Sightings

Thursday, 21 August 2025

A cool overcast and breezy F5 north easterly like thev last few days. Watches 0630-1030, 1522-1915.

It was a nice mixed day of grounded migrants arriving and for Spurn a great early morning seawatch with some quality birds thrown in which saw 2 Great Shearwaters and a close inshore Cory's Shearwater head north with back up in the form of 21 Sooty Shearwaters and 37 Manx Shearwaters. Additionally an adult Long-tailed Skua flew south with other totals of 46 Teal, 11 Kittiwakes, 5 Arctic Skuas, a Great Skuas, 2 Puffins, 2 Red-throated Divers, 3 Fulmars and 161 Gannets. 

There was plenty of Passerine interest around the area with 2 Wood Warblers, 13 Willow Warblers, 12 Reed Warbler, 2 Icterine Warblers, 3 Garden Warblers, 19 Whitethroats, 7 Pied Flycatchers, the Black Redstart, 2 Redstarts, a Whinchat, single Stonechat and 5 Wheatears while the best of the Waders were 19 Ruff and a Little Stint on beacon ponds and 2 Curlew Sandpipers on the Humber while 227 Little Terns were a good late August total. 

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Wednesday, 20 August 2025

Mainly overcast wit just a glimpse of the sun with a cool F5 north east wind. Watches 0630-1000, 1745-1945.

A small arrival of drift migrants brought 2 Wood Warblers to the area with birds at the point and another in the crown carpark (an unringed bird repalcing the ringed bird from the previous day) plus 8 Willow Warblers, a Garden Warbler, 8 Lesser Whitethroats, 10 Pied Flycatchers, 3 Redstarts, a Whinchat, 7 Wheatears, 5 Yellow Wagtails, a White Wagtail, single Tree Pipit and a Redpoll. Beacon ponds again was the best spot for Waders with 110 RInged Plovers, 16 Ruff and a Greenshank with 237 Grey Plovers on the Humber. 

The seawatchers had some decent passage including 38 Teal, 115 Oystercatchers, a Black Tern, 12 Kittiwakes, 13 Arctic Skuas, 2 Great Skuas, 9 Red-throated Divers, 16 Fulmars, 13 Sooty Shearwaters, 29 Manx Shearwaters and 2232 Gannets. 

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Tuesday, 19 August 2025

 Overcast and damp with a cool F5 north east wind, with some overnight rain. Watches 0630-0900, 1745-1930.

The Wood Warbler (with ring) was still present in ther crown carpark but migrant wise very little with just 2 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Treecreepers, a Black Redstart, single Stonechat, a Wheatear and 4 Yellow Wagtails. 

There was a fine total of 403 Mediterranean Gulls on beacon ponds where there was also 200 Ringed Plover, 7 Common Sandpipers, single Greenshank and Ruff, 8 Little Gulls and 7 Little Egrets. 

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Monday, 18 August 2025

Overcast with some light drizzle and the occasional sunny spells and a coll F4 north east wind. Watches 0630-1000 1515-1545.

A Wood Warbler was the days highlight trapped in sykes field moving down to the crown. Grounded migrants were similar in number to the previous day with 14 Willow Warblers, 3 Pied Flycatchers, the Black Redstart, 2 Redstarts, a Whinchat, 4 Wheatears and a White Wagtail. 

Ringing 1 Cetti's Warbler, 9 Willow Warbler, 1 Wood Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Wren, 1 Robin, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Reed Bunting, 24/1

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Sunday, 17 August 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 100 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.

Mostly overcast with just a few sunny spells and a light-moderate breeze. Watches 0630-1000, 1745-2000.

Beacon ponds again was the main focus where an impressive 755 Ringed Plovers gathered while the White-rumped Sandpiper also remained. Also present were 2 Greenshanks, a Ruff, single Curlew Sandpiper, 150 Little Terns, 105 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Marsh Harriers and a Hobby. Over the sea 5 Sooty Shearwaters were noteworthy as were 371 Oystercatchers flying south. 

A scatter of grounded migrants included 14 Willow Warblers, 25 Reed Warblers, 12 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Pied Flycatchers, the Black Redstart, a Redstart, 8 Wheatears and a Whinchat.

Ringing 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 7 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 8 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, 1 Wren, 10 Starling, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Blackbird, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Redstart, 1 Meadow Pipit, 10 Tree Sparrow, 1 Dunnock, 59/19

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Saturday, 16 August 2025

A much cloudier day with some sunny spells not as hot or muggy as of late with a F3 north east breeze keeing it cool.  Watches 0615-1030, 1745-1945.

A Marsh Warbler trapped early morning at the warren got the day off to a good start but relatively few other migrant with just a Cuckoo, 11 Willow Warblers, single Treecreeper, a Pied Flycatcher, the usual Black Redstart, 5 Wheatears, 10 Yellow Wagtails and a Redpoll. 

There were again 2 White-rumped Sandpipers on beacon ponds plus a Little-ringed Plover, single Green and Common Sandpipers, a Greenshank, single Curlew Sandpiper, 125 Little Terns, 2 Roseate Terns, 110 Sandwich Terns while 200 Mediterranean Gulls were at Sammys. 

Ringing 1 Magpie, 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Willow Warbler, 1 Marsh Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Wren, 3 Robin, 4 Tree Sparrow, 1 Reed Bunting, 28/11

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Friday, 15 August 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 150 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.

A hot and humid all day cooling down quickly in the evening with alight F2 north easterly. Watches 0630-1000, 1730-1930.

The White-rumped Sandpiper was again on beacon ponds along with 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Little-ringed Plovers, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Wood Sandpiper, 140 Redshanks and 2 Greenshanks with 56 Little Egrets around the area. There were fewer grounded migrants with 16 Willow Warblers, a Tree Creeper, a Pied Flycatcher, single Redstart, 2 Whinchats, 4 Wheatears, 10 Yellow Wagtails and a Tree Pipit. 

Ringing 6 Willow Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Robin, 14 Tree Sparrow, 23/5
 

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Thursday, 14 August 2025

A warm humid day with a light F2 south west breeze. Watches 0630-1000, 1715-2015.

A pick up the vismig for the migration watchers was reasonably rewarding mainly over the sea with 127 Teal, 5 Tufted Ducks, 80 Common Scoters, 420 Oystercatchers, 2 Grey Plovers, 55 Whimbrels, 67 Black-tailed Godwits, 17 Turnstones, 20 Knot, 35 Sanderlings, 39 Dunlin, a Black Tern, single Pomarine Skua, 26 Razorbills and 177 Gannets while overland 27 Swifts, 70 Sand Martins and an Osprey.  

Beacon ponds was again the main focal point holding 2 White-rumped Sandpipers, single Little Stint, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Little-ringed Plovers, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Wood Sandpiper, 148 Redshanks, 5 Greenshanks, a Ruff, 140 Little Terns, a Spoonbill and 32 Little Egrets while Raptors hunting the area included a Merlin, single Hobby, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Red Kites, 3 Buzzards, 2 Barn Owls and a Little Owl. There was again a nice selection of groundd migrants with 2 Cuckoos, 47 Willow Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Pied Flycatchers, single Black Redstart and Redstart, 5 Whinchats, 2 Wheatears and a Crossbill. 

Ringing 4 Sand Martin, 11 Swallow, 1 Great Tit, 13 Willow Warbler, 3 Tree Sparrow, 1 Dunnock, 33/8

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Wednesday, 13 August 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 200 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.

Another hot sticky day with a overnight thunder storm with a moderate F4 south east breeze. Watches 0630-1000, 1745-2000.

The sea while not busy did have a lovely adult Sabines Gull fly south past the seawatch hut with a Pomarine Skua flying north but otherwise 82 Teal, 266 Common Scoters, a Black Tern, single Roseate Tern and 10 Fulmars made up the best of the rest. 

The White-rumped Sandpiper remained at beacon ponds along with 2 Little-ringed Plovers, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Wood Sandpipers, a Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshanks, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 237 Little Terns, a Spoonbill and 51 Little Egrets. 

Passerine interest was varied and concerned a Cuckoo, 11 Willow Warblers, a Garden Warbler, 6 Pied Flycatchers, a Black Redstart, single Redstart, 3 Whinchats, 3 Wheatears, 48 Yellow Wagtails, a Tree Pipit and 2 Crossbills. 

Ringing 2 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Warbler, 8 Whitethroat, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Blackbird, 1 Dunnock, 1 Greenfinch, 20/10

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Tuesday, 12 August 2025

A warm muggy day with a light F2 south east breeze. Watches 0630-1000, 1745-2030.

Beacon ponds in the absense of Kilnsea wetlands conitnued its pull for Waders with 2 White-rumped Sandpipers, 6 Little-ringed Plovers, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, 1210 Redshanks, a Spotted Redshank, single Greenshank and a Little Stint plus a Roseate Tern, 3 Black Terns and 43 Little Egrets while 2 Common Cranes were on Easington straight before flying north west and 368 Mediterranean Gulls at Sammys. 

There were still a few grounded migrants lingering including 11 Willow Warblers, a Garden Warbler, 2 Pied Flycatchers, a Black Redstart and 12 Yellow Wagtails. 

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Monday, 11 August 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 200 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.

Warm and sunny with a light F2 south east breeze. Watches 0630-1000 1745-2030.

There was again another arrival of grounded migrants around the area with a Cuckoo, 78 Willow Warblers (50 ringed in sykes field suggests a big undercount), 22 Reed Warblers, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Pied Flycatchers, a Black Redstart, 2 Whinchats, a Wheatear and 2 Crossbills. Waders also featured prominently the White-rumped Sandpiper again on beacon ponds along with 2 Curlew Sandpipers, a Little-ringed Plover, 9 Avocets, 103 Redshanks, a Spotted Redshank and 2 Greenshanks plus 245 Little Terns and a juvenile Caspian Gull. The Humber had 1072 Knot, a Little Stint, 1000 Dunlin and 107 Mediterranean Gulls. 

The best of the sea saw a Balearic Shearwater head south but little else though the evewing roost movment produced 6 Black Terns and 1642 Common Terns.

Ringing Swallow 7, Blue Tit 1, Willow warbler 50, Sedge warbler 3, Reed warbler 8, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Whitethroat 3, Wren 1, Song Thrush 1, Robin 1, Meadow Pipit 4, Linnet 2, Goldfinch 1, total 84/13

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Sunday, 10 August 2025

A warm day with loads of sunshine and an increasing F3 south easterly wind. Watches 0630-1000 1800-2030.

A small arrival of grounded migrants was welcome with a scatter around the area including 85 Willow Warblers, a Tree Creeper, 2 Pied Flycatchers, a Black Redstart, single Redstart, 4 Whinchats, 11 Wheatears, 12 Yellow Wagtails and a Tree Pipit. 

Beacon ponds was again busy holding 2 White-rumped Sandpipers, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 90 Redsanks and 2 Greenshanks plus 200 Little Terns, a Black Tern, 12 Arctic Terns, 5 Roseate Terns, 75 Mediterranean Gulls and 33 Little Egrets. 

ringing 2 Swallow, 3 Blue Tit, 28 Willow warbler, 10 Sedge warbler, 10 Reed warbler, 4 Whitethroat, 44 Starling, 1 Pied Wagtail, 102/8

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Saturday, 09 August 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 200 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.

Mostly bright and sunny with a stiff F5 westerly breeze. Watches 0630-1000, 1750-2030.

Waders generally dominated the day with an incredible record 3 White-rumped Sandpipers the days highlight on beacon ponds along with 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 9 Avocets, a Lapwing and a Common Sandpiper with canal scrape hosting 15 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Snipe, single Greenshank and a Ruff with 220 Sanderlingson the nearby Humber. Beacon ponds also held 2 Roseate Terns, a Black Tern, 1016 Common Terns, 385 Little Terns, 26 Little Egrets and a wandering Red Kite. Some southerly movement of Waders also brought 20 Knots and 57 Sanderlings. 

Some Passerine interest came in the form of 15 Willow Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 22 Reed Warblers, a Treecreeper, single Black Redstart oppsite the Obs, a Wheatear and a Crossbill. 

Ringing 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Swallow, 5 Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 6 Reed Warbler, 17/5

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Friday, 08 August 2025

Sunny and pleasant with a light F4 westerly breeze and just the odd light shower. Watches 0630-1000, 1750-2030.

The adult White-rumped Sandpiper was again on beacon ponds along with 9 Avocets, a Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Black Terns, 230 Little Terns, a Roseate Tern, 100 Little Gulls, 17 Little Egrets and single Red Kite and a Marsh Harrier. Canal scrape also still had a few bits with ad and juvenile Water Rails, 6 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Snipe, a Greenshank and single Ruff with a Yellow-legged Gull nearby on the Humber. 

The evening roost movement had 3 Black Terns, 11 Arctic Terns and 2661 Common Terns (plus the Roseate Tern from ponds). 

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Thursday, 07 August 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 200 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.

 The odd heavy shower but mainly sunny today with a stiff F5 westerly brezze. Watches 0630-0900 1800-2020.

There were several bits of interest during the day with a Glossy Ibis which arrived from the north lingering for a while then headed off south, presumably the same White-rumped Sandpiper again at beacon ponds where the 2 Roseate Terns and Curlew Sandpiper were again present along with 331 Little Terns, 25 Little Gulls and 34 Mediterranean Gulls and a Long-tailed Skua south which was first seen at Withernsea. Also over the sea 5 Arctic Skaus, 14 Razorbills, a Sooty Shearwater and 3 Manx Shearwaters and the evening roost movement having a Black Tern, 30 Arctic Terns and 2040 Common Terns..

Canal scrape attracted a few Waders with 13 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Snipe, a Greenshank and 2 Ruff.

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Wednesday, 06 August 2025

Sunny spells and some showers with a decreasing F6 north west wind. Watches 0530-1000, 1730-2000.

The adult Caspian Gull and Yellow-legged Gull were present again off the Riverside while at beacon ponds 2 Curlew Sandpipers, another good count of 382 Little Terns, a Black Tern, 25 Little Gulls and a Short-eared Owl. 

Passerine interest was again limited to 7 Willow Warblers, single Goldcrest, a Wheatear, 4 Crossbills and 3 Corn Buntings.

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Tuesday, 05 August 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 200 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.

Not as wild as yesterday and getting better as the day wore on some rain and some sun in strong F7 north west winds. Watches 0555-1000, 1200-1300, 1745-2000.

There was some movement over the sea in the morning albeit modest which saw a Cory's Shearwater head south plus 29 Common Scoters, 14 Oystercatchers, 22 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Turnstones, 10 Knot, 38 Sanderlings, a Black Tern, 60 Arctic Terns, 839 Common Terns, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Arctic Skuas, 2 Fulmars and 67 Gannets. There was little overland movement though 6 Tree Pipits flew south with 3 Crossbills mobile in area.

The beacon ponds area held 24 Black-tailed Godwits, a Ruff, 320 Little Terns, maybe the same 2 Roseate Terns, 25 Little Gulls and a Merlin. 

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Saturday, 02 August 2025

Cloudy start brightening up later with a light dropping wind. Watches 0630-1000.

The sea had a nice array of species on offer but no big numbers with 2 Teal 2 Tufted Ducks, 111 Common Scoters, 28 Oystercatchers, a Whimbrel, 25 Redshanks, 14 Sanderlings, 184 Arctic Terns, an adult Pomarine Skua, single Puffin, 2 Fulmars, 3 Sooty Shearwaters and 2 Manx Shearwaters.

The Humber had the Little Stint again where there were also 2 Green Sandpipers and a Ruff plus an adult Caspian Gull, juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and an Osprey. Passerine wise a Treecreeper at the Obs, Whinchat in the triangle. Wheatear at beacon ponds and mobile Cuckoo and Tree Pipit. 

Just outside the area the Stone Curlew was still present at Skeffling and 2 Ravens here also.

Ringing 1 Willow Warbler, 1/1 AGM today then committee meeting followed by the annual BBQ

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