Spurn Bird Observatory Sightings February 2022
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.
Scroll down for more detail.
Monday, 28 February 2022
Overcast with light rain became heavier with a F4-5 south easterly. Watches: 0700-1015.
The Black Brant was present again among a good flcok of 877 Dark-bellied Brent which also included 4 Pale-bellied Brent, a Hybrid Brant and Lucy.
There was some decent varied movement over the sea which saw a Shoveler, 1 Shelduck, 20 Teal, 5 Eider, a Velvet Scoter, 4 Common Scoter, 3 Goldeneye, 34 Red-throated Diver, a Gannet, 78 Herring Gull, 13 Guillemot and 20 Large Auk sp.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Great Black-backed Gull feeding on Porpoise. Denise Shields.
Kestrel. Harry Appleyard.
Sunday, 27 February 2022
Another sunny day with a F4-6 south easterly. Watches: 0710-1010.
It was a quieter day overall but another 1158 Pink-footed Geese flew north west, but little else on the move.
A ringtail Hen Harrier flew south along Marsh lane towards Sammy's, the Black Brant was on Kilnsea wetlands with a Hybrid Brant plus the Leucistic Brent (Lucy), the Siberian Chiffchaff at the sewage works and lastly 15 Snow Bunting wandered the area.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Curlew. Brian Walker.
Oystercatcher. John Hewitt.
Saturday, 26 February 2022
A nice sunny day with an increasing F3-5 southerly. Watches: 0700-1030.
The morning was busy for the vis miggers with another 3072 Pink-footed Geese and 12 Whooper Swan heading north west plus 18 Teal, 72 Red-throated Diver and 6 Cormorant, while overland 35 Starling, 9 Skylark, an Alba Wagtail, 7 Meadow Pipit, 6 Rock Pipit, 7 Chaffinch, 2 Brambling, 11 Greenfinch, 22 Linnet, a Yellowhammer and 10 Reed Bunting.
Elsewhere the Siberian Chiffchaff was still at the sewage works, 180 Pintail on the Humber at Sammy's and 2 Common Buzzard here.
Ringing: 1 Great Tit, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Chaffinch.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Pink-footed Geese on the move. Harry Appleyard.
Pink-footed Geese and wind turbine. Harry Appleyard.
Friday, 25 February 2022
A lovely sunny day with a decreasing F4-1 north westerly. Watches: 0715-1030.
It was a pleasanrt day out in the sun with the flock of 41 Snow Bunting again the highlight wandering the Warren to breach area. The day also saw some movement with 35 Pink-footed Geese north, 5 Brent Geese out east, 62 Red-throated Diver, 2 Curlew, 145 Large Auk sp, 12 Guillemot and 2 Razorbill with a Marsh Harrier, 2 Rook, 4 Jackdaw and 4 Skylark overland.
Up in the Kilnsea wetlands area a Pale-bellied Brent, a hybrid Brant, 310 Wigeon, 29 Black-tailed Godwit and a Short-eared Owl.
Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Robin.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Sparrowhawk. Thomas Willoughby.
Thursday, 24 February 2022
Sunny day with showers, some wintery and a cold F3-7 south westerly. Watches: 0730-1045, 1300-1615.
A much quieter day overall with just 110 Pink-footed Geese heading north west, but 10 Barnacle Geese were on the Humber and 2 Avocet were back on Kilnsea wetlands, while at least 1 Siberian Chiffchaff was still at the Sewage works. The day also saw another 396 Red-throated Diver on the move plus 10 Kittiwake, 2 Razorbill, 35 Guillemot and 223 Large Auk sp.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Long-tailed Tit. Brian Walker.
Siberian Chiffchaff. Brian Walker.
Wednesday, 23 February 2022
Sunny spells but again windy with a F5-7 south westerly. Watches: 0715-1100.
It was a great day of movement with an impressive 3039 Pink-footed Geese heading north west with also 5 Wigeon, 9 Pintail, 15 Teal, an Eider, 7 Common Scoter, 628 Red-throated Diver, 2 Gannet, a Fulmar, 16 Cormorant, 9 Kittiwake, 20 Black-headed Gull, and 115 Large Auk sp, while overland passage was evident for the first time this 'spring' with 7 Stock Dove, 24 Skylark, 4 Rook, 8 Jackdaw, 158 Starling. a Grey Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Chaffinch and 2 Linnet.
The best of the other sightings were the flock of 41 Snow Bunting were again in the area.
Ringing: 1 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Redwing.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Black-tailed Godwits, Shoveler, Brent Geese, Redshanks and Common Gulls. Adam Hutt.
Tuesday, 22 February 2022
Sunny with a F5-6 south westerly. Watches: 0750-1310.
There was a great count of 266 Pintail on the Humber off Sammy's with 3 Pale-bellied Brent among 420 Brent Geese on Kilnsea wetlands.
The best of the sea were 300 Pink-footed Geese north, 20 Wigeon, an Eider, 420 Red-throated Diver, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Gannet, 6 Cormorant, 26 Kittiwake, 217 Large Auk sp, 43 Guillemot and 5 Razorbill, while 8 Skylark and 85 Starling headed south overland.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Cormorant. Brian Walker.
Grey Heron. Tony Hull.
Sunday, 20 February 2022
Dry start with heavy and prolonged showers later and a strong blustery F7 westerly.
The sea was quieter overall with a Wigeon, 12 Teal, 16 Common Scoter, 121 Red-throated Diver, 2 Gannet, 12 Kittiwake, 66 Herring Gull, 105 Guillemot, 9 Razorbill and 162 Large Auk sp.
The long bank area held 5 Mediterranean Gull (adult and 4 x 2cy) and 23 Shoveler in a flooded field. A flock of 70 Fieldfare on peter lane with 17 Snipe s/over here.
Just outside the area the Black Brant was still just east of Skeffling along with a hybrid Brant, a Pale-bellied Brent, the leucistic bird among the Brent flock and 20 Whooper Swan, while just west of the carpark a Water Pipit, 200 Fieldfare and 2 Marsh Harrier.
Ringing: 1 Redwing.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Shoveler. Adam Hutt.
Brent Geese and Redshank. Adam Hutt.
Saturday, 19 February 2022
A sunny start, became wet and windy with wintery showers and an increasing blustery F3-6 westerly.
The morning was spent decommissioning the point heligoland trap, a good turn out from the Obs and YWT volunteers saw it taken down just as the worst of the weather rolled in. It will hopefully be rebuilt at some point in the future.
There was some movement over the sea early morning a Long-tailed Duck north and an Avocet south were the highlights plus 450 Red-throated Diver, a Shag, 686 Large Auk sp, 27 Guillemot, 4 Razorbill, a Great Crested Grebem 185 Herring Gull, 9 Kittiwake, 4 Pintail and 4 Teal.
Elsewhere there were 12 Snow Bunting still about, a Woodcock at the Obs, a Coot on canal scrape and 37 Pied Wagtail were at long bank.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Turnstone. Brian Walker.
Black-tailed Godwit. Brian Walker.
Friday, 18 February 2022
Strong F8 south westerly winds and rain made for a poor day. Watches: 0745-1015.
Despite the conditions 15 Snow Bunting were in the triangle again, a Coot on Canal scrape, 45 Tree Sparrow at the Obs and 2 Pintail, a Marsh Harrier and a Short-eared Owl at Kilnsea wetlands.
The sea had 12 Common Scoter, 59 Red-throated Diver, a Fulmar, 9 Kittiwake2 Razorbill, 29 Guillemot and 138 Large Auk sp.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Thursday, 17 February 2022
Sunny spells and showers with a F6-7 north westerly. Watches: 0730-1015.
A flock of 20 Snow Bunting continued to roam the area, while a Great Northern Diver was the highlight over the sea which also had 130 Red-throated Diver, 14 Gannet, a Fulmar, 9 Kittiwake, a Mediterranean Gull, 576 Herring Gull, 240 Guillemot, 3 Razorbill and 668 Large Auk sp.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Teal. Tony Hull.
Pair of Wigeon. Tony Hull.
Wednesday, 16 February 2022
It was quite a decent morning of movement over the sea the best being 22 Pink-footed Geese, an Eider, 148 Red-throated Diver, 7 Gannet, 38 Kittiwake, 284 Herring Gull and 877 Large Auk sp.
The only other sightings of note were a Snow Bunting, 2 Stonechat and 600 Oystercatcher.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Tuesday, 15 February 2022
Wet and wild in the morning with sunny spells later in a F6 south westerly. Watches: 0745-1045.
The best of the sightings were unsuprisingly from the shelter of the seawatch hide producing 13 Pink-footed Geese, 4 Eider, 9 Common Scoter, a Fulmar, 19 Gannet, 60 Kittiwake, 57 Herring Gull and a good count of 415 Razorbill.
Elsewhere Kilnsea wetlands had a Pale-bellied Brent, 31 Black-tailed Godwit and 100 Redshank.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Lapwing. Thomas Willoughby.
Black-tailed Godwit. Tony Hull.
Stock Dove. Tony Hull.
Monday, 14 February 2022
Another day of heavy rain and a F6 south westerly. Watches: 0745-1015.
Despite the conditions there were a few bits of interest, an adult Iceland Gull from the relative luxury of the seawatch hide along with 436 Herring Gull heading south and 107 Red-throated Diver.
The Black Redstart continued its stay on the sheltered seaward rocks at the gas terminal and 20 Snow Bunting and a Mediterranean Gull were here too.
Other bits of note from the Kilnsea wetlands area were 3 Pale-bellied Brent, 12 Shoveler, 550 Wigeon, 2 Goldeneye, 22 Little Grebe, 44 Black-tailed Godwit and a Short-eared Owl.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Lucy with the Brent flock. John Hewitt.
Pale-bellied Brent with Brents. John Hewitt.
Redshank. John Hewitt.
Sunday, 13 February 2022
A horrible day of rain and a strong F6 south westerly. Watches: 0740-1015.
Not many ventured out into the conditions and little or no reward for those that did. The more 'noteable' sightings were 300 Wigeon, a Coot, 20 Black-tailed Godwit and 22 Pied Wagtail.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Pied Wagtail. John Hewitt.
Barn Owl. John Hewitt.
Redshank. John Hewitt.
Saturday, 12 February 2022
A wet and wild day of heavy rain driven by a F6 south westerly. Watches: 0745-1340.
Not a great day to be out and about, but the flock of 38 Snow Bunting continued to wander the triangle and Kilnsea wetlands had the 2 Pale-bellied Brent with 427 Brents, 500 Wigeon and 2 Goldeneye.
The sea was a bit more busy, though lacking any real quality with 172 Pink-footed Geese, an Eider, 13 Common Scoter, 2 Goldeneye, 6 Gannet, 4 Kittiwake, 190 Herring Gull, 306 Guillemot, 2 Razorbill and 128 Large Auk sp.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Goldeneye. John Hewitt.
Friday, 11 February 2022
Frosty to start with bright sunny day following and an increasong F1 norhterly to a F6 south westerly. Watches: 0740-1140.
The impressive by recent standards flock of 40 Snow Bunting were still wandering the area, while elsewhere the best of the rest were 2 Short-eared Owl hunting around Kilnsea wetlands where 2 Pale-bellied Brents were among 428 Brent Geese.
Over the sea the best were 111 Red-throated Diver, 5 Gannet, 55 Kittiwake, 2 Little Gull and 53 Large Auk sp.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Coot. Tony Hull.
Goldeneye. Tony Hull.
Pale-bellied Brent Goose with Brents. John Hewitt.
Thursday, 10 February 2022
Bright and sunny but cold in the biting F5 north westerky. Watches: 0715-1230.
It was quite an entertaining day with plenty on offer for everyone with numerous highlights and maybe the best being 1255 Pink-footed Geese heading north west and nice ringtail Hen Harrier which headed back north west, the Black Brant was in fields off Beacon lane with 6 Pale-bellied Brents, a juvenile White-fronted Goose on Easington striaght with Greylags, a fantastic flook of 40 Snow Bunting wandering the area, a Black Redstart at the gas terminal and nearby a Siberian Chiffchaff at the sewage works.
Other bits of note were 228 Red-throated Diver over the sea, a Mediterranean Gull amd a good total of 7 Stonechat.
Ringing: 1 Tree Sparrow.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Little Egret. John Hewitt.
Ringed Plovers. Thomas Willoughby.
Wednesday, 09 February 2022
A mild Sunny day with a F3 south westerly. Watches: 0745-1015.
There was some movement over the sea with the best being 52 Red-throated Diver and 2 Great Northern Diver, while there was even some overland migration with 2 Marsh Harrier, a Jackdaw, 8 Skylark and a Meadow Pipit.
Other sightings from the day saw a Barnacle Goose at Sammy's, 1200 Wood Pigeon in Easington, a Short-eared Owl at Kilnsea wetlands, the 3 Siberian Chiffchaff at the sewage works and 2 Goldcrest around the Obs.
Just outside the recording area the Black Brant was present at Skeffling along with 2 Pale-bellied Brents.
Ringing: 1 Great Tit.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Drake Goldeneye. Thomas Willoughby.
Black Brant with Brents. Colin Bushell.
Pale-bellied Brents with Brents. Colin Bushell.
Redshank. Tony Hull.
Tuesday, 08 February 2022
A mild day of sunny spells and a F4 south westerly. Watches: 0745-1145.
The best of todays sightings included a Lapland Bunting south at the Warren, 18 Snow Bunting wandering the area and 3 Siberian Chiffchaff at the sewage works.
Up in the Kilnsea wetlands area a Short-eared Owl, 1 Barn Owl and 4 Kestrel were hunting and a Pale-bellied Brent was present.
Ringing: 1 Water Rail.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Barn Owl. Thomas Willoughby.
Little Egret. John Hewitt.
Barn Owl showing well. John Hewitt.
Little Egret. John Hewitt.
Monday, 07 February 2022
Frosty start gave way to a sunny day with a F3-4 westerly. Watches: 0745-1100.
The best of the day saw an increase to 4 Pale-bellied Brents aroind Kilnsea wetlans among the 415 Brent Geese, which also contained 2 Black Brant x Brent hybrids. Other decent sightings from the day included the 3 Siberian Chiffchaff again at the sewage works, a Kigfisher along Easington straight, the first returning Coot at Sammy's, a 2cy Mediterranean Gull on KIlnsea wetlands and a Mistle Thrush in the triangle.
Ringing: 1 Moorhen, 1 Robin, 1 Tree Sparrow, 1 House Sparrow.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Short-eared Owl. Michael Anderson.
Short-eared Owl. Tony Hull.
Sunday, 06 February 2022
A cold, wet and wild day driven by a F6-7 north westerly. Watches: 0750-1035.
Not a great day to be out, the wind increased as the day went on, the best of the sightings were a Red Kite which headed back north, a Mediterranean Gull over the sea, which aslo had 114 Red-throated Diver, 66 Guillemot and 6 Razorbill and just one Snow Bunting at the Narrows.
The best sightings though were just outside the recording area between Sammys and Skeffling with a Black Brant, 21 Whooper Swan, a Pale-bellied Brent and a nice adult male Hen Harrier.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Female Shoveler. Tony Hull.
Drake Shoveler. Tony Hull.
Saturday, 05 February 2022
Blustery showers in a F6 north westerly. Watches: 0750-1120.
A quiet day overall the best of the sightings were 3 Snow Bunting which headed south, while over the sea were an Eider, 7 Common Scoter, 69 Red-throated Diver, 3 Gannet, 89 Kittiwake, 13 Guillemot, 2 Razorbill and 47 Largw Auk sp.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank. Tony Hull.
Friday, 04 February 2022
Bright and sunny with a bitter f5-6 north westerly. Watches: 0800-0915.
Not much happening during the day, the best of the sightings were on KIlnsea wetlands where a flock of 500 Brent Geese were present with the Hybid Brant x Brent and a probable Black Brant. Also here were 579 Wigeon, 13 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 25 Black-tailed Godwit, 150 Curlew and a Stonechat.
The best of a quiet sea were 43 Red-throated Diver, 3 Gannet and 7 Kittiwake.
Ringing: 1 Moorhen.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Brent Geese. John Hewitt.
Mute Swans. John Hewitt.
Thursday, 03 February 2022
Mild again with sunny spells and a F3-4 south westerly. Watches: 0745-1015.
A brilliant flock of 41 Snow Bunting in the triangle to breach area was impressive by recent standards (the biggest flock in the area since 42 in Decemeber 2014). Other noteable sightings included a Great Northern Diver south over the sea, the 3 Siberian Chiffchaff at the sewage works and 2 Pale-bellied Brents in among the 400 Brent Geese.
The Kilnsea wetlands area held the usual good counts of 421 Wigeon, 28 Mallard, 2 Goldeneye, 24 Little Grebe and 6 Little Egret while on the Humber 36 Black-tailed Godwit, 1000 Knot and 800 Dunlin were counted.
Ringing: 1 Chaffinch.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Snow Buntings. Jason Spinks. Since 2014 there have been very few decent flocks in the area normally involving just a handful of birds and more often just 1-5 birds, so this flock is more than welcome.
Kestrel. Tony Hull.
Wednesday, 02 February 2022
A mild sunny day with a F3-5 south westerly. Watches: 0750-0900.
It was a ncie day out and about the best of todays sightings were a nice flock of 38 Snow Bunting in the Warren to breach area, the 3 Siberian Chiffchaff at the sewage works and a Brambling in Kilnsea, which is unusual for the time of year for us.
Other bits included a Pale-bellied Brent with 300 Brent Geese, 543 Wigeon, 2 Goldeneye, 23 Little Grebe, 80 Lapwing, 38 Black-tailed Godwit around Kilnsea wetlands and a Woodcock along the canal.
Ringing: 1 Redwing.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Stonechat. John Hewitt.
Fieldfare. John Hewitt.
Tuesday, 01 February 2022
A bright sunny day with a F5 north westerly. Watches: 0750-1015.
The morning after the last big tide and the full extent of the destruction of the Heligoland trap was absorbed. Hopefully something can be arranged in the near future. Sightings were few and far during the day the best being 473 Brent Geese, 413 Wigeon, a Tufted Duck, 20 Little Grebe, 25 Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Stonechat around Kilnsea wetlands and 2 Woodcock and 17 Snipe in the triangle.
Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.
Little Egret. Tony Hull.
Brent Geese plus 'Lucy'. Tony Hull.
