Sightings

Sunday, 31 December 2023

The year 2023 had some fantastic rarities on offer along with a good array of scarcities with the vismiggers enjoying some good visible migration especially in the autumn, with big numbers of Pipits and Finches which also saw some big arrivals of Thrushes including 125 Ring Ouzels on the 8th October but yet again there were few common migrants such as Robins, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs in these falls which is concerning.

The year had three more additions for the areas already impressive list beginning in March with our 1st Dartford Warbler present for two days, a totally off the radar Upland Sandpiper which flew south in September and a long overdue first Black-throated Thrush.  The 3rd Pacific Golden Plover showed well and very popular visitors to KIlnsea wetllands were a drake Ring-necked Duck and American Wigeon both very welcome grip backs for many locals, while our 4th Red-eyed Vireo was part of an exceptional arrival of American vagrants to the UK, our 6th Great Reed Warbler briefly at Sammies, drake Green-winged Teal in the usual area of Kilnsea wetlands with a spring Pallid Harrier putting in a couple of appearances, the 7th Great Snipe occasionally showed well but unusually was a spring bird, our 10th Glossy Ibis began a series of records with two groups of three in the next week were maybe different, our 11th American Golden Plover intermittently for 10 days, the 13th White-tailed Eagle a wild adult over the Humber, a  Pallid Swift late in the year plus another annual Cattle Egret, our 16th Blyth’s Reed Warbler singing on the Obs garden while a close inshore Great Shearwater was the star of MigFest, the 17th Kentish Plover on the Humber, the 18-20th Red-flanked Bluetails for what is now an expected visitor and our 20-21st Arctic Redpolls were first for several years. Others worth mentioning were the 21st Rustic Bunting continuing the trend with at least one record every two years and the 30-32nd Alpine Swifts part of a national influx.

It was yet again good for scarce birds seen during the year, expected birds missing though included Bewick’s Swan, Honey Buzzard, White-rumped Sandpiper, Bittern, Citrine Wagtail, Pallas’s Warbler and Bluethroat but included some not seen in previous years. Notable birds were 4 Cory’s Shearwaters, several Leach’s Petrels including a spring bird, 2 Rough-legged Buzzard, a Montagu’s Harrier, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, 3 Temminck’s Stint, 3 Grey Phalaropes, a Corncrake, a Common Crane, 6 Nightjars, 5 Bee-eaters, a single Golden Oriole, 5 Turtle Doves, a Hoopoe, 11 Wood Larks, 3 Shore Larks, a Richard’s Pipit, 3 Red-rumped Swallows, 6 Marsh Warblers, maybe 10 Barred Warblers inc one in November, 7 Icterine Warbler, 2 Dusky Warbler, decent numbers of Yellow-browed Warblers, a Greenish Warbler, 2 Wood Warblers, 3 Red-breasted Flycatcher, 8 Red-backed Shrikes, a Great Grey Shrike, 3 Wrynecks, 4 Rosefinches, 25 Hawfinches, 2 Ortolan Buntings, single Serin and 7 Little Bunting. (All sightings and totals need to be ratified and accepted).  Happy Birding in 2024.

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Sunday, 31 December 2023

Heavy rain with sunny spells later and a F3  south westerly.

The final day of a great year saw some decent movement over the sea with 12 Wigeon, 44 Teal, 22 Common Scoter, 22 Kittiwakes, 2 Little Auks, 255 Red-throated Divers and 2 Gannets. 

The ponds area had 57 Whooper Swans, 27 Shovelers, 667 Wigeon, 32 Mallard, 120 Teal and 25 Black-tailed Godwits. 

Watches 0730-1000, 1300-1500.

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Saturday, 30 December 2023

Cloudy throughout the day but a decreasing south easterly. 

Nothing different was seen during the day with 57 Whooper Swans on Easington straight though 148 Red-throated Divers moving over the sea and 5 Siskins flew south.

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Wednesday, 27 December 2023

A wet and breezy day with a F5 south easterly. 

The best of todays sightings were from the long bank area with 56 Whooper Swans, 658 Wigeon, 110 Teal, 30 Lapwings, 150 Culrews, 600 Black-tailed Godwits and 450 Redshanks. 

Over the sea 23 Common Scoters, a Fulmar and 3 Gannets were the best of very little.

Watch times: 0730-1000, 1325-1525.

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Tuesday, 26 December 2023

A sunny calmer day with a light westerly. 

It was a nicer day around the area and a better day for birding the Siberian Chiffchaff and 4 Chiffchaffs around the sewage works again, a Bullfinch in Kilnsea and 3 Siskins and a Woodcock at Sammies. 

Over the sea a Velvet Scoter flew south and there were great counts of 510 Razorbills and 747 Common Gulls. 

There are now 69 Whooper Swans wandering between Kilnsea wetlands and Sammies with also a Pale-bellied Brent among 470 Brent Geese in the same area with the added bonus of a 1cy Caspian Gull.

 Watches 0730-1000.
 

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Monday, 25 December 2023

Cloudy with sunny spells anda F4 westerly. 

An unexpected Firecrest was in the garden of Hillrise in Easington but after that it was the usuals that made up the other sightings during the day with 26 Whooper Swans on Easington straight with 553 Wigeon, 218 Teal, 2 Gadwalls and 20 Shovelers on Kilnsea wetlands along with a brief Red-breasted Merganser.

Over the sea a Great Northern Diver flew south.

Ringing Blackbird 3, Robin 1. 4/2. Watches 0725-1000, 1045-1230.
 

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Sunday, 24 December 2023

The strong F6 south westerly with gusts of F8+ continued. 

There was little change yet again with the 55 Whooper Swans on Easington straight plus good numbers of Wildfowl still in the ponds area. 

Over the sea a Great Northen Diver was noteworthy while a brief Waxwing was at southfield farm.

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Saturday, 23 December 2023

A very windy blustery day with a F6 south westerly. 

Not much change in the ponds area with 52 Whooper Swans still present with 31 Shovelers, 650 Wigeon, 240 Teal and 6 Goldeneyes. 

In churchfield 6 Waxwings put in a brief visit but were fushed by a Sparrowhawk. 

 Ringing: Blackbird 3, Waxwing 1. 4/2. Watches 0730-1000, 1130-1330.
 

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Friday, 22 December 2023

The odd sunny spell in a generally cloudy day with a strong F6 north westerly.  Little change overall with the 55 Whooper Swans still present (including the 2 dark billed birds) and the Whimbrel again by grange farm. In the ponds area Duck numbers remained high being joined by a Pale-bellied Brent with 350 Brent Geese.

Long bank had 212 Curlews, 80 Lapwings, single Little Egret and a Common Buzzard.

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Wednesday, 20 December 2023

Overcast with drizzle and a F4 south westerly. 

The Siberian Chiffchaff and 2 Chiffchaffs were still at the sewage works in Easington. It was busy on Easington straight with an impressive 55 Whooper Swans, 21 Mute Swans, a Canada Goose and 135 Greylag Geese. 

Elsewhere the adult Marsh Harrier was still about wandering the area and Kilnsea wetlands had 579 Wigeons, 199 Teal and 26 Shovelers. 

Watches 0730-1000.

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Tuesday, 19 December 2023

Overcast morning with drizzle gave way to a nice sunny day with the continuing moderate westerly. 

Slightly quieter day around the area but still some quality on offer with a Siberian Chiffchaff and 3 Chiffchaffs at the sewage works in Easington, 2 Little Gulls feeing over the fields with Black-headed Gulls and 15 Whooper Swans at Kilnsea wetlands. 

Duck numbers remained high in the ponds area 618 Wigeon, 166 Teal and 27 Shovelers the standout counts while over the sea 85 Teal and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers. 

Watches: 0730 - 1000
 

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Monday, 18 December 2023

A cloudy day with a F4 south westerly. 

Some noteable Wildfowl counts from around the area included 800 Brent Geese along with a Pale-bellied Brent and a hybrid Brant along with 20 Whooper Swans at Sammys, 741 Wigeon, 288 Teal, 28 Shovelers and 30 Mallard in the ponds area.

Also present were 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, a Barn Owl and a Short-eared Owl. 

Ringing: Watches: 0730 - 1000.

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Sunday, 17 December 2023

Sunny spells with some spells of cloud and the wind incrreasing as the day wore on to F7 south westerly. 

The best of the sightings from today concerned a Manx Shearwater south over the sea, 3 Waxwings south overland, 20 Whooper Swans still at Sammys with the ringtsil Hen Harrier in the same area. 

Ringing: Nil. Watches - 07:30 - 10:00

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Saturday, 16 December 2023

A nice sunny day with a moderate south westerly. 

Some movement over the sea was a change to recent days with 4 Brent Geese, 26 Pink-footed Geese, 7 Whooper Swans, 82 Teal, 42 Common Scoter, a Long-tailed Duck, 41 Red-throated Divers and 3 Cormorants. Overland 63 Siskins was noteworthy. 

THe days other sighings were mainly from the ponds area with 17 Whooper Swans, 15 Shovelers, 500 Wigeon and 100 Teal with an unseasonal Whimbrel in fields by grange farm. 

Ringing: NIL. Watches - 07:30-10:00.

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Friday, 15 December 2023

Cloudy throughout the day and a moderate south westerly.  A Hawfinch was a bit out of the blue wandering around the triangle and another 2 Waxwings were present in canal hedge. The day also saw a Velvet Scoter on the Humber and 20 Whooper Swans still in the Sammys area. 

Other noteable sightings included 28 Shovelers, 558 Wigeon and 120 Lapwings on Kilnsea wetlands, both Short-eared Owl and Little Owl around Kilnsea, a Cetti's Warbler still along the canal and 10 Fieldfares blogging. 

Ringing: Blackbird 1, Redwing 1, Wren 1, Goldfinch 2. 5/4. Watches 0730-1000.

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Thursday, 14 December 2023

A dry overcast day gave way to a sunny day with a moderate south westerly. 

A nice flock of 23 Waxwings at canal scrape certainly brightened up the day before heading off south. Other bits on the move mainly over the sea included 163 Wigeons, 12 Teal, a Goldeneye, 4 Gannets, a Lesser Redpoll and 5 Siskins. 

Other sightings saw the Hen Harrier again at Sammys, a Cetti's Warbler around the triangle and 3 Stonechats. 

Ringing: Blackbird 8, Redwing 2, Song Thrush 1, Wren 1. 12/4 Watches 07:30 - 10:00 & 10:30 - 13:00

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Wednesday, 13 December 2023

Overcast and wet with a cool F6 northerly. Eyes turned to the sea but ultimately it was poor with just a Manx Shearwater of note. 

A ringtail Hen Harrier wandered around the Sammys area with the 17 Whooper Swans nearby while on Kilnsea wetlands 500 Wigeon, 5 Pintail, 17 Shovelers, 70 Teal, 80 Lapwings and 60 Black-tailed Godwits were present.

Ringing: Blackbird 1. Watches: 0700-1000, 13:00-14:00.

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Tuesday, 12 December 2023

A dry calm and overcast day with a moderate south westerly.  A Long-eared Owl was a noteable record for December trapped in churchfield with other sightings the 16 Whooper Swans again on Kilnsea wetlands along with a Greenshank, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Stonechats and 2 Grey Wagtails in Easington.

Ringing: Long-eared Owl 1, Chaffinch 1. 2/2. Watches: 07:25 - 11:25

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Monday, 11 December 2023

A bright dry and mild start continued with sunny spells throughout with a moderate westerly.  Maybe the most interesting sighting of the day concerned a Dutch ringed Mealy Redpoll controlled in churchfield which then flew off south. Otherwise it was just about much the same with 20 Whooper Swans present inc the 2 dark billed birds, the Black Brant lingering with the Brent flock which included a Pale-bellied Brent.

Other sightings of note were 2 Woodcocks at Sammys, a Jack Snipe at the ponds, a Short-eared Owl, 3 Cetti's Warbler around the triangle and 95 Yellowhammers.

Ringing: Blackbird 1. Watches: 07:20 - 09:30
 

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Sunday, 10 December 2023

A wet miserable day with a moderate south westerly.  The best of todays sightings were 9 Waxwings lingering near the YWT visitor centre then flew off south, 16 Whooper Swans on Kilnsea wetlands along with 508 Wigeon, 2 Water Rails and a Cetti's Warbler around the triangle and a Woodcock in churchfield.

Ringing: 1 Wood Pigeon.

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Saturday, 09 December 2023

A wet day with rain throughout and an increasing F4+ south westerly. It seemed like another day to avoid going out and in that respect not a lot was seen bar the usuals with 18 Whooper Swans, 17 Shovelers, 500 Wigeon and 12 Teal with 267 Black-tailed Godwits on long bank.

Over the sea 2 Velvet Scoter flew south and apart from 6 Ediwer and a Great Crested Grebe there was little else.

Ringing: none. Watches: 07:15 - 10:00

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Friday, 08 December 2023

A misty murky day with poor visibilty and a F4 south westerly.  Not a great day around the area with wildfowl dominating the sightings, the 17 Whooper Swans (with the 2 dark billed birds) still present on Easington straight with 27 Mute Swans, a decent count of 630 Brent Geese plus a Pale-bellied Brent, while the ponds area had 154 Greylag Geese, 574 Wigeons, 181 Teal, 16 Shovelers, 2 Gadwall and 14 Little Grebes. 

Elsewhere 2 Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap were present. 

Ringing: Song Thrush 1, Greenfinch 1. 2/2 Watches: 07:15 - 09:00

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Thursday, 07 December 2023

A cloudy murky day varying from drizzle to heavy rain throughout with a cold F4 south easterly. The day was quiet  the more noteable sightings being the 17 Whooper Swans, 610 Wigeon on the ponds, 37 Black-tailed Godwit on the wetlands and a Woodcock at the warren. 

The sea had a bit more action with a Velvet Scoter, 175 Common Scoters and 2 Pintail.

Ringing: Blackbird 1. 1/1. Watches: 07:15 - 10:00

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Wednesday, 06 December 2023

Mostly sunny with some drizzle late morning along with a cold F3 south westerly. The pick of the day saw 10 Waxwings along Easington straight, the 17 Whooper Swans still at Sammys including the 2 dark billed birds while the increased use of gas guns saw the 2 Pale-bellied Brent among 544 Brent Geese move from the fields onto beacon ponds, the flock also containing 2 hybrid brants and the leucistic bird. The ponds area also held 526 Wigeon and 247 Teal with a good count of 112 Pintail at Sammys. 

Other sightings included a Greenshank on the Humber, 3 Woodcocks around the area and Mealy Redpoll in churchfield. 

Ringing: Blackbird 1, Robin 1, Common Redpoll 1, Lesser Redpoll 1. 4/4. Watches: 07:15 - 10:00

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Tuesday, 05 December 2023

A cloudy wet day with a cool F4 north easterly saw for some movement over the sea noteably a late Cory's Shearwater heading south which if accpeted would be the latest Spurn record. The morning also brought 5 Eiders, 33 Common Scoters, 83 Kittiwakes, 2 Great Skuas, a Little Auk, 19 Red-throated Divers, single Fulmar and 8 Gannets. 

On land a Pale-bellied Brent was again with the Brent flock on the wetlands with 16 Whooper Swans nearby at Sammys, a Chiffchaff at the sewage works, 3 Mealy Redpoll and a Lesser Redpoll around Kilnsea and a Snow Bunting. 

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Monday, 04 December 2023

A cloudy, misty wet and misearble day with a moderate south easterly were not the best conditions for the monthly WeBS count but counts were returned for 303 Brent Geese, 16 Whooper Swans, 38 Mute Swans, 180 Shelducks, 19 Shovelers, 8 Gadwall, 561 Wigeon, 48 Mallard, 176 Teal, a Long-tailed Duck on Kilnsea Wetlands, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 11 Little Grebes, 915 Oystercatchers, 168 Lapwings, 215 Golden Plovers, 123 Grey Plovers, 165 Curlew, 392 Black-tailed Godwits, 1412 Knot, 1284 Dunlin, a Mediterranean Gull and 2 Little Egrets. 

Grounded birds saw 4 Woodcocks, a Blackcap, 7 Goldcrests, a Redwing, 2 Fieldfare and 3 Stonechats seen around the area.

Ringing: None.  

Watches: 07:15 - 10:00

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Sunday, 03 December 2023

After another cold frosty night the day a cloudy milder day followed with a moderate northerly wind. Apart from 10 Barnacle Geese which dropped onto Kilnsea wetlands there was little change from the previous day with the Black Brant, a Pale-bellied Brent and 370 Brent Geese including the leucistic bird again on Easington straight while good numbers of Wildfowl in the ponds area included 500 Wigeon, 15 Shovelers, 6 Gadwall and 120 Teal. 

Other bits of note saw both Little Owl and Short-eared Owl recorded, a Great Spotted Woodpecker at the Obs and a Stonechat on the wetlands. 

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Saturday, 02 December 2023

A freezing, foggy start to the day with low visibility until late morning when the fog lifted. The first winter work party was well attended but as a result there were fewer observers in the field.

Despite that, Two Pale-bellied Brent Geese were amongst 480 Dark-bellied Brent Geese on Easington Straight, along with 40 Pink-footed Geese, 16 Whooper Swans and 20 Mute Swan. Eight Snipe and two Jack Snipe dropped into Walker Butts and a Woodcock was in Corner Field. There were two Blackcaps in Kilnsea, and three Snow Buntings at Borrow Pit.

Ringing: none

Watch times: 07:15-09:30

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Friday, 01 December 2023

Another cold day, with a force 3-4 north westerly wind brining in wintery showers, but some sunny spells in between.

A Great Northern Diver went north on the mornings sea watch, along with 7 Eider, 31 Common Gull and 37 Red-throated Diver.

Amongst the large Dark-bellied Brent Goose flock going between Easington Straight and Beacon Ponds/Kilnsea Wetlands, were 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, the adult Black Brant and the Brant Hybrid.

Other numbers of wildfowl remain steady, with 459 Wigeon, 110 Teal, 10 Whooper Swan, 17 Mute Swan and 111 Greylag similar to the numbers recorded all week. There was a Short-eared Owl from Kilnsea Wetlands and a Marsh Harrier blogging around the area.

Ringing: Blackbird 2, Common Redpoll 2. 4/2.

Watch times: 07:15 - 10:00

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