August 2008

Foggy on and off all day making viewing difficult at times. Sea watches – 14.30 – 15.10, 16.45 – 20.00. Some movement over the sea and a few new grounded migrants.

The first Wryneck of the year was seen briefly at the Point, while other grounded migrants included 1 Cuckoo, 10 Swift, the Shore Lark at Chalk Bank again, 3 Tree Pipit, 1 Redstart, 18 Whinchat, 4 Wheatear, 8 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 3 Garden Warbler, 11 Willow Warbler, 5 Pied Flycatcher. Birds moving south included; 144 Common Scoter, 19 Fulmar, 41 Manx Shearwater, 10 Oystercatcher, 3 Sanderling, 2 Whimbrel, a moulting adult Pacific/American Golden Plover which unfortunately disappeared into the fog, 40 Arctic Skua, 22 Little Gull north, 21 Kittiwake, 2 Sabine’s Gulls (ad and juv at 16.45), 4 Black Tern, 200 Sandwich Tern, 3200 Common Tern, 11 Arctic Tern, 5 Swift, and 4 Siskin.

Also of note was 2 bat sp. which came in off the sea in the evening and the first sighting of the year for Small Red-eyed Damselflies of which there were at least 3 seen.

A murky day from time to time with some lengthy sunny spells also, a few migrants arriving as hoped with the SE wind and a few birds at sea including a Cory’s Shearwater N at 16.00 and another or the same adult Sabine’s Gull S with the terns.

Highlights today were 110 Teal S, 30 Pintail in, 13 Eider (10 S), 210 Common Scoter (170 S), 3 Sooty Shearwater (1 N, 2 Humber), 3 Manx Shearwater S, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Ruff (1 S), a Pomarine Skua N, 17 Arctic Skua, 14 Little Gull N, 260 Sandwich Tern S, 2 Roseate Tern S, the Shore Lark (Chalk Bank), 5 Tree Pipit (3 S) plus 4 at Sammie’s, 2 Redstart, 9 Whinchat, 3 Wheatear, single Blackcap and Garden Warbler, 9 Willow Warbler, 6 Pied Flycatcher, a juvenile Red-backed Shrike (Warren), a Corn Bunting N.

Long spells of sunshine made it rather pleasant with a swinging light wind that ended up in the SE sector as promised.

Highlights of the day were a Shoveler S, a Velvet Scoter S, 10 Fulmar, 4 Sooty Shearwater N, 4 Manx Shearwater (3 N, 1 S), 3 Little Egret (Humber) plus am amazing 9 at Sammie’s,65 Oystercatcher S, a Curlew Sandpiper (Humber), a Ruff (Tank Blocks), 5 Whimbrel S, a Spotted Redshank (Tank Blocks), 4 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpiper (1 S), 4 Pomarine Skua S, 20 Arctic Skua (18 S), an adult Sabine’s Gull S with the terns which included 1 Black and 6,500 Common, 3 Swift S, the Shore Lark at Chalk Bank, 18 Sand Martin and 100 Swallow S, 6 Meadow Pipit S, 2 Redstart (Chalk Bank/Church Field), 14 Wheatear, a Garden Warbler and a Chiffchaff (Warren), 15 Willow Warbler, 3 Goldcrest, a Rook and a Crossbill S.

A cloudy start that cleared leaving sunny spells in a stiff WNW wind putting a chilly edge on things, some light passage with another Sabine’s Gull S at sea with the tern passage being the main highlight.

Other notable sightings were 7 Shelduck, 5 Common Scoter and 15 Fulmar S, a Manx Shearwater N, 4 Little Egret (Humber), 20 Oystercatcher S, 285 Ringed Plover, a Ruff, 4 Greenshank (3 Canal Scrape, 1 S), a Common Sandpiper (Tank Blocks), 9 Arctic Skua (7 S), a Little Gull S, a Black Tern S, a Cuckoo (Canal Zone), 12 Swift S plus 9 in, 58 Sand Martin and 500 Swallow S, 3 Tree Pipit S, 64 Meadow Pipit S, 11 Flava Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail S, a Redstart (Warren), 4 Whinchat, 9 Wheatear, 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Crossbill S.

Cloudy all day with a moderate W wind producing a light southerly passage but not a lot to get excited about.

Highlights of the day were 2 Red-throated Diver and 3 Fulmar S, 3 Little Egret (Humber), 3 Marsh Harrier (2 S, 1 W), a Hen Harrier u-turned back N, a Sparrowhawk S, 88 Oystercatcher S, 242 Ringed Plover (Chalk Bank) plus 7 S, 10 Sanderling S plus 240 (Chalk Bank), 4 Snipe (Triangle), 4 Whimbrel (3 in), 2 Greenshank (Humber), 15 Arctic Skua, a 2nd summer Med Gull u-turned, 5 Little Gull (4 S), 1 , 138 Sandwich Tern3,500 Common Tern and a Roseate Tern S, 42 Swift, 30 Sand Martin, 385 Swallow and 28 House Martin all S, 19 Flava Wagtail S, 2 Whinchat, 4 Wheatear and 10 Willow Warbler.

Yesterdays escaped large falcon (Saker?) was seen at Middle Camp on the rocks before heading of S. A Convolvulus Hawkmoth was the only moth of note.

Similar conditions overcast all day in a stiff W wind producing some passage with just the odd exciting sighting.

Of note today were 2 Red-throated Diver and a Sooty Shearwater N, 5 Little Egret (Humber), a Merlin blogging, 126 Oystercatcher S, 361 Ringed Plover (Chalk Bank0, 3 Snipe, 8 Black-tailed Godwit S, 4 Whimbrel (1 S), 2 Greenshank S, 7 Arctic Skua (5 S), 3 Little Tern, 3 Black Tern, 234 Sandwich Tern, 7,000 Common Tern and a Roseate Tern S, 23 Swift S, the Shore Lark (Chalk Bank), 16 Sand Martin and 200 Swallow S, a Tree Pipit (Pallas’s Pond), 14 Flava Wagtail (12 Warren, 2 S), a Grey Wagtail S, 3 Whinchat, 13 Wheatear, 2 Garden Warbler, 9 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrest (Point/Kew), 3 Crossbill S with the main highlight being an adult Sabine’s Gull S at 1745 with the terns.

On the moth front a Convolvulus Hawkmoth, 4 Dark Sword Grass and 15 Silver Y were the only migrants in the MV’s.

A cool cloudy day in a moderate W wind produced some light passage and just the odd new arrival.

Birds south unless stated were 5 Teal (4 in), 3 Mallard in, 1 Common Scoter, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel, 18 Oystercatcher, 3 Snipe, 1 Whimbrel, 7 Arctic Skua, a Long-tailed Skua after it came out of the Humber, 1 Bonxie, 2 juvenile Med Gulls, 116 Black-headed Gull, 9 Kittiwake, 1 Black, 195 Sandwich , 4,900 Common and 2 Roseate Terns, 29 Swift, 108 Sand Martin, 1370 Swallow, 69 House Martin, 1 Tree Pipit, 26 Meadow Pipit, 8 Flava Wagtail, 23 Tree Sparrow and 5 Crossbill. Elsewhere grounded birds of note were 3 Little Egret (Humber), 148 Sanderling, 4 Snipe (Clubley’s), 2 Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper (Clubley’s), the Shore Lark (Chalk Bank), a Whinchat, 11 Wheatear, 12 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrest (Chalk Bank /Narrows), 2 Spotted Flycatcher (Point).

A new moth for Spurn in the form of a Pine Carpet was trapped in the MV’s but little else of note.

A wet start that cleared up by mid morning giving a few sunny spells in the afternoon in a decreasing NW wind.

Of note today were 14 Wigeon (9 in, 5 S), 128 Teal S, 66 Common Scoter, 4 Little Egret (Humber), 299 Ringed Plover (Chalk Bank), 3 Snipe, single Greenshank and Common Sandpiper, 5 Arctic Skua blogging.

A Cuckoo (Chalk Bank), 14 Swift S plus 4 blogging, 210 Swallow and 29 House Martin S, a Tree Pipit (Point), a Redstart (North Field), 2 Whinchat, 3 Garden Warbler, a Wood Warbler (Chalk Bank), 11 Willow warbler, a Goldcrest (Chalk Bank), a Spotted Flycatcher (Potato Field), 2 Pied Flycatcher (Chalk Bank) and a Crossbill u-turned N.

Another changeable day with the wind swinging from the north through to the south with various amounts of cloud around and rain early on, some light passage and a few new arrivals but fairly quiet on the whole.

Of note today was 435 Shelduck (Humber), 11 Wigeon and 56 Teal S, 8 Sooty Shearwater N, 5 Little Egret (Humber), a Marsh Harrier S, a Merlin hunting, 131 Oystercatcher S, 4 Snipe, 10 Whimbrel S, single Spotted Redshank and Greenshank (Humber), a Pomarine Skua N, 1 Black Tern, 4675 Common Tern and 5 Roseate Tern S, a Cuckoo (Chalk Bank), a Tree Pipit (Point), 5 Whinchat, a Blackcap (Point), 5 Garden Warbler, 12 Willow Warbler, 3 Pied Flycatcher (Point/Potato Field/Cliff Farm).

4 Dark Sword Grass were the only migrant moths in the MV’s.

Another changeable day with some sunny periods and then thundery showers in a cool NW-N stiff wind.

A few birds headed S plus a few birds at sea and the odd new arrival. Highlights were 4 Teal (1 in), a Great Crested Grebe S, 13 Fulmar (12 S), a Manx Shearwater S, 2 Little Egret (Humber), 3970 Golden Plover (Humber), 8 Snipe (Clubley’s), 5 Whimbrel (1 S), a Spotted Redshank (Chalk Bank), a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper (Sheep Field), a Pomarine Skua N, 11 Arctic Skua, 3 Black Tern, 3850 Common Tern, 2 Roseate Tern going to roost, 2 Short-eared Owl (Sheep Field/Triangle), 26 Swift S plus 200 blogging, a Kingfisher trapped at the Warren, 450 Swallow S plus 200 blogging, a Wheatear (New Road), 28 Willow Warbler (15 Point), a Spotted Flycatcher (Point).

Elsewhere 2 juvenile Cuckoo’s were at Sammie’s and migrant moths in the MV’s were 2 Dark sword Grass.

A much quieter day with most of yesterday’s birds clearing out, a day of sunshine and showers in a stiff W wind inducing some light passage.

Of note were a Wigeon and 4 Teal (Canal Scrape), 18 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret (Salt Marsh), a Marsh Harrier S, a Merlin (Lighthouse), c100,000 Knot around the Chalk Bank area, 5 Snipe (Triangle), a Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Whimbrel and a Greenshank (Humber), a Common Sandpiper (Canal Scrape), the tern roost count produced 11 Black, 8,500 Common and 5 Roseate Terns, 2 Short-eared Owl blogging, 49 Swift S, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Triangle), 14 Sand Martin 12,000 Swallow S, a Tree Pipit (Point), 6 Yellow Wagtail S, 7 Wheatear, 38 Willow Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher (Warren).

A Holly Blue butterfly at the Point was noteworthy.

An excellent day all round with plenty of passage and a small arrival of migrants with plenty of sunshine to go with it.

On the move south unless stated were 66 Gannet (27 N), a Marsh Harrier, 82 Oystercatcher, 8 Grey Plover, 35 Knot, 11 Sanderling, a Curlew Sandpiper, 60 Dunlin, 3 Ruff plus 2 in, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel plus 4 in, 11 Redshank, a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 105 Black-headed Gull, 16 Black Tern, 91 Sandwich Tern, 12,160 Common Tern, 4 Roseate Tern, 69 Swift plus 3 in, 87 Sand Martin, 5,500 Swallow, 34 House Martin, 16 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Wheatear came in and 16 Starling.

Whilst new birds in included 5 Teal (Triangle), 4 Little Egret (Triangle), a Hobby blogging, 65,000 Knot at Chalk Bank, 7 Snipe (Clubley’s), a Black-tailed Godwit (Humber), a Greenshank blogging, a Cuckoo (Point), a Short-eared Owl blogging, the Shore Lark returned at Chalk Bank, 4 Yellow Wagtail, a Redstart (Church), 15 Whinchat, 13 Wheatear, a Grasshopper Warbler (Warren), 66 Willow Warbler, 10 Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Pied Flycatcher.

A good day for passage both at sea and overland in a strong W wind but with occasional showers.

On the move (S unless stated) today were 7 Shelduck out, a Pintail in, 2 Fulmar , a Little Egret , 2 Grey Heron, a Marsh Harrier, 108 Oystercatcher, 14 Ringed Plover, 10 Grey Plover, 305 Dunlin mostly juveniles, 2 Ruff plus 1 in, 2 Whimbrel plus 1 in, a Greenshank in, 4 Arctic Skua, a Little Gull, a juvenile Sabine’s Gull with the terns, 6 Black Tern, 96 Sandwich Tern, 8,550 Common Tern, 4 Roseate Tern, 950 Swift, 87 Sand Martin.

Notable grounded birds included 24 Teal blogging, 4 Little Egret (Canal Scrape), 35,000 Knot, a Tree Pipit (Wire Dump), 2 Flava Wagtail and only a single Willow Warbler.

Some more light passage in a day of mixed showers and sunny spells in a brisk southerly wind, a few good birds appeared today making rather enjoyable.

On the move were 11 Wigeon and 406 Teal S, 77 Gannet (63 S), 132 Oystercatcher S, 4 Golden Plover in, 10 Dotterel S (3 and a 7), 88 Dunlin S, a Snipe S, terns going to roost included 10 Black, 7,200 Common, 2 Roseate and 11 Arctic, 51 Swift, 4 Sand Martin, 23 Swallow, a Tree Pipit all S.

Other sightings were 241 Shelduck (Humber), 45 Teal (Clubley’s), a Little Egret and 2 Grey Heron (Humber), a Snipe and Spotted Redshank (Clubley’s), a Nightjar on a wooden crossbeam in Church Field, 2 Wheatear, a Garden Warbler(Sunny Cliff), 8 Willow Warbler.

A day that started with torrential rain cleared to sunny conditions and a moderate SW wind inducing some passage both at sea and overland with a few new arrivals for good measure.

On the move were a Wigeon in, 507 Teal S, 3 Shoveler in, 13 Eider N plus 2 S, 338 Common Scoter S, 338 Gannet S, a Little Egret S, 5 Grey Heron S, a Marsh Harrier S, 44 Oystercatcher S, 16 Ringed Plover S, 24 Golden Plover in, 37 Knot S plus 57 out and 12 in, 21 Sanderling S, 47 Dunlin S, 4 Snipe S, 24 Whimbrel in plus 21 S, 3 Pomarine Skua S, 29 Arctic Skua S, a juv Med Gull S, terns heading S or to roost included 32 Black Tern, 126 Sandwich, 10.000 Common and 2 Roseate, 6 Stock Dove S, 36 Swift S, 9 Yellow Wagtail S, and a male Crossbill S.

Elsewhere sightings of note included 3 Little Egret, 20,000 Knot, a Curlew Sandpiper (Chalk Bank), 9 Whimbrel, a Redstart (Potato Fields), 6 Whinchat (5 Triangle), 2 Wheatear, a Grasshopper Warbler (Canal Hedge), 2 Garden Warbler, 22 Willow Warbler, 4 Pied Flycatcher (2 point, 1 Church/Crown). North of the area 3 more Little Egrets were seen and migrant moths in the traps were 3 Dark Sword Grass.

A cool day with some sunny periods in a stiff SW wind, some light passage S and just the odd new arrival.

Highlights today were 213 Teal S plus 7 Humber, 3 Tufted Duck S, 370 Common Scoter, a Great Crested Grebe S, 2 Sooty Shearwater N, 109 Gannet, on the Humber were a Little Egret, a Hobby and a Peregrine, 52 Oystercatcher S, 415 Sanderling, a Ruff S, 2 Greenshank and a Green Sandpiper (Humber), a Common Sandpiper S, 3 Pomarine Skua (2 blogging, 1 N), 4 Arctic Skua blogging, a Long-tailed Skua N, 2 Bonxie blogging, a juvenile Med Gull and Yellow-legged Gull, a Little Tern, 5 Black Tern and 3 Roseate Tern going to roost, a cuckoo (Point), a Short-eared Owl (Sheep Field), 13 Swift S, a Kingfisher (Triangle), 11 Sand Martin, 246 Swallow, 50 House Martin and 15 Yellow Wagtail S, single Wheatear and Blackcap, 16 Willow Warbler, 2 Pied Flycatcher (Sheep Field/Cliff Farm).

On the moth front migrants/interesting moths trapped were 31 Silver Y, 3 Dark Sword Grass, 1 Diamond-back Moth, a Reed Dagger and an Old Lady.

Bright and sunny most of the time in a light WNW wind a few birds at sea but fairly quiet overall.

Of note were 5 Teal and 2 Shoveler (Canal), 1 Eider N, 2 Sooty Shearwater N, a Little Egret (Humber), 121 Oystercatcher S, a Greenshank (Humber), a Green and 2 Wood Sandpiper S, 2 Pomarine Skua S, 8 Arctic Skua, 2 Long-tailed Skua S, tern count included 3 Little, 4 Black, 4,400 Common and 2 Roseate, a Cuckoo (Point), 14 Sand Martin and 60 Swallow S, 14 Yellow Wagtail, a Whinchat (Wire Dump), a Wheatear, a Garden Warbler (Warren) and 23 Willow Warbler.

A showery day in a light-moderate swinging wind produced a trickle of passage with as per previous days a small amount of new arrivals.

Heading south were 4 Teal, 10 Common Scoter plus 12 N, 4 Fulmar N, 61 Gannet plus 46 N, 1 Grey Heron, 144 Oystercatcher, 74 Knot, 19 Sanderling, 17 Whimbrel, 23 Redshank, 7 Arctic Skua, 9 Little Gull N, whilst tern roost count included 2 Black Tern, 91 Sandwich Tern, 3 Roseate Tern, 4,900 Common Tern, 4 Swift, 3 Sand Martin and 32 Swallow also went S.

Elsewhere 3 Teal (Canal), 4 Whimbrel and a Greenshank (Humber), 2 Wheatear, a Sedge Warbler (Church Field Pond) and 16 Willow Warbler were about it. North of the area a Red-breasted Merganser was on Beacon Lagoon and a Short-eared Owl was along Kilnsea Straight.

Some sunny spells to start with clouding over with some showers late on in a force 4 SW and the swinging northerly, some light passage but not too much to get excited over.

Of note were 16 Teal S, 2 Storm Petrel tape lured late at night (one controlled bird 2589896), 52 Oystercatcher S, 9 Ringed Plover S, 21 Knot S, a Little Stint and a Curlew Sandpiper (Humber), a Snipe, 2 Greenshank (Humber), 10 Arctic Skua, very little tern passage due to the wind direction with 505 Common Tern and a Roseate Tern noted, a Short-eared Owl blogging, 38 Swift, 27 Sand Martin and 80 Swallow S, 2 Tree Pipit (Church Field), 3 Flava Wagtail S, 7 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Wheatear and 9 Willow Warbler.

A changeable day with a bright start, rain ending with thundery showers in a E-SW wind with the highlight of the day being a 1st summer Sabine’s Gull going to roost with the terns.

Of note today were 5 Teal S, 7 Eider N, 116 Common Scoter, a Manx Shearwater S, single Merlin and Hobby blogging, a Curlew Sandpiper, 802 Bar-tailed Godwit and 3 Greenshank (Humber), 2 Wood Sandpiper S, 2 Common Sandpiper (Humber), a Bonxie S, whilst terns going roost included 3 Black, 3 Roseate and 9610 Common, 72 Swift and 13 Sand Martin S, 8 Yellow Wagtail (Warren), a Wheatear (New Road), a Garden Warbler (Kew), a Wood Warbler (Warren) and 12 Willow Warbler.

A first for Spurn on the moth front with an Old Lady being caught!

Another cool day with variable amounts of cloud around in a decreasing SW wind a few birds on the move and another good Tern count in the evening.

Of note today were 184 Shelduck (Humber), a Teal and 2 Shoveler (Canal Scrape), a Merlin blogging, a few waders S including 13 Oystercatcher, 22 Ringed Plover, 23 Knot, 11 Sanderling, 7 Dunlin, 8 Whimbrel and 14 Redshank, 3 Greenshank (Humber), 3 Arctic Skua, whilst Tern numbers were 4 Black Tern, 13,200 Common Tern and 6 Roseate Terns, a Cuckoo (Wire Dump), 31 Swift and 9 Sand Martin S, 14 Yellow Wagtail (Triangle), 6 Wheatear (5 New Road, 1 Borrow Pit), 15 Willow Warbler and 6 Crossbill went S.

Migrant moths in the MV’s were 15 Silver Y, 1 Diamond-back Moth and a Evergestis extimalis.

Another day that felt more like October, with blustery winds from the SW and the occasional spot of rain a good Tern count and some waders moving at sea but little else.

Highlights today were 101 Shelduck (Humber), the 2 Shoveler (Canal), a Red-breasted Merganser at sea, a Little Egret (Humber), a Marsh Harrier N at sea, a Common Buzzard u-turned back north, single Kestrel, Merlin and Hobby blogging, 50 Oystercatcher S, 210 Ringed Plover (Chalk Bank), 200 Knot S, 309 Sanderling (Chalk Bank) plus 31 S, a Curlew Sandpiper S, 4 Black-tailed Godwit in, a Long-tailed Skua landed on the sea, a juv Med Gull S, 2 Little Gull S, 6 Black Tern, 124 Sandwich Tern, 13,400 Common Tern and 3 Roseate Tern mostly going to roost, 2 Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl blogging, 172 Swift S and 11 Willow Warbler.

A bright start that clouded up by late morning with rain by early afternoon sometimes torrential. Some birds on the move and just the odd grounded bird.

Heading south (unless stated) 12 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 1 Tufted Duck, 439 Oystercatcher, 102 Knot, 54 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 52 Whimbrel, 17 Redshank, 7 Arctic Skua, 3 Little Tern, 1 Black Tern, 6650 Commic Tern, 35 Swift, 32 Swallow.

Elsewhere notable sightings were 2 Shoveler (Canal Scrape), 3 Manx Shearwater N, 22 Cormorant, a Little Egret (Humber), single Merlin and Hobby blogging, a Ruff (Chalk Bank), a Turtle Dove (Triangle area), 3 Cuckoo, a Garden Warbler (Rose Cottage), 1 Chiffchaff, 10 Willow warbler and the highlight of the day was a Nightjar on a post in Church Field very early in the morning.

A cool day after the rain had cleared early morning with a stiff N wind some birds at sea but very few grounded birds.

Of note were 2 Shoveler (Canal), 57 Common Scoter, 2 Manx Shearwater, 316 Gannet, a Marsh Harrier S, a Hobby hunting the waders, 147 Oystercatcher S, a Snipe, 4 Whimbrel and 2 Greenshank on the Humber, 4 Pomarine Skua (1S, 3 out), 12 Arctic Skua, 2 Bonxie N, a Black Tern out, 1 Cuckoo (Point), 12 Swallow S, 6 Yellow Wagtail, a Garden Warbler (Kew) and 6 Willow Warbler.

Migrant moths in the MV‘s were 99 Silver Y, 2 Dark Sword-grass and a Diamond-back Moth.

Occasional heavy showers but also some lengthy sunny spells a few birds on the move.

Notable sightings being 6 Teal S, 4 Fulmar S, 2 Manx Shearwater N, 2 Little Egret (Triangle), 2 Grey Heron, 97 Oystercatcher S, 2 Curlew Sandpiper (Chalk Bank), a Ruff (Tank Blocks), 3 Snipe (Canal Scrape), a Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper (Canal), 13 Arctic Skua (12 S), a Bonxie S, 1 Black Tern out, a Cuckoo (Point), 300 Swallow S, a Tree Pipit S, 19 Yellow Wagtail, 13 Reed Warbler including some local birds, a Garden Warbler (Kew), 28 Willow Warbler and a Pied Flycatcher (Well Field).

Moths of note in the MV’s were 8 Silver Y, 2 Diamond-back Moth and an Evergestis extimalas.

A humid day that followed yesterday by clouding over late on a few birds on the move and a few new arrivals.

Highlights today were 10 Teal S, 2 Shoveler (Canal Scrape), 6 Tufted Duck S, a Manx Shearwater S, a Marsh Harrier S, single Merlin and Hobby, 30 Sanderling S, a Curlew Sandpiper (Chalk Bank), a Ruff S, 5 Green Sandpiper, 9 Arctic Skua S, 9 Black Tern S, 7,100 Common Tern and 80 Arctic Tern went to roost, 2 Cuckoo, 11 Swift S, 84 Sand Martin S, 386 Swallow S plus 100 blogging, 24 House Martin S, 6 Yellow Wagtail, the Grasshopper Warbler (Canal), a Garden Warbler (Church Field), 2 Wood Warbler (Churchyard), 25 Willow Warbler.

20 Silver Y were in the MV’s.

A bright start that clouded up by the afternoon giving rain in a light SW wind an increase in Willow Warblers and just the odd interesting bird enough to keep everyone on their toes.

Of note were 4 Shoveler (2 S, 2 Canal Scrape), 2 Marsh Harrier S, the Merlin blogging, 84 Oystercatcher, 12 Golden Plover and 20 Knot S, 2 Curlew Sandpiper (Chalk Bank), 2 Snipe (Triangle), 3 Arctic Skua S, a Black Tern (Chalk Bank), a Cuckoo (Point), a Short-eared Owl (Point), 22 Swift S, 130 Swallow blogging, the Blackcap (Point) and 64 Willow Warbler.

Migrant moths in the MV’s today were 61 Silver Y and a Diamond-back Moth.

A pleasant day with plenty of sunshine in a moderate W wind produced a few new arrivals and some light passage with the highlight being an adult Sabine’s Gull going to roost with the terns.

Of note was 8 Manx Shearwater S, a Little Egret (Humber), a Merlin blogging, a Hobby S, a Peregrine (Humber), 46 Oystercatcher S, the Little-ringed Plover (Clubley’s), 4 Snipe S plus 1 on Clubley’s, 7 Whimbrel, 3 Greenshank, 2 Wood Sandpiper S, 11 Arctic Skua (7 S), a Black Tern S, 1500 Common Tern (roost count), 2 Short-eared Owl blogging, 17 Swift S, the Shore Lark (Middle Camp), 150 Swallow S, a Whinchat (Middle Camp), a Blackcap (Point), 28 Willow Warbler.

A big increase in migrant moths with 270 Silver Y, 1 Dark Sword Grass, 2 Diamond back Moth and a Least Carpet the 2nd record for Yorkshire in the MV’s.

After the initial blurry eyed morning from all the BBQ attendants a few birds were found with a Red-throated Diver N, 5 Grey Heron and 2 Marsh Harrier S, a Hobby blogging, more waders S with 220 Oystercatcher, 29 Sanderling, 11 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper and 4 Turnstone, other waders included a Little-ringed Plover (Clubley’s), 5 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, a Spotted Redshank (Chalk Bank) and 10 Greenshank, 6 Little Gull N, 4 Black Tern S, 6200 Commic Tern went to roost, along with 2 Roseate Tern, a Cuckoo (Point), 50 Swift S, a Great Spotted Woodpecker blogging, the Shore Lark reappeared again at Middle Camp, 900 Swallow S, a Tree Pipit (Warren), 12 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Wheatear, the Grasshopper Warbler (Canal Hedge), and a huge increase in Willow warbler reaching 30.

Elsewhere a Wood Warbler was in Kilnsea and on the insect front a Broad-bodied Chaser was at Kew.

The day of the annual BBQ with heavy showers and a stiff SW-W wind threatening procedures it was good that it calmed down by the evening, a big thank you to all that attended and donated very generously around £400 was raised.

On the bird front of note was 3 Teal S, 5 Shoveler (Canal), 1 Manx Shearwater S, a Little Egret (Chalk Bank), a Marsh Harrier, 8 Kestrel and a Hobby S, 63 Oystercatcher S, a Little-ringed Plover (Clubley’s), 96 Knot and 43 Sanderling S, a Little Stint (Chalk Bank), 8 Curlew Sandpiper (5 Chalk Bank, 2 Gate, 1 S), 3 Snipe (Clubley’s), 62 Whimbrel (30 Humber, 32 S), 8 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper (Humber), 10 Turnstone S, 3 Black Tern S, a Long-eared Owl (Warren), 1000 Swift S, a Whinchat (Point), single Chiffchaff and Wood Warbler (Point), 3 Willow Warbler with pride of place going to a White rumped Sandpiper at Chalk Bank on the morning high-tide.

North of the area were 2 Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 4 Med Gull and a Roseate Tern. Also of note was a Harlequin Ladybird in the MV’s.

More warm sunny weather in a light-moderate SW wind on the move S today were 4 Shelduck, 2 Wigeon, 26 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 1 Tufted Duck, 21 Common Scoter plus 35 N, a Hobby, 298 Oystercatcher, 13 Golden Plover, 10 Grey Plover, 219 Knot, 71 Sanderling, 94 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 155 Whimbrel plus 46 in, 18 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, a juvenile Med Gull, 7 Little Tern, 3 Black Tern, 1 Roseate Tern, 300 Swift, 11 Sand Martin, 28 Swallow, 6 House Martin, a Grey Wagtail.

Elsewhere of note included 23 Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper, 5 Arctic Skua blogging, 200 Swift blogging, 8 Yellow Wagtail (Clubley’s) and a Wheatear at Old Inn.

Other fauna included a Whale Sp. distant offshore, and migrant moths in the MV’s were 13 Silver Y, 9 Diamond back Moth and a Lydia amplana (2nd for Spurn).