Spurn Bird Observatory Sightings February 2023
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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Tuesday, 28 February 2023
A cool cloudy day with frequent showers and a F3 north easterly. Watches 07:00-09:30, 15:15-17:15. There was little change to end the month but equally few out looking in the rain. The Black Brant reppeared again on Kilnsea wetlands along with 450 Brent Geese withanother good count of 235 Pintail at Sammys and 2 Whooper Swans in fields nearby.
The best of the sea were 49 Common Scoter, 74 Red-throated Diver and 61 Gannets.
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Monday, 27 February 2023
A day of sunny spells and showers with a F4 north easterly continuing to give acool feeling. Watches 07:00-10:00, 15:30-16:30. Both the Shore Lark on Beacon Ponds and the Wood Lark by Easington boatyard reappeared again today whilst a single Snow Bunting flew over the ponds. The 2 Scaup were still on the ponds while Easington straight had 3 Barnacle Geese, 881 Brent Geese, 2 Pale-bellied Brent, the Black Brant and 2 Whooper Swans.
The Kilnsea wetlands also held 5 Pink-footed Geese, 31 Shoveler, 12 Gadwall, 460 Wigeon, 59 Mallard, 147 Teal, 6 Little Grebe, 2 Avocets, 187 Black-tailed Godwits and a Short-eared Owl. On top of these the WEBS count also dug out 2022 Oystercatcher, 113 Curlew, 4469 Dunlin, 634 Redshank and 4 Little Egrets.
Each day the sea settles down from the peak counts with 52 large Auk sp. plus 40 Guillemots, 112 Red-throated Divers, 5 Eiders and 22 Kittiwakes were the most noteable.
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Black-tailed Godwits. John Hewitt.
Sunday, 26 February 2023
A nice sunny day but cool in the F4 north easterly. Watches 0700-1230. The days highlight saw a suprise Raven u-turn at the Warren and head back north west up the Humber. Elsewhere 3 Barnacle Geese and the Black Brant were on Kilnsea wetlands, the 2 Scaup were still on beacon ponds, 2 Whooper Swans on Easington straight and 8 Snow Buntings by the gas terminal.
The sea had quietened down somewhat though an unseasonal Great Skua flew north along with 3 Eider, 146 Kittiwake, a Mediterranean Gull, 173 Guillemots, 32 Large Auk sp, 86 Red-throated Divers, 5 Fulmars and 5 Gannets.
Outside the area 56 Whooper Swans were at Skeffling.
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Raven. Jacob Spinks. Seen flying south initially up at Grimston.
Saturday, 25 February 2023
Heavy rain and sleet showers in the morning gave way to sunny periods with a cold F5 northerly. Watches 07:00-14:00. A nice early Wood Lark appeared in Easington by the boatyard showing well despite the cold wind and a Long-eared Owl also in the area.
The sea continued to be good todays offerings being 2 Long-tailed Ducks and a 'blue' Fulmar along with 3 Eider, 10 Common Scoter, a Red-breasted Merganser, 574 Kittiwakes, 181 Guillemots, 5 Razorbills, 99 Large Auk sp, 35 Red-throated Divers, 9 Fulmar and 87 Gannets.
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Wood Lark. Tony Hull.
Friday, 24 February 2023
A cool cloudy day with an increasing F3-5 northerly. Watches 07:20-16:30. Following on from the previous day the sea came to life as the northerly stream continued totals of 4 Eider, 9 Common Scoter, 173 Kittiwakes, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, an Iceland Gull, 3 Razorbills, 593 Guillemots, 635 Large Auk sp, 137 Red-throated Divers and 68 Gannets.
The beacon ponds/ Kilnsea wetlands area held some good totals with 2 Whooper Swans, 12 Shoveler, 14 Gadwall, 606 Wigeon, 112 Teal, 2 Scaup, 2 Avocets, 220 Black-tailed Godwits, 6 Little Egrets, a Barn Owl, 8 Skylaks and 2 Stonechats.
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Scaup. Denise Shields.
Thursday, 23 February 2023
Asunny but cool day in the F5-3 northerly wind. Watches 08:00-09:30,12:40-16:15. The 2 Scaup were in residence on beacon ponds, a single Snow Bunting around the warren, a Pintail on canal scrape was unusual while a Woodcock and 2 Stonechats around the area.
Some light movement over the sea brought 12 Common Scoter, 57 Kittiwakes, 16 Guillemots, 142 Large Auk sp, 40 Red-throated Divers and 20 Gannets.
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Pintail. Denise Shields.
Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Overcast day with rain early morning witha F3 westerly. Watches: 07:15-10:00, 13:45-14:45. The ringtail Hen Harrier and 2 Scaup were around the area again today but little else with 22 Stock Doves, a Stonechat and a Barn Owl around long bank with 13 Jackdaws and 9 Rooks heading south.
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Barn Owl. Denise Shields.
Tuesday, 21 February 2023
A sunny mild day with a F3 south westerly. Watches 07:10-10:00. Following on from yesterday another 1354 Pink-footed Geese recorded by observers from the Warren mainly north west up the Humber made for a good day but as is often typical of these movements there was no associated 'other' species. Also here were 22 Snow Buntings.
The 2 Scaup returned yet again to beacon ponds with the general area holding 510 Wigeon, just a single Goldeneye, 11 Little Grebes, 3 Avocets and 3 Stonechat.
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Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits at Kilnsea wetlands. Denise Shields.
Monday, 20 February 2023
Cloudy all day with a F4 westerly. It was a great day all round the area with some good movements and the usuals all in evidence. A good movement early morning saw 666 Pink-footed Geese head north up the coast with 2 Velvet Scoter and a Yellow-legged Gull heading south. Overland an Iceland Gull down the Humber and a Red Kite along with 7 Lapwing, 9 Skylarks and 54 Starlings.
Highlights from the area included 260 Pintail on the Humber, 3 Avocet and 230 Black-tailed Godwits on Kilnsea wetlands, the ringtail Hen Harrier again around Easington, 14 Snow Buntings and 2 Rock Pipits at the Warren and 2 Little Owls at grange farm.
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Sunday, 19 February 2023
A sunny day with a F2 westerly. Watches 08:15-09:50. On a day with little of note the ringtail Hen Harrier put in another appearance around the Easington area, the pair of Scaup again on beacon ponds while the 'resident' flock of 18 Snow Buntings now down by the narrows.
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Saturday, 18 February 2023
Generally cloudy with a F5 westerly. Watches 07:30-10:45. It was a quiet day all round 8 Snow Buntings blogging the area, a male Goosander north over the sea and an unseasonal Lesser Redpoll in sykes field with 4 Avocet and continuing good total of 365 Black-tailed Godwits om Kilmnsea wetlands.
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Black-tailed Godwit. John Hewitt.
Friday, 17 February 2023
Sunny spells with a brisk F7 westerly. Watches: Watches 07:30-09:30, 13:10-14:55. The generally milder weather continues and little change in the birding the same birds and similar total, the 2 Scaup still on beacon ponds and 8 Snow Buntings at the warren the best sightings along with a Pale-bellied Brent, 375 Wigeon, 145 Teal, 4 Avocets, 150 Black-tailed Godwits, a Mediterranean Gull and 4 Long-tailed Tits.
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Mediterranean Gull. Harry Appleyard.
Thursday, 16 February 2023
A cloudy day with early morning drizzle and a F4 south easterly. Watches 07:30-10:00, 14:30-16:10. It was a better day for sightings the best of which were 20 Snow Buntings at the Warren, the Hen Harrier in Easington, a great count of 240 Pintail at Sammys (best when the tide is rising), 4 Avocets and 383 Black-tailed Godwits at Kilnsea wetlands while 2 Little Owls and a Woodcock were also noted among the commoner species.
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Black-tailed Godwits. John Hewitt.
Wednesday, 15 February 2023
A misty start became brighter later along with a F3 south easterly. Watches 07:30-10:30. The only bits of note were 2 Snow Buntings and around 100 Pink-footed Geese heading north west.
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Greylag Geese. John Hewitt.
Tuesday, 14 February 2023
A foggy day clearing in the afternoon with a F3 southerly. Watches 07:30-10:00, 14:30-15:30. There was not much of note apart from 9 Snow Buntings on clubleys and the 2 Scaup and 524 Wigeon on beacon ponds.
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Scaup. John Hewitt.
Monday, 13 February 2023
A cloudy day with a F3 southerly wind. Watches 07:30-10:00, 14:10-16:10. It was a quieter seawatch but still nice to have 2 Velvet Scoters fly south along with 10 Wigeon and 5 Pintail but little else.
Presumably the same ringtail Hen Harrier graced the Sammys area again with 495 Brent Geese and 4 Little Egret here also.
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Sunday, 12 February 2023
A chilly overcast day with light winds. Watches 0730-1000. The first returning Avocet was back on beacon ponds with the Shore Lark and 2 Scaup still here while an unusual record of a Snow Bunting was on canal scrape.
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Saturday, 11 February 2023
After a light frost a bright and sunny day with light winds. The flock of 25 Snow Buntings reappeared at chalk bank but apart from a Cetti's Warbler at the point and the first 4 Rooks of the year which u-turned it was a pretty quiet day.
Wildfowl as usual featured in the Kilnsea wetlands and beacon ponds area with the 2 Scaup still present plus 426 Wigeon, 89 Teal, 5 Gadwall, 3 Goldeneye, 430 Black-tailed Godwits and 6 Yellowhammers.
Over the sea another good movement of 361 Red-throated Diver, 55 Razorbill, a Shag and 2 Great Crested Grebe were the most noteable.
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Friday, 10 February 2023
Cloudy with just the odd glimpse of sun and a an increasing F4 SW wind. Watches 1445-1545. The Iceland Gull was again wandering the area spending time sat on the beach at Easington giving close views with further highlights from the day a Hen Harrier at Sammys with a big count of 253 Pintail here on the Humber, KIlnsea wetlands chipping in with 445 Black-tailed Godwits, the 2 Scaup nearby on Beacon ponds while 4 Long-tailed Tit the first wanderers of the year to Kilnsea.
Other noteable birds were the Little Owl at grange farm, a Short-eared Owl at Sammys and a Stonechat at Kilnsea wetlands.
Ringing 4 Long-tailed Tit
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Iceland Gull. John Hewitt.
Iceland Gull. John Hewitt.
Thursday, 09 February 2023
Bright and sunny with light winds. Watches: 0730-1000. The second calender year Iceland Gull re-appeared again in the area giving nice views with 2 Scaup again on beacon ponds, a Shore Lark here flew off towards Sammys and a great total of 804 Red-throated Divers over the sea fromt the seawatch hut.
The Kilnsea wetlands and beacon ponds area held 7 Shovelers, 604 Wigeon, 95 Teal, 3 Goldeneye, 18 Little Grebes, 380 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Little Egrets with 2 Pintail on the Humber at Sammys.
Ringing: 1 Blackbird.
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Sanderling. John Hewitt.
Wednesday, 08 February 2023
Overnight frost then bright and sunny and a light south westerly. Watches 0730-1000, 1340-1610. The days are rather merging together with little change from day to day the sea gain having a decent movement of Divers and Auks and good numbers of Wildfowl on Kilnsea wetlands and beacon ponds. Over the sea were 4 Shelduck, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 271 Common Gulls, 156 Guillemots, 214 Large Auk sp, 504 Red-throated Diver, 2 Gannets and 9 Cormorants.
Wildfowl counts turned up 8 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 525 Wigeon, 157 Teal, 2 Scaup and 3 Goldeneye plus 14 Little Grebes, 310 Black-tailed Godwits, 695 Redshanks and a Barn Owl. There was still a Cetti's Warbler along the canal, now 2 Coot on the scrape and a singing Chiffchaff at the sewage works.
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Goldfinch. John Hewitt.
Tuesday, 07 February 2023
Another sunny day with a kight south westerly. Watches 0730-1015. There was some movement over the sea with 2 Great Northern Divers, 431 Red-throated Divers, 59 Guillemots, 2 Razorbills, 409 Large Auk sp and a Gannet while in complete contrast to yesterday just 55 Pink-footed Geese flew north west.
There was a noticeable increase in Wildfowl on Kilnsea wetlands with 554 Wigeon, 144 Teal, 7 Shovelers, 5 Gadwall and 3 Goldeneye along with the 2 Scaup and another good count of 277 Black-tailed Godwits and 552 Redshanks.
Nearby just outside area 3 White-fronted Geese and the adult Black Brant were at Skeffling.
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Wigeon. John Hewitt.
Wigeon. John Hewitt.
Monday, 06 February 2023
Sunny with a F3 south westerly. Watches 0730-0945, 1510 1610. The day was dominated by a brilliant big northbound movement of 2053 Pink-footed Geese as they departed from Norfolk. There wasnt a great deal of other stuff on the move but did included 17 Brent Geese, 230 Large Auk sp, 76 Red-throated Diver, a Fulmar and 1 Gannet.
Other bits of note were the 2 Scaup on beacon ponds and a Green Sandpiper on Kilnsea wetlands plus 8 Shovelers, 3 Gadwall, 250 Wigeon, 3 Goldeneyes, 154 Lapwings, 3 Little Egrets and 2 Peregrines.
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Peregrine. Chris Sims.
Peregrine. Chris Sims.
Sunday, 05 February 2023
A sunny day with a F3 south westerly. There were few obsevers out and about many still heading back from the annual bash at Scarborough but those present had the 2 Shore Larks and 2 Scaup on beacon ponds and a ringtail Hen Harrier on Easington straight with the first returning Coot back on canal scrape.
The sea had a few bits with 2 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Goldeneye, 60 Large Auk sp, 104 Red-throated Divers, a Fulmar and 5 Gannets.
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Roe Deer. Steve Clipperton.
Roe Deer. Steve Clipperton.
Saturday, 04 February 2023
A cloudy day with a F2 south westerly. Watches: 0720-1020. The best sightings of the day in line with the last few weeks with the 2 Shore Larks and 2 Scaup at beacon ponds with other noteable sightings of 3 Whooper Swans on Easington straight, a Stonechat at Kilnsea wetlands and 25 Yellowhammers in the listening dish hedge.
Over the generally quiet sea 83 Pink-footed Geese, an Eider, 151 Red-throated Diver, a Fulmar and 2 Gannets were the most noteworthy as were 66 Starlings and 20 Goldfinch heading south.
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Scaup. John Hewitt.
Friday, 03 February 2023
Sunny spells with a F5 westerly. The area around KIlnsea wetlands and beacon ponds had most of todays action the years first Spotted Redshank here with the Redshank flock, 10 Whooper Swans, the Black Brant and Pale-bellied Brent, the 2 Scaup and another good total of 308 Black-tailed Godwits. The 2 Shore Larks were again on beacon ponds and 15 Snow Buntings at the gas terminal.
The sea had 6 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, 4 Eider, 9 Guillemots, 13 Large Auk sp 110 Red-throated Divers and 3 Gannet while overland 56 Starling headed south.
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Spotted Redshank (centre) with Redshanks, Black-tailed Godwits, Teal and Wigeon. John Hewitt.
Black-tailed Godwit. John Hewitt.
Thursday, 02 February 2023
Sunny spells with a F4 westerly. Watches 07:45-09:30, 12:50-15:30. The 2 Shore Larks remained at beacon ponds and a flock of 17 Snow Buntings mobile around the area while the Black Brant was again on Kilnsea wetlands with 2 Pale-bellied Brent, the 2 Scaup re-appearing here. Nearby the Little Owl was again at grange farm. Counts from the area included 350 Brent Geese, 115 Greylag Geese, 11 Shovelers, 3 Gadwall, 351 Wigeon, 39 Mallard, 173 Teal, 3 Goldeneye, 10 Little Grebes, 199 Black-tailed Godwits, 8 Skylark and a Stonechat.
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Shore Lark. John Hewitt.
Shore Lark. John Hewitt.
Wednesday, 01 February 2023
Bright and sunny with a strong F9 north westerly. Watches 0740-1115, 1300-1500. It was quiet out and about around the area in the strong winds, the Black Brant and 2 Pale-bellied Brents along with 248 Brent Geese on Kilnsea wetlands plus 3 Goldeneye and 159 Black-tailed Godwits.
The sea was somewhat quieter with 16 Kittiwake, 254 Guillemots, 2 Razorbills, 85 Large Auk sp, 161 Red-throated Divers and 9 Gannets.
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Brent Geese. Hazel Wiseman.
