Sightings

Spurn Bird Observatory Sightings September 2024

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Summary of latest sightings

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Sunday, 15 September 2024

A nice sunny day with a light westerly with a short shower in the afternoon.  Overall it felt like a quiet day with few migrants about and not much on the move so it was nice to have a near annual Glossy Ibis over the triangle to beacon ponds where it lingered briefly then headed west. Also moving were 11 Pintails, a Great Crested Grebe, 50 Kittiwakes, a Shag, 3 Little Egrets, 7 Rooks, 20 Sand Martins, 51 Swallows, 146 House Martins, 32 Tree Sparrows, a Flava Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtails, 2 Alaba Wagttails, 252 Meadow Pipits, 3 Rock Pipits, 24 Linnets, 3 Yelllowhammers and 11 Reed Buntings. Full counts on Trektellen. 

Grounded migrants were few but included 2 Jack Snipes along the canal and a very showy Redstart in canal hedge with 2 Spotted Flycatchers and a Whinchat also. 

Ringing: Gannet 1, Blue Tit 1, Blackcap 3, Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 1, Greenfinch 1, Robin 2, Meadow Pipit 2, Tree Sparrow 2, House Sparrow 1, Chaffinch 1, Goldfinch 9. 26/13 Watch times: 06:15-10:00, 14:45-17:20
 

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Saturday, 14 September 2024

Sunny throughout with just a smattering of cloud along with a F4 south westerly.  A Cattle Egret lingered with the sheep and cows in walker butts in the morning while some good south bound passage occured including 427 Pink-fotted Geese, 26 Teal, 3 Tufted Ducks, 28 Knot, a Black Tern, 7 Arctic Skuas, 26 Sand Martins, 606 Swallows, 1406 House Martins, 3 Flava Wagtails, a Grey Wagatil, 786 Meadow Pipits, 3 Rock Pipits, 7 Chaffinches and 10 Linnets. Full counts on Trektellen.

There was an increase in Ducks in the ponds area with 22 Wigeon, 6 Pintails, 152 Teal and a Tufted Duck along with 3 Spotted Redshanks and a Great White Egret. Grounded migrants reduced still further with a Willow Warbler, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Pied Flycatchers, a Redstart, and single Whinchat and Wheatear. 

Ringing: Woodpigeon 2, Cetti's Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 1, Reed Warbler 1, Meadow Pipit 5, House Sparrow 1, Goldfinch 2, Robin 2. 15/8 Watch times: 06:00-11:00, 17:30-19:10

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Friday, 13 September 2024

Sunny with a F3 north westerly.  There was some varied movement albeit in generally small numbers with Barnacle Goose, 5 Pink-footed Geese, 5 Ruddy Shelducks, 10 Wigeon, a Goldeneye, 158 Kittiwakes, 8 Arctic Skuas, 36 Red-throated Divers, a Black-throated Diver, 57 Fulmars, 3 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Manx Shearwaters, 10 Cormorants, 9 Jackdaws, 2 Grey Wagtail, a Rock Pipit and 155 Meadow Pipits. 

There was again a scatter of migrants remaining from the previous week including 7 Willow Warblers, 8 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Goldcrests, 5 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 3 Redstarts and a Wheatear.

Ringing: Chiffchaff 2, Meadow Pipit 9, Tree Sparrow 18. 29/3 Watch times: 06:15-10:00

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Thursday, 12 September 2024

Generally sunny throughout with a cool F4-5 northerly.  A busy afternoon session over the sea brought 15 Arctic Skuas, 3 Great Skuas, 7 Puffins, 38 Fulmars, 157 Sooty Shearwaters (best count since 2016), 66 Manx Shearwaters, a Balearic Shearwater, a Little Tern and 61 Kittiwakes. 

The first Jack Snipe of the autumn dropped into the borrow pit while both the Red-backed Shrike (corner field) and Wood Warbler (church yard) were still present along with 10 Willow Warblers, a Garden Warbler, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, a Goldcrest, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Pied Flycatcher, 10 Redstarts, a Stonechat and single Wheatear.

Ringing: Willow Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Tree Sparrow 1, House Sparrow 1, Robin 1, Dunnock 1. 7/7 Watch times: 06:15-10:00, 14:30-19:45

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Wednesday, 11 September 2024

A cool day with long sunny spells and some heavy showers with a F6 westerly.  It was another quite busy day for the vismiggers seeing counts of 2 Pale-bellied Brents, 147 Pink-footed Geese, 27 Arctic Skuas, 15 Red-throated Divers, 19 Cormorants, a Marsh Harrier, single Common Buzzard, 3 Kestrels, 4 Rooks, 90 Sand Martins, 129 Swallows, 555 House Martins, 40 Tree Sparrows, 4 Flava Wagtails, 4 Grey Wagtails, 4 Alba Wagtails, 1722 Meadow Pipits, 2 Tree Pipits and 4 Reed Buntings. The evening roost movement had 11 Black Terns, 2 Arctic Terns, 830 Common Terns and 95 Sandwich Terns. 

The juvenile Red-backed Shrike was still in corner field the day and the Wood Warbler in the churchyard the day also seeing fewer grounded migrants with just 6 Willow Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, a Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Pied Flycatchers, a Redstart and single Whinchat. 

Ringing: House Sparrow 2, Tree Sparrow 2, Chiffchaff 2, Willow Warbler 2, Robin 1, Reed Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 1. 11/7 Watch times: 06:15-10:00, 16:30-19:00

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Tuesday, 10 September 2024

A cloudy start with rain showers brightened to long sunny spells by the eafternoon with a breezy F6 south westerly.  A fantastic day of vismig over both the sea and land with totals of 5 Pale-bellied Brents, 1808 Pink-footed Geese, 5 Pintails, 13 Turnstones, 24 Red-throated Divers, a Sooty Shearwater, 2 Great White Egrets, 2 Ospreys, a Marsh Harrier, 26 Sand Martins, 97 Swallows, 3259 House Martins, a Wheatear, 6 Flava Wagtails, 920 Meadow Pipits and a Tree Pipit. 

The Wood Warbler was again in the churchyard with further grounded migrants including 4 Willow Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, 4 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Pied Flycatchers, 4 Redstarts and 8 Wheatears.

Ringing: Blackcap 4, Garden Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Song Thrush 1, Spotted Flycatcher 1. 8/5 Watch times: 06:15-11:30, 16:30-18:45

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Monday, 09 September 2024

A cloudy day with a F6-3 northerly.  The good birds continue, today brought a male RED-FOOTED FALCON which headed south east out to sea from the bluebell while over the sea were 46 Pink-footed Geese, 1167 Common Terns, 39 Little Gulls, a juvenile Sabines Gull, single Great Skua, a Puffin, single Black-throated Diver, 6 Fulmars, a Cory's Shearwater, 5 Sooty Shearwaters and 19 Manx Shearwaters.

The male Red-breasted Flycatcher was srtill around Kew with the Wood Warbler nearby at driftwood with counts of 22 Willow Warblers, 2 Garden Warblers, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, a Spotted Flycatcher, 14 Robins, 4 Pied Flycatchers, 4 Redstarts and 7 Wheatears. The ponds area was again busy with 8 Pintails, 60 Teal, 44 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Common Sandpipers, 825 Redshanks, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 5 Greenshanks, a Ruff, 5 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Little Stints, 183 Mediterranean Gulls and a Caspian Gull plus 95 Little Egrets roosted in Easington. 

Ringing: Spotted Flycatcher 1, Robin 1, Song Thrush 1. 3/3 Watch times: 06:45-10:00, 16:30-19:30

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Sunday, 08 September 2024

The last day of #MIGFEST continued as the previous days with lots of birds with todays highlights being an Ortolan Bunting at chalky point, a Dotterel which flew over the riverside later headed south while late in the day a stunning pale juvenile Honey Buzzard flew south. The day also had the male Red-breasted Flycatcher at Kew, the juvenile Red-backed Shrike in north field, Wood Warbler in church field and 6 Wrynecks around the area with other counts of 11 Willow Warblers, 11 Blackcaps, 10 Garden Warblers, 13 Lesser Whitethroats, 7 Whitethroats, a Fieldfare, 17 Spotted Flycatchers, 12 Pied Flycatchers, 11 Redstarts, 8 Whinchats, 16 Wheatears, 5 Tree Pipits and a Siskin. 

The Pallid Harrier was at Welwick in the evening.

Ringing: Lesser Whitethroat 4, Garden Warbler 1, Blackcap 4, Reed Warbler 2, Pied Flycatcher 2, Robin 4, Redstart 1, Tree Pipit 1, Goldfinch 3. 22/9 Watch times: 06:00-10:00

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Saturday, 07 September 2024

A cloudy day with some drizzle and mist with a F3 north easterly. It was another busy day #MIGFEST with plenty good birds for everyone the female Pallid Harrier again around in the morning, our earliest ever Yellow-browed Warbler at the narrows, an Ortolan Bunting at the warren flew north, a Wood Warbler in Kilnsea with the male Red-breasted Flycatcher still entertaiining, 2 Quails in/off the sea (warren, Easington), the Red-backed Shrike still in north field and Wrynecks in sykes field and obs garden. Further grounded migrants included a Cuckoo, 17 Willow Warblers, a Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Garden Warblers, 9 Whitethroats, 20 Spotted Flycatchers, 9 Pied Flycatchers, a Black Redstart, 19 Redstarts, 7 Whinchats, a Stonechat, 45 Wheatears and a Tree Pipit. 

The best over the sea was a Storm Petrel and 5 Great Skuas while in the ponds area 30 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, 720 Redshanks, 2 Ruff and 4 Curlew Sandpipers

Ringing: Sparrowhawk 1, Reed Warbler 1, Willow Warbler 3, Garden Warbler 5, Blackcap 3, Whitethroat 1, Lesser Whitethroat 3, Spotted Flycatcher 5, Redstart 3, Pied Flycatcher 2, Robin 9, House Sparrow 1. 37/12 Watch times: 06:00-10:00

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Friday, 06 September 2024

The F5 north easterly continued to feed in warm damp air with fog all day but sunny overhead.  The first day of #MIGFEST got off to an amazing start with arrivals of migrants, a good passage over the sea and good birds galore. The pick of the day so far saw a female PALLID HARRIER wandering the area in the morning last seen flying west, a showy Bee-eater on wires on Easington straight which is the latest by 3 weeks and a dapper male Red-breasted Flycatcher in the crown carpark. The Greenish Warbler was still around Kew and church field, an Icterine Warbler found at chalk bank, 3 Wrynecks included one by the #migfest marquee, the Red-backed Shrike by the camping area in north field, 2 Barred Warblers (middle camp, triangle) while among the commoner migrants totals of 1 8Willow Warblers, 12 Garden Warblers, 8 Leseer Whitethroats, 9 Whitethroats, 47 Spotted Flycatchers, 37 Pied Flycatchers, 34 Redstarts, 10 Whinchats, 132 Wheatears and 12 Tree Pipits. 

The sea chipped in with a Balearic Shearwater, 6 Sooty Shearwaters, 21 Manx Shearwaters, 7 Arctic Skuas, 3 Great Skuas and 8 Little Gulls with the ponds area also adding to the day with 45 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Common Sandpipers, a Wood Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshanks, 6 Ruff and 2 Curlew Sandpipers

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Thursday, 05 September 2024

Fog of varying density during the day particularly poor visibility in the afternoon clearer after 6pm with a moderate northerly.   The vocal Greenish Warbler remained around church field, the Barred Warbler at middle camp and the Red-backed Shrike still in the triangle while an Osprey flew south.

The sea was quite busy despite occasional poor visibilty with totals of 30 Wigeon, 138 Teal, a Red-necked Grebe, 2 Roseate Terns, 1244 Kittiwakes, 53 Arctic Skuas, a Long-tailed Skua, 2 Great Skuas, 10 Puffins, 5 Red-throated Divers, 26 Fulmars, 50 Sooty Shearwaters, 148 Manx Shearwaters and 4 Balearic Shearwaters. 

Ringing: Woodpigeon 1, Willow Warbler 1, House Sparrow 3. 5/3 Watch times: 06:10-12:00, 18:00-20:00
 

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Wednesday, 04 September 2024

Long sunny spells the wind increasing from a F3 north westerly to F5 northerly.  The vocal Greenish Warbler remained around the Kew to church field area while both the Wryneck and Red-backed Shrike were still in the triangle. Counts of other grounded migrants were lower today with just 8 Willow Warblers, a Garden Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroats, 4 Spotted Flycatchers, 4 Pied Flycatchers, a Whinchat and 8 Wheatears.

An interesting Harrier sp flew south which appears to be a Hen x Pallid hybrid while over the sea 2 Black Terns, 8 Arctic Skuas, a dark phase Pomarine Skua, single Sooty Shearwater, 24 Manx Shearwaters, 250 Gannets and a Shag were the highlights. The ponds area chipped in with 568 Redshanks, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 50 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Greenshanks, 4 Curlew Sandpipers, 5 Little Gulls and a Caspian Gull.

Ringing: Tree Sparrow 24, Willow Warbler 5, Whitethroat 1, Reed Warbler 2, Cetti's Warbler 2, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Wren 1, Dunnock 1, House Sparrow 2, Greenfinch 1, Pied Flycatcher 1, Stock Dove 2 (P). 43/12 Watch times: 06:15-10:00, 17:45-20:00

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Tuesday, 03 September 2024

Cloudy with early morning showers clearing later with a light north westerly.  There was a noticeable clearout of migrants with possibly some new arrivals with counts of 2 Greenish Warblers (church field and new bird by the gas terminal), 2 Wrynecks gas (terminal rocks, triangle), 2 Red-backed Shrikes (gas terminal, triangle), the Barred Warbler still at middle camp, a Red-breasted Flycatcher at pancho pond, 21 Willow Warblers, 3 Garden Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 11 Whitethroats, 6 Spotted Flycatchers, 13 Pied Flycatchers, 13 Redstarts, a Whinchat, 17 Wheatears, 20 Yellow Wagtails and 4 Tree Pipits. 

A juvenile Honey Buzzard was the vismig highlight south over the Humber to the point with also a Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harriers and 5 Common Buzzards moving along with 450 Swallows. 140 House Martins and 22 Sand Martins. Over the sea a Cory's Shearwater headed north plus 6 Arctic Skuas, 3 Pomarine Skuas and 3 Great Skuas. 

Ringing: 4 Willow Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Cormorant, 3 Swallow, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Redstart, 1 Robin, 1 Chaffinch. 23/15. Watches: 06:30 - 09:30

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Monday, 02 September 2024

Thundery heavy overnight rain with light winds led to misty conditions in the morning and rather hot and humid.  It was another busy day around the area with seeminly new birds arriiving the highlight a rather elusive but vocal Greenish Warbler in church field with back up in the form of a female Grey-headed Wagtail at the point,  3 Wrynecks, a Barred Warbler at middle camp and both the Red-backed Shrike (triangle) and Common Rosefinch (point) still present. Counts of grounded migrants were still good with 25 Willow Warblers, 5 Reed Warblers, 6 Garden Warblers, 7 Lesser Whitethroats, 32 Whitethroats, 15 Spotted Flycatchers, 30 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Black Redstarts, 41 Redstarts, 23 Whinchats, a Stonechat, 23 Wheatears and 4 Tree Pipits. 

The ponds area typically had plenty of interest with 10 Wigeon, 2 Pintails, 77 Teal, 33 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Common Sandpipers, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshanks, 4 Ruff, 3 Curlew Sandpipers and a Little Stint. A Great White Egret flew south whoile also moving 10 Shovelers, 7 Wigeon, 4 Pintails and 183 Teal the evening roost movement chiping in with a Roseate Tern along 1090 Common Terns.

Ringing: Pied Flycatcher 4, Redstart 4, Willow Warbler 8, Chiffchaff 1, Blackcap 4, Garden Warbler 4, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Whitethroat 1, Reed Warbler 1, Wren 1, Dunnock 2, Robin 2, Blackbird 1, Goldfinch 1, Whinchat 1. 37/15 

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Sunday, 01 September 2024

Early morning cloud with spots of rain cleared to a hazy sunshine for much of the day along with a F4 easterly.  A fantastic arrival of 'drift' migrants brought some good totals along with some good birds thrown in. There was a Common Rosefinch at the point, single Red-breasted Flycatcher here also, 3 Wrynecks (point, triangle, old boat house) and a juvenile Red-backed Shrike around canal scrape along with 28 Willow Warblers, 8 Reed Warblers, a Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Garden Warblers, 5 Lesser Whitethroats, 24 Whitethroats, 26 Spotted Flycatchers, 24 Robins, 52 Pied Flycatchers, 38 Redstarts, 27 Whinchats, 2 Stonechats, 116 Wheatears and 10 Tree Pipits. (During the day an Woodchat Shrike and a couple of possible Barred Warblers were reported but no information).

The sea had some good attention and some nice rewards with a Cory's Shearwater south, juvenile Sabines Gull south close inshore and a Storm Petrel close in which succumbed to being swamped by a series of waves plus 2 Brent Geese, 393 Teal, 5 Pintails, 3 Tufted Ducks, a Little Tern, 17 Arctic Skuas, a Pomarine Skua, 3 Great Skuas, 13 Fulmars, 5 Sooty Shearwaters and 20 Manx Shearwaters. Full counts on Trektellen. 

Ringing: Moorhen 1, Willow Warbler 12, Whitethroat 3, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Garden Warbler 3, Blackcap 2, Blackbird 1, Redstart 6, Robin 2, Pied Fly 9, Spotted Flycatcher 2, Reed Warbler 1, Blue Tit 2, Chaffinch 1, Reed Bunting 2, Goldfinch 1. 52/16 Watch times: 06:10-10:00, 18:00-20:00

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