Sightings

Wednesday, 31 December 2025

The end year review 2025.  The year was a slow burner and it was mainly a late arrival of good birds in October and November ‘saving’ the year. To that end the list is somewhat smaller than usual but also now that some species like Cattle Egret and Glossy Ibis have quickly moved onto the ‘regular’ list. The spring which is traditionally our time was below par with some nice but small arrivals of common migrants. The autumn saw Kilnsea wetlands dry up so passage Wader were down in numbers but beacon ponds still chipped in nicely with a record group of 3 White-rumped Sandpipers. There were several good arrivals of migrants between August and October while the Vis miggers in general had a poor spring but much better for some species in the autumn. Lastly a flock of 7 Lesser White-fronted Geese part of an influx from the continent were Spurns first but ultimately from the reintroduction scheme so not added to the list for now.

The year ended on a poor 253 species and had just one addition for the Spurn list. We had to wait till October for our 1st Black-faced Bunting present for three days, The 2nd Eastern Black Redstart showed well at the point, while in the spring our 5th Melodious Warbler was singing at the potato fields quickly followed next day by our 6th Eastern Subalpine Warbler in the same area with an Isabelline Wheatear late in the year during the mini purple patch, a record autumn with three birds saw our 10th-12th Humes Warblers, the 13-14th Pallid Swifts included a spring bird, the 14th White-tailed Eagle a cracking wild juvenile which flew south over the Observatory with a flock of Common Buzzards and lastly the 20th Kentish Plover a superb male on beacon ponds. Compare this to the ‘usual’ list of rarities in the 2024 roundup!

It was quite a decent year for scarce birds seen during the year, expected birds missing though included Bewick’s Swan, Slavonian Grebe, Montagu’s Harrier, Citrine Wagtail, Great Grey Shrike, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Bluethroat but again included some not seen in previous years. Notable birds were 5 Cory’s Shearwaters, 2 Great Shearwaters, several Leach’s Petrels, 15 Glossy Ibises including a flock of seven, 6 Cattle Egrets, 12+ Tundra Bean Geese, a very showy Dotterel, single Stone Curlew, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, 2 Temminck’s Stint, 3+ White-rumped Sandpipers, a juvenile Red-necked Phalarope, 2 Grey Phalaropes, ‘several’ Common Cranes, 4 Quails, 6 Nightjars, 9 Bee-eaters, 3 Golden Oriole, 3 Turtle Doves, a Hoopoe, 5 Ravens, 3 Shore Larks, a Richard’s Pipit, an Olive-backed Pipit, a male Grey-headed Wagtail, just 2 Red-rumped Swallows, a Nightingale, 3 Marsh Warblers, 4 Barred Warblers, an Icterine Warbler, 4 Dusky Warbler, better numbers of Yellow-browed Warblers, 5 Pallas’s Warblers, a Greenish Warbler, 7 Wood Warblers, 6 Red-backed Shrikes, 4 Wrynecks, 2 Rosefinches, several Hawfinches, 2 Ortolan Buntings, single Serin and 4 Little Buntings. (All sightings and totals need to be ratified and accepted).  Happy Birding in 2026.

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Wednesday, 31 December 2025

A lovely winters day with blue skies and a hard overnight frost, light F3 north westerly winds. Watches 0800-1000.

Sightings from the last day of the year included 15 Snow Buntings south over the warren, 6 White-fronted Geese in the triangle, a ringtail Hen Harrier blogging and 22 Whooper Swans on Easington straight. Other bits included a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Goldeneye, single 2cy Mediterranean Gull and 40 Black-tailed Godwits around the wetlands while 2 Cetti's Warblers were in the triangle. 

Over the sea a Great Northern Diver flying north was the highlight. 

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Tuesday, 30 December 2025

A lovely winters day with blue skies and a cold F2 north east wind. Watches 0805-0850, 1305-1510.

A fantastic flock of 42 Russian White-fronted Geese were in the area, a flock of 10 Snow Buntings were at beacon ponds with 50 Black-tailed Godwits on Kilnsea wetlands. A Chiffchaff was at Kew and 12 Whooper Swans on Easington straight. Over the sea a Little Gull and 119 Guillemots were noted. 

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Monday, 29 December 2025

Another dull dreary day with colder temperatures and a cold F4 north east wind. Watches 0730-1000.

A nice flock of 20 Snow Buntings flew north over the warren, 16 White-fronted Geese blogged rthe area and a Pale-bellied Brent was on Easington straight with 15 Whooper Swans. 

Bits moving over the sea included 85 Wigeon, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Mediterranaean Gull. 

Ringing 1 Blackbird

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Saturday, 27 December 2025

Mainly cloudy and dull feeling damp in a cold F5 north east wind. Watches 0730-1000.

A nice flock of 20 Russian White-fronted Geese were in the triangle with the 3 Barnacle Geese while on the Humber single Greenshank and 50 Black-tailed Godwits. Kilnsea wetlands held 12 Shovelers, 347 Wigeon and 125 Teal while 2 Woodcocks were in churchfield. 

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Friday, 26 December 2025

A lovely sunny day without a cloud in the sky but with a dip in temperature and a cold F3 easterly wind. Watches 0730-1000.

The 7 Tundra Bean Geese were still present on Easington straight with the 16 Whooper Swans and 3 Barnacle Geese blogged the area. The few bits moving over the sea included 65 Wigeon, 40 Teal, an Eider and single Goldeneye. 

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Thursday, 25 December 2025

Sunny spells with a cold F5 north east wind. Watches 0745-0945.

Our first taste of the Goose influx into the area saw 7 Tundra Bean Geese and 4 Russian White-fronted Geese along the 80 Brent Geese, 140 Greylag Geese and 16 Whooper Swans on Easington straight. 

Over the sea 12 Eiders, a Velvet Scoter and single Great Skua were the best of not a lot. 

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Wednesday, 24 December 2025

Mainly sunny with a cold F4 south east wind. Watches 0730-1010.

The best of todays sightings included a Great Skua over the sea, 16 Whooper Swans, a Pale-bellied Brent, 120 Greylag Geese, 7 Pink-footed Geese on Easington straight, 10 Shovelers, 390 Wigeon and 194 Teal mainly on beacon ponds plus 3 Eiders and 3 Red-breasted Mergansers on the HUmber. 

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Wednesday, 17 December 2025

Another dull wet day with light rain on and off but heavier overnight with a stiff F6 south west wind. Watches 0720-1000, 1100-1350.

Easington straight was again busy including 200 Brent Geese, 2 Pale-bellied Brents, 119 Greyalg Geese, 2 Pink-footed Geese, 5 White-fronted Geese, 2 Mute Swans and 16 Whooper Swans with a Yellow-legged Gull and 28 Black-tailed Godwits on nearby Kilnsea wetlands. The Black Redstart was again on the rocks at the gas terminal.

Some movement over the sea saw 60 Pink-footed Geese, 13 Wigeon, 29 Teal, 2 Eiders, 28 Common Scoters, 6 Goldeneyes, a Great Crested Grebe, 39 Guillemots and 102 Red-throated Divers.

Ringing 1 Water Rail

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Wednesday, 10 December 2025

A nice bright and sunny day albeit with a stiff F6 south westerly wind but very mild and warm for the time of year. Watches 0730-1000,

A quiet day all round the sea being very quiet but elsewhere 16 Whooper Swans on Easington straight while in the triangle a Woodcock, 4 Snipe, a Short-eared Owl and 2 Chiffchaffs. 

Ringing 1 Snipe, 1 Blackbird,

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Monday, 08 December 2025

Sunny spells in the morning before it clouded over and the wind became a F6 south westerly. 

The 4 White-fronted Geese remained in the triangle while on Easington straight 22 Whooper Swans were present roosting on Kilnsea wetlands later. A Siberian Chiffchaff was again around sykes field along with a Chiffchaff.

Some movement yet again with 25 Pink-footed Geese, 15 Teal, 7 Razorbills, 23 Guillemots, 19 Large Auks, and 55 Red-throated Divers while overland 40 Siskins also headed south. 

Watches 0730-1000 Ringing 1 Snipe

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Sunday, 07 December 2025

A bright start clouded over by midday with rain by the mid-afternoon with a stiff F6 south west wind. 

A flock of 4 Eurasian White-fronted Geese in the trinagle were the days highlight while some remaining migrants included 7 Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, 2 Stonechats and 2 Siskins. 

There was some southerly movement during the morning which saw 294 Pink-footed Geese, 17 Skylarks, 9 Meadow Pipits, 2 Rock Pipits, 7 Siksins and a Snow Buntings the best of those. 

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Saturday, 06 December 2025

 Mainly cloudy but with the odd sunny spell or light shower and a constant F3 south westerly breeze. Watches 1000-1200.

The first of the winter work parties held today with plenty of cutting back and pollarding and a great bonfire. Thanks to all that helped.

Most people were involved in the work party today so few sightings of note but included 2 Snow Buntings at the borrow pit, a Brambling over Kew, 2 Goldcrests and singles of Blackcap and Chiffchaff around Kilnsea, the 5 Whooper Swans on Easington straight while 97 Lawings headed south. 

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