Spurn Bird Observatory sightings 2026

Monday, 14 September 2026

Light south westerly winds with plenty of sunshine making it rather pleasant. Watches 0620-1910.

The day saw yet again some decent movement across the board with 1038 Pink-footed Geese, 74 Wigeins, 186 Teal, 3 Tufted Ducks, 2 Eiders, a Swift, 46 Snipes, 10 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Black Terns, 759 Common Terns, a Long-tailed Skua, 44 Red-throated Divers, a Great White Egret, 3 Marsh Harriers, 9 Jackdaws, 51 Sand Martins, 774 Swallows, 343 House Martins, 83 Tree Sparrows, a Dunnock , 9 Flava Wagtails, 5 Grey Wagtails, 11 Alba Wagtails, 3085 Meadow Pipits, 2 Tree Pipits, 3 Chaffinches, 128 Linnets, 4 Siskins, a Lapland Bunting, 2 Yellowhammers and 13 Reed Buntings.

The amost static number of grounded migrants remains with 6 Willow Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 5 Spotted Fycatchers, 2 Pied Flycatchers, a Black Redstart, single Redstart, 2 Whinchats, a Stonechat, 3 Wheatears, 4 Yellow Wagtails and a Bullfinch while a good count of 1128 Shelducks and the Scaup were on the Humber and a Spotted Redshank and 4 Curlew Sandpipers on the ponds.

Ringing 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 2 Swallow, 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Robin, 5 Tree Sparrow, 2 Dunnock, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Reed Bunting, 29/14 Still lots of people staying for another day after the weekend

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Sunday, 13 September 2026

The second full day of #MigFest followed the same sort of pattern as the previous days albeit the vismiggers had a considerably easier morning but the afternoon into evening delvered some good birds for those lucky to have persisted looking at the sea as it chaged to a light north easterly.

A much calmer day with plenty of sunshine. The second day of Mig-fest with plenty of people about. Watches 0600-2000

The day saw some varied movement mainly in a southerly direction including 328 Pink-footed Geese, 5 Pintails, a Swift, 5 Little Terns, 1259 Common Terns, 66 Sandwich Terns, 21 Little Gulls, an adult Sabines Gull, 2 Long-tailed Skuas, 6 Arctic Skuas, a Pomarine Skua, single Great Skua, 71 Red-throated Divers, 6 Manx Shearwaters, 14 Sand Martins, 133 Swallows, 301 House Martins, 40 Tree Sparrows, 5 Flava Wagtails, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1683 Meadow Pipits, a Brambling, 37 Linnets, 12 Goldfinches, a Lapland Bunting and 14 Reed Buntings.

There was a hint of arrivals in the late afternoon with 6 Willow Warblers, 7 Chiffchaffs, a Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Garden Warblers, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Whitethroats, a Goldcrest, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, a Pied Flycatcher, single Redstart, 16 Wheatears, 6 Yellow Wagtails and 33 Chaffinches plus 4 Curlew Sandpipers and a Little Stint on beacon ponds and the Scaup still on the Humber..

Ringing 1 Wood Pigeon, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Dunnock, 1 Tree Sparrow, 8 Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Bunting, 26/10

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Saturday, 12 September 2026

The first full day of #MigFest had a busy morning of movment which was at times spectacular as big, fast moving mixed flocks o fHirundines rushed south past the counters at the warren making for a challenging period.

Sunny spells but quite windy all day. Watches 0600-1530

Some fantastic ealry morning movement was a fitting start to #MigFest included 10 Swifts, 3 Arctic Skuas, a Roseate Tern, 20 Red-throated Divers, a Marsh Harrier, 117 Sand Martins, 1257 Swallows, 4500 House Martins, 9 Tree Sparrows, 12 Flava Wagtails, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1067 Meadow Pipits, 5 Greenfinches, 79 Linnets and 5 Reed Buntings. Migrants were few and far between with 8 Willow Warblers, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, a Goldcrest, a Spotted Flycatcher, single Pied Flycatcher, a Black Redstart, single Whinchat, 6 Wheatears, 6 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Bullfinches.

Elsewhere the ponds area had 20 Wigeons, a Sotted Redshank, single Greenshank, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Little Stints, 2 Caspian Gulls and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls.

Ringing 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Robin 6/6

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Friday, 11 September 2026

The start of #MigFest birding wise was nothing with nothing more than a whimper! There was still a scatter of migrants and Waders in very low numbers, the odd bit on the move and a Few other bits interest. On the other hand the opening talk of #MigFest from the sound approach boys was a craker!

A windy F5 north westerly day with plenty of sunny spells. Watches 0620-0930, 1705-2000

On the move 112 Pink-footed Geese, 7 Arctic Skuas, a Pomarine Skua, 25 Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver, 3 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Grey Wagtail, a Jay and just 204 Meadow Pipits.

Migrants were represented by 6 Willow Warblers, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Spotted Flycatchers, a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Whinchats, a Stonechats, 12 Wheatears, 4 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Tree Pipits while the Garganey was still on beacon ponds along with a Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshanks, a Curlew Sandpiper and 2 Little Stints. .

Ringing 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Wren, 18 Tree Sparrow, 22/5 Start of Mig-fest today

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Thursday, 10 September 2026

#MigFest is almost upon us and a nice selection of species are present with some decent birds over land and sea and a scatter of grounded migrants present.

A calmer day all round with plenty of sunshine but the wind picked up later on. Watches 0620-1000, 1650-1930

The seawqtchers and vismiigers had some interest during the morning and later in the eveing with highlights of 2 Shovelers, 7 Pintails, 70 Teal, 2 Swifts, 7 Arctic Skuas, 57 Red-throated Divers, 4 Fulmars, a Sooty Shearwater, 19 Sand MArtins, 85 Swallows, 26 House Martins, 15 Tree Sparrows, 6 Alba Wagtails, 6 Flava Wagtails, 1606 Meadow Pipits, 80 Linnets, 13 Siskins and 14 Reed Buntings while the evening Tern roost which has been ultimately poor had 1537 Common Terns and 2 Roseate Terns. .

Grounded migrants included 19 Willow Warblers, a Spotted Flycatchers, 4 Whinchats, 2 Wheatears and 4 Yellow Wagtails while other bits saw the Garganey still at beacon ponds, Caspian and Yellow=legged Gullsin the area and a Great White Egret.

Ringing 1 Blue Tit, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 15 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Wren, 4 Robin, 7 Tree Sparrow, 3 Dunnock, 15 Meadow Pipit, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Reed Bunting, 63/14

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Wednesday, 09 September 2026

Sunny spells with an increasing swinging F6 north westerly wind. atches 0630-1000, 1430-1535, 1745-1945

A late in the date superb movement over the sea saw 2 Leach's Petrels and 3 Sabines Gulls past the seawatch hut plus 10 Arctic Skuas, 4 Great Skuas, a Puffin, 38 Red-throated Divers, 7 Sooty Shearwaters, 4 Manx Shearwaters and 121 Gannets.

A scatter of migrants included 6 Willow Warblers, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, a Redstart, 5 Whinchats, 2 Wheatears and a Tree Pipit.

Ringing 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Robin, 15 Tree Sparrow, 20/5 Lots of mig fest setting u done this afternoon.

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Tuesday, 08 September 2026

An increasing F6 north west wind all day with some sunny spells. Watches 0620-1000, 1820-2015

There was not a lot of change in the ponds area but it was still brilliant anyway with Pectoral Sandpiper, single Greenshank, 4 Curlew Sandpipers, the Purple Sandpiper, 3 Little Stints and Caspian Gull among the good counts of other species on offer.

The vismiggers had a varied morning of southbound traffic including 3 Pintails, 22 Teal, 3 Whimbrels, 27 Snipe, a Black Tern, single Puffin, 120 Gannets, single Great White Egret, a Marsh Harrier, 26 Swallows, 17 Flava Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, 713 Meadow Pipts, a Tree Pipit and 26 Linnets.

Ringing 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Wren, 1 Meadow Pipit, 5/4 Mig fest is rapidly moving up a gear with things being organised

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Pectoral Sandpiper - John Hewitt.

Monday, 07 September 2026

An increasing F5 south west wind from a light to moderate with plenty of sunshine to be had. Watches 0620-1000, 1135-1310, 1515-1615, 1820-1950

The Pectoral Sandpiper remainws in the ponds area which also held 29 Shovelers, a Pintail, 251 Teals, 2 Tufted Ducks, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Greensjanks, 4 Curlew Sandpipers, the Purple Sandpiper, 4 Little Stints, Caspian Gull and Yellow-legged Gull.

Some movement over both land and sea produced 442 Teals, 138 Common Scoters, 18 Dunlin, 3 Little Terns, a Long-tailed Skua, 44 Red-throated Divers, a Shag, 68 Sand Martins, 186 Swallows, 125 House Martins, a Jay, just 47 Meadow Pipits and 22 Linnets. Full counts on Trektellen.

Ringing 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 4/2

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Sunday, 06 September 2026

Lighter F3 north west winds today with plenty of sunny periods. Watches 0650-1100

It was another good day for the vismiggers with the autumns first Lapland Bunting south past the seawatch hut while a mobile Ortolan Bunting was arond the triangle then north while other totals included 24 Wigeons, 4 Pintails, 78 Teal, a Greenshank, 3 Arctic Skuas, a Great White Egret, single Hobby, 4 Jackdaws, 9 Rooks, 67 Swallows, 56 House Martins, 15 Tree Sparrows, 6 House Sparrows, 16 Flava Wagtails, 3 Grey Wagtails, 1379 Meadow Pipits, 90 Linnets, 3 Siskins and 3 Reed Buntings. A scatter of grounded migrants included 11 Willow Warblers, a Garden Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, a Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Pied Flycatchers, a Redstart, 2 Whinchats, 6 Yellow Wagtails and a Bullfinch.

The Pectoral Sandpiper remained at beacon ponds along with 2 Little Stints, a Purple Sandpiper, 2 Greenshanks, a Caspian Gull and Yellow-legged Gull.

Ringing 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackbird, 2 Tree Sparrow, 6/4

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Ortolan Bunting record shot - Harry Appleyard.

Meadow Pipit - Harry Appleyard. A good south bound movement today.

Saturday, 05 September 2026

Lengthy sunny spells with a stiff F6 north west wind. Watches 0620-1000, 1545-1720

The rarest bird of the day was a juvenile Black-necked Grebe showing well on beacon ponds where the Pectoral Sandpiper remained plus 5 Pintails, 104 Teals, 13 Little Grebes, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Common Sandpipers, a Greenshank, single Ruff, the Purple Sandpiper, 2 Little Stints, 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls and 2 Short-eared Owls.

A small increase in some grounded migrants saw a juvenile Red-backed Shrike appear in corner field while other totals included 9 Willow Warblers, 4 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Pied Flycatchers, singles of Black Redstart, Redstart and Wheatear, 3 Whinchats and 7 Yellow Wagtails while the first sniif of decent south bound movment in the approach to Migfest included an Osprey, a Hen Harrier in/off and west, a Swift, 7 Sand Martins, 46 Swallows, 39 House Martins, 84 Tree Sparrows, 1125 Meadow Pipits, 2 Tree Pipits and 2 Siskins with a Pomarine Skua over the sea.

Ringing 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 3/2

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Black-necked Grebe - John Hewitt.

Pied Flycatcher - John Hewitt.

Friday, 04 September 2026

A persistent nagging F5 north westerly wind from a poor direction continues with plenty of cloud about and some overnight rain. Watches 0630-0930

A lovely juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was found at beacon ponds the same area also productive for 7 Avocets, 3 Common Sandpipers, a Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshanks, a Curlew Sandpiper, single Purple Sandpiper, 3 Little Stints, 4 Roseate Terns (which then flew south), 284 Sandwich Terns, 128 Mediterranean Gulls, a Caspian Gull, single Yellow-legged Gull and 2 Ospreys flying south together.

Again a sprinkle of grounded migrants remain including a Cuckoo, 10 Willow Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, 5 Pied Flycatchers, a Redstart, single Whinchat, 5 Wheatears, 12 Yellow Wagtails and a Tree Pipit.

Ringing 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Blackbird, 4/3

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Pectoral Sandpiper - Hazel Wiseman.

Thursday, 03 September 2026

Rather windy F5 north westerly and cloudy and dull. Watches 0615-1000, 1800-2005

A lack of any new easterly winds to bring in new arrivals there were still a nice selection of grounded migrants remaining around the area including a Cuckoo, 13 Willow Warblers, a Garden Warbler, single Goldcrest, 4 Spotted Flycatchers, 7 Pied Flycatchers, a Redstart, 7 Wheatears and 6 Yellow Wagtails and likewise beacon ponds had 650 Ringed Plovers, a Common sandpiper, single Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshanks, 5 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Little Stints and a Yellow-legged Gull.

The sea saw a bit of movement highlighted by a Sooty Shearwater flying north plus a Roseate Tern, 582 Common Terns and 8 Red-throated Divers. Full counts on Trektellen.

Ringing 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackbird, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 5 Tree Sparrow, 9/5

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Curlew Sandpiper - John Hewitt.

Little Stint - John Hewitt.

Wednesday, 02 September 2026

Less windy than the previous days remaining with sunny spells and cloudy periods. Watches 0620-0900, 1900-1950

There were still decent numbers of migrants lingering from last weeks arrivals including the female Red-backed Shrike, 17 Willow Warblers, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 9 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Redstarts, 3 Whinchats, 11 Wheatears, 11 Yellow Wagtails and 2 Tree Pipits.

Beacon ponds held all the same species that have been around for a while with 32 Teal, a Spotted Redshank, single Greenshank, 5 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Little Stints and a Yellow-legged Gull while in the evening roost movement a Roseate Tern flew south.

Ringing 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Willow Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Wren, 3 Robin, 8 Tree Sparrow, 3 Meadow Pipit, 36/12

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Redstart - John Hewitt.

Tuesday, 01 September 2026

A breezy day with a F4 north westerly .with sunny spells. Watches 0630-1000

The Red-backed Shrike (point) and Barred Warbler (Corner field) were still present plus 14 Willow Warblers, 5 Sedge Warblers, a Garden Warbler, 13 Whitethroover both sea and land including 6Shovelers, ats, a Tree Creeper, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 10 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Redstarts, 6 Whinchats, 3 Wheatears, 6 Yellow Wagtails, a Tree Pipit and 3 Siskins and beacon ponds still being superb with 5 Pintails, 57 Teal, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, single Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, 5 Curlew Sandpipers, 1569 Dunlin, a Purple Sandpiper, 2 Little Stints and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

There was some mixed but interesting movement including 6 Shovelers, 5 Swifts, 4 Snipe, 5 Wood Sandpipers,a Caspian Gull, 4 Arctic Skuas, a Great Skua, 3 Red-throated Divers, a Shag, 2 Ospreys, a Marsh Harrier, 4 Rooks, 16 Sand Martins, 274 Swallows, 33 House MArtins, 36 Tree Sparrows, 5 Flava Wagtails, 2 Grey Wagtails and 22 Meadow Pipits.

Ringing 14 Swallow, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Tree Creeper, 5 Willow Warbler, 4 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 8 Tree Sparrow, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Reed Bunting, 46/14

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Osprey heading south - Harry Appleyard.

Monday, 31 August 2026

A breezy north westerly with variable amounts of cloud and the odd sunny spell. Watches 0615-1000

A reduction in grounded migrants across the area but the female Red-backed Shrike at the point and the elusive Barred Warbler in canal hedge remained plus totals of 21 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, 25 Whitethroats, 8 Spotted Flycatchers, 17 Pied Flycatchers, 7 Redstarts, 6 Whinchats, 10 Wheatears, 22 Yellow Wagtails and just 3 Tree Pipits while a ringtail Hen Harrier lingered at chalk bank. Beacon ponds chipped in with a Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshanks, 6 Curlew Sandpipers, a Purple Sandpiper, 2 Little Stints, 2 Short-eared Owls and a Merlin with singles of Caspian Gull and Yellow-legged Gull around the area.

Some light movement included 15 Swifts, 3 Arctic Skuas, 4 Red-throated Divers, an Osprey, 4 Common Buzzards, 277 Swallows and 48 Tree Sparrows.

Ringing 6 Willow Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Redstart, 8 Tree Sparrow, 21/6

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.