Sightings

Thursday, 30 July 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 200 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.

Another hot sunny day with a small front heading south with the wind picking up and some cloud. Watches 0530-1020

There was no sign of either the Buff-breast or White-rumped Sandpipers soit was back to counts of the 'usuals' including 8 Little-ringed plovers, a Common Sandpiper, single Green Sandpiper, a Ruff and 192 Little Gulls with a Curlew Sandpiper, 1500 Dunlins, 3000 Knots and 171 Redshanks on the Humber. 

The vismiggers persisted today logging 13 Teals, 6 Eiders, 126 Swifts, 23 Whimbrels, a Great White Egret, 28 Sand Martins, 437 Swallows, 16 House Martins, 13 Flava Wagtails, 5 Alba Wagtail and a Tree Pipit. 

Ringing 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 5 Whitethroat, 1 Robin, 1 Tree Pipit,

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Wednesday, 29 July 2026

Another really hot day with near cloudless skies and a light south westerly breeze.  Watches 0615-1000, 1500-1600.

It was another good day around the ponds area with both the Buff-brerasted Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper showing well. The area also held 4 Little-ringed Plovers, 6 Snipes, a Common Sandpiper, single Ruff, 300 Dunlins, a Roseate Tern, 32 Little Gulls and 24 Little Egrets while 3 Curlew Sandpipers and 529 Redshanks were on the Humber. There was some Passerine interest with a juvenile Whinchat and 6 Willow Warblers. 

Some light movement typical of the year so far saw 3 Great Crested Grebes, 20 Whimbrels, 32 Curlews, a Great Skua, single Puffin, 74 Gannets, 128 Sand Martins and 74 Swllows were recorded mainly heading south. 

Ringing 4 Sand Martin, 3 Willow Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Song Thrush, 2 House Sparrow, 3 Meadow Pipit, 

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Tuesday, 28 July 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 200 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.

A very hot and humid day with a light breeze. Watches 0630-1000

There was no sign of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper but a White-rumped Sandpiper remained along with 5 Little-ringed Plovers, a Ruff, 4 Curlew Sandpipers, 1200 Dunlins, 2 Little Stints, a wandering Red Kite and a Hobby hunting the area. 

Some very light movement over the sea the best being a Puffin, 2 Manx Shearwaters and 126 Gannets while overland 118 Sand Martins, 25 Swallows and a Corn Bunting. 

Ringing 2 Blue Tit, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Wren, 1 Dunnock.

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Monday, 27 July 2026

Some cloudy periods with a moderate F5 westerly wind. Watches 0630-1000, 1100-1230 

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still present in the ponds area with at least one White-rumped Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper and 2 Little Stints here also while a Quail called by Kilnsea wetlands hide. Other bits here 6 Little-ringed Plovers, 5 Snipe, 4 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, single Ruff, 110 Little Gulls, a Yellow-legged Gull, juvenile Cuckoo, 2 Hobbies and 2 Short-eared Owls. On the Humber a Curlew Sandpiper was at chalky point.

Ringing 1 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 3 Willow Warbler, 4 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Blackbird, 1 Dunnock

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Sunday, 26 July 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 200 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.

A windy day with plenty of sunshine and a very light shower in the early morning. Watches 1130-1230, 1515-1630.

The days highlight saw a Buff-breasted Sandpiper around beacon ponds all day even seen to display to unimpressed dunlins. The ponds area also include 2 White-rumped Sandpipers, a Little Stint, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Little-ringed Plovers, 279 Dunlins, 2 adult Roseate Terns, 308 Little Gulls, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Cattle Egret which was also down by the warren, a Short-eared Owl and a Red Kite overhead. 

Ringing 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Wren

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Saturday, 25 July 2026

A breezy day with some thick cloud in the afternoon, with even some light drizzle. Watches 0630-1000, 1235-1515, 1520-1720

The White-rumped Sandpiper continued to show well in the ponds area with also 3 Little-ringed Plovers, 43 Black-tailed Godwits, a Common Sandpipers, 2 Greenshanks, a Ruff, single Curlew Sandpiper, 9 Little Gulls, a Caspian Gull and a blogging Red Kite. 

Some movement over both sea and land brought 875 Swifts, 10 Black-tailed Godwits, 18 Sanderlings, 18 Dunlins, an Osprey, 27 Sand Martins, 61 Swallows, 2 House Martins and a Yellow Wagtail.

Ringing 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 7 Reed Warbler, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 1 Chaffinch

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Friday, 24 July 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 200 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.

Cloudy with sunshine in the afternoon and an increasing wind. Watches 0615-1010.

A Quail was found wandering through an Easington garden while presumably the same Green Woodpecker from last week was in in the cemetery. The White-rumped Sandpiper and a Wood Sandpiper were at Kilnsea wetlands while 3 Short-eared Owls hunted and at least 4 juvenile Cuckoos around the area plus 8 Willow Warblers, a Black Redstart and single Wheatear.

On the move a Spoonbill headed north west over the Humber and heading south 10 Teal, 19 Common Scoters, a Snipe, single juvenile  Yellow-legged Gull and a Red Kite, while overland a Red Kite, 37 Sand Martins, 125 Swallows, 3 House Martins, 3 Flava Wagtails and 4 Alba Wagtails. 

A Southern Migrant Hawker was in Corner field, a Purple Hairstreak at Kew, 3 Holly Blues at the warren..

Ringing 2 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 6 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackbird, 2 Robin

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Thursday, 23 July 2026

A hot and sunny after the clouds burnt away with a light F3 westerly wind. Watches 0615-1000, 1420-1520, 1815-1915

The White-rumped Sandpiper was still present with a Curlew Sandpiper while 620 Little Gulls flew out east. A small Passrine arrival included a Cuckoo, 2 Willow Warblers,a Tree Creeper, single Black Redstart and a Wheatear. 

Over the sea 17 Shelducks, 77 Common Scoters, 153 Oystercatchers, 19 whimbrels, 5 Curlews, a Turnstone, 4 Knots, a Red-thraoted Diver and 147 Gannets.

Ringing 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Great Tit, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 5 Whitethroat, 1Tree creeper, 1 Wren, 16/9

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Tuesday, 21 July 2026

A cloudy start with sunshine bu the afternoon and light north west wind. Watches 0615-1000

The ponds area again held the White-rumped Sandpiper, single Wood Sandpiper and 4 Curlew Sandpipers but numbers of Terns and Gulls were lower overall. Passerine interest were 5 Willow warblers, a Tree Creeper and juvenile Cuckoo.

The vismiggers had a very quiet morning with 18 Oystercatchers heading south the most noteworthy.

Ringing 1 Blue Tit, 8 Sand Martin, 1 Swallow, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Wren, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Robin

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Monday, 20 July 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 200 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank. 

As per previous days a cloudy start brightening up later with a moderate F5 north west wind and just some faint drizzle. Watches 0500-1000

The White-rumped Sandpiper and 3 Curlew Sandpipers were joined by a Wood Sandpiper in the ponds area with other counts including 15 Avocets, 122 Golden Plovers, 3 Little-ringed Plovers, 15 Whimbrels, 146 Curlews, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, 204 Redshanks, 88 Sanderlings and 553 Dunlins around the area. Other bits around the ponds included 5 Arctic Terns, 5 Common Terns, 247 Sandwich Terns, 44 Little Gulls and 336 Black-headed Gulls. Passerine interest was somewhat limited to a juvenile Cuckoo, single Cetti's Warbler and a juvenile Redstart at the point.

Its been a bit slow for offshore Wader passage and in general over the sea today accumulating 41 Common Scoters, 8 Kittiwakes, an Arctic Skua, 3 Manx Shearwaters and 72 Gannets with some light southbound Hirundines which saw 61 Swallows and 27 Sand Martins recorded. 

Ringing 9 Sand Martin, 1 Swallow, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Wren, 1 Reed Bunting

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Sunday, 19 July 2026

A cloudy start brightening up later with a stiff F6 northerly wind, with some light drizzle in the morning. Watches 0615-1000, 1650-1750

The adult White-rumped Sandpiper remained showing well in the ponds area plus 3 Curlew Sandpipers and 2 Little-ringed Plovers. 

A Great Northern Diver flying up the Humber was unseasonal while the sea had a Tufted Duck, 16 Common Scoters, 64 Oystercatchers, an Arctic Skua, 17 Kittiwakes, 68 Large Auk sp, 2 Red-throated Divers, 7 Manx Shearwaters and 29 Gannets.

Ringing 1 Whitethroat, 1 Dunnock

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Saturday, 18 July 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 200 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank. 

A cloudy start clearing up from time to time with some very light drizzle thrown in and a breezy F5 north east wind. Watches 0610-1000.

The White-rumped Sandpiper was again showing well at beacon ponds along with 3 Curlew Sandpipers while the 'elusive' Pacific Golden Plover made a re-appearance at the warren. Other Waders present included 8 Little-ringed Plovers, 40 Black-tailed Godwits, a Snipe, single Common Sandpiper and 500 Dunlins. Elsewhere a Cuckoo was in the triangle.

The sea had 2 Storm Petrels heading north off Easington plus 24 Common Scoters, 8 Arctic Terns, 35 Kittiwakes, 24 Razorbills, 171 Large Auk sp, 74 Guillemots, single Fulmar, 7 Manx Shearwaters and 130 Gannets. 

Ringing 1 Great Tit, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Wren, 2 Robin.

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Friday, 17 July 2026

Another cloudy start before it broke leaving sunshine, with a lightish north east wind. Watches 0615-1000

The day saw a couple of highlights firstly a locally rare juvenile Green Woodpecker wandering the area down to the warren and back north and then an adult White-rumped Sandpiper on the Humber and beacon ponds which are pretty much annual these days. The day otherwise was much quieter for Wader numbers on the Humber and ponds while Passerine interest came in the form of a Grasshopper Warbler along beacon lane and a Wheatear at Sammys.

Some light movement again with 11 Teal, 31 Common Scoters, 5 Oystercatchers, 3 Whimbrels, an Arctic Skua, 75 Large Auk sp, 24 Guillemots, 4 Razorbills and 80 Gannets while overland 109 Swallows headed south. 

A Clouded Yellow was along beacon lane. 

Ringing 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Wren, 2 Robin, 9/6
 

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.

Thursday, 16 July 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 200 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank. 

A cloudy start again but clearing in the afternoon with a slightly wind. Watches 0615-1000

Beacon ponds had the best of the days sightings including 17 Avocets, 3 Little-ringed Plovers, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, 1520 Dunlins, 4 Arctic Terns, 16 Common Terns, 173 Little Gulls, 17 Mediterranean Gulls and a Caspian Gull. 

Ringing 26 Sand Martin, 1 Great Tit, 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Robin, 1 Linnet

Use the archive navigation to see more sightings.