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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Friday, 19 June 2026
A very hot day with light winds and variable amounts of cloud. Watches: 0630-1000, 1125-1155, 1350-2200
Some decent south bound vismig saw a good total of 4444 Common Swifts, 75 Sand Martins, 21 Swallows and 10 House Martins plus 3 Curlews and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits.
Other bits saw 2 Cuckoos in the triangle, a Green Sandpiper, 4 Black-tailed Godwits 3 Little Gulls and 11 Mediterranean Gull at the wetlands
Ringing 1 Blue Tit, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock
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Mediterranean Gull - John Hewitt.
Thursday, 18 June 2026
Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach, which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 130 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.
Sunny spells and warm with an increasing F4 south west wind. watches 0630-0845 1400-2200
The best of todays sightings included 2 Spoonbills, 563 Swifts and 41 Sand Martins flying south, a Quail singing at the lighthouse, 2 Pochards, and 2 Curlew Sandpipers on the wetlands and a Short-eared Owl blogging the area.
Ringing 2 Great Tit, 3 Blackcap, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Robin
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Little Tern - John Hewitt.
Wednesday, 17 June 2026
A dry start but rain from early doors to mid-morning then rolling clouds all day with sunny spells and a stiff F6 south west wind. Watches 0540-2100
There was a noticeable increase in southbound vismig typical of a strong south westerly wind including a Cattle Egret, 4 Barancle Geese, 3 Shovelers, 92 Common Scoters, 1689 Swifts, 2 Curlews, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 16 Sandwich Terns, 8 Manx Shearwaters, a Shag, 77 Sand Martins, 18 Swallows, 9 House Martins and 2 Siskins.
The ponds area had a Mandarin, single Little Stint and a Spoonbill plus 2 Tufted Ducks, 9 Teal, 29 Avocets, 2 Little Gulls and 3 Mediterranean Gulls.
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Cattle Egret - John Hewitt.
Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach, which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 130 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.
Sunny spells with variable cloud cover, and an increasing wind. Watches 0620-1000
Maybe the first genuine migrant in a while saw a female Crossbill along beacon lane while a Curlew Sandpiper, a colour ringed Caspian Gull and 2 Little Gulls were on Kilnsea wetlands.
The sea was somewhat quieter with 5 Teal, 192 Common Scoters, 77 Sandwich Terns, 9 Fulmars, 10 Manx Shearwaters and 35 Gannets.
Ringing 1 Blue Tit, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Dunnock
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Monday, 15 June 2026
Mostly cloudy with a few sunny spells and light northerly winds. Watches 0630-1000, 1015-1125, 1730-1820
The sea again dominated the day withtotals of 12 Common Scoters, 5 Common Terns, 194 Kittwakes, 3 Puffins, 17 Razorbills, 54 Guillemots, 16 Large Auk sp, a Red-throated Diver, 40 Fulmars, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 22 Manx Shearwaters and 289 Gannets.
The Little Stint was on the Humber with a Caspian Gull on the tank blocks, a Common Sandpipers on the borrow pit, 2 Cuckoos in the trinagle and a Tawny Owl in Easington.
Ringing 1 Blue Tit, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Dunnock, 4 Linnet (1 P), 7/4 Wader count today,
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Sunday, 14 June 2026
Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach, which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 130 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.
Sunny spells with variable cloud cover with a lighter northerly wind than of late. Watches 0615-1000, 1700-2130
Some movement over the sea included 2 Shovelers, 65 Common Scoters, 27 Sandwich terns, 178 Kittiwakes, an Arctic Skua, 6 Puffins, 57 Razorbills, 26 Guillemots, 160 Large Auk sp, 2 Red-throated Divers, 19 Fulmars, 69 Manx Shearwaters and 91 Gannets.
In the ponds area a Teal, single Little Stint, 28 Avocets and a Little Gull, while a Cuckoo was in the triangle.
Ringing 1 Dunnock
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Little Stint - Tate Lloyd.
Little Stint - Tate Lloyd.
Saturday, 13 June 2026
A windy F7 north westerly day with sunny spells. Watches 0620-1000, 1440-2000.
A Cory's Shearwater flying north was one of maybe 2 birds seen heading north further south in Lincs while 34 Manx Shearwaters were were also seen plus 22 Common Scoters, 6 Kittiwakes, 9 Puffins, 40 Guillemots, 127 Large Auk sp and 11 Fulmars while a Red Kite also flew south.
A Cattle Egret in the triangle among the cattle lingered before heading off west.
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Friday, 12 June 2026
Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach, which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 130 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.
Sunny spells after early morning rain some showers during the day with a stiff F5 north west wind. Watches 0620-1000, 1345-1800.
Similar to the previous day but a little more movement as we drift into the summer and potential for new migrants diminishing by the day. What little there was inluced 48 Common Scoters, 22 Sandwich terns, 17 Kittiwakes, 4 Razorbills, 4 Guillemots, 70 Large Auk sp, 2 Red-throated Divers, 17 Fulmars, 45 Manx Shearwaters, 72 Gannets, 3 Jackdaws, 7 Sand Martins and 5 Swallows.
Elsewhere the 3 Teal, single Cuckoo, 3 Little-ringed Plovers and Cetti's Warbler were all still present.
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Fox - John Hewitt.
Thursday, 11 June 2026
A bright start clouded up with rain showers in the afternoon with an increasing wind. Watches 0600-1040
A quiet day around the area the best of todays sightings including 3 Teal, a Cuckoo, 3 Little-ringed Plovers, 2 Little Gulls, a decent 271 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the Humber, a Peregrine, 50 Sand Martins and a Cetti's Warbler.
Ringing 2 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat (P), 2 Robin
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Black-headed Gull - John Hewitt.
Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach, which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 130 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.
A bright start clouded over later with showers in the afternoon and evening with a moderate wind. Watches 0620-1000
The sea had the best of todays sightings including 41 Common Scoters, 13 Sandwich Terns, a Puffin, 8 Razorbills, 48 Large Auk sp, 2 Fulmars, 55 Gannets, and a Shag while overland 42 Swifts, 6 Sand Martins, 9 Swallows and 2 Chaffinches.
Elsewhere Wader counts saw 32 Avocets, a Little-ringed Plover, single Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper and a 150 Sanderlings recorded while 2 Hobbies were again hunting the area.
Ringing 2 Blackcap, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Robin,
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Fulmar - Harry Appleyard.
Tuesday, 09 June 2026
A sunny start clouded over giving heavy thundery showers by early evening with a stiff F6 north west wind. Watches 0620-1000
Given the conditions it was maybe a suprise to see a Quail arriving in off to land in the triangle. There was a small movement over land and sea including a Teal, 66 Common Scoters, 28 Swifts, a Whimbrel, 3 Kittiwakes, 2 Fulmars, 26 Gannets, 8 Sand Martins, 9 Swallows, 8 House Martins and a Siskin.
Elsewherea Little Gull on Kilnsea wetlands, 2 Tawny Owls in Easington, a Mistle Thrush in the triangle and 2 Hobbies and a Peregrine hunting the area.
Ringing 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Chaffinch
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Oystercatchers - John Hewitt.
Monday, 08 June 2026
Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach, which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 130 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.
A windy day with a F6 north westerly along with frequent showers and just a glimpse of the sun. Watches 0800-1200.
The arrival into the country continued with 3 Quails to the Spurn are while yet another Cattle Egret visited the area for a while before flying south. Also moving were 24 Swifts, a Mediterranean Gull and a Puffin continued the generally poor spring for vismig.
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Cattle Egret - Paul Willoughby.
Sunday, 07 June 2026
A dull day with some showers and a stiff wind. Watches 0630-0930
The best of todays sightings saw a female Pied Flycatcher in the churchyard, a Curlew Sandpiper on the Humber and a good count of 143 Little Terns at beacon ponds while 10 Sand Martins and a Siskin flew south.
Ringing 1 Robin
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Saturday, 06 June 2026
Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach, which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 130 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.
A windy day a breezy F7 north westerly with some showers and the odd sunny spell. Watches 0630-1030.
A difficult day in the strong wind with the sea having the most interest with 10 Teal, 8 Tufted Ducks, 100 Common Scoters, 50 Razorbills, 2 Red-throated Divers, 9 Fulmars and 100 Manx Shearwaters.
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Friday, 05 June 2026
Sunny spells albeit with a stiff F5 westerly wind. Watches 0630-1100
A better day saw several good birds seen around the area with a typically languid Cory's Shearwater slowly heading north, 2 Quails vocal in the beacon ponds and wetlands area, 2 Red Kites which eventually wandered off south and another? hybird Hooded x Carrion Crow flying south. Also on the move 508 Swifts, a Mediterranean Gull, 261 Large Auk sp, 7 Fulmars, 28 Gannets, a Marsh Harrier, 13 Sand Martins, 15 Swallows, and 19 House Martins.
A Spotted Flycatcher was the first for several days while Kilnsea wetlands chipped in with 3 Little Gulls.
A Lesser Emperor was along the canal.
Ringing 1 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (P), 2 Robin
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Red Kites - Jack Petit.
Hybrid Carrion x Hooded Crow - Harry Appleyard.
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