Sightings

Saturday, 31 December 2022

The year 2022 may not live in the memory for too long with relatively few big rarities (for our high standards) and instead filled with what have become expected species, poor visible migration except for a few special days, no big arrivals until late in the year, but good numbers and variety of scarcities kept a bit of momentum going with Migfest enjoying a bird filled weekend.

The highlight of the year left it till late October being our 1st Eastern Yellow Wagtail for a few days at Kilnsea wetlands, while a stunning Masked Wagtail and Spanish Wagtail our first records of each of these sub species, our 2nd Brown Shrike but a smart adult type in the spring, the 5th Pallid Harrier a female graced Migfest, our 9-10th Citrine Wagtails which were seen together by the riverside hotel also during Migfest, the 9-12th Pallid Swifts typically late in the year, the 11-12th Cattle Egrets at each end of the year, our 13-14th Blyth’s Reed Warblers, a spring singing bird and a typical autumn record, the 16th Arctic Warbler in canal hedge, the 16-17th Red-flanked Bluetails, while our 17-20th White-rumped Sandpipers graced the area with the first multiple sighting when two were off the Warren, a Bonelli’s Warbler not heard to call on beacon lane was not put to species level and a female Western Subalpine Warbler was maybe the 2nd confirmed while the review is continuing.

Local listers had a welcome ‘get back’ with a lingering Black Guillemot the 15th record and another Nuthatch with 2 Ravens our 15-16th which seem to be becoming more regular, 2 Green Woodpeckers which were most sought after for some, while a Willow Tit was another welcome grip back as it undergoes a drastic decline nationwide.

It was yet again good for scarce birds seen during the year, again expected birds were missing from the list and some not seen in previous years. There were at least 12 Red-rumped Swallows (9 in the spring with another 3 in the autumn) taking us over 100 records of this increasing Hirundine. Other notable birds were 6 Cory’s Shearwaters, (inc a late bird in November), 20 Spoonbills, 5 Honey Buzzards (spring and autumn), a Rough-legged Buzzard, 2 Black Kites, 3 Temminck’s Stint, with a long staying juvenile in September, 3 Red-necked Phalaropes, together on beacon ponds, 3 Grey Phalaropes, a showy Stone Curlew, 4 Quails, 4 Nightjars, 5 Bee-eaters, just a single Golden Oriole, 4 Turtle Doves, 2 Hoopoes, 6 Wood Larks, 3 Shore Larks, an Olive-backed Pipit, just 2 Barred Warblers inc one long stayer, 3 Icterine Warbler, 1 Dusky Warbler, 4 Pallas’s Warblers, a return of decent numbers of Yellow-browed Warblers, 2 Red-breasted Flycatcher, 3 Red-backed Shrikes, a Great Grey Shrike, 6 Wrynecks, 2 Serin and 3 Little Bunting. (All sightings and totals need to be ratified and accepted).  Happy Birding in 2023.

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Thursday, 29 December 2022

Sunny but with a breezy F7 south westerly.  A quiter day overall with no watches done during the day the best being 11 Snow Buntings and a Purple Sandpiper at beacon ponds with other noteable counts of 17 Shoveler, 2 Goldeneyes and 60 Black-tailed Godwit.

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Tuesday, 27 December 2022

Mainly cloudy the odd glimpse of sun and a cold F5 south westerly. Watches 0735-1005.  Post Christmas days celebrations have seen more observers out in the field with some decent sightings including a Lapland Bunting heading south, the elusive Bearded Tit again along the canal. the 44 Whooper Swans on Easington straight, a Jack Snipe on Kilnsea wetlands, Purple Sandpiper nearby on Easington lagoon and 128 Black-tailed Godwits on the Humber while the sea chipped in with 154 Red-throated Divers.

Ringing 1 Blackbird, 1 Fieldfare, 5 Redwing, 7/3 plus a Swedish ringed Fieldfare

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Monday, 26 December 2022

Bright and sunny with a cold F5 south westerly. Watches 0735-0945.  Out of the blue the 3 Shore Larks made a welcome re-appearance at beacon ponds, the 40 Whooper Swans still nearby on Easington straight and a Woodcock in north field and a Blackcap at Kew.

Over the sea 3 Velvet Scoters took top billing with an Eider, 3 Goldeneye, 31 Red-throated Divers and 4 Fulmars for backup.

Ringing Blackcap 1, Blackbird 2, Redwing 4, Chaffinch 1, Goldfinch 1, 9/5
 

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Saturday, 24 December 2022

Watches 0740-1000. There was little change from the previous few days, the 43 Whooper Swans still gracing the area, a Purple Sandpiper on beacon ponds. 90 Black-tailed Godwits on Kilnsea wetlands and a good count of 6 Short-eared Owls in the area.

The sea had small numbers of birds on the move the best being 6 Goldeneyes, 64 Red-throated Divers, 6 Gannets and a Shag.

Ringing House Sparrow 2, Fieldfare 1, Redwing 3, 6/3

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Thursday, 22 December 2022

A mild day with light rain and a F2 south westerly. Watches 0730-0845. There were much fewer Thrushes about but 2 Waxwings were in churchfield, presumably the birds from Easington a few days previously. There were flocks of 20 Snow Buntings and 40 Yellowhammers on the north side of the gas terminal and the flock of 42 Whooper Swans still on Easington straight.

Elsewhere a Jack Snipe was at beacon ponds, 5 Woodcocks around the area and Short-eared Owl and Chiffchaff in the triangle.

Ringing Waxwing 1, Fieldfare 2, Redwing 20, 23/3

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Wednesday, 21 December 2022

Cloudy with sunny spells and a moderate F5 south westerly. Watches 9730-1000, 1410-1530. It was a good day of movement with lots of Thrushes dropping in from high (new arrivals or drifting down coast?) with totals of 1940 Fieldfares, 870 Redwing and 2 Mistle Thrushes plus 2 Great White Egrets and 123 Red-throated Divers.

Other noteable sightings included a Bearded Tit along the canal, 2 Snow Buntings at easington lagoons and 5 Woodcocks around the area.

Ringing Blackbird 4, Fieldfare 9, Redwing 51, 64/3

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Monday, 19 December 2022

Cloudy with glimpses of sun and a F6 SW wind. Watches 0730-1245.

There were several noteable sightings for the day a Bittern which after landing on the saltmarsh flew back north maybe landing along the canal, an impressive flock of 126 Barnacle Geese on Easington straight and a Scaup over the sea. The sea was more lively for Wildfowl with 10 Shoveler, 37 Wigeon, 2 Mallard, 2 Pintail, 164 Teal, a Goldeneye, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 61 Grey Plover, 5 Knot, 71 Dunlin, 60 Red-throated Diver and a Shag. 

There were still decent numbers of grounded migrants 815 Redwing, 220 Fieldfares, 65 Blackbirds and 5 Song Thrush plus 5 Short-eared Owls, 19 Snipe and 3 Woodcocks.

Ringing Fieldfare 2, Redwing 12, 14/2

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Sunday, 18 December 2022

Cold and frosty again, cloudy with a F4 south westerly. Watches 0730-0945, 1100-1430.  Some more movement over the sea a Red-necked Grebe and 93 Barnacle Geese the stand out sightinhgs plus 4 Great Crested Grebe, 27 Red-throated Diver and 28 Gannets.

Easington straight still held 38 Whooper Swans with 710 Redwings, 375 Fieldfares and a Blackcap still in the area.

Ringing Blackbird 2, Fieldfare 1, Redwing 49, 52/3

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Thursday, 15 December 2022

Sunny spells but remaining cold with a light F3 north westerly. Watches 0730-1000.

The 3 Shore Larks re-appeared again blogging about the area while a Red Kite did the same and the 32 Whooper Swans continued to reside on Easington straight.

There was an impressive 1150 Common Gulls over the sea along with a Mediterranean Gull and 7 Woodcock around the area included 2 more in/off.

Ringing House Sparrow 1, 1/1

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Monday, 12 December 2022

Bright start but thick fog returned. Watches 0730-1000. The adult male Waxwing was still present around Kew eventually turning up in a net and 11 Snow Buntings were at the breach. The impressive flock of 32 Whooper Swans were still on Easington straight and 3 Short-eared Owls were around long bank. 

There were still decent numbers of Thrushes around the area along with 4 Woodcock and 38 Chaffinch.

Ringing Waxwing 1, 1/1

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Sunday, 11 December 2022

Fog and terrible visibility with no wind to move it. The adult male Waxwing relocated to Kew where it lingered for the day with 13 Snow Buntings appearing out of the mirk at the breach.

Elsewhere 5 Water Rail, a Cetti's Warbler and 14 Snipe were in the triangle, 73 Black-tailed on the Humber and 3 Woodcock around the area.

Ringing House Sparrow 1, Blackbird 1, Redwing 3, Chaffinch 1, 6/4

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Saturday, 10 December 2022

Watches 0730-1015. Sunny but cold frosty day and a light F2 NW wind. The 3 Shore Lark reappeared at beacon ponds with 7 Snow Buntings north over here. A Waxwing showed very well in corner field feeding on berries and 2 Cetti's Warbler were in the triangle.

The were still a number of migrants about mainly Thrushes while both Jack Snipe and Woodcock arrived in/off from the sea which also saw a Little Auk and Great Northern Diver head south plus 51 Red-throated Diver, a Tufted Duck, 47 Teal, a Goldeneye, 4 Common Scoter and a Great Crested Grebe.

Ringing House Sparrow 1, Blackbird 3, Fieldfare 1, Redwing 5, Song Thrush 1, Greenfinch 1, Yellowhammer 3, 15/7

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Thursday, 08 December 2022

Overnight snow cold with sunny spells with a F4 NW wind. Watches 0730-1000. The best sightings of the day saw a Lapland Bunting fly south from Easington lagoons where 2 Snow Bunting were present, a Red Kite which went back north and 38 Whooper Swans on Easington striaght. 

The sea offered little bar a Great Skua heading south and a Woodcock in/off with a Marsh Harrier heading south overland. 

Ringing Tree Sparrow 1, Blackbird 6, Redwing 2, Robin 1, Greenfinch 1, 11/5

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Wednesday, 07 December 2022

Cool and cloudy with the odd sunny spell and a F4 NW wind. Watches 0730-1000. While the sea was quieter the nicer conditions allowed for some birding around the sea with an increased 38 Whooper Swans along Easington straight, a Barnacle Goose and Pale-bellied Brent with 400 Brent Geese and 2 Black Redstarts at the point. 

Other noteworthy birds saw 23 Snow Buntings (18 north, 5 chalk bank) and 2 Woodcocks in/off the sea.

Ringing Blackbird 13, Redwing 3, Lesser Redpoll 2, 18/3

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Monday, 05 December 2022

A grey dull day with the odd shower and a cold F6 NE wind. Watches 0730-1130. THe sea yet again had the pick of the birds with a Pomarine Skua and 2 Velvet Scoters heading south plus a Scaup, 4 Eider, 103 Kittiwakes, a Great Skua, 55 Large Auk sp, 14 Red-throated Diver and 24 Gannets.

Some migrnats trickled in during the morning with a Short-eared Owl in/off, 45 Redwing, 135 Blackbirds, 24 Fieldfare, 22 Chaffinch, a Mealy Redpoll and 1 Lesser Redpoll. There were also still 19 Whooper Swans on Easington straight, 360 Wigeon, 14 shoveler and 22 Black-tailed Godwits on Kilnsea wetlands.

Ringing House Sparrow 1, Blackbird 36, Fieldfare 1, Redwing 4, Song Thrush 1, Goldfinch 1, Siskin 1, Common Redpoll 1, 46/8

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Sunday, 04 December 2022

Cloudy with heavy showers and a F5 E wind. Watches 0730-1150. The colder weather continued but a quieter day on the birding front with few observers out and about as continuing work today in corner field dominated proceedings with the sea and the protection of the seawatch hut getting most of the morning attention. Sightings here were a Shelduck, 4 Wigeon, 4 Tufted Duck, 22 Eider, a Velvet Scoter, 62 Common Scoters, 3 Kittiwakes, 4 Little Auks, 16 Red-throated Divers and 6 Gannet.

Elsewhere 28 Whooper Swans were on Easington straight and a Cetti's Warbler in Sykes field,

Ringing Blackbird 4, Robin 1, 5/2

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Friday, 02 December 2022

Dull again with a light F1 SE wind. Watches 0740-1200.  A Bearded Tit was along the canal (maybe the bird from 27th November), the 3 Shore Lark and drake Scaup still at beacon ponds and the 10 Whooper SWans on Easington straight  with presumably the same 2 Velvet Scoter flew north past the gas terminal made for another interesting December day.

The se also had 17 Wigeon, 72 Teal, 3 Tufted Ducks, 24 Eider,  53 Common Scoter, a Goldeneye, 5 Little Gulls, 51 Red-throated Divers and 9 Gannets.

Ringing Starling 1, Fieldfare 3, Blackbird 34, Redwing 12, Song Thrush 1, Goldfinch 1, 52/6
 

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Thursday, 01 December 2022

Dull with the odd sunny spell and a F1 SW wind. Watches 0740-1000.  Despite little change it was another good day around the area. The 3 Shore Larks continued to show well at beacon ponds where a drake Scaup appeared with a Pochard for company. Nearby 2 Velvet Scoter were on the sea and there were 10 Whooper Swans on Easington straight plus a Pale-bellied Brent among 270 Brent Geese. 

Over the sea there was a decent bit of movement with 18 Wigeon, 16 Teal, 6 Eider, 19 Common Scoter, a Goldeneye, 2 Great Crested Grebe, a Puffin and 62 Red-throated Diver while overland 28 Skylark and 50 Siskin were the most noteable. Small numbers of migrants were arriving again with a Woodcock, 5 Snipe, 2 Blackcap, a Goldcrest, 66 Redwing, 156 Fieldfare, 4 Brambling, 5 Lesser Redpoll and 12 Siskins.

Ringing Chiffchaff 1, Blackcap 1, Blackbird 14, Redwing 6, Dunnock 1, Siskin 5, Lesser Redpoll 2 30/7
 

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