good morning of movement with 810 Pink-footed Geese heading north west leading the way. The best of the rest were 19 Wigeon, 13 Stock Doves, 79 Large Auk sp, 26 Red-throated Divers, a Waxwing and single Siskin.
The Whimbrel and 27 Whooper Swans were still pressnt while 3 Snow Buntings were a nice surprise at the breach.
Ringing: Blackbird 1 Watch times: 07:30-10:00
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Sanderling, Knot and Teal - John Hewitt.
Saturday, 27 January 2024
Sunny spells throughout with a F4 south westerly.
The milder day saw some movement the most noteable being 1084 Pink-footed Geese heading north west while heading south 50 Wigeon and 3 Velvet Scoters were the best of the rest.
Other sightings saw 10 Waxwings wander as far south as the Warren before heading off north west, the Whimbrel in well field and 276 Brent Geese, 4000 Knot and 300 Black-tailed Godwits on the Humber.
Watch times: 07:30-10:00
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Waxwings 9 of the 10 present - Harry Appleyard.
Friday, 26 January 2024
A nice sunny day with a strong F6 westerly.
Long bank marsh was busy for Waders and wildfowl holding 30 Brent Geese, 7 Shovelers, 709 Wigeon, 126 Lapwings, 36 Golden Plovers, a Whimbrel, 306 Curlews, 302 Black-tailed Godwits, 500 Dunlin and 300 Redshanks with Common Buzzard and 4 Barn Owls hunting the area. Nearby on Easington straight 23 Whooper Swans were still present.
Ringing: Blackbird 3, Starling 7. 10/2 Watch times: 0720-1000
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Teal - Tony Hull.
Thursday, 25 January 2024
A cloudy murky day with rain on and off and a F4 south westerly.
A small flurry of Wildfowl movement saw 19 Wigeon and 105 Teal head south over the sea while a Skylark and 30 Starlings headed north west.
Other sightings around the area saw 2 Jack Snipes in well field and 6 Woodcocks around Kilnsea, 175 Black-tailed Godwits on long bank with the Whimbrel still present. Long bank also had 810 Wigeon, 115 Lapwings, 240 Curlews and 275 Redshanks with a Merlin hunting the area.
Ringing: Moorhen 1, Woodcock 2, Skylark 1, Redwing 5/4. Watches: 0730-1000, 1145-1300.
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Weasel - John Hewitt.
Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Overcast day but remaining dry with a decreasing blowy westerly.
The days highlights were 2 Waxwings in Kilnsea, the Red Kite again in Easington along seaside road, 11 Woodcocks around Kilnsea and 30 Whooper Swans on Easington straight.
Watches: 0730 - 1000
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Tuesday, 23 January 2024
A grey wet day driven by a breezy F5 south westerly.
A Red Kite was along seaside road in Easington with 20 Whooper Swans nearby on Easington straight, a Little Owl at grange farm and 6 Stonechats around the area.
Over the sea single Long-tailed Duck, 3 Wigeons, 60 Teal, a Great Crested Grebe and 34 Red-throated Divers were noteable.
Ringing: Blackbird 2, House Sparrow 1. Watches: 0730-1000, 1230-1545
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Monday, 22 January 2024
A milder day with sunny spells the wind remaining strong but reduced to a F6 westerly.
What were presumably the same 2 Waxwings seen on Saturday appeared on Easington straight while the Whimbrel was on long bank and 33 Whooper Swans on Easington straight. Decent Wildfowl counts included 2 Pale-bellied Brents with 367 Brent Geese and 995 Wigeon on long bank.
Ringing: Blackbird 1. 1/1 Watches: 0730 - 1000 & 1005 - 1145.
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Curlew - John Hewitt.
Sunday, 21 January 2024
Generally sunny but grey with an increasing F6 southerly to F11 by the evening.
The Whimbrel was around cliff farm and 2 Velvet Scoters flew south over the sea were the best of relatively few sightings.
Ringing: Dunnock 1 1/1 Watch times: 0730-1000.
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Saturday, 20 January 2024
A milder day with sunny spells and the beginning of a thaw and a strengthening south westerly.
An impressive 284 Pintails were off sammys carpark and 2 Waxwings briefly in sykes field flew off south were the days highlights with other bits including 2 Woodcocks and a Jack Snipe in well field.
Over the generally quiet sea a Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 55 Large Auks, 90 Red-throated Divers and a Gannet were decent.
Work party in Church Field. Thank you to everyone who turned out to help. Ringing: none. Watches 0730-1215, 1420-1520.
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Friday, 19 January 2024
A bright day with plenty of sunny spells but cold in the F4 north westerly with water bodies remaining frozen.
The best of the sightings were over the sea with 15 Kittiwakes, 22 Guillemots, 7 Razorbills, 101 Large Auk sp, 89 Red-throated Divers and a Great Northern Diver.
Ringing: Starling 2, Greenfinch 1. 3/2 Watches: 0730 -1000, 1110 -1310.
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Thursday, 18 January 2024
A biright sunny day, snowing nid morning remaining cold in the F5 north westerly.
Again little change with totals from the ponds area remaining high with 3 Whooper Swans, 33 Shovelers, 736 Wigeon, 55 Teal and 2 Little Egrets.
There were still 68 Yellowhammers around Easington, 13 Tree Sparrows at the Obs and a Jack Snipe and 2 Woodcocks around the area.
Ringing: Starling 1, Goldfinch 1, Reed Bunting 1. 3/3 Watches: 0730-1000, 1355-1455.
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Fieldfare - Hazel Wiseman.
Wednesday, 17 January 2024
A heavy frost started the day, water bodies frozen all day despite the blue skies and the cold F3 north westerly.
The best of today were 25 Woodcocks and 2 Jack Snipes around the area, 326 Common Gulls north over the sea and a Brambling which headed south.
Ringing: Blackbird 1, Redwing 3, Robin 1, Starling 2, Reed Bunting 3, Greenfinch 4 14/6 Watches: 0730-1000, 1310-1515.
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Tuesday, 16 January 2024
Bright and sunny with a moderate north westerly.
Some light movement over the sea again did have some highlights with 2 Long-tailed Ducks and a Great Northern Diver plus another 223 Common Gulls and 134 Red-throated Divers.
Small increases in Thrush numbers were noticeable with 33 Redwings, 2 Fieldfares, 3 Song Thrushes and 44 Blackbirds around the area and 10 Woodcocks in the beacon lane to Sammys area.
Ringing: Moorhen 3, Blackbird 1, Redwing 2, Starling 4, Reed Bunting 2. 12/5 Watch times: 0730 - 1115
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Brent Geese - John Hewitt.
Monday, 15 January 2024
A hard overnight frost never really thawed and despite the sun it was cold throughout with a moderate north westerly.
The sea was quiet was did produce a brilliant 1343 Common Gulls heading north and a Mediterranean Gull but little else.
The best of the other sightings were the Whimbrel in well field, 4 Whooper Swans on Easington straight with 2 Woodcocks and 2 Jack Snipes around Kilnsea.
Ringing: Teal 1, Reed Bunting 1, Greenfinch 1, Chaffinch 1. 4/4 Watches: 0730 - 1000 & 1005 - 1205
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Sunday, 14 January 2024
A generally nice sunny day some drizzle late in the day ans a cold moderate northerly.
The Siberian Chiffchaff along with 4 Chiffchaffs, 13 Long-tailed Tits and a Grey Wagtail were still at Easington sewage works. 2 Stonechats were by the gas terminal and interestingly 2 Skylarks and 21 Siskins flew south at the Warren with a Snow Bunting flying north.
Ringing: Woodcock 2, Blackbird 2, Reed Bunting 2, Dunnock 1. 7/4 Watches: 0730-1000, 1005-1205.
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Tree Sparrows - John Hewitt.
Saturday, 13 January 2024
A nice sunny start clouding over as the day wore on with a F4 north westerly.
The WEBS counts in the area produced some great totals for Waders and Wildfowl with 56 Whooper Swans, 20 Mute Swans, 1050 Wigeon, 235 Teal, a Goldeneye, 16 Little Grebes, 1511 Oystercatchers, 50 Lapwings, 200 Golden Plovers, 19 Ringed Plovers, 114 Curlews, 80 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1000 Knot, 500 Dunlin, 165 Redshanks, 33 Cormorants, a Grey Heron and 3 Little Egrets.
The day saw 220 Pink-footed Geese on the move plus 2 Siskins and a Snow Bunting heading south overland.
Ringing: Moorhen 4, Water Rail 1, Blackbird 2, Robin 1, Greenfinch 1, Reed Bunting 1. 10/5
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Stonechat - John Hewitt.
Water Rail - Charlotte Foote.
Friday, 12 January 2024
Another grey day, overcast with drizzle and a cold F3 north westerly.
Not alot of change the best being 31 Woodcocks, 5 Snipes and a Jack Snipe seen using a thermal around Kilnsea. During the day 62 Whooper Swans on Easington straight and 27 Shovelers, 456 Wigeon, 208 Teal and a Goldeneye on the ponds.
Ringing: Woodcock 1, Reed Bunting 3, Chaffinch 1. 5/3 Watches: 0730-1000.
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Little Grebe - John Hewitt.
Thursday, 11 January 2024
A cold overcast and dull day with some drizzle and a moderate northerly.
A few bits of interest around the area notably 7 Waxwings in canal hedge which flew off north, the Siberian Chiffchaff, 2 Chiffchaffs and Grey Wagtail at the sewage works and 66 Whooper Swans on Easington straight along with 476 Brent Geese and Pale-bellied Brent.
Over the sea 2 Velvet Scoters flew north, the ponds area had 32 Shovelers, 696 Wigeons and 184 Teal and 6 Woodcocks were around the triangle.
Ringing: Moorhen 2, Blackbird 4, Reed Bunting 1, Greenfinch 1. 8/4 Watch times: 0730 - 1000.
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Waxwings - Harry Appleyard.
Moorhen - John Hewitt.
Wednesday, 10 January 2024
Generally cloudy just the glimpse of sunshine and a continuing cold moderate easterly.
Following on from yesterday another session thermal revealed 15 Woodcocks and 7 Jack Snipes in fields around Kilnsea while in daytime fields on Easington straight had 750 Common Gulls and 100 Brent Geese.
The best of the sea were 2 Whooper Swans, 17 Wigeon and 3 Eiders.
Ringing: Woodcock 5, Jack Snipe 2, Common Snipe 1, Dunlin 1, Redwing 1. 10/5 Watches: 0730-1000.
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Whooper Swans (the 2 black billed birds still present) - John Hewitt.
Tuesday, 09 January 2024
A cold dry day with sunny spells remaining cold in the strong north easterly.
The cold weather had a noticeable effect with increases in some species bringing 20 Woodcocks and 3 Jack Snipes to the area and 10 Snow Buntings were blogging. Along Easington straight 7 Pale-bellied Brents appeared among the Brent flock and the 56 Whooper Swans remained.
Over the sea 9 Eiders, 47 Kittiwakes and 2 Arctic Skuas were decent sightings.
Ringing: Woodcock 8, Common Snipe 2, Jack Snipe 1, Ringed Plover 1, Moorhen 1, Blackbird 2. 15/6 Watches: 0730-1215.
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Woodcock - Charlotte Foote.
Monday, 08 January 2024
An overcast and dry day with a cold F4 north easterly.
A sprinkle of movement over the sea saw 2 Long-tailed Ducks fly north plus 5 Wigeon, 8 Pintails, 25 Ediers, 41 Common Scoters, a Goldeneye, 17 Kittiwakes, 120 Large Auks, 49 Red-throated Divers and 11 Gannets.
The Whooper Swan flock remained on Easington straight, the Whimbrel on long bank while a noteable count of 3 Mediterranean Gulls and 610 Common Gulls on the Humber off Sammys. Again some good counts of Wildfowl in the ponds area with 44 Shovelers, 722 Wigeons, 2 Pintails and 178 Teal.
Ringing: Blackbird 5, Redwing 1, Dunnock 1. 7/3 Watches: 0730-1000, 1100-1200, 1240 -1500
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Redwing - Hazel Wiseman.
Sunday, 07 January 2024
Sunny spells with a chilly F3 north easterly.
The sightings were pretty much the same as the previous day but with some nice additions for the 3 teams doing the Michael Clegg memorial bird race including 8 Snow Buntings which headed south over the breach and a Great Northern Diver over the sea.
The wintering Whimbrel was again at grange farm and the 57 Whooper Swans on easington straight, 17 Eider flew out of the Humber and a Woodcock was seen coming in off the sea.
Ringing: Blackbird 5/1 Watch times: 10:15-11:00.
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Cormorants and Great Black-backed Gulls - Harry Applayard.
Dusk over the Humber - Harry Appleyard.
Saturday, 06 January 2024
An overcast day with some light showers and a chilly F3 north easterly.
It was a great day around the area with one team {the Humber Games) taking part in the Michael Clegg memorial bird race. In the end it was a very succesful day with a brilliant 96 species seen and with some better luck over 100 species could have been achievable. Noteable species seen during the day were the Firecrest and Siberian Chiffchaff at the sewage works along with 3 Chiffchaffs and a Grey Wagtail. Nearby a Coal Tit at hillrise and 33 Yellowhammers in the village.
All the usual birds in the long bank area were still present along with the 55 Whooper Swans, the Whimbrel at grange farm, Goldeneye on beacon ponds, a Jack Snipe on clubleys, 4 Cetti's Warblers around the triangle and a Short-eared Owl. Further additions included a Velvet Scoter over the sea, single Mediterranean Gull at grange farm, 19 Redwings and 32 Fieldfares around the area, 3 Stonechats and 17 Siskins.
Just outside the area 49 Twite at Skeffling pumping station and a Great White Egret at welwick.
Ringing: Wren 1. Watches: 0730 - 1000 & 10:40 - 12:25
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The 'Humber Games' celebrating a fantastic total
Friday, 05 January 2024
A chilly overcast day with some light showers with a light north easterly.
The birdrace weekend is upon us and with it a good selection of birds around the area most noteably the Firecrest, single Siberian Chiffchaff and 4 Chiffchaffs at Easington sewage works along witth a Grey Wagtail.
The Whimbrel was by grange farm and the 57 Whooper Swans on Easington straight with all the usual Ducks in the ponds area while a few hours looking at the sea produced some decent bits with 2 Long-tailed Ducks, 9 Eider and 32 Common Scoters.
Ringing: Blackbird 1. Watches: 0730 - 1000
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Whooper Swans - John Hewitt.
Firecrest - Colin Bushell.
Thursday, 04 January 2024
A mild dry and occasionally sunny day and a light westerly.
The Firecrest seen briefly recently was located at the sewage works where it showed well along with the Siberian Chiffchaff and 3 Chiffchaffs. Nearby 64 Yellowhammers were by the gas terminal.
A good count of 260 Pintail were on the Humber along with 550 Brent Geese, the Whimbrel in long bank field, a Jack Snipe in north field and the Barnacle Goose and 57 Whooper Swans on Easington straight.
Ringing: Sparrowhawk 1, Redwing 1. 2/2. Watches: 0730-1000.
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Whimbrel - John Hewitt.
Barnacle Goose with Greylag Goose - John Hewitt.
Wednesday, 03 January 2024
A generally cloudy day with the odd glimpse of the sun but with a chilly F3 north westerly.
A Waxwing put in a brief appearance at canal scrape before flying off north but otherwise it was much the same with theSiberian Chiffchaff and 2 Chiffchaffs at the sewage works, a Jack Snipe and 3 Stonechats at the ponds, 57 Whooper Swans on Easington straight and 2 Short-eared Owls wandering the area.
Over the sea another 174 Pink-footed Geese flew south along with 2 Red-breasted Mergansers.
Ringing: Blackbird 2, Redwing 1
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Waxwing - Harry Appleyard.
Tuesday, 02 January 2024
A cloudy miserable day with heavy rain throughout with a moderate westerly.
The Whimbrel made another appearance in flooded fields at grange farm with the Barnacle Goose still nearby on Kilnsea wetlands. There was also still 55 Whooper Swans on Easington straight with the 2 dark billed birds remaining too.
Other noteable sightings saw 124 Pink-footed Geese fly south, 116 Curlew, 5 Black-tailed Godwit and 564 Redshanks on Long bank field, 2 Little Owls still at grange farm and a Cetti's Warbler and Woodcock along the canal. .
Watches: 0730-1000.
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Barnacle Goose - John Hewitt.
Monday, 01 January 2024
Dry with sunny spells and a moderate south westerly.
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all our Friends and heres to a bird filled 2024. The year got off to a decent start with some light passage over the sea which saw 192 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Pintail, 37 Teal, 22 Common Scoter, 154 Red-throated Divers, a Fulmar and 9 Gannets recorded, while 29 Siskins flew south overland.
The Siberian Chiffchaff was again at the sewage works with 2 Chiffchaffs, 56 Whooper Swans on Easington straight were joined by a Barnacle Goose and 6 Pink-footed Geese. Also 2 Barn Owls, a Little Owl and 2 Short-eared Owls were out hunting.
Watches 0730-1015, 1305-1505.
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Short-eared Owl - John Hewitt.
Whooper and Mute Swans - John Hewitt.
