Spurn Bird Observatory Sightings October 2026
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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Tuesday, 06 October 2026
A clammy day which was mainly cloudy with just the odd sunny spell with the wind swinging NE by late afternoon. Watches 0630-1010, 1600-1830
The Lesser Yellowlegs remained on beacon ponds along with a Little Stint and Ruff plus a Caspian Gull. The day saw an increase in grounded migrants with a Jack Snipe, 6 Yellow-browed Warblers, 2 Willow Warblers, 18 Chiffchaffs, 9 Blackcaps, a Lesser Whitethroat, single Goldcrest, 26 Song Thrushes, 17 Redwings, 45 Robins, a Pied flycatcher, 11 Stonechats, 6 Wheatears, 5 Rock Pipits, 21 Chaffinches, 10 Bramblings, 6 Siskins and a Snow Bunting.
The vismiggers had another varied day which included a Great Crested Grebe, 2 Snipe, 149 Common Terns, 47 Little Gulls, 4 Arctic Skuas, a Pomarine Skua, the usual Great Skua, 43 Red-throated divers, a Sooty Shearwater, 5 Manx Shearwaters, 4 Jays, 16 Skylarks, a Swallow, 4 House Martins, 18 Alba Wagtails, 97 Meadow Pipits, 5 Rock Pipits, 12 Chaffinches, 11 Greenfinches, 148 Linnets, a Redpoll, single Lapland Bunting and 55 Reed Buntings. Full counts on Trektellen.
Ringing 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcap, 5 Song Thrush, 1 Blackbird, 4 Robin, 4 Tree Sparrow, 3 Dunnock, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Linnet, 3 Goldfinch, 1 Yellowhammer, 55 Reed Bunting, 97/1
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Lesser Yellowlegs - Tim Jump.
Lesser Yellowlegs - Tim Jump.
Monday, 05 October 2026
A windy F6 westerly day with plenty of sunshine. Watches 0630-1000, 1725-1825
The Lesser Yellowlegs remained on beacon ponds along with Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper and Ruff while a scatter of migrants included 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, 9 Chiffchaffs, a Fieldfare, single Pied Flycatcher, 14 Stonechats, a Wheatear, 11 Bramblings and a Snow Bunting.
Some good southbound movement saw 5 Barnacle Geese, 20 Pintails, a Red-breasted Merganser, 9 Little Gulls, a Greay White Egret, 2 Grey Herons, a Jay, 17 Skylarks, 14 Swallows. 48 Hose Martins, 10 House Sparrows, 2 Grey Wagtails, 23 Alba Wagtails, 187 Meadow Pipits, a Rock Pipit, a Brambling, 3 Greenfinches, 130 LInnets, a Siskin and 2 Snow Buntings.
Ringing 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldfinch, 6/4
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Curlew Sandpiper and Dunlin - John Hewitt.
Lesser Yellowlegs with Ruff - Steve Clipperton.
Sunday, 04 October 2026
A breezy start clamed soon down leaving a really pleasant day. Watches 0630-1040
The Lesser Yellowlegs was again present on beacon ponds sometimes having wee fly abouts but always returning and a brief Buff-breasted Sandpiper which then flew off south plus 432 Wigeons, 9 Pintails, 130 Teal, a Little Stint and Ruff here also and the Shore Lark.
The day again saw a scatter of migrnats lingering with 3 Yellow-browed Warblers, 3 Willow Warblers, 18 Chiffchaffs, a Reed warbler, 5 Blackcaps, singles of Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, a Goldcrest, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 20 Stonechats, 2 Wheatears, 3 Rock Pipits, 12 Bramblings, 2 Hawfinches, 4 Bullfinches and 2 Lesser Redpolls.
Another day of varied movement which included a Great White Egret, 17 Pintails, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 12 Little Gulls, 2 Arctic Skuas, 81 Red-throated Divers, a Jay, 13 Rooks, 9 Great Tits, 139 Skylarks, 18 Swallows, 37 House Martins, 35 Tree Sparrows, 12 House Sparrows, 2 dunnocks, 4 Grey Wagtails, 16 Alba Wagtails, 55 Meadow Pipits, 10 Rock Pipits, 96 Chaffinches, 14 Bramblings, 20 Greenfinches, 385 Linnets, 66 Goldfinches, 5 Siskins, 2 Snow buntings, 5 Yellowhammers and 122 Reed Buntings.
Ringing 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Blue Tit, 6 Great Tit, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Wren, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Blackbird, 2 Robin, 1 Stonechat, 1 Dunnock, 2 Meadow Pipit, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Linnet, 9 Reed Bunting, 43/16
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Lesser Yellowlegs - Harry Appleyard. Flying over the Observatory in Kilnsea.
Prob Grey-headed Wagtail - Paul French.
Prob Grey-headed Wagtail - Paul French.
Record shot of Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Steve Clipperton.
Saturday, 03 October 2026
A nice calm sunny day with a light F2 north westerly. Watches 0630-1000, 1630-1830
The days highlight saw our 2nd Lesser Yellowlegs found at beacon ponds flying off high south later while nearby the American Golden Plover was in fields at Sammys while other bits at the ponds included the Shore Lark still present, 17 Shovelers, 261 wigeons, 17 Pintails, a Spotted Redshank, a Ruff, single Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Stint.
There were still some decent migrant totals about the area with 4 Jays, 6 Yellow-browed Warblers, 2 Willow Warblers, 26 Chiffchaffs, a Reed Warbler, 7 Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, a Goldcrest, a Ring Ouzel, 56 Robins, a Pied Flycatcher, single Whinchat, 27 Stonechats, 2 Wheatears, 9 rock Pipits, 43 Bramblings, a Hawfinch, single Mealy Redpoll, 18 Lesser Redpolls and a Siskin.
Another varied movement over sea and land didnt bring any big numbers but some nice bits included 4 Shovelers, 44 Wigeons, 9 Pintails, 325 Teal, a Slavonian Grebe, an Arctic Tern, 255 Common Terns, 33 Sandwich Terns, 5 Little Gulls, 3 Arctic Skuas, a Pomarine Skua, 101 Red-throated Divers, 2 Marsh Harriers, a Hobby, 10 Swallows, 4 House Martins, 4 Grey Wagtails, 53 Linnets, 2 Siskins, 2 Snow Buntings and 7 Reed Buntings plus the lingering Great Skua.
Ringing 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Robin, 6 Tree Sparrow, 1 Meadow Pipit, 19/8
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Lesser Yellowlegs - Harry Appleyard.
American Golden Plover with Golden Plovers - Harry Appleyard.
