Sightings

Wednesday, 21 May 2025

A bright sunny day with the odd cloudy spell with the nagging F4 north east wind persisting. Watches 0630-0815, 1100-1200, 1800-1900.  Again the day saw few migrants but still a Golden Oriole singing at kew eventually flew off north and a Bee-eater at the north end of Kilnsea after a while flew off south. The few common migrants involved 3 Chiffchaffs, a Redwing and 2 Spotted Flycatchers. Along with the Bee-eater there were some other quality birds on the move with a summer plumage Red-necked Grebe heading north as did a Great Northern Diver and Red Kite while a Hen Harrier flew south. 

In the ponds area 300 Brent Geese remained with a Spoonbill, 4 Little Gulls, a Snipe and single Black-tailed Godwit also. 

Ringing 5 Blue Tit (P), 1 Wren, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Song Thrush (P), 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 9/5

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Tuesday, 20 May 2025

 A lovely sunny day albeit with the nagging cool F2 north east wind still holding on. Watches 0630-0715, 0915-1000.  The mini piurple patch continues with a lovely male Eastern Subalpine Warbler in the chalk bank to middle camp area giving good views with a male Red-backed Shrike in same area while fewer back up species with just 6 Chiffchaffs, a Redwing and 3 Spotted Flycatchers around the area. Presumably the same Temminck's Stint re-aopeared on Kilnsea wetlands after no sign yesterday while also here a Pale-bellied Brent, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, single Caspian Gull and 4 Spoonbills.

It was a much quieter day for the mismiggers but the same 2 Common Cranes from the previous day flew south. 

Ringing 4 Great Tit (P), 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 8/4

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Monday, 19 May 2025

 A much sunnier day with the cloud clearing and lots of blue skies but a cool F3 north east wind remains. Watches 0630-1000.  Wherever the birds are arriving from is certainly a mystery to us and it is still failing to bring any numbers of late spring migrants but the scarcities are certainly starting to appear, today seeing a singing Melodious Warbler at chalk bank to wire dump gave good views on and off. The male Red-backed Shrike remained at the point plus a Willow Warbler at the point, Black Redstart at potato fields, 3 Chiffchaffs, 6 Spotted Flycatchers and 3 Garden Warbler around the area and a Tree Pipt and Corn Bunting at the warren. 

On the move 2 Common Cranes gave amazing views as they headed south eventually heading west up the Humber and a Black Tern headed out east over the breach 

Ringing 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Bunting, 2/2

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Sunday, 18 May 2025

Continuing with the cold cloudy theme, with little change from the F4 north east wind. Watches 0630-1000.  Out of the blue a tiny arrival brought some quality with a nice male Red-backed Shrike the point and a singing Rosefinch to the triangle with just a Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaffs, a Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Wheatears and a Blue-headed Wagtail.as back up. The Temminck's Stint was still on Kilnsea wetlands as were 2 Spoonbills a Pale-bellied Brent among 182 Brent Geese, the Purple Sandpiper, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, a Common Sandpiper, 6 Redshanks and a Greenshank. 

The sea had good coverage in the morning with the best being 5 Arctic Terns, 39 Sandwich Terns, 31 Kittiwakes, 16 Razorbills, 124 Guillemots, 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Fulmars and 114 Gannets. 

Ringing 1 Dunnock (p), 1 Chaffinch 2/2
 

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Saturday, 17 May 2025

A cold cloudy day with a stiff F5 northerly wind. Watches 0550-1000.  Not too much change with the Temminck's Stint and 2 Spoonbills in the ponds area plus 232 Brent Geese, 5 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Wigeon, 30 Avocets, 4 Little-ringed Plovers, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Common Sandpipers, a Purple Sandpiper and 71 Little Terns. Again and not unexpected there were few migrants with just a Garden Warbler, single Black Redstart and Wheatear the standouts.

It was pretty much the same over the sea with Goosander, 12 Sandwich Terns, 98 Kittiwakes, 8 Razorbills, 20 Guillemots, 449 Large Auk sp, a Great Northern Diver, 5 Fulmars, a Manx Shearwaters and 90 Gannets. 

Ringing 1 Whitethroat

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Friday, 16 May 2025

Cloudy all day with a cold F5 north wind making it rather unpleasant. Watches 0630-0950. The sea was quite busy and probably the best place to be out of the wind but no big numbers but a nice selection including 18 Eiders, 41 Common Scoters, 3 Arctic Terns, 13 Sandwich Terns, 12 Kittiwakes, 14 Razorbills, 246 Guillemots, 94 Large Auk sp, 3 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Northern Divers, 4 Fulmars, 3 Manx Shearwaters, 46 Gannets and 5 Cormorants. 

The Temminck's Stint was still in the ponds area plus 140 Brent Geese, 2 Wigeon, 2 Common Sandpipers and 3 Spoonbills. Again there were few migrants just a Willow Warbler, single Garden Warbler and a White Wagtail for any effort put in. 

Ringing 1 Garden Warbler

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Thursday, 15 May 2025

The Temminck's Stint and 7 Spoonbills (6 flew off south later) were still present with the Black Brant, 2 Pale-bellied Brents and 120 Brents on beacon ponds with 120 Little Terns now present. The Humber had a good count of 235 Ringed Plover and a Purple Sandpiper at the warren on the mud. Migrant wise there were singles of Garden Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear and Blue-headed Wagtail. 

Over the sea there was a bit more interest with 15 Arctic Terns, a Common Tern, 10 Kittiwakes, 89 Guillemots, 10 Razorbills, 47 Large Auk sp, 3 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver, 3 Fulmars, 2 Manx Shearwaters and 45 Gannets. 

Ringing 1 Long-tailed Tit

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Wednesday, 14 May 2025

A bright and sunny again with an increasing F4 north east wind, cloudy at times. Watches 0500-1000, 1720-1735.  The Temminck's Stint remained giving some good views while there are now 7 Spoonbills (6 having flown south at Flamborough then Grimston) while also in the area the Black Brant and 3 Pale-bellied Brents with 249 Brent Geese, a Wood Sandpiper, 4 Little-ringed Plovers, 4 Common Sandpiper and a Ruff. 

Grounded migrants remain low but a female Red-backed Shrike livened things up a bit along with a Willow Warbler, single Redstart, a Wheatear and a Redpoll. 

Ringing 3 Sedge Warbler, 1 Chaffinch 1 Linnet, 5/3

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Tuesday, 13 May 2025

A bright and sunny day with a light  rathernorth esterly winds and quite pleasant. Watches 0630-1000.  The Temminck's Stint remained on Kilnsea wetlands along with a Spoonbill, 48 Avocets, a Greenshank and 2 Ruff plus 120 Brent Geese still remained nearby. There were very few new grounded migrants wuth just a Willow Warbler, 2 Garden Warblers, a White Watail and Wheatear in a poor spring for arrivals. On the move 160 Swallows was the top count with 5 Tufted Ducks and 5 Eider the best of very little. 

Ringing 2 Whitethroat, 1 Chaffinch, Total 3/2

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Monday, 12 May 2025

A bright and sunny day with hardly a cloud in the sky and light F2 north east winds. Watches 0615-1000.  A small influx of waders saw a Temminck's Stint showing well on Kilnsea wetlands with back up from a Wood Sandpiper, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Ruff and 2 Common Sandpipers with a Spoonbill, 2 Barnacle Geese, a Caspian Gull and 2 Wigeon also here. The area was also hunted by a ringtail Hen Harrier, single Marsh Harrier and a Hobby. 

There was a also a sprinkle of grounded migrants which were predictably low in such sunny conditions with 2 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, a Wheatear and 2 Yellow Wagtails. 

Ringing 1 Wood Pigeon, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Wren, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chaffinch, Total 12/8

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Sunday, 11 May 2025

It was another lovely day with blue skies and light north easterly winds albeit a bit chilly. Watches 0615-1000, 1430-1530.  The poor spring for vismig continues in conditions better for arrivals from the east. Well ther were no arrivals and the vismig was limited to 2 Barnacle Geese, 3 Swifts, 3 Lapwings, 9 Gannets, 2 Shags, a Jackdaw, 7 Sand Martins, 194 Swallows, 9 House Martins, a Flava Wagtail, 5 Goldfinches and a Yellowhammer. 

Other sightings included a Little Stint and Spoonbill on Kilnsea wetlands, Curlew Sandpiper on the Humber, single Garden Warbler in Kilnsea and Spotted Flycatcher at chalk bank. In terms of breeding bird totals there were 24 Sedge Warblers, 12 Reed Warblers, 14 Lesser Whitethroats and 48 Whitethroats mainly singing birds so reasonably good numbers along the peninsula. 

Rnging 1 Blackcap, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Dunnock (p) total 5/3
 

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Saturday, 10 May 2025

A lovely bright sunny day without a cloud in the sky albeit with a cool F3 easterly wind and chilly morning and evening. Watches 0630-1000. A lovely male KENTISH PLOVER on Kilnsea wetlands gave fantastic views till early evening when it flew to the Humber as the tide dropped. Also here 300 Brent Geese, 25 Avocets, 3 Little-ringed Plovers, 6 Common Sandpipers, 70 Little Terns and 4 Sandwich Terns. Some light movement again saw a Turtle Dove fly south plus 13 Sand Martins, 99 Swallows, 2 House Martins and 2 Flava Wagtails upto 09:30 and a Red Kite wandered the area. 

Few grounded migrants about in sunny conditions with just 2 Willow Warblers, a Garden Warbler and single Wheatear 

Ringing 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Wren, 1 Blackbird, 1 Pied Wagtail, 7/7

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Friday, 09 May 2025

A chilly start and end to the day but inbetween glorious blue skies and sunshine with light F2 north east winds. Watches 0615-1000.  Some new bits arriving this morning saw a female Red-backed Shrike at the Warren plus 3 Willow Warblers, a Whicnhat, 4 Wheatears and 2 Spotted Flycachers. 

Some light movement in winds less than ideal with 16 Common Scoter, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 27 Guillemots, 3 Red-throated Divers, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Sand Martins, 41 Swallows and a Flava Wagtail. 

Other sightings included 525 Brent Geese, the Scaup, 12 Whimbrels, a Wood Sandpiper blogging around the area, 70 Little Terns and 2 Common Terns.

Ringing 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Goldfinch 2/2

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Thursday, 08 May 2025

A cloudy start brightened up later with a lighter F3 northeasterly wind, feeing slightly warmer. Watches 0615-1000.  Easrly morning saw the days best birds before most people were out of bed with a singing Golden Oriole in Kilnsea which flew north as did a Glossy Ibis which continued till a speck in the distance. The male Grey-headed Wagtail was still on Kilnsea wetlands with a Yellow Wagtail x flava hybrid plus also 2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Grasshopper Warblers, a Garden Warbler, 42 Whitethroats, a Ring Ouzel, single Black Redstart, 6 Wheatears, 4 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Siskins around the area. 

All the usuals were present in the ponds area including 9 Pink-footed Geese, a Pintail, the Scaup and 3 Little-ringed Povers. 

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Wednesday, 07 May 2025

Some cloudy spells with some lengthy sunny spells with a cool F4 north easterly wind. Watches 0630-0930.  The best birds of the day were in the ponds area a male Grey-headed Wagtail the pick of the sightings with a female type Blue-headed Wagtail, single Wood Sandpiper, the Scaup and 9 Pink-footed Geese also here with a ringtail Hen Harrier heading back north west. Therre were few grounded migrants again bar a Tree Pipit and Spotted Flycatcher. 

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Tuesday, 06 May 2025

A cloudy start brightening up later on with a cold F4 north easterly wind remaining. Watches 0630-1030.  A small increase in grounded migrants saw a Wryneck at the potato fields plus 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 6 Wheatears, a White Wagtail and 4 Siskins around the area. There was very little on the move but 51 Arctic Terns flying north was noteworthy. 

In the ponds area a Spoonbill, single Great White Egret, 9 Pink-footed Geese, the Scaup, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Greenshanks and 58 Little Terns among all the usuals.

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Monday, 05 May 2025

Colder than yesterday with a stiff chilly F5 north easterly wind and some sunny spells. Watches 0630-0930 1045-1230.  Seawatching was the order of the day producing a Cory's Shearwater past the seawtch hut then Easington which was undoubtedly the recent bird lingering somewhere in the area. The sea also had 3 Eiders, 37 Arctic Terns, 50 Large Auk sp, 7 Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver, 2 Fulmars, 10 Manx Shearwaters and 17 Gannets.

Elsewhere there were few grounded migrants about while both the Black Brant and Pale-bellied Brent remained around the ponds where the Scaup also continued to linger. 

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Sunday, 04 May 2025

A much colder day with a stiff F5 northwesterly wind some light showers within sunny periods. Watches 0600-1000.  Not a great day to be out and about but a Firecrest was in the crown carpark and a Hawfinch wandered from Easington to Kilnsea plus a Ring Ouzel and 2 Wheatears with the Cetti's Wartbler still at the point. The seawatchers had a few bits but no big numbers with 15 Common Scoters, 5 Arctic Terns, a Common Tern, 6 Kittiwakes, 3 Arctic Skuas, 55 Large Auk sp, 3 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Northen Divers, a Fulmar, 2 Manx Shearwaters and 26 Gannets. 

The ponds arean had the Black Branrt, Pale-bellied Brent, the Scaup, single Spoonbill and a Great White Egret. 

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Saturday, 03 May 2025

Some cloudy periods but also some sunny spells with a cold stiff F5 north westerly wind which veered NE. Watches 0630-1000.  There was not much change in grounded migrants but an elusive Wryneck was found at the point with back up in the form of a Mistle Thrush, single Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Whinchats, 7 Wheatears and 2 Siskins. Up at the ponds area a Curlew Sandpiper was new in along with a Little Stint, 3 Common Sandpipers and 4 Ruff plus the Black Brant, Pale-bellied Brent, 7 Barnacle Geese, 8 Pink-footed Geese and the Scaup. 

Ringing Chiffchaff 2, Willow warbler 1, Sedge warbler 2, Reed warbler 1, Song Thrush 1, total 7/5

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Friday, 02 May 2025

Bright and sunny for most of the day with a cold F3 north easterly wind, much cooler then of late. Watches 0630-1000.  The day saw what was presumably the same Bee-eater lingering in the area again and during the day a Turtle Dove flew north. There was also a singing Firecrest by the bluebell with other migrant highlights of a Hobby, 3 Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Black Redstarts and a Whinchat. 4 Common Sandpipers and a Spoonbill

Up in the ponds area there was still the Black Brant, single Pale-bellied Brent, 9 Pink-footed Geese, the Scaup, 17 Ruff, a Greenshank, 4 Common Sandpipers and a Spoonbill.

Ringing Reed Warbler 1, Goldfinch 1

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Thursday, 01 May 2025

A mainly bright and sunny, warm with light south westerly winds and high thin clouds. Watches 0615-1015.  It was quite a busy day around the area starting with a Bittern dropping into canal scrape early morning and and later withn a lingering Bee-eater wandering blogging the area. Sandwiched inbetween a drake Mandarin on beacon ponds, 2 drake Garganey (KW and flying north up Humber), the Temminck's Stint, single Wood Sandpiper, a Spoonbill and Great White Egret in the ponds area with also Black Brant, a Pale-bellied Brent, 274 Brent Geese, the Scaup, 19 Avocets, 2 Greenshanks and 9 Ruff also present around here. 

The best of the grounded migrants saw our first Spotted Flycatcher of the year at chalk bank with a male Pied Flycatcher at Sammys plus 3 Whinchats and 6 Wheatears. 

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