Spurn Bird Observatory Sightings July 2025
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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Friday, 18 July 2025
Calm bright start clouding up later with a F3 easterly wind. Watches 0630-1000.
A superb adult male Honey Buzzard was the bird of the day as it flew south but rivalled with an unseasonal male Red-backed Shrike at the warren and while not on the same level an equally unusual Goldcrest at Kew.
Elsewhere a Spoonbill was on beacon ponds with also Greenshank, 180 Little Terns, 500 Sandwich Terns, 163 Little Gulls, 20 Mediterranean Gulls, 15 Little Egrets and a Hobby.
Ringing 2 Blue Tit, 1 Cettis Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Robin, 8/5
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Honey Buzzard - Thomas Willoughby.
Red-backed Shrike- Colin Bushell.
Red-backed Shrike - Harry Appleyard.
Thursday, 17 July 2025
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.
A nice calm day clouding up later on with a slight increase in the wind to a F3 north easterly. Watches 0630-1000.
Yet again the best sightings were from the ponds area with a Common Sandpiper, single Green Sandpiper, a Wood Sandpiper, single Greenshank, an impressive 806 Sandwich Terns, 148 Little Terns, 2 Caspian Gulls and 3 Little Egrets.
On the Humber 1030 Shelducks and 186 Curlews, a Crossbill flew west over Easington with a Stonechat at the warren
Ringing 1 Great Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Sedge Warbler, 6 Reed Warbler, 2 Whitethroat 13/6
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Ringed Plover - Thomas Willoughby.
Wednesday, 16 July 2025
A dull windy F5 south west start which calmed down and brightened up later on.
The first juvenile Willow Warbler was along the canal but unsuprisingly no other 'migrants' moving through so early. Other sightings were from the ponds area where there were 4 Little Grebes, 37 Golden Plovers, 3 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, 30 Knots, 3 Arctic Terns, 20 Common Terns, 474 Sandwich Terns, 20 Mediterranean Gulls and a Yellow-legged Gull.
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Moorhen and family - Thomas Willoughby.
Tuesday, 15 July 2025
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.
Showers or longer spells of rain admixed with sunny spells in a stiff F6 westerly wind. Watches 0525-1100, 1400-1600.
Maybe the first day of significant southerly offshore movement of Waders with 51 Whimbrels, 4 Curlews, 6 Bar-tailed Godwits, 16 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Wood Sandpipers, 64 Redshanks, a Turnstone, 3 Knot, 2 Sanderlings and 23 Dunlin, while also moving 339 Kittiwakes, 3 Manx Shearwaters, 22 Sand Martins, 52 Swallows and 15 Crossbills.
Elsewhere an adult Yellow-legged Gull was on the Humber, 50 Little Gulls blogging around the area and a decent count of 205 Sand Martins lingering.
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Cuckoo - Thomas Willoughby.
Monday, 14 July 2025
Sunny spells and light showers much cooler than off late with light-moderate south easterly wind. Watches 0630-1000.
The numbers of Terns have been slowly building over the last few weeks with ringed Sandwich Tern juveniles appearing in the beacon pond roosts. Inevitably with more about it attacted other species with an adult Black Tern and 2 Roseate Terns plus 3 Arctic Terns, 9 Common Terns and 420 Sandwich Terns while 180 Little Terns in the colony. The ponds area also had a Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and Greenshank with a Merlin heading south.
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Roseate Terns - Thomas Willoughby.
Sunday, 13 July 2025
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.
Overcast and drizzle with some bright spells later on and light F2 easterly winds. Watches 0630-1000.
There was some light movement mainly over the sea 168 Common Scoter, a Whimbrel, single Green Sandpiper, 194 Kittiwakes, 2 Arctic Skuas, 2 Puffins, 4 Razorbills, 20 Guillemots, 69 Large Auk sp, a Red-throated Diver, 4 Manx Shearwaters and 95 Gannets.
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Arctic Skuas - Tate Lloyd.
Saturday, 12 July 2025
Overcast with drizzle a lot of the morning brightening up later on becoming warm with a light F2 north east wind. Watches 0515-1000, 1100-1400.
There was little change overall but a Quail 'singing' at Sammys was noteable. Other sighings saw a Crossbill blogging around the area and 60 Little Gulls wandering between the ponds and the sea. The ponds area also attracted 3 Little Grebes, 31 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Curlew Sandpipers. while the Humber had 780 Shelducks, 4 Whimbrels and 250 Golden Plovers, 1150 Dunlin.
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Little Gull - Tate Lloyd.
Friday, 11 July 2025
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.
Hot and sunny with light east wind and few clouds. Watches 0510-1010.
Yet again the ponds area held the best sightings with Tufted Duck, 20 Black-tailed Godwits, 170 Little Terns, 5 Common Terns, 500 Sandwich Terns, 519 Black-headed Gulls and 24 Mediterranean Gulls while offshore 360 Little Gulls and 250 Kittiwakes.
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Small Copper and Small Skipper - Harry Appleyard.
Thursday, 10 July 2025
A hot bright and sunny day with a moderate F5 westerly wind. Watches 0630-1000 1800-1840.
A Bee-eater flying south was maybe the bird from a few days ago while a Spoonbill headed the same way but apart from 144 Little Gulls heading north there was little else moving.
The Humber again a decent selection of Waders as numbers slowy increased with 72 Golden Plovers, 125 Curlews, 13 Black-tailed Godwits, 189 Redshanks, a Spotted Redshank and 1257 Dunlin while at the ponds 160 Little Terns, 150 Sandwich Terns, 18 Little Gulls, 290 Black-headed Gulls and 10 Mediterranean Gulls.
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Spoonbill - John Hewitt.
Wednesday, 09 July 2025
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.
Warm and sunny with lightish F2 south east winds. Watches 0630-1000, 1100-1330, 1400-1500, 1740-1900.
The vismiggers saw a return of some decent movement over both land and sea including some unseasonal Hirundine movement the best being 200 Common Scoters, 9 Little Gulls, an Arctic Skua, single Puffin, 71 Large Auk sp, 46 Guillemots, a Great Northern Diver, 18 Manx Shearwaters, 361 Gannets, 389 Sand Martins, 994 Swallows, 77 House Martins and a Corn Bunting.
It was quite tough going elsewhere a Spoonbill on beacon ponds and 91 Golden Plovers, 2 Whimbrels, 52 Curlews, 620 Dunlins and a Greenshank on the Humber the best of the other sightings. It was insects which again dominated the best of the sightings with our 2nd Keeled Skimmer in churchfield and a Lesser Emperor at beacon ponds plus a Dark Green Fritillary and White-letter Hairstreak in Kilnsea
Ringing 1 Lesser Whitethroat (P), 1 Wren 2/2
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Keeled Skimmer - Harry Appleyard.
Dark Green Fritillary - Thomas Willoughby.
Tuesday, 08 July 2025
Rain overnight overcast til mid-morning clearing leaving sunshine in a moderate F3 westerly wind. Watches 0630-1000.
Increases of Waders almost overnight saw Dunlin swell to 1156 birds on the Humber and beacon ponds where 2 Spoonbills, 12 Little Gulls and 180 Little Terns were present while a Green Sandpiper flew south.
Elsewhere a Cetti's Warbler was along the peninsual while the sea was quieter with a Wigeon, 14 Little Gulls, 35 Kittiwakes, 2 Arctic Skuas, 4 Puffins, 112 Large Auk sp and 128 Gannets.
Ringing 1 Oystercatcher (p), 4 Ringed Plover (p), 31 Little Tern (P), 4 Blue Tit, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Robin, 1 Dunnock 45/7
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Golden Plover - John Hewitt.
Monday, 07 July 2025
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.
Some showers on and off all day with a decreasing F6 north west wind. Watches 0640-1150, 1515-1630.
There was some interest over the sea the best being 150 Little Gulls, 420 Kittiwakes, an Arctic Skua, a Puffin, 57 Razorbills, 238 Guillemots, 50 Manx Shearwaters and 205 Gannets.
There were 3 Curlew Sandpipers and a Greenshank again on the Humber and 58 Little Gulls were on beacon ponds.
Ringing 3 Oystercatcher (P), 1 Barn Owl (P), 4/2
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Little Gull - Thomas Willoughby.
Sunday, 06 July 2025
Showers or longer spells of rain admixed with sunny spells in light F2 westerly winds. Watches 0630-1000, 1100-1300, 1330-1430.
There was a nice non usual selection of species around the area including 2 Roseate Terns and 3 Curlew Sandpipers on the Humber, a Cattle Egret flew north at the warren and the Little Stint and 76 Little Gulls still on beacon ponds with also a Cuckoo and Redwing in the triangle, a Treecreeper at Kew and a Crossbill which flew west over the Humber.
There was little in the way of movement bar 368 Swifts, 36 Sand Martins, 4 Little Gulls and 11 Manx Shearwaters.
Another record for Lesser Emperor photgraphed in Kilnsea and a female Purple Hairstreak again around Kew.
Ringing 2 Barn Owl (P), 1 Treecreeper, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Dunnock, 7/6
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Roseate Tern - Harry Appleyard.
Saturday, 05 July 2025
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.
A showery day with an increasing wind dropping of late on with occasional sunshine. Watches 0615-1030 1430-1600.
The day again saw some movement but no big numbers again though a Bee-eater wandered the area before heading south. Also moving 1720 Swifts, an Arctic Skua, a Hobby, 130 Sand Martins, 32 Swallows, 6 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Siskins.
There were 3 Curlew Sandpipers on the Humber with the ponds area having a Little Stint, 46 Black-tailed Godwits, 122 Sandwich Terns, 194 Little Terns, 34 Little Gulls and 15 Mediterranean Gulls.
A White-letter Hairstreak was at Kew again.
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Bee-eater - Harry Appleyard.
Friday, 04 July 2025
Rain in spells and some showers rather windy F6 westerly. Watches 0620-1000, 1030-1315, 1600-1900.
In a far from classic summer so far another 3364 Swifts flew south along with 329 Sand Martins, 95 Swallows and a Siskin. There was another visit to beacon ponds of maybe one of the same Roseate Terns where 60 Sandwich terns and 28 Little Gulls had gathered and 200 Kittiwakes lingered offshore. The Humber had 2 Curlew Sandpipers off the warren and 26 Black-tailed Godwits.
Ringing 1 Swallow, 6 Blue Tit, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 10/4
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Shelducks - Harry Appleyard.
Thursday, 03 July 2025
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.
A bright sunny start with light F2 north westerly winds which picked up later on with cloud rolling in. Watches 0630-1000.
The ponds area was the best focal point again with big numbers of birds gathering here an adult Roseate Tern the highlight plus 8 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Greenshanks, 200 Dunlin, 157 Little Terns, 3 Arctic Terns, 5 Common Terns, 73 Sandwich Terns, 98 Little Gulls, 400 Black-headed Gulls and 25 Mediterranean Gulls.
The best of the sea were 25 Teal, 2 Eiders, 417 Kittiwakes, 3 Puffins and 140 Gannets.
The 3rd record of Dark Green Fritillary was in Easington, a pod of 25+ Bottlenose Dolphins offshore from Easington and several Hummingbird Hawkmoths around the area.
Ringing 1 Moorhen, 3 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Bunting, 8/5
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Roseate Tern with Sandwich Terns - John Hewitt.
Tortoishelle, Comma, Small White and Meadow Brown - Harry Appleyard. Its been a very good year for Butterflies so far the most noteable being Commas with large numbers in the area.
Wednesday, 02 July 2025
Rain all morning brightening up in the afternoon with an increasing F6 north westerly wind. Watches 0630-1000.
The best the day saw Spurns 2nd White-letter Hairstreak and 3rd Purple Hairstreak at Kew. Birdwise it was another quiet day as the rain and wind put observers off going out with the best of todays sightings from the hides at Kilnsea wetlands and the seawatch hut. Over the sea 18 Teal, 288 Common Scoters, 51 Kittiwakes, a Puffin, 37 Manx Shearwaters and 74 Gannets while on the wetlands a Tufted Duck, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 200 Dunlin, 3 Arctic Terns, 70 Sandwich Terns, 68 Little Gulls, 56 Mediterranean Gulls and 8 Litle Egrets with a Wheatear nearby on Easington beach.
Ringing 1 Great Tit 1/1
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White-letter Hairstreak - Harry Appleyard.
Hummingbird Hawkmoth - Harry Appleyard. Good numbers are present in the recording area at the moment.
Tuesday, 01 July 2025
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.
Hot and humid to start with until it clouded over and the wind increased to a F6 north westerly. Watches 0630-1000.
In a complete change to the previous two days there were several bits of interest noteably 2 Roseate Terns visiting the ponds and a Caspian Gull in the same area. The ponds area also held 30 Teal, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, a Common Sandpiper, single Greenshank, 368 Dunlin, 64 Sandwich Terns, 57 Little Gulls, 24 Mediterranean Gulls, a Yellow-legged Gull and 10 Little Egrets.
A juvenile Black Redstart was in Kilnsea while 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker blogged the area. There was more on the move including an unseasonal Goldeneye, 35 Teal, 617 Common Scoters, 5 Puffins, 54 Manx Shearwaters, a Shag and 2 Yellow Wagtails.
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Black Redstart - Thomas Willoughby.
Red-veined Darter - Harry Appleyard.
