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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Thursday, 28 May 2026
Some cloudy periods with a strong wind that increased from dawn. Watches 0630-0830
A small arrival around the area brought an elusive Greenish Warbler to chalk bank plus a Garden Warbler, single Redwing, 4 Spotted Flycatchers, a Whinchat and single Wheatear, while the 2cy Common Rosefinch was still singing at Sammys.
Other bits saw a Little Stint by the gate and a drake Mandarin on canal scrape which moved to the wetlands, while over the sea 3 Manx Shearwtaers and 23 Gannets were the most noteworthy.
Ringing 1 Robin
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Greenish Warbler - Tim Jump.
Greenish Warbler - Thomas Willoughby.
Mandarin with Little Egret - Harry Appleyard.
Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Another warm sunny day with a slight breeze. Watches 0615-1000
Typically of a ate spring there are now 2 Common Rosefinches (corner field, Sammys) around the area but few other migrants with 2 Spotted Flycatchers, female Redstart, a singing male Whinchat and a Wheatear.
Some light movement included 29 Common Scoters, 2 Common Terns, 33 Kittiwakes, a Puffin, 22 Razorbills, 36 Guillemots, 308 Large Auk sp, 20 Fulmars, 9 Manx Shearwaters, 58 Gannets and 50 Swallows.
Ringing 1 Sedge Warbler
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Yellow Wagtail - John Hewitt.
Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Bright sunny and hot with a light swinging north easterly brreze. Watches 0500-1000
Some quality birds today typical of late may with singing Icteine Warbler on vicars lane and Common Rosefinch at Sammys with back up including a Whinchat, single Wheatear, 3 Redpolls and 3 Spotted Flycatchers also present.
Other bits included 24 Gadwalls, a Greeshank and Hobby in the ponds area.
Ringing 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Linnet
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Icterine Warbler - Thomas Willoughby.
Rosefinch - Luke Stoppard.
Spotted Flycatcher - Rich Scott.
Monday, 25 May 2026
A nice warm sunny day with hardly any wind. Watches 0530-1330
The day saw another 3 Bee-eaters this time heading NW from the point, where the Turtle Dove was still present. Some other movement included 10 Swifts, a Great White Egret, 4 Jackdaws, 28 Sand Martins, 94 Swallows, 17 House Martins, a Grey Wagtail and single Tree Pipit.
There were few migrants around the area with a Willow Warbler, single Redwing, a Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Wheatears. Elsewhere a Greenshank and Caspian Gull were on the Humber.
Ringing 1 Blue Tit, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackbird
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Turtle Dove - Jack Petit.
Sunday, 24 May 2026
An incredible minimum flock of 22 Bee-eaters flew south over Easington cemetery with another single south an hour later which flew down the peninsula and lingered at the point. (Presuambly this single was the 1+ over Patrington earlier). Also today 2 Turtle Doves and 2 Spoonbills along with several Red-veined Darters.
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Bee-eater - Thomas Willoughby.
Bee-eater - Thomas Willoughby
Saturday, 23 May 2026
A lovely hot summers day with a swinging light south east wind.
Highlight from today saw 2 Turtle Doves (point, westmere farm), a Temminck's Stint again on Kilnsea wetlands and a Spoonbill here also which flew to canal scrape in the afternoon.
Other bits included a Pale-bellied Brent with 410 Brent Geese, 14 Gadwalls and 2 Wigeon at the wetlands and 122 Little terns on beacon ponds. Migrant/ breeder totals included 26 Sedge Warblers, 22 Reed Warblers, 10 Lesser Whitethroats, 48 Singing Whitethroats, a Redwing, 15 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Wheatears and a Tree Pipit.
Ringing 7 Great Tit (p), 1 Willow Warbler, 9 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Dunnock
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Spotted Flycatcher - Simon Jump.
Sedge Warbler - Simon Jump.
Friday, 22 May 2026
Highlights from the day saw a Golden Oriole fly south, a Temminck's Stint around the wetlands, a drake Garganey over the Humber and an arrival of at least 13 Spotted Flycatchers. Full details to come.
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Golden Oriole - Thomas Willoughby.
Golden Oriole- Thomas Willoughby.
Temminck's Stint - Tim Jump.
Spotted Flycatcher - Tim Jump.
Thursday, 21 May 2026
Sunny spells with an increasing F5 south west wind. Watches 0530-0900, 1015-1240, 1315-1400,
A Golden Oriole along the canal appeared to fly south while a Cattle Egret lingered in the triangle and 2 Hawfinches flew south off the point. Also moving 17 Sand Martins, 96 Swallows, 8 House Martins, 8 Flava Wagtails and a Corn Bunting.
Ringing 1 Magpie, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Robin
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Cattle Egret - Harry Appleyard.
Hawfinches - Simon Jump.
Wednesday, 20 May 2026
A cold F5 north west wind along with a cloudy start brightened up slightly after midday. Watches 0630-1000, 1630-1830-1950
A Quail at the point was new for the year but maybe the only new migrant of note. A Black-throated Diver lingering in the area offshore was the highlight of the seawatch which also included an Arctic Skua, 26 Large Auks, 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Manx Shearwaters and 9 Gannets while overland a Marsh Harrier, 11 Sand Martins, 239 Swallows, 37 House Martins, 2 Chaffinches and 8 Goldfinches.
Ringing 2 Chiffchaff
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Quail - Thomas Willoughby.
Quail - Thomas Willoughby.
Tuesday, 19 May 2026
A wet and windy start with a F7 southerly clowing, the day got a little better and dryer in the afternoon but overall a poor day. Watches 0630-1000
While the spring has somewhat fallen flat mainly due to poor weather and unhelpful winds good birds have trickled in today saw a nice Red-necked Phalarope appear on Kilnsea wetlands but it didnt remain too long evetually being found further up the Humber at Oustrays. The only other passage Waders were a Common Sandpiper and several Whimbrels. It was equally poor for grounded migrants with just 2 Wheatears and a the first Cuckoo for a wee while.
There was again a Pale-bellied Brent around the ponds plus 232 Brent Geese and a blogging Hobby while vizmig had just 37 Swifts, 16 Swallows and 21 House Martins.
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Monday, 18 May 2026
Sunny spells with showers by midday with a light southerly winds. Watches 0630-1000
The day was similar to the previous with some light movement of sea and land which included a Shoveler, 2 Gadwalls, 4 Little Egrets, 26 Sand Martins, 81 Swallows, 11 House Martins, a Grey Wagtail, 4 Alba Wagtails, 12 Chaffinches, 18 Goldfinches, a Siskin and 3 Corn Buntings while a Rock Pipit was around the warren area.
A joint count around the area saw 588 Ringed Plovers recorded but 5 Whimbrels and 105 Little Terns were about the best of the rest.
Ringing 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Robin (p), 1 House Sparrow
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Ringed Plover with trespassing Turnstone - Tate Lloyd.
Ringed Plover with trespassing Turnstone - Tate Lloyd.
Ringed Plover with trespassing Turnstone - Tate Lloyd.
Ringed Plover with trespassing Turnstone - Tate Lloyd.
Sunday, 17 May 2026
An intially breezy day with sunny intervals throughout. A F4 west wind eventually calming into the evening.
Some light southbound passage included a Marsh Harrier, 19 Sand Martins, 98 Swallows, 2 House Martins, 2 Flava Wagtails, 21 Chafficnhes and a Siskins while a Short-eared Owl went out high east.
The beacon ponds area held a great count of 143 Little Terns along with 2 Pale-bellied Brents, 150 Brent Geese and a Greenshank.
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Saturday, 16 May 2026
A largely cloudy day with some sunny intervals, later turning increasingly windy with light rain in the evening.
Sightings were definitely on the quality rather than quantity side of things today with a summer plumage American Golden Plover on the Humber off the gate (and later at Oustray) and now 2 Temminck's Stints on beacon ponds/wetlands area which eventually flew off north while a lovely female Montagu's Harrier flew south. The best of other south bound vismig were just 104 Swallows.
Other bits saw 2 Pale-bellied Brents with 286 Brent Geese in the ponds area while Passerine migrants were poorly represented by just 5 Wheatears.
Ringing - 1 Blackcap.
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Montagu's Harrier - Thomas Willoughby.
Montagu's Harrier - Thomas Willoughby.
American Golden Plover - Colin Bushell.
American Golden Plover - Colin Bushell.
Friday, 15 May 2026
A largely cloudy and dull day with strong F5 northwesterly winds, eventually dropping around dusk.
A nice adult Long-tailed Skua headed south over the sea plus 52 Kittiwakes, an Arctic Skua, single Puffin, 22 Guillemots, 4 Razorbills, 4 Fulmars, 4 Manx Shearwaters and 55 Gannets.
There was no sign of the Temminck's Stint but in the area 14 Gadwalls, a Wigeon, single Pochard, 12 Avocets, a Short-eared Owl and 40 Sand Martins.
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Fulmar - Harry Appleyard.
Thursday, 14 May 2026
Initially chilly morning with some brief heavy rain clearing for a pleasant afternoon with warm sunshine and light winds.
The same or new Temminck's Stint was at Kilnsea wetlands showing well while a Hooded Crow flew south in what has been a good spring for them so far. Also moving were a Wood Sandpiper, single Arctic Skua, a Puffin, 5 Jackdaws, 4 Rooks, a Tree Pipit and 2 Redpolls.
Other bits saw the Black Brant still on beacon ponds, a Short-eared Owl here also while Passerine migrants included a Willow Warbler, single Garden Warbler, a Black Redstart and 7 Wheatears.
Ringing - 1 Willow Warbler.
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Temminck's Stint - Neil Hunt.
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