Spurn Bird Observatory Sightings 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, 29 September 2026
Highlights from the day so far; a superb EYEBROWED THRUSH trapped in churchfield and showing several times afterwards, 2 Little Buntings at the warren, old boat house, an adult American Golden Plover on the Humber off the crown, a Firecrest at hillrise, minimum of 11 Yellow-browed Wablers around the area, 3 Ring Ouzels, 2 Lapland Buntings, a Snow Buntings, 4 Pied Flycatchers, a Hen Harrier and plenty of Bramblings and Redwings about.
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Eyebrowed Thrush - Hazel Wiseman.
Little Bunting - Thomas Willoughby.
Yellow-browed Warbler - Thomas Willoughby.
American Golden Plover - Thomas Willoughby.
Monday, 28 September 2026
A lovely warm calmer day with light winds from the morth west slowly picking u as the day wore on. Watches 0630-1000, 1620-1800
It was another morning for the vismiggers with more southbound migration including a Mandarin, 568 Wigeons, 4 Pintails, 806 Teal, 215 Common Scoters, 2 Quails in/off, 12 Little Gulls, a Caspian Gull, 3 Arctic Skaus, the Great Skua still on the Humber, 34 Razorbills, 41 Guillemots, 107 Red-throated Divers, a Great White Egrets, 5 Jackdaws, 7 Carrion Crows, 23 Skylarks, 6 Swallows, 2 House MArtins, 7 Tree Sparrows, 4 Chaffinches, a Lapland Bunting and 5 Reed Bunting with 174 Common Terns and 164 Sandwich Tern to roost.
A reduction in the wind didnt exactly reveal an increase in grounded migrants but a few bits anyway with a Yellow-browed Warbler, 6 Chiffchaffs, 7 Blackcaps, a Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Stonechats, 2 Wheatears, 9 Rock Pipits and 2 Bramblings. A change to easterly winds overnight should hopefully bring in a few birds in the morning.
Ringing 1 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 4 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Song Thrush, 4 Robin, 2 Dunnock, 15 Meadow Pipit, 1 Chaffinch, 3 Linnet, 14 Reed Bunting, 52/12
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Caspian Gull - Harry Appleyard.
Sunday, 27 September 2026
Very strong F7 south east winds all day made bush bashing very hard work, some sunny spells. Watches 0630-1000, 1610-1845
Most of the days sightings were from the warren as the vismiggers had a few bits with 115 Wigeon, 2 Pintails, 364 Teal, 107 Common Scoters, a Great Crested Grebe, a Grey Phalarope, single Black Tern, 113 Common Terns, 9 Little Gulls, 2 Caspian Gulls, a Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Arctic Skuas, 42 Red-throated Divers, a Shag, single Great White Egret, 2 Grey Herons, 6 Jackdaws, a Sand Martins, 65 Swallows, 18 House Martins, 3 Alba Wagtails, a Tree Pipit, 4 Chaffinches, 228 Linnets, 3 Goldfinches and 5 Reed Buntings. The marauding Great Skua killed another Little Egret on the Humber!
It was difficult looking for migrants with 8 Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest, single Whinchat, 4 Stonechats, a Rock Pipit and single Brambling. around the area while the Spotted Redshank was still present on the Humber.
Ringing 1 Blue Tit, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Meadow Pipit, 5/3
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Great Skua - Harry Appleyard. creating havoc on the Humber for its 2nd day.
Saturday, 26 September 2026
A nice calmer day with light south east winds and plenty of blue skies. Watches 0620-1000
It was a varied day of movement with 23 Common scoters, 92 Common Terns, 234 Sandwich Terns, 2 Little Gulls, a Caspian Gull, 3 Arctic Skuas, 102 Red-throated divers, a Great White Egrets, single Marsh Harrier, 2 Rooks, 41 Skylarks, 69 Swallows, 17 House Sparrows, a Flava Wagtail, 514 Meadow Pipits, 2 Rock Pipits, 14 Chaffinches, 2 Bramblings, 236 Linnets, 11 Goldfinches, a Lapland Bunting and 35 Reed Buntings while a Great Skua chased and killed a Little Egret on the Humber.
A scatter of migrants remained with still 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, a Willow Warbler, 9 Chiffchaffs, 9 Blackcaps, 3 Goldcrests, 8 Stonechats, a Wheatear, single Rock Pipit and 5 Bramblings
Ringing 5 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcap, 3 Goldcrest, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Greenfinch, 7 Reed Bunting, 39/13
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Yellow-browed Warbler - Paul Lawrence.
Friday, 25 September 2026
A bit windier than of late with F3 south westerly blowing plus plenty of sunshine. Watches 0645-1000
There were 4 Yellow-browed Warblers around the area today but fewer grounded migrants though with a Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaffs, a Reed Warbler, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a Goldcrest, single Redstart, 11 Stonechats, a Wheatear and 7 Bramblings.
The vismiggers had a bit again but similarly in small numbers with a Glossy Ibis, single Hobby, 18 Skylarks, 3 Sand Martins, 18 Swallows, 4 Alba Wagtails, 400 Meadow Pipits, 4 Chaffinches, 12 Greenfinches, a Lapland bunting and 4 Reed Buntings while the sea having a trickle also including a Shoveler, 6 Pintails, 55 Teal, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Little Gulls, 4 Arctic Skuas, a Great Skuas, 72 Red-throated Divers, singles of Sooty Shearwater and Manx Shearwater and 92 Gannets.
Ringing 1 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Dunnock, 10 Meadow Pipit, 1 Reed Bunting, 21/11
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Thursday, 24 September 2026
A lovely sunny day with light north westerly winds that picked up a bit later on.
The day saw a small increase in migrant numbers on the ground including 3 Yellow-browed Warblers, 2 Willow Warblers, 13 Chiffchaffs, a Sedge Warbler, 7 Blackcaps, a Barred Warbler at the point VTS tower, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Whitethroats, a Tree Creeper, a Pied Flycatcher, single Black Redstart, 15 Stonechats, 7 Wheatears and 9 Bramblings.
The sea also produced suprisingly in rather slack winds with 31 Teal, 2 Little Gulls, a Puffin, 107 Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver, single Leach's Petrel, a Sooty Shearwater, 47 Manx Shearwaters, a Balearic Shearwater and 197 Gannets while overland a Grey Heron, 12 Skylarks, 9 Swallows, 6 Alba Wagtails, 103 Meadow Pipits, 2 Rock Pipits, 5 Greenfinches, 25 Linnets and 2 Reed Buntings.
Watches 0630-1000, 1700-1900 Ringing 2 Blue Tit, 1 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcap, 3 Robin, 2 Dunnock, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Brambling, 3 Linnet, 21 Reed Bunting, 54/12
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Wednesday, 23 September 2026
A nice calm day albeit with the wind picking up later and a few heavy showers early morning. Watches 0630-1000, 1045-1145, 1620-1905
A nice but small arrival brought the first 5 Yellow-browed Warblers of the autumn to the area (warren, obs, sykes, 2 point) plus 21 Chifchaffs, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, a Whitethroat, 5 Song Thrushes, 3 Pied Flycatchers, a Black Redstart, single Redstart, a Whinchat, 9 Stonechats, a Wheatear, 2 Rock Pipits, 19 Bramblings and 2 Bullfinches.
Some more movement over the sea was more varied with 126 Wigeon, 15 Pintails, 474 Teal, 227 Common Scoters, a Great Crested Grebe 5 Kittiwakes, 17 Arctic Skuas, a Puffin, 43 Guillemots, 7 Razorbills, 93 Large Auk sp, 145 Red-throated Divers, 5 Fulmars, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 36 Manx Shearwaters, 292 Gannets and 3 Shags while just a trickle overland saw a Marsh Harrier, 26 Swallows, 31 Meadow Pipits and 73 Liinnets go south.
Ringing 3 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Brambling, 8 Reed Bunting, 21/10
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Brambling - Simon Jump.
Yellow-browed Warbler - Tim Jump.
Tuesday, 22 September 2026
A calmer day with very light winds picking up later on. Watches 0630-1000, 1750-1830
Some movement over the sea included a Whooper Swan, 961 Teals, 2 Black Terns, 171 Common Terns, 2 Arctic Skuas, 3 Great Skuas, 48 Red-throated Divers, a Sooty Shearwater, 12 Manx Shearwaters and 86 Gannets.
Grounded migrants saw 11 Chiffchaffs, a Sedge Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, a Whitethroat, single Goldcrest, a Redwing, 22 Robins, 5 Stonechats, a Wheatear and 8 Bramblings with the ponds area holding 11 Pintails, 142 Teals, 67 Wigeon, 6 Avocets and a Yellow-legged Gull,
Ringing 4 Blue Tit, 4 Great Tit, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 1 Wren, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Robin, 2 Tree Sparrow, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Dunnock, 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Greenfinch, 14 Linnet, 1 Goldfinch, 26 Reed Bunting, 74/16
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Teal - Harry Appleyard.
Monday, 21 September 2026
Mostly cloudy with some sunny spells and light winds. Watches 0630-1000, 1405-1440, 1700-1930
A remarkeable flock of 4 Ravens u turned at the warren heading off north west an event which has become annual (a Chough doing the same would go down nicely) while the best of the days other action included 84 Pink-fotted Geese, 2 Eiders, 2 Little Gulls, 8 Arctic Skuas, 3 Great Skuas, 109 Red-throated Divers, 12 Manx Shearwaters, a Sooty Shearwater, 59 Gannets, a Marsh Harrier. single Jay, 3 Jackdaws, 10 Rooks, 8 Carrion Crows, 3 Flava Wagtails, 4 Alba Wagtails, 147 Meadow Pipits and 3 Siskins while again the roost movment had a Black Tern, single Arctic Tern and 898 Common Terns.. Full counts on Trektellen.
The years first Long-eared Owl was in churchfield plus an oncrease in grounded migrants with 2 Willow Warblers, 20 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, a Lesser Whitethroat, single Goldcrest, a Black Redstart, single Whinchat, 8 Stonechats and a Rock Pipits.
Ringing 1 Long-eared Owl, 1 Short-eared Owl, 3 Blue Tit, 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 1 Wren, 2 Robin, 2 Dunnock, 11 Meadow Pipit, 1 Linnet, 10 Reed Bunting, 39/11
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Raven - Hazel Wiseman.
Sunday, 20 September 2026
Another windy day with a F7 morth westerly and some showers early on brightening up later. Watches 0630-1000, 1720-1930
It was another day for visible migration albeit not particularly any big numbers but included 2 Brent Geese, a Swift, 8 Arctic Skuas, a Great Skua, 77 Red-throated Divers, a Sooty Shearwater, 3 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Sand Martins, 10 Swallows, 40 House Martins, a Grey Wagtail, 6 Alba Wagtails, 538 Meadow Pipits, 72 Linnets, a Siskin and 2 Reed Buntings with the roost movement chipping in with a Black Tern, 1112 Common Terns and 556 Sandwich Terns.
.Elsewhere little change with 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, a Curlew Sandpiper, Greenshank and Ruff on the ponds with 2 Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, a Stonechat and 2 Yellow Wagtails the only grpounded migrants.
Ringing 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Robin
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Saturday, 19 September 2026
A windy F7 north westerly with a few showers chucked in for fun. Watches 0620-1000, 1450-1930
The evening roost movement produced again with 2 Sabines Gulls (adult and juvenile) south in the flocks of Terns which included a Black Tern, single Arctic tern, 1954 Common Terns and 515 Sandwich Terns. The sea also produced a Great Skua, 25 Red-throated Divers, singles of Sooty and Manx Shearwaater, 81 Gannets and a Shag with a single Swift overland. .
Very few migrants were seen with some easterlies desperatley needed with just a Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Black Redstarts, 4 Stonechats, a Wheatear and 6 Yellow Wagtails seen while on the ponds 12 Shovelers, 36 Wigeons, 15 Pintails, 15 Little Grebes, 5 Avocets, single Curlew Sandpiper, a Caspian Gull and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls.
Ringing 1 Robin
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Friday, 18 September 2026
Windy F7 north westerly yet again with a mostly cloudy day and some rain late on. Watches 0620-1000, 1620-2000
Another good evening roost movement produced 3 Black Terns, 357 Sandwich Terns, 7 Arctic Terns and 7839 Common Terns while movement during the day accounted for 10 Arctic Skuas, an Osprey, single Marsh Harrier, 2 Rooks, 22 Swallows, 24 House Martins, 742 Meadow Pipits, 92 Linnets and 5 Reed Buntings. Full counts on Trektellen.
Other bits included 34 Wigeon, 9 Pintails, 35 Teal, a Greenshank and 3 Curlew Sandpipers while just 4 Willow Wablers, 3 Chiffchaffs and 2 Yellow Wagtails were about the only grounded migrants.
Ringing 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Tree Sparrow
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Knot - Tim Jump.
Thursday, 17 September 2026
Sunny spells with a stiff wind as per previous days. Watches 0630-1000, 1500-1930
There was less southerly movement including the Tern roost both not normally good in north west winds but toodays totals included 12 Whooper Swans, 2 Whimbrels, 8 Snipes, a Great White Egret, 52 Red-throated Divers, a Black-throated Diver, single Sooty Shearwater, 4 Manx Shearwaters and 107 Gannets with the roost movement had just a Black Tern and 1426 Common Terns. Full counts on Trektellen.
It was maybe the first day this autumn a Willow Warbler didnt feature in the totals while just 4 Chiffchaffs, a Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Black Redstarts, a Stonechat, single Wheatear and 4 Yellow Wagtails of note.
A Lesser Emperor was at the point.
Ringing 1 Kestrel
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Manx Shearwater - Tim Jump.
Whooper Swans - Harry Appleyard.
Lesser Emperor - Harry Appleyard.
Wednesday, 16 September 2026
A windy F6 north westerly day with sunny spells. Watches 0615-1100, 1740-1945
Another good evening roost movement produced a Little Tern, 8 Black Terns, an Arctic Tern, 8822 Common Terns and a juvenile Sabines Gull while other bits during the day included 141 Pink-footed Geese, the autumns first Whooper Swan, 6 Pintails, 2 Manx Shearwaters, 3 Sooty Shearwaters, a Kesterl, 3 Rooks, 7 Sand Martins, 13 Swallows, 12 Tree Sparrows, 5 Flava Wagtails, 5 Grey Wagtails, 4 Alba Wagtails, 113 Meadow Pipits, 43 Linnets and 7 Reed Buntings.
Similar to the previous day other bits saw a Common Sandpiper, single Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshanks, 6 Curlew Sandpipers and 2 Ruff in the ponds area but even fewer migrants with just a single Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher and Wheatear while 2 Caspian Gulls and a Yellow-legged Gull were seen.
Ringing 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 2/2
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Whooper Swan - Harry Appleyard.
Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Sunny spells with a stiff F6 westerly wind blowing. Watches 0620-1400, 1600-2010
There was some good south bound movement but at last a late in the 'Tern season' a great roost movement which saw 8 Black Terns and 9551 Common Terns head past the seawatch hut. Also moving 2 Canada Geese,2 Pintails, 22 Teal, 2 Swifts, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 75 Gannets, a Short-eared Owl in/off, single Merlin, 123 Sand Martins, 378 Swallows, 394 House Martins, a Grey Wagtail, 6 Alba Wagtails, 632 Meadow Pipits, 119 Linnets and a Reed Bunitng.
Other bits from the ponds included 162 Teal, a Common Sandpiper, single Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshanks, 6 Curlew Sandpipers and the Purple Sandpiper while the few grounded migrants seen were 2 Willow Warblers, a Pied Flycatcher and Redstart, 2 Whinchats, 3 Wheatears and a Tree Pipit around the area in te windy conditions.
Ringing 1 Blue Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Blackbird, 1 Meadow Pipit, 5/5
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Curlew Sandpipers - John Hewitt.
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