July 2007

Quiet to day with the wind starting of in the NW before veering SE, with plenty of summer sun, highlights today were few with a Grey Heron S, 2 Oystercatcher S, 6 Whimbrel in plus 3 on the Humber along with a Greenshank, 1 Stock Dove (Kew), a Cuckoo (Chalk Bank), 10 Sand Martin and 40 Swallow S, 2 Yellow Wagtail, a Wheatear (Point) and 3 Willow Warbler.

Lots of butterflies today with 106 Small Whites and 39 Peacock being good counts and a Migrant Hawker at Kew was the 1st of the year.

A light trickle of birds on the move, although the wind was from the NW there was plenty of warm sunshine making it a rather pleasant day.

Of note today was a Marsh Harrier at the Point, 450 Golden Plover and 12,000 Knot on the Humber, 2 Sanderling and 3 Turnstone S, lots of Terns and Kittiwakes feeding distantly feeding offshore, a Turtle Dove (Warren), 1 Swift S, 100 Swallow S plus plenty of youngsters around, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Wheatear (Point/Cliff Farm), 8 Willow Warbler and 94 Linnet, whilst in Church Field over 100 baby Newts were seen.

Another quiet day although there was plenty of sunshine and sore heads after yesterdays events.

Of note today were 2 Red-throated Diver N, a Fulmar N, 4 Sooty Shearwater N, 9 Manx Shearwater, 178 Gannet, 2 Grey Heron S, 27 Common Scoter (26 N), 2 juvenile Marsh Harrier S, 3000 Knot and 7000 Dunlin (Humber), 3 Little Gull N, an adult Yellow-legged Gull (Humber), 900 Kittiwake N, 4 Swift, a Tree Pipit S, a juvenile Whinchat (Canal Zone) and a Roseate Tern at the Ponds.

Out of the area at Patrington Haven a Buff-breasted Sandpiper was present over the high tide.

A nice warm sunny day although it was rather breezy from the W-NW a few birds on the move south with 1 Little Egret, 3 Common Scoter plus 1 out and 15 N, 43 Oystercatcher, 147 Knot plus 19 in, 5 Sanderling, 56 Dunlin plus 36 in, 9 Whimbrel, 21 Turnstone, 212 Swift, 5 Sand Martin, 10 Swallow, 5 House Martin, 2 Flava Wagtail, 1 Tree Sparrow.

Other sightings included a juvenile Peregrine, a Little-ringed Plover (New Scrape), 600 Golden Plover, 3000 Knot, a Black-tailed Godwit (Humber), 1 Greenshank, 2 Cuckoo and 1 Willow Warbler whilst at sea 1 Fulmar S, 1 Manx Shearwater, 1 Little Gull N, a Roseate Tern S, 862 Common Tern S and 29 Arctic Tern S. A Privet Hawkmoth was trapped today the 5th record for Spurn.

Today was a charity fundraising day with a five a-side tournament and a quiz night in the pub, a good day was had by all albeit with a few cuts, bruises and strains and dented prides.

A rather quiet day with no rain! All that was notable was 3 Grey Heron S, 14 Oystercatcher S, 75 Knot S, 32 Dunlin S, 15 Whimbrel S, 5 Turnstone S, 4 Arctic Skua blogging, 550 Swift S, 14 Sand Martin S, 12 Swallow S and 4 Willow Warbler (3 Point), whilst at Beacon Lagoons a single Roseate Tern was seen.

On the moth front a Convolvulus Hawkmoth was trapped along with 3 Silver Y.

Yet more heavy rain in the afternoon after a bright start with some thunder admixed in a strong force 4-5 W-SW wind a few birds heading south both at sea and overland and just the odd new arrival.

On the move south (unless stated) were 7 Shelduck plus 3 in, 2 Wigeon, 1 Tufted Duck, 31 Oystercatcher, 61 Knot plus 5 in, 19 Sanderling, 14 Dunlin plus 2 in, 34 Whimbrel, 23 Redshank plus 7 in, 35 Turnstone, 526 Swift, 11 Sand Martin, 1 House Martin, 6 Flava Wagtail.

Elsewhere birds of note included a Manx Shearwater S, single Greenshank and Green Sandpiper, 17 Arctic Skua (9 S), 15 Little Gull, 5 Turtle Dove (4 Warren), a juvenile Black Redstart at the Point and 2 Willow Warbler.

More rain most of the day with a fresh SW wind a good day for passage at sea and for Swifts with just the odd new bird around.

On the move were 1 Fulmar S, 2 Manx Shearwater S, 2 Little Egret S, 13 Shelduck S, 3 Teal S, 2 Tufted Duck S, 48 Common Scoter N plus 1 S, 277 Oystercatcher S, 4 Golden Plover S plus 8 in, 62 Knot S plus 19 in, 28 Sanderling S, 39 Dunlin S plus 20 in, 9 Black-tailed Godwit S, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit S, 112 Whimbrel S, 16 Redshank S plus 7 in, 25 Turnstone S plus 11 in, 2290 Swift S, 6 Sand Martin S, 76 Swallow S, 5 Flava Wagtail S, and the highlight of the day GREAT WHITE EGRET south at sea at 14.23.

Elsewhere notable sightings included 133 Shelduck on the Humber, 20 Whimbrel, a Greenshank (Humber), 1 Green Sandpiper (Clubley’s), 10 Arctic Skua blogging, 59 Little Gull, 2 Yellow Wagtail (Triangle), a Grasshopper Warbler at the bottom end of the Canal, 1 Willow Warbler (Point).

Only occasional showers today with some welcomed sunshine, and a NW-W wind, a trickle of passage today but not a lot to get you excited.

Heading south were a Grey-lag Goose, 8 Common Scoter plus 16 out, 17 Oystercatcher, 22 Sanderling, 7 Dunlin, 53 Whimbrel, 4 Redshank, 13 Turnstone, 6 Swift and 7 Sand Martin elsewhere of note were a Red-throated Diver S, 5 Grey Heron (2 W up river), 65 Shelduck out, 3000 Knot, a Greenshank (Tank Blocks), 5 arctic Skua blogging, 1 Bonxie S, 7 Little Gull, 3 Turtle Dove including 2 juveniles, a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Narrows), 5 Flava Wagtail and 4 Reed Warbler.

Insects of note were a Brown Argus at Wire Dump and in the trap at Kew a Clouded Magpie a 1st for Spurn and the 4th for East Yorkshire.

Another dreary wet start to the day but at least there was some sun in the afternoon very quiet on the bird front.

Of note today were 39 Gannet, 2 Grey Heron (Triangle), 212 Shelduck out, 18 Common Scoter S, a Sparrowhawk (Wire Dump), 4 Oystercatcher S, 4 Sanderling S, 4 Dunlin S, 2 Whimbrel S, 1 Redshank S, 3 Arctic Skua, 2 Arctic Tern blogging, 6 Razorbill, 3 Turtle Dove, a Cuckoo, 4 Swift S and 2 Yellow Wagtail (Triangle), the Little Stint was still at Beacon Lagoons.

Immigrant moths in the traps were 3 Diamond-back Moth, 1 Dark Sword Grass and 1 Silver Y.

A much better day today with plenty of birds and some early morning sunshine.

At sea a Sooty Shearwater S, 8 Manx Shearwater, 92 Gannet, 3 Teal S, 63 Common Scoter, 39 Dunlin S, a Black-tailed Godwit came in, 2 Whimbrel S, 2 Arctic Skua, 12 Little Gull, 355 Sandwich Tern, a Roseate Tern, 515 Common Tern and 39 Arctic Tern went to roost, 3 Razorbill went N and a Puffin was on the Humber.

Other interesting sightings were 4 Grey Heron (Triangle), 1 Little Egret S, 20 Whimbrel (Humber), 1 Greenshank, 5 Green Sandpiper and 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Cuckoo, 100 Swift S, a Kingfisher (Triangle), 6 Yellow Wagtail, 2 juvenile Wheatear, a Grasshopper Warbler (Canal Zone), a Willow Warbler, whilst at Beacon Lagoons a Little Stint was outside the hide. On the insect front 2 Azure Damselflies were on Church Field Pond, whist in the moth traps a Bedstraw Hawkmoth and a Rush Veneer were caught.

More rain today with constant light drizzle and frequent heavy spells.

Of note today were 4 Manx Shearwater S, 2 Grey Heron, a Little Egret (Gate), 1 Teal S, 3 Eider out, 69 Common Scoter S, 27 Oystercatcher S, 63 Sanderling S, a Curlew Sandpiper of the Crown, 2 Dunlin and a Whimbrel S, 2 Green Sandpiper and a Wood Sandpiper over the Warren N, 3 Common Sandpiper, 5 Arctic Skua blogging, 2 Little Gull, 2 Roseate Tern and a Black Tern S, 67 Swift blogging, 3 Cuckoo (Point), the juv Wheatear (Cliff Farm) and a Siskin over Church Field.

Deteriorating weather with heavy rain by early afternoon a few birds at sea but very few passerines.

At sea 6 Fulmar, 7 Manx Shearwater N, 196 Gannet, 1 Teal S, a Tufted Duck N, 5 Eider, 191 Common Scoter, waders going south were 170 Oystercatcher, 18 Sanderling, 25 Dunlin, 1 Curlew, 2 Redshank, 6 Arctic Skua were blogging, 6 Little Gull N, 32 Kittiwake, 14 Guillemot and a Razorbill N.

Elsewhere of note were 3 Grey Heron, a Sparrowhawk (Point), 8000 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Swift S, 6 Yellow Wagtail and a Corn bunting between the Warren and the Triangle.

No rain today just fog more or less all day, very little of note just a trickle of waders moving at sea.

Highlights were 1 Sparrowhawk, 53 Oystercatcher, 16 Sanderling, single Dunlin and Turnstone all S at sea, single Arctic Skua and Little Gull blogging, 2 Yellow-legged Gull (adult/3rd year) at Chalk Bank, a juvenile Cuckoo in the Triangle, 5 Swift and 6 Swallow S, 12 Yellow Wagtail (Triangle area), yesterday a Wheatear and 2 Grasshopper Warbler both reeling (Canal Scrape/ Cliff Farm).

A much warmer day with little rain, some light passage a couple of new arrivals and the ROLLER being seen late in the afternoon near Skeffling.

Heading south were a Grey Heron, 1 Hobby, 6 Oystercatcher, 1 Sanderling, 3 Dunlin plus 45 in, 2 Whimbrel plus 1 in, 1 Turnstone, 2700 Swift, 73 Sand Martin, 11 Swallow, 7 House Martin, 8 Flava Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Goldfinch.

Elsewhere of note were a Sparrowhawk (Point), 600 Golden Plover, 23 Whimbrel, 139 Curlew, 953 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpiper, an adult Med Gull (Humber), 20 Little Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Arctic Skua, 3 Turtle Dove including a juvenile, 4 Cuckoo, a Kingfisher (Pallas’s Pond), a Tree Pipit north over the Triangle, 5 Yellow Wagtail, a juvenile Wheatear (Tank Blocks). An Essex Skipper was at the Potato Fields and 7 Red-veined Darter were on Clubley’s.

A day of mixed showers and lengthy sunny spells with passage being the main event today except for a cracking adult PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER turning up at 19.20 at high tide staying around 20 minutes just south of the Warren before flying of north before possibly heading SW across the Humber towards Lincs.

On the move south today was 26 Oystercatcher, 2 Ringed Plover, 99 Knot, 44 Sanderling, 168 Dunlin, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 32 Whimbrel, 17 Curlew, 34 Redshank, 11 Turnstone, 2500 Swift, 37 Sand Martin, 5 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 6 Flava Wagtail. At sea 5 Manx Shearwater S, 106 Gannet, 49 Common Scoter, 8 Arctic Skua (5 S), 3 Little Gull S, c500 Sandwich Tern, 7 Arctic Tern plus plenty of distant Terns feeding offshore. Elsewhere 72 Shelduck out E, 400 Golden Plover on the Humber plus 17 in, a Curlew Sandpiper (Humber), 13 Whimbrel (New Road), a Common Sandpiper (Narrows), 4 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Flava Wagtail.

At Beacon Lagoons there was a Little-ringed Plover and 6 Greenshank. Sadly no sightings of the Roller were reported today. Moths of note today were a Privet Hawkmoth, and 2 rare micros in Yorkshire were Penpelia Formosa and Coleophora albidella.

The main story today was the ROLLER which started in the same area as yesterday between Easington and Skeffling but moved to the Easington straight between Easington and Kilnsea in the late afternoon, although it was rather flighty and disappeared from time to time, some good views were also had.

Elsewhere in a pleasant warm day there was some passage south with waders and some Swifts and some good wader counts. On the move south were 24 Oystercatcher, 16 Knot plus 150 out SE out of a count of over 700, 22 Sanderling, 43 Dunlin, 47 Whimbrel plus 19 in, 4 Curlew, 21 Redshank, 6 Green Sandpiper came in, 1 Turnstone, 1800 Swift, 12 Swallow.

Other birds of note included 12 Eider (3 out, 9 N), 32 Common Scoter N, 5000 Dunlin (Humber), 2 Common Sandpiper, 8 Little Gull (7 in, 1 Chalk Bank), the white rumped Cuckoo, 3 Flava Wagtail, and a further 5 Common Sandpiper at Beacon Lagoons.

With light rain all afternoon after a bright start waders were the main birds around with 42 Sanderling, 4000 Dunlin, 3 Whimbrel, a Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper (Tank Blocks), 3 Common Sandpiper, elsewhere of note were a Red-throated Diver on the sea, 3 Arctic Skua, 25 Little Gull (Humber), a 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Roseate Tern S, 2 Turtle Dove, 70 Swift blogging, a Yellow Wagtail (Warren) and a Chiffchaff (Point).

The highlight of the day was a cracking adult looking ROLLER found just north of Easington on wires before heading north towards Skeffling but was re-found later on in a field between the two villages, also of note was a Jay in Easington and a Little-ringed Plover at Beacon Lagoons.

A good day for passage with waders and Swifts on the move with total cloud cover to start with becoming bright and sunny in a decreasing wind.

Heading south were 1 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 123 Common Scoter, 134 Oystercatcher, 10 Ringed Plover, 69 Knot, 24 Sanderling, 87 Dunlin, 30 Black-tailed Godwit, 34 Whimbrel, 15 Curlew, 65 Redshank, 2 Turnstone, 3 Wood Pigeon, 3113 Swift, 2 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 10 Flava Wagtail and 1 Goldfinch.

Other sightings of interest were a Great Crested Grebe on the sea, 1 Little Egret (Humber), a Shoveler (Triangle), 240 Golden Plover, 3000 Dunlin, a Snipe (Triangle), 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Whimbrel, 3 Arctic Skua, an adult Yellow-legged Gull (Tank Blocks) and 2 Cuckoo.

A day that started sunny before persistent rain from early afternoon in light winds, more waders returning and some light passage both at sea and overland.

At sea a Manx Shearwater N, 84 Gannet, 42 Common Scoter N, 3 Arctic Skua blogging, 2 Little Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gull at the Point an adult and a 3rd year bird, 15 Kittiwake S, 154 Sandwich Tern, 3 Roseate Tern, 114 Common Tern, 36 Arctic Tern mostly going to roost.

Birds heading south were 7 Oystercatcher plus 2 in, 9 Knot, 2 Sanderling, 17 Dunlin, 6 Whimbrel, 4 Redshank, 70 Swift, 3 Sand Martin, 5 Meadow Pipit and a Yellow Wagtail. Other birds of note were 3000 Dunlin (Humber), 6 Whimbrel, 3 Cuckoo including one with a white rump and 2 Yellow Wagtail (Point), whilst at Beacon Lagoons there was a Spotted Redshank and 4 Roseate Terns.

Some sunny spells along with heavy showers some southerly passage including 17 Oystercatcher, 5 Sanderling, 5 Dunlin, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Turnstone, 1000 Swift, 6 Sand Martin and 8 Swallow.

Elsewhere other sightings were a Red-throated Diver at Sea, 4 Whimbrel, 3 Arctic Tern blogging, 3 Little Gull N, an adult Yellow-legged Gull (Humber), 2 Arctic Tern S, 55 Razorbill on the sea including some chicks, 2 juvenile Cuckoo and a Yellow Wagtail (Warren).

More sunny periods in a force 3 W wind with the highlights being 2 Little Grebe, 9 Common Scoter and 4 Oystercatcher S, 160 Golden Plover, 2500 Dunlin, a Snipe in the Salt Marsh, 4 Whimbrel, 500 Redshank, 2 Turtle Dove, 2 Cuckoo (Point), 161 Swift S and a Great Spotted Woodpecker at Kew.

A nice sunny day with lightish winds a few more returning waders but little else.

At sea 9 Gannet, 5 Cormorant, a Shag S, 93 Common Scoter (28 N, 65 S), 36 Oystercatcher S, 1 Curlew S, 2 Little Gull N, 11 Common Tern, elsewhere notable sightings were 140 Golden Plover, 22 Grey Plover, 460 Knot, 1500 Dunlin, 2 Cuckoo, 123 Swift S, 2 Sand Martin and yellow Wagtail S.

At Beacon Lagoons a Little Egret was noted and butterflies of note included a Comma, and 199 Meadow Brown.

At least there was some sunshine amongst some heavy thundery showers, little change in the bird life.

Highlights today were a juvenile Little Grebe (Canal Scrape), 250 Knot, 4 Whimbrel, 230 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 2 Little Gull, 3 Common Tern all on the Humber, 41 Swift S, a Great Spotted Woodpecker at Kew, 5 Yellow Wagtail (2 S, 1 Wire Dump/Warren/Triangle), a count of 170 Meadow Brown was made a Six-spotted Burnet was the 1st of the year.

Plenty of sunshine with just the odd shower from midday onwards a few more waders returning but little else.

Of note today was 100 Golden Plover, 12 Grey Plover, 545 Dunlin, 6 Whimbrel, 65 Curlew plus 1 S, 160 Redshank, a Greenshank, an adult Med Gull, 3 Little Gull, 135 Sandwich tern including the 1st juvenile of the year, single Turtle Dove and Cuckoo, 13 Swift S, 1 Sand Martin and 1 House Martin S and a Garden Warbler at Chalk Bank.

At Beacon Lagoons there was a Barnacle Goose.

Another changeable day with plenty of sunshine and showers in a stiff W wind, very little change in birdlife just the odd wander and returning wader.

Notable sightings were 371 Dunlin plus 18 S, 12 Whimbrel and 93 Curlew on the Humber, a Common Sandpiper (Clubley’s), 2 Med Gulls (1 adult, 1 1st summer), a Little Gull N, 22 Common Tern N, a Barn Owl (Triangle), 2 Turtle Dove, 2 Cuckoo, 7 Swift S, a Treecreeper at South Field Farm.

Still plenty of sunshine albeit in a force 6 W wind making finding any grounded birds difficult although a few birds were seen at sea.

Observation at sea were 7 Fulmar, a Manx Shearwater S, 88 Gannet, 33 Common Scoter S, 4 Red-breasted Merganser S, 26 Oystercatcher S, 22 Golden Plover S, 8 Dunlin S, a Whimbrel S, 17 Curlew S, 3 Arctic Skua, 21 Kittiwake, 8 Common Tern, 15 Guillemot and a Razorbill.

Elsewhere 2 Turtle Dove (Warren), 2 Cuckoo, 10 Swift S and c500 Starling came into roost at the Crown. In the moth traps migrants totalled 47 Silver Y.

Sunny for most of the day for a change before 8/8 cloud cover and rain by the early afternoon, some light southerly passage and a few new emerging insects around.

Birds of note today included 300 Dunlin, 170 Redshank, single Stock and Wood Pigeon S, 12 Swift S, 2 Sand Martin S, a Yellow Wagtail S, 2 new Reed Warbler (Point/Canal Hedge), a Willow Warbler.

Two new butterflies for the year were a Small Skipper and a Gatekeeper whilst Meadow Brown reached 80 and there were 45 Common Darter recorded.

Continuing with thundery showers and sunny spells with a moderate W wind a few Swifts on the move only late on though but little else of note.

On the move S were 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Curlew, 470 Swift, 15 Sand Martin, 1 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 1 Pied Wagtail, whilst other notable sightings were 4 Common Scoter N, 110 Golden Plover, 4 Lapwing, a Whimbrel, 104 Curlew, a common Tern on the Humber, single Turtle Dove and Cuckoo (Point) and a Yellow Wagtail (Warren), at Beacon Lagoons there were 4 Common Sandpiper and 2 Med Gull.

With the weather stuck with sunny spells and heavy thundery showers and a light variable wind little change in any bird life with just a small increase in Swifts.

Highlights today were 18 Gannet, 41 Common Scoter mainly sitting on the sea, 110 Golden Plover, a Snipe over the Triangle, 80 Curlew, 3 Whimbrel, 130 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, an Arctic Skua being a nuisance at sea, 2 Common Tern on the Humber, a Cuckoo (Point), 219 Swift S along with 2 Pied Wagtail, 3 Common Sandpiper were at Beacon Lagoons.

With the weather a carbon copy of yesterday with some thunder and lightening thrown in birds were also similar with just a light trickle south and little else.

On the move south were 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Curlew, 27 Black-headed Gull, 79 Swift and 2 House Martin, elsewhere a Sparrowhawk, 6 Knot, 32 Curlew, a Turtle Dove and 1400 Starling were notable.

A mixed bag with some showers and sunny spells after the rain had stopped, a light trickle of birds south and a few birds at sea but very little of note.

At sea 15 Gannet, 20 Kittiwake, and 2 Guillemot but lots of Auk’s at long distance, heading south were 30 Curlew, 23 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 3 House Martin, 2 Pied Wagtail and 25 Starling, whilst other notable sightings were 2 Brent Geese (Humber), 7 Teal on the sea, a Sparrowhawk, 135 Golden Plover, 3 Cuckoo and 445 Starling in the Triangle. Four Red-veined Darter were seen on Clubley’s.