January 2006

The month ended grey and dull but rather mild like most of it had been, again with little wind.

Very little change in the bird life also with the only interesting birds being a Grey-lag Goose going north, 3 pale-bellied Brent Geese with the 300 dark- bellied, 2 Eider (1 N, 1 Humber), 29 Ringed Plover, 900 Golden Plover, 3 Woodcock (Point), 55 Black-tailed Godwit, an adult LBB Gull (Chalk Bank), 7 Meadow Pipit (Church Field), 3 Stonechat (2 Chalk Bank, 1 Southfield Farm), 94 Fieldfare, 9 Song Thrush, 8 Redwing, a Mistle Thrush (Triangle), 2 of Blackcap & Goldcrest (Point), whilst the Bearded Tit seemed very settled in the same spot.

North of the area in Easington the white headed Long-tailed Tit was seen in company of 12 British raced birds there were also 100 Fieldfare, 20 Redwing and 5 Mistle Thrush.

Still cloudy with little wind, what there was came from an easterly direction. Still plenty of thrushes around with 45 Blackbird, 88 Fieldfare, 7 Song Thrush & 11 Redwing, other grounded birds included 2 Jack Snipe, 4 Meadow Pipit (Church Field), a Stonechat (Canal Hedge), 2 Goldcrest, 8 Goldfinch (Point) & the Bearded Tit showed well after a Kestrel had left the area.

On the sea things were quiet except for gulls eating very small particles of floating food amongst the hundreds of Black-headed & Common Gulls was an adult Med Gull.

Birds on the Humber included 7 Pink-footed Geese which carried on south after a rest, 197 Brent Geese, 62 Shelduck, 14 Wigeon, 200 Golden Plover, 180 Lapwing & 38 Black-tailed Godwit.

Another overcast day with a light frost at dawn but rather mild for the time of year.

Nothing much to report on the bird front with a Woodcock (Point), only 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Barn Owl, 2 Stonechat (Chalk Bank), 39 Blackbird, 84 Fieldfare (Point), 10 Redwing, a Goldcrest (Point) & 8 Goldfinch (Point).

More work was carried out today with paths being strimmed and a clear felled area created at the Point, which is to be fenced off to provide an undisturbed ride with a viewing area.

Continuing in the same format with little change in birds or weather. Work party weekend with lots of “bush bashing” and burning around Kew & the Church Field but not much birding done.

Grounded birds included a Stonechat (Pallas’s Pond), 41 Blackbird, 80 Fieldfare, 9 Redwing, 6 Goldfinch & the Bearded Tit was still in exactly the same spot as it has been all week must be those short wings!

Other birds of note were 600 Golden Plover & 46 Black-tailed Godwit (Tank Blocks), a Woodcock (Triangle), and only 1 Barn Owl today.

An uneventful day in constant showers and a cold NE wind gusting up to around force 4+.

On the Humber there were 170 Brent Geese plus 1 pale-bellied race, 34 Wigeon, 72 Mallard, and 51 Black-tailed Godwit. Other notable birds were 3 Barn Owl & 5 Meadow Pipit (Church Field), 2 Stonechat (Chalk Bank), 50 Blackbird, 70 Fieldfare, 14 Redwing, a Blackcap (Chalk Bank), 2 Goldcrest (Cliff Farm), 7 Goldfinch (Point) and the Bearded Tit was in the same spot albeit quite elusive.

Nine birds were ringed today including 4 Blackbird, a Redwing & a Reed Bunting.

An interesting day for the time of year, still in a cold NE wind.

A much better day at sea with 22 Red-throated Diver, 12 Fulmar, 5 Gannet, a Skua sp S far out, 1 Little Gull S, 150 Herring Gull S, a Kittiwake S, over 200 Auk sp but very distant. Grounded birds included a pale-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Peregrine chasing each other, 81 Sanderling, 2 Jack Snipe (Salt Marsh), 2 Woodcock (Warren/Crown), 27 Black-tailed Godwit, a Long-eared Owl at the Gate by the Warren, 3 Meadow Pipit (Church Field), 4 Pied Wagtail, 49 Fieldfare, 9 Redwing, a Goldcrest (Point), the Bearded Tit was still between Fourways & Sunnycliff, 11 Goldfinch (6 Point, 5 Crown).

A day of change with some sun and some showers and a cold stiff NE wind.

Some passage at sea with 9 Red-throated Diver, 11 Teal S, 3 Kittiwake N, quite a few distant auks and 5 Guillemot.

Other birds of note were a male Merlin (Warren), a single Grey Partridge, 3 Jack Snipe (Salt Marsh), 42 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Barn Owl, 91 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing and a Snow Bunting (Point).

Just a glimpse of some sun today under hazy skies although feeling rather cold in a light variable wind, some light passage at sea and a small increase in thrushes.

Birds moving at sea included 13 Red-throated Diver, 3 Wigeon S, 10 Teal S, a Common Scoter N, 16 Knot & 5 Bar-tailed Godwit S. Grounded birds were 2 Jack Snipe (Salt Marsh), 4 Woodcock (1 Point, 3 Triangle), 4 Meadow Pipit, a Rock Pipit between the Warren & the Tank Blocks, 35 Blackbird, 82 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing the Bearded Tit next to Sunny Cliff showed itself again in exactly the same spot as Sunday, 7 Goldfinch (1 Point, 6 Warren).

Six Ringed Plover and 16 Sanderling were the first in the recording area for a while and Black-tailed Godwits reached 48 today. Twelve Birds were ringed today including 6 Fieldfare. Late news from yesterday was a Tawny Owl at Cliff Farm.

Some light duck passage today but nothing really of any note.

At sea 34 Red-throated Diver, 9 Shelduck S, 5 Wigeon S, 1 Teal S, 18 Eider S, 2 Common Scoter S, 11 Knot S, were Observed.

In the recording area birds of note included 300 Golden Plover, 200 Lapwing, a Jack Snipe (Salt Marsh), 19 Black-tailed Godwit, 33 Fieldfare, 14 Redwing, 2 Goldcrest (Point), 5 Goldfinch (Warren).

A much better day after a frosty start, with plenty of hazy sunshine, enticing birds into view.

WeBS count today producing 61 Mallard, 170 Oystercatcher, 282 Grey Plover, 2500 Knot, 1200 Dunlin, 30 Black-tailed Godwit, 250 Bar-tailed Godwit.

At least 3 Barn Owl were in the area, 5 Meadow Pipit (Church Field) a Skylark, 39 Fieldfare, 9 Redwing, a Blackcap (Point), a Yellowhammer (Church Field) with the most interesting and odd find being a Bearded Tit between Southfield Farm & Sunnycliffe feeding on Rose-bay Willow herb seeds probably the first January record of this species at Spurn.

An interesting day, with a couple of strange records for the time of year.

At sea 72 Red-throated Diver (56 N, 16 S), a Great Northern Diver N the first of the year, 6 Gannet S, 5 Wigeon S, 4 Bonxie S all together, 3 Little Gull N.

Other notable birds seen were a Greylag Goose S, 280 Brent Geese, a Peregrine (Point), a Jack Snipe (Clubley’s), only 13 Black-tailed Godwit, 90 Wood Pigeon, 35 Fieldfare (Point), 4 Redwing, 140 Starling. At the Gas Terminal stubble field there were c50 Twite, 150+ Snow Bunting, 2 Lapland Bunting.

A very quiet day with a very strong W wind gusting to force 6 +.

All that was of note is a Skylark (Wire Dump), 1 Meadow Pipit (Church Field), 17 Fieldfare, 3 Song Thrush, 5 Redwing and 3 Siskin went south.

Very little change as we go back to cloudy dull weather and an increasing SW wind.

On the Humber were 170 Brent Geese, 16 Wigeon, 62 Mallard, 200 Golden Plover, 400 Lapwing, 36 Black-tailed Godwit, 180 Bar-tailed Godwit.

Whilst other birds of note included a Barn Owl, 2 Meadow Pipit, 3 Stonechat (2 Wire Dump, 1 Walker Butts), 65 Fieldfare, 9 Redwing, a Mistle Thrush (Triangle), a Goldcrest (Point), 4 Siskin (Crown), a Yellowhammer (Church Field). 3 birds were ringed today (1 Blackbird, 2 Greenfinch), plus a British ringed Greenfinch was controlled.

At least a short spell of sunshine before it clouded up, with a light SE wind blowing all day.

Little change to previous days except for 3 Pink-footed Geese (Triangle), 3 Teal (Walker Butts), only 22 Black-tailed Godwits today, a Stonechat (Southfield Farm), 44 Fieldfare (Point), a Mistle Thrush (Canal Hedge) and 3 Linnet at Sheep Field.

Late news for Monday 16th concerned the "northern" Long tailed Tit which was seen down to TWO feet nr Easington churchyard, unfortunately the observer messed up the exposure on his camera and got probably the worst shots of this bird so far despite the close range!!!!

Some sunny spells brightened up a dull morning in a decreasing W wind inducing the odd bird to head south.

On the move were 13 Grey Geese sp. (probably White-fronts) that came in and landed on the Humber when the tide was miles out! 5 Brent Geese S, 9 Eider S and 9 Siskin S.

Feeding on the Humber were a Cormorant, 96 Shelduck, 300 Golden Plover, 350 Lapwing, 42 Black-tailed Godwit and the Spotted Redshank also seen in the area. Grounded birds included a Stock Dove, 50 Wood Pigeon, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Stonechat (Lighthouse), 38 Blackbird, 67 Fieldfare, 6 Song Thrush, 9 Redwing and 2 Goldfinch.

A typical dull winters day, with very little different to look at.

At sea all that moved were 4 Shelduck S, whilst on land a Teal was in Walker Butts, 228 Golden Plover, 282 Lapwing, 33 Black-tailed Godwit were on the Humber, the Spotted Redshank was seen flying around the Triangle, 1 Meadow Pipit (Triangle), a Stonechat (Clubley’s), 24 Blackbird, 10 Fieldfare (Point), 2 Song Thrush, 2 Redwing, a Goldcrest (Point), 2 Goldfinch with the highlight being the Lapland Bunting on the edge of the Salt Marsh again.

A Dunlin was the only bird ringed today.

A better day late on with some sunshine, and at last a slight improvement in bird life. On the sea large Gulls were about the only birds moving except a Goldeneye, which went S, on the sea there was a Red-throated Diver & a Guillemot.

Birds on the Humber included 22 Brent Geese, 81 Shelduck, 2 Wigeon, 74 Mallard, 3 Pintail, 300 Golden Plover, 250 Lapwing, 18 Black-tailed Godwit.

Grounded birds included a Jack Snipe (Salt Marsh), 2 Meadow Pipit, a Stonechat (Walker Butts), 22 Fieldfare (Point), 5 Redwing, a Mistle Thrush went S, 2 Goldfinch (Point) with the highlight of the day being a very approachable Lapland Bunting on the edge of the Salt Marsh near the Tank Blocks. At the Gas Terminal there were 35 Twite & c100 Snow Bunting.

A typical dull winter’s day, with little happening anywhere.

A wader count on the Humber produced 310 Golden Plover, 250 Grey Plover, 510 Lapwing, 4800 Knot, 1000 Dunlin, 34 Black-tailed Godwit & the Spotted Redshank commuted between the Triangle and Beacon ponds.

At sea 5 Wigeon & 9 Teal went S, a Merlin was hunting the area, 6 Meadow Pipit (Clubley’s), a Stonechat (Blue Bell) & 30 Fieldfare were about the best of today’s birding.

A dull day with just a glimpse of sunshine and a cold S wind, just the odd new bird around the area.

At sea a Gannet went N, 17 Black-headed Gull S, the highlight of the day being an adult Iceland Gull that came in of the sea onto the Humber & 43 GBB Gull went through.

On land 2 Grey Partridge (Walker Butts), a Jack Snipe (Canal Scrape), 44 Black-tailed Godwit, a Stock Dove went S, a Barn Owl (Triangle), 13 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush (Triangle) & a Goldcrest (Point).

More sunshine although feeling rather cold in a stiff SW wind but little in the way of new birds.

The only birds moving were 2 Red-throated Diver N, 2 Mute Swan S over the Humber, 3 Guillemot (1 N, 2 S) & 2 Skylark in then NW.

The main highlight today was the Bean & White-front Geese moved into the Triangle where they stayed all day, 2 Teal (Walker Butts), the Spotted Redshank reappeared again in the Triangle, 35 Wood Pigeon a good count for the time of year, 2 Meadow Pipit, 27 Fieldfare (Point), a Blackcap & a Goldcrest (Point), a single Siskin (Crown).

At least plenty of sunshine today if no birds!

Some passage at sea with 45 Red-throated Diver, 5 Mallard N, 4 Lapwing in, a LBB Gull S, 1 Kittiwake N, plenty of distant Auk’s & 6 Guillemot.

Other birds of note were 350 Brent Geese (Humber), 130 Lapwing, only 8 Black-tailed Godwits today, a Barn Owl (Triangle), 2 Skylark in, 25 Blackbird, 11 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 2 Goldfinch (Point). North of the area in Long Bank the Bean & White-fronted Geese were feeding again.

An awful day for birding with a strong SW wind and driving rain all day keeping most grounded birds well hidden.

Sea watching produced 4 Red-throated Diver, a Great Crested Grebe, 15 Teal S, 2 Mallard S, a Kittiwake N, 8 Guillemot & a Razorbill N. Other birds of note were 17 Black-tailed Godwit, 32 Blackbird, 13 Fieldfare (11 Point), 2 Song Thrush, 8 Redwing & 2 Goldfinch (Point).

North of the area there were no sign of yesterday’s geese but they may have been well hidden in a less viewable field. Ringing today consisted of a Dunnock, 3 Blackbird, 1 Redwing & a Chaffinch.

The first glimpse of any sunshine for days cheered things up no end, a few more thrushes than of late and some more Geese around the area. Grounded migrants were a Meadow Pipit (Triangle), 54 Blackbird (35 Point), 135 Fieldfare (70 Point-Wire Dump, 62 Triangle), 5 Song Thrush, 7 Redwing, a male Blackcap (Chalk Bank) and 2 Goldfinch (Point).

On the Humber were 24 Wigeon, 7 Teal, 52 Mallard, a female Peregrine, 24 Black-tailed Godwit whilst other birds of note included 19 White-fronted Geese that u-turned over the Triangle and tried to settle in Easington Fields, 5 Grey Partridge (Church Field) & a Water Rail (Canal).

North of the area in Long Bank single “tundra” Bean & White-fronted Geese, 2 Snow Bunting, other sightings included 350 Brent Geese (Easington Fields), a female Goosander (Beacon Ponds) and a Grey Wagtail (Easington). Three birds were ringed today Blackbird, Chaffinch & Greenfinch.

With the weather still very dull and drizzly with little wind no change was expected, but a few good records today brightened things up!

Grounded birds included a Short-eared Owl (Salt Marsh),1 Meadow Pipit, 46 Blackbird, 13 Fieldfare, 23 Redwing, a Blackcap (Point), 1 Goldcrest 62 Starling, 2 Goldfinch (Point), a strange record of a Hawfinch trapped at the Warren in the afternoon a presumed cold weather movement of a continental bird, 2 Yellowhammer (Church Field).

Ducks on the Humber were 25 Shelduck, 23 Wigeon, 42 Teal went up river, 34 Mallard, and the surprise of the day was 3 Smew (2 males, 1 female) heading south down the Humber a very bird at Spurn. Also in the area were 200 Golden Plover & Lapwing, the Spotted Redshank (Triangle), and a Barn Owl (Church Field). In Easington the Corn Buntings near the gas terminal had been joined by c100 Snow Buntings and 10+ Twite. Ringing today included 3 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush the Hawfinch.

Another chilly dull day which never got really light very little change to previous days. At sea 22 Red-throated Diver (21 N) was about the only birds seen.

Grounded birds included 3 Teal (Walker Butts), a Water Rail (Top Canal), 200 Lapwing, 2 Jack Snipe (Canal Scrape), 8 Snipe, 26 Black-tailed Godwit (Tank Blocks), the Spotted Redshank reappeared in the Triangle, 2 Stonechat (Horseshoe Cottage/Walker Butts), 22 Fieldfare, 5 Redwing, 2 Blackcap (Point/Chalk Bank), a Goldfinch (Point), 3 Siskin went south & 3 Yellowhammer (Church Field).

North of the area there were 350 Brent Geese (Long Bank) & 17 Corn Bunting at the Gas terminal. Three birds were ringed today single Blackbird, Redwing & Greenfinch.

A dull day all round, not just the weather!

Birds of note included 136 Brent Geese, 3 Teal (Walker Butts), 34 Black-tailed Godwit (Tank Blocks), a Barn Owl, 44 Blackbird, 45 Fieldfare, 9 Redwing and the Greenfinch population seemed larger today with 95 birds.

Let's hope for better over the weekend for the Mike Clegg Memorial birdrace. Good luck to all the other teams, you're gonna need it this year!

Another dull day with a cold easterly wind with the odd wintry shower, very little new around although a lot of Auk’s at sea but very distant.

Birds observed at sea included 5 Red-throated Diver, a Gannet S, 3 Wigeon N, 3 Eider, 37 Common Scoter S, 37 Herring Gull S, 224 Auk sp. S & 2 Guillemot S. The only southerly passage overland was a Merlin & 4 White-fronted Geese that blogged over the Triangle before heading off, a good record so early in the year.

Other birds of note were a Woodcock (Point), 26 Black-tailed Godwit (Tank Blocks), an increase in Collared Dove, with 13, a Barn Owl (Triangle), 24 Fieldfare, only 4 Redwing and 2 Goldfinch.

A dark grey day with not a lot happening, continuous cloud cover all day and a light wind.

On the Humber were 27 Brent Geese, 17 Shelduck, a Wigeon, 25 Mallard, c1000 Golden Plover came down from the fields but u-turned back north, 47 Black-tailed Godwit.

Grounded birds included 4 Meadow Pipit (Church Field), 11 Robin, 2 Stonechat (Chalk Bank), 53 Blackbird, 53 Fieldfare (50 Point), 10 Song Thrush, 36 Redwing, a male Blackcap (Point), 68 Starling, a Siskin (Crown), 3 Yellowhammer (Church Field).

A quiet day compared to yesterday with just an increase in Fieldfare.

Grounded birds included 4 Meadow Pipit (Church Field), 2 Pied Wagtail (Point/Blue Bell), 44 Blackbird, 75 Fieldfare (31 Point, 41 Wire Dump, 3 Warren), 7 Song Thrush, 28 Redwing (22 Point), a female Blackcap (Point), a Brambling & 2 Goldfinch (Point), a Yellowhammer (Church Field).

Other notable birds were 4 Little Grebe an increase of one, 65 Black-tailed Godwit (Tank Blocks-Crown).

A much more sober day with quite a few interesting birds around, with some passage in light winds.

Birds on the move south included a Teal, 2 Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipit, 21 Fieldfare, 44 Siskin & a Twite. Grounded birds were 2 Water Rail (Top Canal), a Rock Pipit, 2 Waxwing (Point) one of which was a bird seen heading south earlier, 13 Robin, a Stonechat (Chalk Bank), 71 Blackbird, 53 Fieldfare, 13 Song Thrush, 31 Redwing, a Blackcap (Warren), 2 Goldcrest, 2 Linnet (Point), a female Bullfinch at the Churchyard which then flew into the Triangle, 3 Snow Bunting (1 Point, 2 Warren) & 2 Yellowhammer (Rose Cottage).

Other birds of note were a Great Crested Grebe, 200 Brent Geese, 23 Wigeon (Humber), 2 Gadwall, 5 Teal, an extra Coot has appeared making a total of 6, 17 Ringed Plover (Wire Dump), 42 Black-tailed Godwit (Tank Blocks), a rare winter visitor at Spurn a Spotted Redshank which landed on the Canal Scrape before heading up to Beacon Ponds. North of the area at Easington Gas Terminal there were flocks of Twite (26) & Corn Bunting (24) in the stubble field.

Here we go again! Sadly there was not a lot to report, due blurred vision and sore heads.

A few birds were on the move with 12 Wigeon in, 1 Meadow Pipit S, 1 Rock Pipit S, 2 Yellowhammer S. Other birds of note were 124 Brent Geese, 48 Black-tailed Godwit (Tank Blocks) a bird that has never liked Spurn before but seems to be growing in numbers, 24 Blackbird, 33 Fieldfare, 12 Song Thrush, 6 Redwing and a Yellowhammer at Cliff Farm.

North of the area there were another 28 Black-tailed Godwit at Chalky Point, 14 Snipe, a Woodcock at the Riverside, 2 Stonechat (Beacon Lane), and in Easington there was a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Continental Coal Tit and 4 Long-tailed Tits but still only one with a white head! It looks like one may have fallen foul of the bad weather, or a Sparrowhawk.