Sightings

Wednesday, 29 May 2024

Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach, which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 130 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.

Mostly sunny along with a F4 south westerly.  An early morning Golden Oriole singing at Kew was the highlight of the morning at least with 2 Hawfinches also featruing at the point plus 2 Spotted Flycatchers, a Redstart along the canal and 2 Wheatears. 

The vismiggers had the best of the day with 243 Swifts, 2 Collared Doves, 2 Grey Herons, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Hen Harriers, a Marsh Harrier, 4 Red Kites, a Kestrel, 120 Swallow, 243 House Martins, 2 Flava Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, 24 Linnets and 2 Siskins.  

Ringing: Swallow 1, Chiffchaff 1, Blackbird 1, Dunnock 1. 4/4. Watches: 0600 - 1145

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Tuesday, 28 May 2024

A day of sunny spells and showers along with a F3 southerly.  After no records last year it was nice to get Honey Buzzard back on the year list when one flew south at the Warren heading out over the Humber. There was no repeat of the previous days vismig with just a single Hobby, 244 Swallows, 93 House Martins, 3 Flava Wagtails, 10 Goldfinches, a Siskin and single Yellowhammer the more noteable. 

There were few migrants about with 7 Wheatears being the most obvious. Elsewhere a Spoonbill and Greenshank were on K[lnsea wetlands, a Pale-bellied Brent on the Humber and a Tufted Duck on beacon ponds. 

Ringing: Starling 3, Dunnock 1 (P), Chaffinch 1. 5/3 Watch times: 05:30-11:05, 11:30-13:15
 

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Monday, 27 May 2024

Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach, which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 130 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.

After a bright start it clouded over with showers in the afternoon and a warm F4 south westerly.  A busier day than of late with an great selection of birds on the move and some new arrivals. including an early morning Nightjar trapped in churchfield, an elusive male Red-backed Shrike at the point parade ground, a Turtle Dove making it onto the yearlist in Easington plus a Willow Warbler, 4 Spotted Flycatchers, a Wheatear and single Bullfinch. 

The star of the day waited till late evening to fly south being Spurns 4th PURPLE HERON first seen over the triangle then south east from the Warren out over the sea. The vismiggers wwre also treated to 430 Swifts, a Grey Heron, an Osprey, 5 Red Kites, a Marsh Harrier, single Sparrowhawk, 6 Jackdaws, 4 Sand Martins, 490 Swallows, 439 House Martins, 7 Chaffinches, 15 Linnets, 19 Goldfinches and a Siskin. 

Ringing: Nightjar 1, Starling 1, Blue Tit 8 (P), Great Tit 3 (P), Dunnock 1 (P), Sedge Warbler 1, Linnet 1, Goldfinch 2. 18/8 Watches: 06:00-13:30, 14:45-15:45, 18:30-19:45

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Sunday, 26 May 2024

A cloudy day with showers and a F34 south easterly.  The days surprise sighting concerned a Stone Curlew flying south over the triangle continuing south over the Humber. The day also saw the 2 Hawfinches remaining around the Kew area other grounded migrants included a Willow Warbler, single Fieldfare, 5 Spotted Flycatchers and a Siskin while the Little Tern colony at beacon ponds swelled to 130 birds. Nearby 3 Barnacle Geese were on Kilnsea wetlands. 

On the move were 3 Shovelers, 2 Teal, 7 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Arctic Terns, a Manx Shearwater, 215 Swallows and 6 Siskins. 

Ringing: Starling 1, Sedge Warbler 2, Willow Warbler 1, Linnet 1. 4/5 Watch times: 06:00-10:15, 13:30-14:30

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Friday, 24 May 2024

Generally cloudy throughout the odd sunny spell later with a moderate south westerly.  The cracking male Common Rosefinch remained on the feeders till at least mid morning while 3 Hawfinches dropped into Kew. Migrant numbers still remained low with just a Willow Warbler, single Whinchat, a Wheatear, 5 Spotted Flycatchers and a Bullfinch.

Similar to the previous day for the vismiggers with 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 218 Kittiwakes, a Puffin, 68 Swifts, 16 Sand Martins, 322 Swallows, 78 House Martins, 3 Flava Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, 18 Chaffinches, 9 Goldfinches, 3 Siskin and a Corn Bunting. There was more easterly movement including 11 Brent Geese, 4 Arctic Terns, 24 Grey Plovers, 13 Ringed Plovers, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 30 Knot and 35 Dunlins. 

Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Song Thrush (p), 7 Blue Tit (p), 4 Great Tit (p). 15/6. Watch times: 05:05-11:10

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Thursday, 23 May 2024

Cloudy with the odd sunny spell and a breezy F5 south westerly.  A rather dapper red adult male Common Rosefinch on the feeders at Kilnsea wetlands stole the show, the female Red-backed Shrike still present between chalk bank and potato fields plus 2 Spotted Flycatchers and 2 Wheatears. A fantastic flock of 9 Spoonbills was over beacon ponds, (3 heading west and 6 back north being seen as far north as Flamborough), the drake Green-winged Teal reappeared with a Eurasian Teal on Kilnsea wetlands while a Hen Harrier was also around the same area. 

It was quite a busy morning for the vismiggers with 281 Swifts, a Grey Heron, 4 Jackdaws, 11 Sand Martins, 187 Swallows, 158 House Martins, 5 Flava Wagtails, 5 Chaffinches and 4 Goldfinches but overall still poor. Heading out east to sea 104 Brent Geese, 135 Grey Plovers, 9 Ringed Plovers, 10 Knot and 6 Dunlins. Full counts on Trektellen. 

Watch times: 05:45-10:45, 16:15-17:30.

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Wednesday, 22 May 2024

After heavy rain in the morning the afternoon was overcast and showery,   A small arrival brought some quality with a female Bluethroat at the lighthouse, 2 Red-backed Shrikes between the narrows and middle camp and an Icterine Warbler to the potato fields but with little else bar a Spotted Flycatcher. 

The Green-winged Teal remained on Kilnsea wetlands where 4 Spoonbills arrived spending 10 minutes heading off west. Also present were 4 Tufted Ducks on beacon ponds, a Little-ringed Plover, 3 Black-tailed Godwits and a Little Gull on Kilnsea wetlands.

Watches: 06:00-10:00, 13:40-14:40.

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Tuesday, 21 May 2024

After early morning rain thick fog lingered all day with a F4 north easterly.  A decent arrival of scandinavian migrants around the area was welcome highlighted by a BLYTH'S REED WARBLER singing in the Obs garden almost to the day and same patch of bushes as last years spring bird! The day also produced a Bluethroat at middle camp where a Marsh Warbler was singing, an Icterine Warbler singing at chalk bank with also 3 Cuckoos, 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Garden Warblers, 4 Spotted Flycatchers, 4 Wheatears and 3 Siskins. 

The drake Green-winged Teal remained on Kilnsea wetlands, a Pale-bellied Brent at Sammys and a Blue Fulmar north over the sea. 

Ringing: Chiffchaff 1

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Monday, 20 May 2024

A cool cloudy start brightened to long sunny spells in the afternoon and a loderate northerly.

A drake Green-winged Teal on Kilnsea wetlands was interesting with no sightings since the 25th April of the previous birds. The day also saw an Osprey lumbering north east and a male Red-backed Shrike still lingering at Sammys.

The best of the other sightings saw 74 Grey Plovers, a Whimbrel and 14 Knot head off north east, 5 Eider and an Goosander head south and a Shag headed north. 

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Sunday, 19 May 2024

Similar conditions to yesterday but with a stronger force 4-5 north westerly wind.

One of the male Red-backed Shrikes was still present along the hedge row on the south end of Holderness Field but there was little else of note across the area.

One Tufted Duck was still lingering on Beacon Ponds and a Canada Goose was in a flock of Greylag Geese flying around Easington. 

A Bullfinch was blogging around Fourways and Sykes Field, and a Spotted Flycatcher was in the Church Yard.

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Saturday, 18 May 2024

A misty start cleared to be a bright, warm, lovely spring day with a force 3 north westerly wind.

There were 3 Red-backed Shrikes present throughout the day, two males and the female from yesterday. The males were ranging from Sammy's Point to Holderness Field, including the tailess bird from Thursday. The female remained in the Triangle. The low numbers of other migrants continues, with only two Willow Warbler, four Chiffchaff, two Blackcap, one Garden Warbler, and one Spotted Flycatcher, but a decent count of 54 Whitethroat was made across the recording area.

The Little Ringed Plover was still in the Kilnsea Wetlands area, Ringed Plover numbers continue to build as birds are passing through with 111 noted today. A single Hobby was again around Kilnsea, and a ring tail Hen Harrier was around Sammy's Point.

SBOT Committee meeting 12:00 - 15:00. Ringing: Lesser Whitethroat 2, Blackcap 1.   3/2.     Watches: 06:00 - 10:00

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Friday, 17 May 2024

A generally sunny day with a light easterly but thick fog late afternoon.  There were 2 Marsh Warblers still present presumably both of the previous days birds but the 2 Red-backed Shrikes were new a male in Kilnsea and a female along the canal but as has been the case recently few common migrants yet again with just 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Garden Warblers, a Spotted Flycatcher, 13 Wheatears, a male Blue-headed Wagtail and a Tree Pipit.

Also of note the Little Stint and Little Ringed Plover were still on Kilnsea wetlands, 6 Tufted Ducks on beacon ponds, a Hobby hunting the area and 3 Marsh Harriers flew south. 

Ringing: Willow Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 1, Blackcap 1, Marsh Warbler 1, Starling 5. 9/5

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Thursday, 16 May 2024

A small arrival mainly in the afternoon brought 2 Marsh Warblers (both singing) and a male Red-backed Shrike to the area backed up by 2 Grasshopper Warblers, a Garden Warbler, single Fieldfare, 6 Spotted Flycatchers, single Tree Pipit, a Whinchat, 3 Wheatears and a Hawfinch. Breeding bird counts saw 32 Sedge Warbler and 15 Reed Warbler recorded.

The Scaup remained on beacon ponds with 8 Tufted Ducks, 391 Brent Geese with a single Pale-bellied Brent on long bank marsh, single Little Stint and Little-ringed Plover on kilnsea wetlands and 2 Short-eared Owls in the area.

Watches 0600-1000 Ringing Moorhen 1, Garden Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Song Thrush 1, 5/4
 

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Wednesday, 15 May 2024

A wet start to the day cleared into a sunny day with a F3 easterly.  What was presumably the same Bee-eater from the previous day flew south u-turning then headed west along the Humber while late in the day a brief  Common Rosefinch was photographed in the listening dish hedge then flew off but yet again depressingly few grounded migrants were present the best being 2 Willow Warblers, a Garden Warbler, single Redwing, 2 Fieldfares, 2 Redstarts and a Wheatear. 

Small snippets of movement again today just seeing a Black-throated Diver, 4 Tufted Ducks, 101 Kittiwakes, a Yellow-legged Gull, 20 Sandwich Terns, 2 Grey Herons, a Hobby, 10 Sand Martins and 163 Swallows. Other bits saw a Scaup on canal scrape, still 392 Brent Geese on long bank, 7 Tufted Ducks on beacon ponds and upto 60 Little Terns here too.

Ringing: Willow Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1. 2/2. Watches: 06:15 - 10:00

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Tuesday, 14 May 2024

An overcast cool start to the day with the odd shower and a moderate south easterly.  A Bee-eater on the wires at the warren brightened up the day then wandered Kilnsea till it eventually flew off south. The day also saw 3 Hawfinches (Kilnsea, 2 Easington) but otherwise 4 Willow Warblers, 3 Spotted Flycatchers and a Wheatear but maybe a poor return for interesting conditions. The Little Tern colony swelled to 55 birds while now 28 Sedge Warblers and 13 Reed Warblers hinted at boosts to the local breeders.

Movement was again similar to previous days with 11 Swifts, 5 Lapwings, a Red Kite, single Marsh Harrier, a Hobby, 247 Swallows, 13 House Martins and a Siskin. 

Ringing: Starling 1, Chiffchaff 2. 3/2. Watches: 06:10 - 10:00
 

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Sunday, 12 May 2024

Bright and warm some periods of cloud with a moderate south westerly.  Early morning a Pectoral Sandpiper arrived off the sea over beacon ponds lingering in the long bank area with further Wader interest with a Curlew Sandpiper on the Humber and 3 Common Sandpipers along the canal. The morning also saw good counts of 17 Black Terns and 23 Arctic Terns out east along with a Common Tern and an Arctic Skua while the poor overland movement continued with a Red Kite, single Hobby, 242 Swallows, 25 House Martins, 20 Linnets and 25 Goldfinches made for some poor reading.

There were few obvious grounded mogrants about 2 Whinchats and a Wheatear the most obvious. 

Ringing: Lesser Whitethroat 1, Whitethroat 1, Sedge Warbler 5, Blackcap 1, Whinchat 1, Chaffinch 1. 10/6. Watches: 06:45-10:00, 11:30 -14:10,
 

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Thursday, 09 May 2024

A nice sunny day again along with a F3 south westerly.  Early morning saw a few snippets of Warbler song heard by Jacob Spinks near his caravan which then quickly moved through, a little while later the IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF re-appeared in church field being trapped a little while later. On release it spent the next 20 minutes singing almost continually allowing for a recording below.

Other sightings saw a Ring Ouzel at the warren, 2 Spoonbills south here, single Hobby along Easington straight and a blogging Wood Sandpiper. 

Ringing: Starling 1, Iberian Chiffchaff 1, Willow Warbler 1, Blackcap 1, Whitethroat 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Sedge Warbler 1. Watch times: 8/7 06:15-09:00
 

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Wednesday, 08 May 2024

The day was dominated by long period of sunshine along with a light south easterly.  It was a better day for movement overland predominently Hirundines with 2 Swifts, an Osprey, single Marsh Harrier, 71 Sand Martins, 401 Swallows, 4 House Martins, 2 Flava Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail and 32 Goldfinches. 

The best of few migrants were a Long-eared Owl at the Point and a male Blue-headed Wagtail on long bank marsh.

Ringing: Starling 1 1/1 Watch times: 06:15-10:00, 10:35-13:20

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Tuesday, 07 May 2024

Cloudy with fog and light variable winds.  There was very little change with next to nothing moving and few grounded migrants the best being single Fieldfare, a male Pied Flycatcher and 2 Wheatears plus 55 Sand Martins and 70 Swallows blogging.

A Purple Sandpiper was on the rocks off the bluebell while other sightings included a Little Gull, single Mediterranean Gull, a Common Tern which flew west and a Caspian Gull on kilnsea wetlands. 

Ringing: Lesser Whitethroat 1, Siskin 1. 2/2 Watch times: 06:45-09:15

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Monday, 06 May 2024

Another nice sunny day again with light winds from the south.  What was presumably yesterdays Rough-legged Buzzard flew west over Easington the best of the grounded migrants a Wood Lark at the Point with totals of 2 Cuckoos, 3 Willow Warblers, 11 Chiffchaffs, a Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, a Redstart, 10 Wheatears and a Whinchat around the area while there are now 41 Little Terns at the colony at beacon ponds. 

Also of note a Capian Gull at Kilnsea wetlands, 3 Pintails at long bank, 2 Little Gull around beacon ponds and a Jay which headed back north.

Ringing: Stock Dove 1, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Chiffchaff 2, Sedge Warbler 1, Linnet 2. 8/5 Watch times: 05:04-09:45

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Sunday, 05 May 2024

A nice day with light winds mainly from the south west.  There was unfortunately no sign of the Collared Fly but the day was not a complete loss with several good sightings a second Rough-legged Buzzard in two days was part of some noteable Raptor movement which included a Sparrowhawk, single Marsh Harrier, a Red Kite, 5 Common Buzzards and a Hobby. A Wood Sandpiper and male Grey-headed Wagtail headed south among a trickle of other species with 8 Whimbrels, 2 Grey Herons, a Great White Egret, 15 Carrion Crows, 14 Sand Martins, 62 Swallows, 6 Flava Wagtails and a Corn Bunting. 

Migrants were thin on the ground but boosted by returning breeders with Whitethroats now upto 32. Others of note were Grasshopper Warbler, a Garden Warbler, 14 Lesser Whitethroats, a Pied Flycatcher, single Whinchat, a Redstart, 7 Wheatears, a White Wagtail, 2 Bramblings and a Lesser Redpoll. 

Ringing: Blue Tit 1, Chiffchaff 2, Willow Warbler 2, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Whitethroat 1, Sedge Warbler 3, Goldfinch 1, Linnet 3, Chaffinch 1, Lesser Redpoll 1. 17/10

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Saturday, 04 May 2024

Long sunny spells and a F4 south westerly.  The star bird was still present in north field, the male COLLARED FLYCATCHER saw a steady stream of twitchers during the day with some lucky enough to see a 2cy male Rough-legged Buzzard which flew south. The day again saw a good scatter of grounded migrnats around the area 12 Willow Warblers, 8 Chiffchaffs, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 18 Lesser Whitethroats, 12 Whitethroats, a Goldcrest, single Mistle Thrush, a Redwing, single Ring Ouzel, 3 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Redstarts, a Whinchat, 17 Wheatears, 7 White Wagtails and a Brambling.

Ringing: Sparrowhawk 1, Chiffchaff 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Blackcap 1, Song Thrush 1, Great Tit 1. 6/6 Watch times: 05:45-09:15, 15:00-16:00
 

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Friday, 03 May 2024

A cloudy wet day with long periods of rain and generally light variable winds.  A stunning start to the day with Spurns 4th COLLARED FLYCATCHER a second calendar male trapped in churchfield and showed later in north field plus small numbers of other grouded migrants including a Cuckoo, 4 Willow Warblers, 11 Blackcaps, 11 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Redwings, a Fieldfare, 6 Pied Flycatchers, 3 Whinchats, Yellow Wagtails, 2 Tree Pipits and 2 Bramblings.

Ringing: Chiffchaff 3, Blackcap 2, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Whitethroat 1, Chaffinch 1, Dunnock 1, Collared Flycatcher 1. 11/7

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Thursday, 02 May 2024

After a cool start, sunny for the day with a F4 north easterly. 

The superb adult male Golden Oriole spent the morning in the triangle eventually flying north the day also producing several firsts of the year Hobby heading south, Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Garden Warblers along with a Cuckoo, 26 Sedge Warblers, a Grasshopper Warbler, 12 Lesser Whitethroats, 18 Whitethroats, 9 Blackcaps, 5 Willow Warblers, 9 Chiffchaffs, 2 Pied Flycatchers, a Redstart and 3 Wheatears.

The Black Brant was still present bankh 520 Brent Geese and a Pale-bellied Brent on long with a Red Kite wandering the area. 

Ringing: Chiffchaff 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1. 2/3. Watches: 0800 - 1000
 

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Wednesday, 01 May 2024

A foggy start slowly cleared during the day to leave a fine sunny afternoon along with a F2 easterly.

A fine adult male Golden Oriole stole the show at Sammys but an equally fine adult male Montagu's Harrier which flew south ran it a close second and adding in 15 Black Terns and 58 Arctic Terns out to sea, 2 Spoonbills on Kilnsea wetlands, a Wood Lark heading south, single Red Kite blogging and a Little Stint on the Humber made for a great day. There was again a scattering of common migrants with 2 Cuckoos, 27 Sedge Warblers, 5 Reed Warblers, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 18 Lesser Whitethroats, 14 Whitethroats, 2 Ring Ouzels, a Whinchat and 12 Wheatears. 

Also of note were 24 Siskins and a Corn Bunting heading south, 11 Avocets and 3 Greenshanks on Kilnsea wetlands and 11 Little Terns on beacon ponds. Full counts on Trektellen. 

Ringing: Chiffchaff 1, Blackcap 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Willow Warbler 1, Lesser Redpoll 1. 5/5 Watch times: 07:30-11:00
 

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