Daily log has been kept at Spurn since the 1960's, looking back it is fascinating to see how numbers and status of some species has changed, sometimes dramatically. Extracts from the log will be updated regularly with each update being the highlights from a particular year.

Highlights from 1964

The first notable movement of the year occurred on 25th March and the following is an extract from the written log from then. Weather: strong NW wind and overcast with rain until 0930hrs, then dry after this. Between 0600 & 0800hrs. 39 Lapwings and 240 corvids flew south. The corvids consisted mainly of Rooks, but also some Jackdaws were noted. When the rain ceased at ca. 0930hrs, Lapwings started to pour over on a mile wide front, flying at ca. 1000 feet (one party vanished for a time in the lower cloud level). The flocks varied from 10 to 300 birds all flying due south-east. Between 0930 & 1230hrs, 6510 were counted, after which the movement ceased. During this Lapwing movement, 26 Golden Plovers, a Heron, 206 Black-headed Gulls and another 260 corvids went south, though ca. 60 corvids returned north, (these were mainly Rooks, but also some were Jackdaws, exactly how many of each is not known though). Also at 1035hrs. a herd of 40 Bewick's Swans flew out to the east.

Visible passage and falls during the rest of the year were unexceptional, though the typical sparrow movements recorded during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s are probably worth mentioning here. During this period there were annual movements of sparrows (both House and Tree were involved), with large noisy flocks flying 'south' along the peninsula on many days (normally only when the wind was either west or south-west) from late September through October, with a varying proportion returning north, but with some leaving the Point to the south. Peak days in 1964 were: 11th October when a watch at the Narrow Neck produced sparrow ssp. 1110 south & 6 north, House Sparrow 477 south & 14 north and Tree Sparrow 20 south & 2 north; and on 16th October with 1000 Tree Sparrows south, though most returned north later in the morning.

Ringing during this same period gives an insight into where birds were originating then. Between 1959 and 1980, 18,145 House Sparrows were ringed (max. 1,658 in 1960), which generated 137 recoveries away from Spurn. 94 of these were between 5 and 60 miles to the west or north-west, 28 were between 10 and 60 miles to the south or south-west and 15 were recovered at varying locations over 60 miles away, incl. Scarborough, Manchester, Derbyshire (2) and Essex. There were no controls at Spurn of birds ringed elsewhere. The number of Tree Sparrows ringed during the same period was 7,691, but these only generated 19 recoveries from a scattering of locations incl. two from near York, one in North Yorkshire and one in Cheshire. However, there were also seven controls, which included two from Suffolk and one from The Netherlands.

The other highlight of 1964 was the fact that eight new species were recorded for the observatory, three of which were also new for Yorkshire. These eight are detailed below in chronological order.

Cirl Bunting

At 1340hrs. on 26th April, a male dropped into J.R.Mather's binocular vision, whilst he was watching Wheatears on the Parade Ground. It spent the next two and half hours feeding or singing in the same general area, where it was watched by a number of other observers. It was not seen again until the 30th, on which date it was found by B.R.Spence at Chalk Bank, where it was singing just outside the heligoland trap. B.R.S. went and fetched G.R.Edwards and together drove the heligoland, catching it straight away. It was taken back to the observatory, for ringing, taking a full description and photographing. Then released at the Warren.

Red rumped Swallow (new for Yorkshire)

At 1008hrs. on 3rd May, whilst B.R.Spence, J.Cudworth and G. Wilkinson were counting Swallows at the Narrow Neck, one flew south and continued without stopping. It was seen twice more as all three observers chased it by car and managed to catch up with it at Chalk Bank and again at Tank Ditch.

Song Sparrow (new for Yorkshire)

At ca. 1300hrs. on 18th May, G.R.Edwards was having lunch in Warren Cottage, when he heard an unfamiliar song just outside. He went out and quickly found the bird in a bush, but it was partially obscured by foliage. G.R.E. thought it might be a Cirl Bunting and called B.R.Spence. Then the bird moved into full view and both observers realised it was something really unusual and from its well marked head pattern and boldly streaked underparts, probably an American sparrow. Other observers (including J.Cudworth and B.Armitage) were summoned at this point, but by the time they had arrived the bird had disappeared. Several drives of the Warren heligoland were made, but there was no sign of it. Everyone was just wondering what to do next, when B.A. spotted it hopping around an automatic trap baited with bread, which had been set to try and catch local Starlings. Within 2 or 3 minutes the bird entered the trap and once in the hand was identified as a Song Sparrow. It was only seen once after its release, when it was accidentally retrapped in the heligoland. On release again it flew to some bushes some 50m. away and was not seen again. It may well have been present since 13th May, as a similarly coloured and sized bird was seen very briefly in flight during a drive of the Warren heligoland on that date and again on 17th when J.C. had a similar experience just south of the trap.

Quail

At 1400hrs. on 25th May, whilst B.R.Spence was doing a long drive on the old Point heligoland, he flushed one, the bird coming out from almost under his feet. It quickly disappeared behind some sea buckthorn bushes and was not seen again.

White winged Black tern

A full summer plumaged bird was first seen by G.R.Edwards ca. 1230hrs. on 24th July, as it slowly worked its way south ca. 50m. offshore opposite the north end of Beacon Lane. It was then seen about an hour later by R.W.N.Knapton who was sea watching at the Narrow Neck. Here it fed for ca. 15 minutes just off shore at the Narrow Neck, before very slowly moving off south until lost to view

Caspian Tern

At ca.1330hrs. on 26th July, G.R.Edwards was looking through a group of gulls and terns on the sea shore just north of Beacon Lane, when a bird near the centre of the group that had apparently been sleeping, lifted its head showing a heavy red bill. He immediately identified it as a Caspian Tern. At this point, the group of birds had a 'dread' but all quickly returned to the same area. G.R.E. came down to the Warren to alert other observers, but on returning no sign could be found of it.

Goshawk

A female was seen by R.J.McCann at 1815hrs. on 3rd Sept. along the bank between the Warren and main gate, where it perched for a while on the old brick building that was there at that time before flying off over Clubley's field towards Big Hedge. It landed for a short time in Clubley's field and again on Big Hedge before flying off, never to be seen again.

Arctic Warbler (new for Yorkshire)

During the late morning of 5th Sept., J.R.Mullins was searching the bushes east of Wire Dump, when he had brief views of a Phylloscopus warbler, which showed a well defined supercillium and apparently only one pale wing bar. The area was worked again during the afternoon by all observers staying at the observatory and apart from a strange dark pipit which no one ever got to grips with (it was suspected as being a Pechora), nothing was found. However, at ca. 1700hrs. G.R.Edwards located the warbler in an elder bush near the Humber shore. It was then watched for ca. 20 minutes, but hardly any good views were obtained, as it fed in some ragwort growing amongst the sea buckthorn. It was obviously either an Arctic or a Greenish Warbler, though all observers were fairly sure it would turn out to be an Arctic. At this point a mist net was erected and the bid was soon caught. It was brought back to the observatory, where examination in the hand showed a second fainter wing bar and the plumage details and measurements confirmed that it was indeed an Arctic Warbler. It was released into the Warren trap bushes and not seen again.

Highlights from 1965

The first movement of any real note of the year occurred on 17th March, with the main species being Chaffinch. 273 passed south between 0745 & 0830hrs, followed by 619 during the next hour. Casual observations during the rest of the morning produced a further 134. Then in the evening, 100, incl. one flock of 60, more flew south. The following morning it was overcast with fairly thick mist and a very light north wind. Between 0730 & 0745hrs. seven flocks of Chaffinches, totaling ca.1100 birds, flew over the Warren, though about one third of these dropped into the field behind the Warren for a while, before continuing south. The largest of these flocks comprised of ca. 250 birds and at least six Bramblings accommanied them.

Movement and falls during the rest of the year, were on the whole not particularly noteworthy, but with two major and one minor exception. The first major exception began on 2nd September, when there was a moderate N-NE wind with rain upto 0900hrs, then fine for the rest of the day. In the early afternoon quite a number of birds arrived , with the following being noted: 23 Wheatears, 39 Whinchats, 9 Redstarts, 16 Garden Warblers, 12 Willow Warblers and 12 Pied Flycatchers. However, the events of the following day completely overshadowed this arrival. The morning dawned with overcast skies and a moderate NNE wind. Small numbers of birds (mainly Redstarts, Garden Warblers and Pied Flycatchers) started arriving ca. 0700hrs., with the main arrival of the first fall being between 0900 & 1000hrs.. This first fall consisted of 40 Wheatears, 25 Whinchats, 100 Redstarts, 30 Garden Warblers, 40 Pied Flycatchers and 30 Tree Pipits, together with small numbers of several other species, including a Barred Warbler and a Red-breasted Flycatcher. At 1115hrs. a fine drizzle started, reducing visibility to ca. one mile, but this soon turned to heavy rain and continued until at least 2200hrs. Some time during the rain, there was a second much larger arrival, but due to weather conditions severely hampering observations, it was not realized until quite late in the afternoon that there had in fact been a further arrival. By this time it was extremely difficult (partly due to very heavy rain, but also failing light) to estimate numbers now present and the day's totals were almost certainly grossly underestimated. The estimates for that day were: 100 Wheatears, 50 Whinchats, 300 Redstarts, 100 Garden Warblers, 30 Willow Warblers, 100 Pied Flycatchers, plus small numbers of other species, incl. several Fieldfares and Redwings. The weather cleared overnight and many birds obviously left before dawn. Even so very many birds were still present, eg. 100 Redstarts and Whinchats had increased to 100.

An interesting sea passage took place on 26th September after there had been an overnight SE gale, though by morning the wind had become moderate SW. From dawn until late morning (there was only a little passage after 1100hrs.) a total of 264 Teal, 229 Wigeon plus very small numbers of several other species of duck flew south. However, the main interest was the exceptional number of Black Terns which flew south, with 149 being logged, incl. one flock of 40 and the peak was 57 between 1040 & 1110hrs.

The immigration of thrushes on 1st October was spectacular to say the least. The day started overcast with a light SE wind and small parties of Redwings and a few Fieldfares were coming in at first light. At ca. 0700hrs. heavy rain set in and with it, increasing numbers of Redwings arrived. Some landed immediately, but many turned south and obviously landed at the Point. By 0800hrs., there were probably at least 1000 Redwings at the Point, plus a good number of Song Thrushes and smaller numbers of Fieldfares and Ring Ouzels. The rain started to ease off at ca. 0830hrs and by 0900hrs. had ceased completely. With the easing of the rain, thrushes started leaving to the south and between 0830 & 0930hrs. 927 Redwings and 60 Fieldfares, plus smaller numbers of Song Thrushes and Ring Ouzels left. Flocks of Redwings, plus smaller numbers of Song Thrushes and Ring Ouzels continued to pass down the peninsula for the rest of the day. The day's estimates for thrushes passing through were 2500 Redwing, 500 Song Thrushes, 270 Fieldfraes and 75 Ring Ouzels. However, as only three observers were present and two of these were concentrating on ringing, these numbers were almost certainly underestimates and Ring Ouzel numbers could well have been into three figures. Small numbers of Redstarts, Blackcaps and Bramblings were also involved.

During the year a further six more species were added to the Spurn list, of which no less than four were new for Yorkshire. Details of these six species are given below, in chronological order.

Rock Bunting (new for Yorkshire)

At 1240hrs. on 19th February, R.G.Pearson and J.R.Preston started to walk south along the sea wall (it is now collapsed and 100yds. out on the sea beach) south of Sandy Beaches Caravan Park, when they flushed a passerine from an area of rubble. It had the appearance of a largish bunting. It only flew ca. 20yds. before alighting and started to forage amongst some rubble. It allowed the observers to approach to within ca. 15yds. before repeating its actions, doing this all along the area behind the sea wall until it reached Big Hedge (there were still anti tank blocks beside Big Hedge at that time). At this point it flew up and disappeared towards the Crown & Anchor. During this period, both observers had reasonably good views, enough to identify the bird as a Rock Bunting (European, not African!!!). Later R.G.P., J.R.P. and B.R.Spence, went back to where it had first been seen, but there was no sign of it. The three observers then walked along the road to the Crown & Anchor and along the Humber Bank as far as Sammy's, then back and south along the tide wrack on the Humber shore opposite the Canal Zone. After ca. 50 yds. walking along the tide wrack opposite the Canal Zone, a bird was flushed giving a Yellowhammer type call. It landed further along giving B.R.S. some brief views as it fed along the tide wrack. However, it soon flew off again, apparently into the triangle and could not be found again that day. It was subsquently seen by quite a number of observers, mainly south of Cliff Farm plus in the original area where it was first found, both on 20th & 22nd Feb. Then on 27th Feb., it was seen briefly at Sammy's before it flew off and appeared to drop into the stack yard of the first farm north of the Crown & Anchor. The next sighting was on the 4th March, when it was seen, albeit briefly, in the area where it was first found and next day, again briefly, along the tide wrack opposite the Canal Zone. It was last seen on 10th March in its original area, though yet again only briefly. Although traps were put out for it on at least two occasions, it was never caught, contrary to some published accounts.

Alpine Swift

One was seen flying south at the Narrows by P.F.Bonham at 1800hrs. on 16th May.

Cory's Shearwater (new for Yorkshire)

Two flew south at sea (only ca, 700yds. off shore) at 1350hrs.on 10th July. They were seen and reported by G.R.Edwards, who had had previous experience of the species, having seen thousands of both Great and Cory's in both the North and South Atlantic. In the description he submitted, he described the upperparts as biscuit coloured. Later the late D.D.Harber of BBRC wrote back to G.R.E. asking what type of biscuits he was comparing them too!!

Black Guillemot

One in winter plumage was seen both in flight and on the water, just off the Warren on 29th July by T.M.Clegg, G.R.Edwards, R.Steel and R.W.N.Knapton.

Dusky Warbler (new for Yorkshire and mainland Britain)

Good, but very brief views were had of one in the Point Dunes by B.R.Spence, G.R.Bennett, M.Densley and C.W.Holt at ca. 0845hrs. on 26th October. It was not seen again that day, but was refound next day by C.W.H. in the same area and was soon caught by C.Bower.

Black browed Albatross (new for Yorkshire)

At ca. 1525hrs. on the of 4th November, B.R.Spence and C.Winn were sea watching at the Warren. B.R.S. was looking through his scope, trying to locate a Glaucous Gull which was flying north, when a large sea bird came into view flying away from the observers. It had black upperparts and the rest of the pluamge was apparently white. Its body was very deep, giving it a big bodied appearance and the wings were very long. First reaction was what on earth is it, but at this point C.W. also got on to it with his binoculars and suggested albatross. The bird contiued NNE until lost to view, but not before a reasonable description was obtained. Amazingly, whilst C.W. and J.Hesslewood were sea watching at the Narrows at ca. 1450hrs. the following day, what had to be the same bird flew north ca. 400yds. offshore, but before reaching opposite the Warren it turned and again flew NNE until lost to view. Even more amazingly, the bird repeated the same performance again on both the 6th & 7th, to the delight of many more observers.