June 2006

A warm day with plenty of hazy sunshine in a moderate E-SE wind, still very little of note to be seen.

A trickle of birds south with 2 Golden Plover, 4 Lapwing, 4 Curlew, 48 Swift, 5 Sand Martin and 2 Goldfinch. Quiet at sea also with 2 Manx Shearwater S, 10 Gannet, 18 Cormorant (Chalk Bank), 63 Common Scoter out, 23 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 Guillemot.

Other birds of interest were 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Cuckoo, a Flava Wagtail (Warren) and 2 male Blackcap (Point). A Humming-bird Hawkmoth was seen at the Crown.

Another dull day although the weather was bright and sunny with a moderate SE wind.

With light movement both at sea and overland the birds of note were 1 Manx Shearwater S, 14 Gannet, 2 Grey Heron (Triangle), 25 Shelduck in, 278 Oystercatcher (Chalk Bank) the highest count this month, 12 Golden Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 39 Curlew (7 out), 48 Redshank, 7 Little Gull (Chalk Bank), an adult Yellow-legged Gull (Crown-Tank Blocks), 30 Swift S, 1 Flava Wagtail S and 3 Chaffinch S.

19 Red-veined Darter were observed all but 1 males, a Common Frog was in Church Field Pond and a Ringlet butterfly was at the Point.

Still rather bird-less with a few Swift south and the odd bird at sea but little to report. At sea 2 Manx Shearwater, 19 Gannet, 20 Sandwich Tern, were about the best of it while birds heading south included 21 Shelduck, 139 Swift and flava Wagtail.

Waders are starting to return with 217 Oystercatcher, a Lapwing, 1 Black-tailed Godwit in full summer dress, a Whimbrel, 7 Curlew, 49 Redshank and a Greenshank.

Red-veined Darters were fairly obvious with 12 on Clubley’s and two pair’s egg-laying on the Canal Scrape.

A much warmer day with some sunshine in the afternoon, a few birds at sea but little in the way of new migrants.

At sea 14 Fulmar, 46 Manx Shearwater, 206 Gannet, 26 Common Scoter (25 N), an Arctic Skua S, a Yellow-legged Gull N, 22 Kittiwake, 17 Guillemot, 2 Razorbill and 2 Puffin were seen. Other birds of note were 6 Grey-lag Geese S, 33 Golden Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 23 Redshank (Humber), 8 Little Gull (Tank Blocks), 2 juvenile Turtle Dove (Warren), 14 Swift S, 3 Yellow Wagtail (Sheep Field).

Nine Red-veined Daters were seen mainly on Clubley’s.

Another dull day not just the weather with a cold N-NE wind blowing all day and full cloud cover and the odd light shower.

At sea 3 Fulmar, 4 Manx Shearwater, 80 Gannet, 49 Common Scoter, 1 Arctic Skua, 3 Kittiwake, 22 Sandwich Tern, 5 Guillemot and 5 Razorbill were observed. Just a trickle of birds south with 7 Lapwing, 2 Curlew, 5 Swift, 1 Skylark and a Flava Wagtail.

At Beacon Ponds thee was a Greenshank, 36 Golden Plover, 7 Little Gulls and 2 Arctic Tern. A Ringlet Butterfly was new for the year at the Warren

Another day when the best birds were out of the recording area with 2 Roseate Terns at Beacon Ponds along with eight Little Gulls.

In the recording area birds of note were 3 Manx Shearwater and 81 Gannet (Humber), 7 Teal S, 2 Eider (Chalk Bank), 2 Little Gull, 6 Kittiwake, 7 Guillemot, 11 Razorbill, 7 Puffin all on the Humber, 45 Swift S, 2 Flava Wagtail (Point) and a Spotted Flycatcher (Warren).

An interesting micro moth was trapped Celypha cespitana being the 3rd record for Yorkshire and a Puss Moth was in the Crown car park.

A day where the only birds of any note were north of the area with a Bee-eater flying south at Humberside lane in the evening and 2 Crossbill at Easington and 8 Little Gull were at Beacon Ponds.

In the recording area there were 66 Gannet, a Grey Heron, 2 Little Gull (Humber), a Flava Wagtail by the Gate and a Spotted Flycatcher (Point).

The weather was good for insects with a Hummingbird Hawkmoth at Kew and 14 Red veined Darters including 2 ovipositing females, and good numbers of Black tailed Skimmer, Four spot Chaser and Emperors around.

A typical June day with little happening although the wind had eased and there was some sunshine around making it at least pleasant.

At sea a Manx Shearwater went N, 25 Gannet, 39 Sandwich Tern S and 5 Guillemot were observed, whilst elsewhere a Grey Heron (Canal), 6 Canada Geese S, 7000 Knot, 21 Redshank, 2 Stock Dove (1 S), a Barn Owl (Triangle), and only 6 Swift (2 S, 4 Point).

6 Red-veined Darter were seen along with a handful of other dragonflies and butterflies.

A poor day for birding with a force 6+ W wind that almost knocked you off your feet!

The only highlight was a Wood Sandpiper in of the sea and came down in the Triangle somewhere, at sea 2 Fulmar S, 3 Manx Shearwater S, 5 Gannet and 18 LBB Gull were about the best of it.

Some southerly passage early on before the wind was too strong with 1409 Swift and a House Martin.

Another Swift day with a few other birds also on the move in a strong SW wind reaching force 6, no new birds in but wader numbers starting to build.

Birds heading south were 2 Hobby, 2 Golden Plover, 1 Lapwing, 60 Knot, 31 Wood Pigeon, 4430 Swift, 3 Swallow, 5 House Martin, 2 Jackdaw, 40 Starling, 1 Goldfinch and 96 Linnet. At sea 3 Manx Shearwater (2 N, 1 S), 84 Gannet, 103 Black-headed Gull, 1 Common Tern S, 2 Guillemot N were observed.

Other counts of note were 94 Shelduck, 258 Oystercatcher, 5000 Knot, 400 Dunlin & 20 Turnstone.

A much quieter day with the only highlight being a Quail in the Point dunes.

Birds on the move included 8 Gannet N, 6 Lapwing S plus 3 in, 80 Swift S, single Grey Wagtail and Siskin S. A Common Sandpiper was blogging around and 2 Blackcaps (Point/Kew) were also seen.

A Humming-bird Hawkmoth was at Kew and a Small Elephant Hawkmoth was in the traps, quite an uncommon moth at Spurn. 39 Red-veined Daters were observed today with at least 2 pairs and an unaccompanied female egg-laying.

Yet more Swifts heading south in cloudy conditions with a light-moderate SW wind with occasional sunny spells.

On the move south was a Stock Dove, c 9000 Swift, 4 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 1 Flava Wagtail and a Siskin. Little else of note was observed except wader numbers seem to be building which is rather early with 126 Oystercatcher, 200 Grey Plover, 5000 Knot, 80 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Whimbrel and 43 Turnstone.

Two migrant moths of note in the traps were a Small Mottled Willow and a Pearly Underwing.

A good day for Swift passage plus a few oddities turning up.

Birds heading south today included 4 Teal, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Lapwing plus 14 u-turned back north, 6750 Swift, 3 Collared Dove, 4 House Martin and a Siskin. Other birds of note were a 3 Little Egret on the Humber, a Gadwall (Humber), single Hobby and Peregrine, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Turtle Dove and a Redwing at the Point.

North of the area at Beacon Lagoons there were 12 Canada Geese, 2 Avocet, 3 Little Stint that flew of south and a 1st summer Med Gull. 11 Red-veined Darter were observed today.

An interesting day for the time of year with the highlights being 3 Little Gull, a female Red-backed Shrike (Warren) and a male Bullfinch (Point).

Some southerly passage occurred with 11 Lapwing, 500 Swift, 12 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 3 Jackdaw and 21 Linnet. A Marsh Harrier was hunting around long bank in the afternoon and 4 Little Gulls went out to sea over Easington Lagoon.

Red-veined Darters increased again with at least 29 individuals with 4 pairs laying eggs. Good numbers of Black tailed Skimmer and Four Spot Chaser were on the wing and the first Common Darters (3 tenerals) of the year were recorded

An almost bird-less day in the warm, sunny conditions.

The only birds of note were 3 Fulmar, 91 Gannet, 1 Hobby, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Puffin and 61 Swift flew south.

A good day for numbers of dragonflies, with 20 Red-veined Darters including 3 pairs ovipositing, which is a good sign and should give the remnant population here much needed “new blood”, also 27 Black-tailed Skimmers and 12 Four-spotted Chasers. A Bordered Straw was caught in the mv trap.

A quiet day with some light passage and the first Little Stints of the year.

Birds over the sea were; 1 Red-throated Diver, 7 Fulmar, 13 Manx Shearwater, 19 Gannet, 1 Arctic Skua, 30 L.B.B.Gull, 9 Kittiwake, 1Common Tern, 1 Black Tern out east, 4 Auk sp. Birds moving south were; 3 Teal, 1 Curlew, 1 Greenshank, 53 Swift, 6 House Martin, 164 Starling.

Other birds of interest seen today were; 2 Little Stints off the Warren, 1 flava Wagtail, 1 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff. Red veined Darters were again seen on Clubley’s scrape. Good migrant moths in the traps included a Hummingbird Hawk-moth, 1 Bordered Straw and a Small Mottled Willow.

A better day, with a few birds at sea and a few oddities turning up. It was a mild cloudy start but clearing as the day went on with light winds in the easterly sector.

At sea were 3 Red-throated Diver, 4 Fulmar, 28 Manx Shearwater, 24 Gannet, a 1st summer Glaucous Gull at Chalk Bank, 28 Kittiwake, 1 Common Tern, 22 Auk sp., 1 Guillemot and 2 Razorbill. Southerly passage noted was; 3 Teal, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Hobby, 1 Avocet, 46 Swift and a Redpoll. Other birds of interest seen today included; 1 Mistle Thrush, a Marsh Warbler trapped and ringed at the Warren and then continued to sing on and off all day but was only briefly seen, 3 Chiffchaff and 2 Willow Warbler.

A Clouded Yellow was the first of the year, 3 Hummingbird Hawk-moths were seen and 4 Red-veined Darters were on Clubley’s Scrape (a large immigration of this species has occurred in Yorkshire this week which will hopefully boost the dwindling population on Clubley’s scrape).

A quieter day with just a few Swifts, a new bird for the year came in the form of a Marsh Warbler. Light variable winds, finishing easterly in the evening with a few showers late on.

Birds moving south included a Hobby, a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull, 250 Swift, 10 Swallow, 8 House Martin, 1 flava Wagtail, 10 Linnet. Other birds of note were; 4 Cuckoo, 9 Reed Warbler, a Marsh Warbler trapped and ringed at the Point early morning but not seen afterwards, 2 Blackcap and a Willow Warbler.

A Hummingbird-Hawk-moth was in the Crown car park.

A day of more Swifts with a few other birds heading south but little in the way of new migrants, very warm and humid.

Birds heading south 2 Grey-lag Geese, 1 Tufted Duck plus 3 in, a Marsh Harrier in then N, a Hobby at 08.15, single Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper, 3 Stock Dove, 2000 Swift, 2 Skylark, 103 Swallow, 124 House Martin, 8 Goldfinch, 2 Siskin, 32 Linnet. Other birds of note included 31 Common Scoter, a Curlew Sandpiper (Chalk Bank), single Reed Warbler and Chiffchaff (Point), a Spotted Flycatcher (Warren).

Butterflies and moths were more evident with 21 Red Admiral going south plus 6 (peninsula), 5 Painted Lady, 8 Speckled Wood, in the moth traps an Orange Footman was around the 5th for Yorkshire and there were c12 Diamond Backed moths.

An amazing day with plenty of birds in hot sunny conditions with a light-moderate S-SE wind. The day started with a Bee-eater at the Point which gave excellent views for around an hour or so before heading north along the peninsula.

Swifts were on the move south all day with 4118 counted (virtually all were 1st summer birds as is often the case at this time of year)including what was certainly a Pallid Swift, views were brief as it headed past the narrows but it flew within 15 metres of the 7 observers present, it had also been seen independently by one other birder in the triangle minutes earlier.

Other birds on the move were 2 Manx Shearwater, a 1st summer Med Gull, 84 Black-headed Gull, 2 Spoonbill which started off S they then veered W over the Humber, 4 Sand Martin, 70 Swallow, 161 House Martin, 2 Siskin, 26 Linnet, and if that wasn’t enough in the early evening a male Red-footed Falcon flew S along the Salt Marsh down to the Narrow neck, it chased a large Dragonfly before appearing to head back north. A Brown Argus at the Narrows was the 1st of the year, there were also 8 Red Admiral and 4 Painted Lady and 100 Silver Y moths observed.

More warm sunshine and an increasing SE wind, producing very little in the way of birds.

All that was of note were 10 Fulmar, 2 Hobby blogging, 3 Golden Plover & 5 Redshank (Humber), 110 Swift S, 1 Flava Wagtail S and a Yellow Wagtail (Narrows).

Clear blue skies all day but just the one bird of any note being a Great White Egret which flew over the Triangle heading south but disappeared around the Warren, presumed the bird from Hornsea yesterday, this was quickly followed by a Little Egret around 5 minutes later.

Other birds of note were 5 Fulmar S, a Grey Partridge, 63 Swift S, 24 Swallow S, 2 Mistle Thrush (Point/Triangle), 2 Spotted Flycatcher (Wire Dump/Warren).

Fog all day curtailed any serious birding with visibility down to 100 yards or less.

The only new birds around were a Fulmar blogging around, 6 Swift S, a Mistle Thrush S, a Willow warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher (Warren) and a Corn Bunting S.

There was a report of a Subalpine Warbler at the north end of Chalk Bank, but nothing could be found when searching later.

More sunny warm weather with more youngsters appearing everyday a few birds at sea but little else.

At sea 15 Gannet, 5 Gadwall S, a Long-tailed Duck S, 1 Common Scoter, 9 Kittiwake, 47 Sandwich Tern, 4 Arctic Tern out E, 1 Guillemot and 16 Razorbill. Birds overland included a Marsh Harrier S, at least 3 Hobby’s, 4 Stock Dove, 4 Cuckoo, 57 Swift (31 S), a Yellow Wagtail, a Mistle Thrush, 2 Willow Warbler and a Redpoll S.

The highlight of the day was a very small moth found at Chalk Bank Cydia orobana which is found at only 7 sites in the UK and only 2 others in Yorkshire, as far as we know.

Just the odd good bird again today in fine sunny weather with an increasing SE wind reaching force 3-4 by the evening.

The main interest today was a Ruddy Shelduck that flew S from Beacon Lagoon area over the Triangle/Humber and crossed over the peninsula at Middle Camp and out to sea towards Lincs at 11.45. Other birds of note today were a Common Sandpiper (Tank Blocks), 5 Turtle Dove, 60 Swift S, 108 Swallow S, 61 House Martin S, a Redwing and Mistle Thrush (Point), a female Red-backed Shrike at Chalk Bank, and the escaped White-eye at the Point.

Also of note today was the first Lesser Whitethroat/Whitethroat broods of the year, and 2 Stock Dove chicks were ringed out of the Owl box the first pullus Stock Dove ever ringed at Spurn. Along Beacon Lane a male Red-backed Shrike was seen but was rather flighty and elusive.

A settled period seems to have come, so more of the same weather wise, calm hazy sunshine and the odd highlight on the bird front as you would expect in June.

Today’s highlights were a singing Rosefinch at the Warren (another brown bird) and a male Red-backed Shrike in the Triangle presumed different than yesterday’s bird.

At sea there was 9 Fulmar, a Manx Shearwater N, 28 Gannet, a Shag, an Arctic Skua N, 44 Kittiwake, 2 Razorbill and a Puffin N. Other notable birds were single Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper, 4 Cuckoo, 2 Swift N, 2 Spotted Flycatcher and a juvenile Siskin at the Warren a rare sight at Spurn. At Beacon Lagoons 2 Avocet were the only birds of note.

Hazy sunshine with some cloud building with a few spots of rain in a light SE-NE breeze. As per the last few days the odd good bird but not a lot else well it is June!

Today’s highlight was a male Red-backed Shrike at Wire Dump although fairly flighty at times was seen well from time to time, other notable sightings were 2 Canada Geese S, a Marsh Harrier S, 2 Golden Plover (Tank Blocks), 400 Sanderling (Chalk Bank), a Greenshank (Chalk Bank), 5 Cuckoo, 3 Swift S, a Spotted Flycatcher (Wire Dump).

Another Red-backed Shrike was in Easington, a female this time and a bit more elusive than the other bird.

More warm sunshine all day and a light SE wind with some interesting birds appearing but not in any numbers.

Highlights of the day was a Common Rosefinch singing at the Lighthouse albeit a brown bird and a Nuthatch at the Warren the fourth Spurn record, other birds of note included 5 Grey-lag and 3 Canada Geese S, a Hobby N, 189 Bar-tailed Godwit mostly non-breeders a good count for the time of year, 2 Cuckoo, 8 Swift, a Black Redstart (Point), a Garden Warbler (Warren), a Spotted Flycatcher (Point), and the Starling flock is at 159 so far and building!

At Beacon Lagoons a female Hen Harrier was seen to go out east at sea.

With plenty of sunshine and light winds from the easterly sector, a much better day was had by all, a few new birds in, enough to get people interested.

The bird of the day was a Subalpine Warbler at the Warren from late morning, other birds of note were 1 Grey Heron (Humber), a Water Rail (Canal), 3 Swift S, 3 Blackcap, 3 Willow Warbler, a Spotted Flycatcher (Crown) and a Little Egret S at 09.30. Whilst at sea 4 Fulmar, 9 Gannet, 5 Cormorant, a Pomarine Skua with full spoons N, 48 Kittiwake, 9 Guillemot and a Razorbill.

At Beacon Lagoons there were 3 Little Egrets one of which went past Spurn. Butterfly highlights were 5 Green Hairstreaks whilst 3 Blue-tailed Damsel Flies and a Black-tailed Skimmer were recently emerged and 1st for the year.

A new month but little change in the bird life, with a cold northerly wind albeit much lighter in strength but rain on and off for most of the day under leaden skies.

At sea passage was lighter with 1 Red-throated Diver N, a Great Crested Grebe N, 16 Fulmar N, 91 Gannet, 3 Common Scoter S, a Bonxie N, 9 Kittiwake N, 8 Sandwich Tern and 2 Razorbill N.

On land very little of note except 173 Ringed Plover, 115 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Cuckoo, a Tree Pipit (Wire Dump), 2 Garden Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler. The only bird of note north of the area was a very unseasonal Goosander at Beacon Lagoons.