Spurn Bird Observatory Sightings January 2026
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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Saturday, 31 January 2026
A nice sunny day with some rain late on, with the the F5 south east wind dropping a little. Watches 0730-1000.
Wildfowl featured strongly today on Easington straight including 416 Brent Geese, a Pale-bellied Brent, single Barnacle Goose, 17 Russian White-fronted Geese, 15 Mute Swans and 20 Whooper Swans with 11 Shovelers, 354 Wigeon, 134 Teal and 2 Tufted ucks around the ponds while over the sea 7 Shags headed south.
The north side of Easington attracted 3 Corn Buntings and 20 Yellowhammers.
Ringing 1 Redwing
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Friday, 30 January 2026
Overcast with light rain most of the day in a cold F5 south east wind. Watches 0730-1000.
Best bits of the day saw a Shag fly north, 2 Pintails on the wetlands and the 20 Whooper Swans still present.
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Thursday, 29 January 2026
Dull and overast all day with some light rain and an increasing wind. Watches 0730-1000.
Little change the 20 Whooper Swans still present with totals of 6 Shovelers, 6 Gadwalls, 513 Wigeon, 22 Teal and 2 Tufted Ducks nearby.
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Wednesday, 28 January 2026
A lovely sunny day with lighter F3 south east winds. Watches 0730-1000.
The days highlight saw 16 White-fronted Geese lingering around Kilnsea and a Kingfisher on beacon ponds plus the usual 20 Whooper Swans on Easington straight. Over the sea 2 Little Gulls, 138 Red-throated Divers and 2 Shags were the standouts.
Ringing 1 Song Thrush, 1 Blackbird, 2 Tree Sparrow, 1 House Sparrow
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Tuesday, 27 January 2026
An awful day with heavy rain all day with strong F7 south east winds as the storm headed north. Watches 0730-0950.
Very little seen today in the terrible conditions the best being the usual 20 Whooper Swans.
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Monday, 26 January 2026
Overcast and dull with an increasing F6 south east wind. Watches 0730-1000.
The WeBs counts didnt reveal any suprises and was much as expected with 600 Brent Geese, 2 Pale-bellied Brents, 2 Barnacle Geese, 182 Greylags, 12 Mute Swans, 20 Whooper Swans, 157 Shelducks, 416 Wigeon, 222 Teal, 2 Tufted Ducks, 662 Oystercatchers, 119 Grey Plovers, 110 Black-tailed Godwits, 425 Redshanks, 1951 Knot and 1676 Dunlin.
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Sunday, 25 January 2026
A dull murky day the cool F4 south east wind persisting. Watches 0730-1000, 1415-1515.
A ringtail Hen Harrier visited the area then headed west while a Woodcock in sykes field and the 15 Whooper Swans again present. Over the sea 2 Little Gulls and 2 Kittiwakes flew south.
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Saturday, 24 January 2026
Clear blue skies but a chilly F6 north east wind making a nice winters day. Watches 0730-1000.
A Shore Lark at the point was a nice addition to the yearlist as was a Sooty Shearwater south over the sea which also chipped in with a Razorbill, 31 Red-throated Divers, single Fulmar and 27 Gannets.
The Black Brant made a re-appearance on Easington staright with a Pale-bellied Brent among 520 Brent Geese and 15 Whooper Swans. Elsewhere a cetti's Warbler was in sykes field.
Ringing 1 Redwing
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Whooper Swans - Adam Hutt.
Friday, 23 January 2026
The weather remained the same after a dry start raining in the afternoon and overnight with the F6 south easterly. Watches 0730-1210.
The sea was somewhat better with 6 Eider, a Velvet Scoter, 3 Little Gulls, 21 Kittiwakes, 20 Red-throated Divers, a 'blue' Fulmar and 20 Gannets.
Wildfowl number sin the area included 420 Brent Geese, 168 Greyalgs, 20 Whooper Swans, 8 Shovelers, 2 Gadwalls, 326 Wigeon, 103 Teal and 2 Tufted Ducks along with 109 Black-tailed Godwits. .
Ringing 1 Redwing
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Thursday, 22 January 2026
A bright start clouded over with rain in the afternoon and an increasing F6 south east wind. Watches 0730-1130, 1320-1420.
The quiet period of birding continues the best today included the usual 20 Whooper Swans and 10 Fulmars and 143 Kittiwakes over the sea.
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Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Mainly overcast with some rain from time to time remaining quite windy. Watches 0730-1000.
Not much change again with the 20 Whooper Swans still present along with 420 Brent Geese and 204 Greylags while 206 Black-tailed Godwits, 9 Shovelers and 237 Teal were on Kilnsea wetlands
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Tuesday, 20 January 2026
A lovely sunny day with a moderate wind. Watches 0730-1000, 1040-1300.
Some light movement over th esea included 2 Pintails, 7 Teal, 3 Goldeneyes, 2 Goosanders and 3 Kittiwakes while usuals saw 20 Whooper Swans and 69 Lapwings on Easington staright and 488 Wigeon, 132 Teal and 2 Tufted Ducks around the ponds area
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Monday, 19 January 2026
Overcast most of the time with a light F2 south west wind feeling damp. Watches 0730-1000
The day saw little change yet again with 20 Whooper Swans on Easington straight, 200 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Woodcocks in area.
Ringing 1 Woodcock, 1 Reed Bunting
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Sunday, 18 January 2026
Overcast most of the time with a light wind feeling damp. Watches 0730-1000.
Todays sightings included 20 Whooper Swans and 320 Greylags on Easington straight, 14 Shovelers, 477 Wigeon, 217 Teal and 2 Tufted Ducks in the ponds area with also 200 Black-tailed Godwits, a Jack Snipe and 5 Woodcocks around Kilnsea.
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Saturday, 17 January 2026
Mainly overcast and murky clearing in the evening with a light F3 south westerly wind Watches 0730-1000.
The day was much the same for species and numbers with 2 Jack Snipes and 15 Woodcocks around the triangle, 20 Whooper Swans and 230 Greyalgs around Easington straight along with 200 Black-tailed Godwits mobile around the area.
Ringing 1 Woodcock, 1 Robin, 1 Reed Bunting
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Friday, 16 January 2026
A bright start soon clouded over giving showers in the afternoon with a light F3 south west wind. Watches 0730-1000.
The best of todays sightings included a Jack Snipe and 15 Woodcocks around Kilnsea, the 22 Whooper Swans on Easington straight and 2 Tufted Ducks on beacon ponds while over the sea 67 Teal, 55 Common Scoters and a Goldeneye.
Ringing 3 Woodcock
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Thursday, 15 January 2026
A bright calm start soon clouded over with rain by early afternoon and a light F3 south west wind. Watches 0730-1000.
Highlights from the day saw 580 Brent Geese, a good count of 320 Greylags and 21 Whooper Swans on Easington straight, 220 Black-tailed Godwits and a Short-eared Owl on the wetlands, single Mistle Thrush in north field and 14 Siskins flying south.
Ringing 1 Blackbird, 2 Fieldfare
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Wednesday, 14 January 2026
A dry day with plenty of sunshine and light winds but a heavy overnight frost. Watches 0730-1000.
Increases in wildfowl saw 24 Shovelers, 563 Wigeon, 114 Teal and 2 Tufted Ducks in the ponds area with now 24 Whooper Swans in the usual area, a Short-eared Owl around long bank and a Cetti's Warbler in the triangle.
Ringing 1 Golden Plover, 1 Woodcock, 5 Redwing, 1 Fieldfare
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Golden Plover - Charlotte Foote.
Tuesday, 13 January 2026
Overcast for most of the day with some heavy showers clearing late on with a moderate F4 south west wind much milder than of late. Watches 0730-1000.
There was again little change birdwise with 208 Brent Geese, 188 Greylags, 12 Mute Swans and 20 Whooper Swans on Easington straight, 6 Shovelers, 472 Wigeon and aTufted Duck in the ponds area with 150 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Woodcocks and 12 Snipe in fields in Kilnsea. There was also a Chiffchaff in sykes field with 20 Redwings and 113 Fieldfares blogging around the area.
Ringing 1 Woodcock, 1 Snipe, 1 Blackbird
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Monday, 12 January 2026
A dry morning with some showers later on, with lighter F4 south westerly winds. Watches 0730-1030.
A return to somewhat better weather saw slightly more sightings for the area with 2 Russian White-fronted Geese, 35 Pink-footed Geese 135 Greylags, 264 Brent Geese, 12 Mute Swans and 16 Whooper Swans on Easington straight and a Goldeneye and Tufted Duck on beacon ponds. Also about were 217 Black-tailed Godwits feeding in the fields, 8 Woodcocks around Kilnsea, 2 Short-eared Owls around long bank, a small increase in Thrush numbers with 21 Redwings and 26 Fieldfares around Kilnsea and a Tawny Owl in Easington.
Ringing 1 Moorhen, 1 Redwing, 1 Blackbird
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Fieldfare - John Hewitt.
Sunday, 11 January 2026
A very windy F8 south westerly day getting stronger as it went on with rain by the afternoon. Watches 0730-1000.
Sightings today included 22 Whooper Swans on Easington straight, 2 Goldeneyes on beacon ponds, 100 Black-tailed Godwits in the fields and 5 Woodcocks in Kilnsea.
Ringing 1 Starling
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Golden Plover - John Hewitt. No doubt a collision injury from the strong winds.
Saturday, 10 January 2026
Constant showers of rain, sun, sleet and snow with a cold stiff F4 north east wind. Watches 0730-1000.
There was not a lot of birding going on later in the day with the second work party day, doing more cutting back in CHF and SYF with a nice warm bonfire going. Birds recorded included 21 Snow Buntings at beacon ponds with 6 Shovelers, 580 Wigeon and 367 Teal in area and the 16 Whooper Swans still on Easington straight. A nice flock of 300 Black-tailed Godwits was on the Humber and a minimum of 7 Woodcocks around the area.
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Stonechat - John Hewitt.
Friday, 09 January 2026
Overnight storm with a F7 north easterly wind and rain, remaining overcast. Watches 0730-1000.
Almost a repeat of the previious day with 19 Whooper Swans, 528 Wigeon, a Pintail, 2 Shovelers and a Siskin.
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Thursday, 08 January 2026
Mainly overcast and rather benign with a light F1 north west wind, the lull before the storm. Watches 0730-1000.
Again little change noteable sightings included 347 Brent Geese, 17 Whooper Swans, 405 Wigeon and 268 Teal. A poor day.
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Wednesday, 07 January 2026
Rain overnight melted most of the snow, remaining cold in the F5 north westwerly mainly cloudy with just a glimpse of the sun. Watches 0750-1000.
Little change again 15 Whooper Swans, 282 Wigeon, 130 Teal, 2 Water Rails, 57 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Woodcocks were the highlights.
Ringing 2 Blackbird, 1 Dunnock,
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Starling - Martin Standley.
Tuesday, 06 January 2026
Sunny spells with the odd snow flurry remaining cold in the F5 north westerly. Watches 0730-1000.
Not a great deal seen today in the bitter conditions the best being 12 Whooper Swans on Easington straight, 2 Water Rails in Kilnsea, 4 Woodcocks in the area and 3 Stonechats at beacon ponds while 413 Common Gulls flew north over the sea.
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Black-tailed Godwit - Martin Standley.
Curlew with Common Gull - Martin Standley.
Monday, 05 January 2026
Sunny spells along with snow showers remaining cold in the F5 North westerly. Watches 0730-1000.
The best of today saw a Hen Harrier and Marsh Harrier blogging the area, 3 Tawny Owls in Easington, 22 Whooper Swans still on Easington straight, 3 Water Rails in the triangle, 80 Black-tailed Godwits on the Humber, 4 Woodcocks, a Coal Tit in Easington, single Stonechat at beacon ponds with 991 Common Gulls north over the sea.
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Snipe - Martin Standley.
Snipe - Martin Standley.
Sunday, 04 January 2026
Mainly sunny but cold overnight and a cold F4 north west wind.
Similar to the previous day with 23 Whooper Swans, 2 Goldeneyes, 5 Grey Partridges, 5 Water Rails, a Jack Snipe, 7 Woodcocks and a Mediterranean Gull with a single Red-breasted Merganser north over the sea.
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Lapwing - Martin Standley.
Saturday, 03 January 2026
Snow showers driven by a F5 north westerly overnight and most of the day left quite a few inches of snow with just a glimpse of blue sky occasionally. Watches 0730-0930
The Michael Clegg memorial bird race today was in challenging conditions for some and maybe unsuprisingly not too much was seen but included the 6 Russuan White-fronted Geese, 22 Whooper Swans, 412 Wigeon, 142 Teal, 2 Goldeneyes, a Red-legged Partridge and 2 Chiffchaffs.
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Friday, 02 January 2026
A bright start clouded over in the afternoon with the odd snow flurry late on with a cold F4 northerly. Watches 0730-1000.
The best of todays sightings saw 22 Snow Buntings blogging the area, 6 Russian White-fronted Geese on Holderness field, a Great White Egret on Kilnsea wetlands with 22 Whooper Swans again on Easington straight, 2 Goldeneyes on beacon ponds and a Goosander flew south.
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Great White Egret - John Hewitt.
Water Rail - John Hewitt.
Thursday, 01 January 2026
overcast and cold with a stiff F5 north west wind. Watches 0730-0945.
The year got off to a great start with a Waxwing in Easington along Humberside lane while 5 Russian White-fronted Geese remained in the area along with a blogging Hen Harrier. Also present were the 22 Whooper Swans along Easington straight amd totals of 6 Shovelers, 353 Wigeon and 165 Teal nearby.
Over the sea 114 Pink-footed Geese flew north and a Shag flew south.
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White-fronted Geese - John Hewitt.
