June 2007

The last day of June thankfully, lets all hope for a better July today ending with more heavy showers and a moderate S wind, a few birds at sea and on the Humber with just the odd new bird around.

At sea 2 Fulmar, 134 Gannet (128 N), a Grey Heron u-turned back N, 2 Common Scoter S, 5 Arctic Skua (4 N, 1 S), 1 Little Gull N, a 1st summer Med Gull, 12 Kittiwake, 45 Sandwich Tern blogging, 7 Guillemot, 2 Razorbill and a Puffin N.

Elsewhere 6 Whimbrel (4 Humber, 1 S, 1 in), 70 Redshank, 6 Common Tern (Humber), 2 Turtle Dove and 2 Cuckoo, 2 Swift S, a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker (Kew), 12 Sand Martin S, 2 House Martin S, a Flava Wagtail S, 1 Pied Wagtail S, 7 Reed Warbler, around 1200 Starling in the Triangle and a Corn Bunting singing in North Field were the highlights.

More rain overnight petering out by early morning becoming sunny in a stiff force 4 W wind very little of note observed.

Of note were a Gannet S, plenty of Auk’s all very distant, 3 Cuckoo (Point), 1 Swift S, only 23 Whitethroats were recorded showing what poor breeding success there has been, 800 Starling (Triangle). On the moth front 53 Silver Y were in the traps.

Similar conditions to yesterday but very few birds on the move of note today was 1 Manx Shearwater N, the Little Egret (Humber), a Tufted Duck, 82 Golden Plover, 12 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Whimbrel, 400 Black-headed Gull and a Kittiwake all on the Humber, 3 Turtle Dove, 5 Cuckoo (Point), a Grey Wagtail went S, a late Wheatear of the Crown, 2 Jackdaw S, 600 Starling (Triangle) and 2 Siskin at Kew.

Three Ringlet butterflies were seen today the 1st of the year.

A mixed day of sunshine and showers in a stiff westerly wind producing a meagre bit of passage and a few waders but little else.

On the move S were 10 Lapwing, 6 Swift, a Sand Martin and 2 House Martin whilst at sea 3 Fulmar, 3 Manx Shearwater N, 73 Gannet (68 N), 1 Pochard N, 30 Common Scoter, 1 Arctic Skua N, 11 Kittiwake and 2 Guillemot.

Elsewhere a Little Egret was on the Humber along with 86 Golden Plover, a Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, 12 Curlew, an adult Little Gull and 300 Black-headed Gull, a Cuckoo at Wire Dump and the summering Redwing at the Point was the best of the day’s action.

After yesterdays awful weather the worst flooding since February 1996 was witnessed with all water areas overflowing, with water under the Canal Scrape hide as far as the walkway, Pallas’s Pond was level with the road and the Canal flowing into walker Butts, Clubley’s has changed into one lake instead of three but at least it was mostly dry today with just the occasional shower and a drying force 5 NW wind.

Birds of note today were 60 Golden Plover, 8 Sanderling, 14 Curlew, 38 Redshank, 1 Arctic Skua S, a Barn Owl (Triangle), 3 Reed Warbler, and a Siskin at the Point.

No observations due to torrential rain all day.

Another day of occasional showers with a light SW veering Se by the afternoon some more light passage and the odd new arrival.

On the move were 18 Shelduck in, 15 Common Scoter (9 N, 6 S), 2 Golden Plover, 3 Dunlin, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Curlew in, 123 Swift, 11 Sand Martin and 7 House Martin S. Other birds of note were a Red-throated Diver on the sea, a Little-ringed Plover (Triangle), 1 Whimbrel, an Arctic Skua at sea, 3 Arctic Tern out plus 1 S, 3 Turtle Dove (Point), 2 Cuckoo, the Kingfisher (Canal), a Redstart (Wire Dump), a Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatcher and a Siskin (Warren).

A mixed day of heavy showers with thunder and lightening and occasional periods of sunshine making it quite warm, some light southerly passage but not a lot overall.

Heading south were 9 Canada Geese, 2 Hobby, 12 Swift, 50 Starling and 3 Goldfinch elsewhere a Common Scoter was on the Humber, 2 Grey Partridge (Walker Butts), 1 Whimbrel, yesterday’s 1st summer Med Gull, 80 Black-headed Gull (Humber) have started to return, a Grey Wagtail u-turned and a Grasshopper Warbler along the Canal, 2 female Red-veined Darter were also observed.

Rain at first petered out by early morning but remaining rather cloudy with an increasing easterly wind reaching force 3, very little of note except 37 Golden Plover, a Whimbrel S, 12 Redshank (Humber), a 1st summer Med Gull and Little Gull around the Canal Zone, 2 Swift blogging, a Grasshopper (Canal), a new Reed Warbler (Canal) and a Kingfisher (Canal Zone).

A bright sunny start that clouded up as the day wore on, only some light passage being of note which dropped of as the wind went from SW to SW and a few rain drops by the afternoon.

Heading south were a Hobby at 11.30, 15 Swift and 2 Swallow, a Sparrowhawk in the Church Field was also of note. Insects faired better with the first Clouded Yellow of the year at Wire Dump and 4 Red-veined Darter (3 Clubley’s Scrape, 1 Clubley’s Field).

The first SW winds for an a month saw plenty of birds on the move with waders and Swifts/Starlings being the main movers, an all day watch was carried out due to lack of any other grounded birds around.

Movement south today (unless stated) consisted of 3 Shelduck, 12 Teal, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 2 Hobby, 3 Oystercatcher, 8 Golden Plover and 4 in, 310 Lapwing plus 25 u-turned back N, 1 Knot in, 7 Dunlin in, 8 Curlew plus 20 in, 4 Redshank plus 1 in, 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Turnstone in, 35 Wood Pigeon, 4600 Swift, 21 Sand Martin, 17 Swallow, 44 House Martin, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Jackdaw, 2360 Starling, 2 Goldfinch, 100 Linnet, a Corn Bunting u-turned north and 6 Spoonbill (5 immature’s and an adult type) at 10.15.

Other birds of note were 8 Fulmar, a Little Egret (Triangle), 56 Common Scoter (Humber), 26 Golden Plover and a Whimbrel (Humber), 2 Turtle Dove and a Cuckoo. Four Red-veined Darter were also seen 3 females and a male.

Another misty day with some sun appearing later on feeling rather humid in an easterly wind very quiet everywhere.

Of note were 4 Gannet (Humber), a Little Egret of the Gate on the Humber, 8 Golden Plover, 1 Whimbrel, a Cuckoo, 1 Barn Owl (Triangle), 13 Swift S and 2 Willow Warbler (Canal Hedge/Kew), at the Riverside hotel there were 2 late Wheatears.

Some sunny spells today with only light showers for a change very little around, a typical late June day.

Birds of note were a Grey Heron (Triangle), 25 Canada Geese S, a Sparrowhawk (Cliff Farm), 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Swift S, a Wheatear (Narrows), 6 Long-tailed Tit and a Siskin that was heading S before stopping at the Point. At Beacon Lagoons a Little Gull and a Hobby were observed.

Some light southerly winds at last produced a small amount of passage but very few new grounded birds although moths picked up overnight.

On the move south was 1 Grey-lag Goose, 22 Canada Geese, 30 Lapwing, c250 Swift and 2 Swallow whilst at sea 4 Fulmar, 2 Manx Shearwater S, 17 Gannet, 1 Kittiwake, a Black Tern S with Sandwich Terns and quite a few Auk’s albeit rather distant.

Other notable sightings included a Grey Heron and Little Egret (Triangle), a Little-ringed Plover over the Triangle, 15 Golden Plover (Tank Blocks), 1 Cuckoo, a Grey Wagtail over the Triangle and a Wheatear (Narrows). On the insect front a teneral Red-veined Darter was on Clubley’s and moths of note in the traps were 10 Silver Y, 9 Diamond-back moth, 1 Dark Sword Grass and 150 Large-yellow Underwing which were probably of immigrant origin.

Some sunny spells amongst heavy thundery showers with a light S-SW wind a few birds on the move and a couple of interesting birds around.

Heading south were a Marsh Harrier, 20 Swift, 1 Sky Lark, 6 Swallow and 7 House Martin whilst grounded birds included a Grey Heron, 10 Golden Plover (Tank Blocks) the 1st returning birds, 2 Lapwing, 192 Sanderling, 2 Barn Owl, 2 Turtle Dove, 2 Wheatear (Narrows/Cliff Farm), a Redwing (Point), 2 Spotted Flycatcher, and a Quail which was quite confiding on the path at the Top Canal.

Two Meadow Brown butterflies were the 1st of the year.

Overnight torrential rain continued up to midday when some sun appeared before fog and then thunder storms moved in with the winds light and variable.

Highlights of today were 8 Teal in the flooded fields, a Honey Buzzard that was in Canal Hedge at 19.30 before moving of north towards Easington where it may have landed again, 2 Avocet S, an Arctic Skua blogging, a Barn Owl (Triangle), 7 Lapwing (Triangle), a Cuckoo, 5 Swift and 4 Spotted Flycatcher.

A noticeable increase in insect life with 21 Red Admiral and 93 Silver Y and 3 species of Hoverflies in large numbers Scaeva pyrastri, Episyrphus balteatus and Syrphus vitripennis all common but probably of immigrant status due to sheer numbers.

Constant heavy rain in cold grey overcast conditions and a stiff NE –E wind, flaming June! Nesting birds must be having a nightmare with the appalling weather, a few birds at sea and a few flycatchers but little else of note.

At sea 56 Fulmar, 12 Manx Shearwater (10 S), 30 Gannet, a Common Scoter N, 5 Arctic Skua (4 S and 1 on the sea), 4 Kittiwake and some distant Auk’s

Elsewhere of note was a Hobby that took a Swallow along the Canal, 2 Lapwing (Point), 2 Turtle Dove, a Cuckoo, 2 Swift blogging and 4 Spotted Flycatcher (2 Point, 1 Potato Fields/Crown).

At least the fog has gone with some sunny spells in the morning but clouding up giving heavy rain by the afternoon in a light SW veering W wind and increasing.

Some birds on the move south with 11 Lapwing, 117 Swift, 1 Sand Martin, 10 Swallow, 4 House Martin and a Redpoll. Other birds of note were few with 17 Canada Geese landing on the Humber, a Turtle Dove (Point), 2 Cuckoo and a Yellow Wagtail.

Two male Red-veined Darters were seen on Clubley’s.

Fog was slow to clear but at least there was the occasional sunny spell in the afternoon in very light winds, of note today were a Grey Heron (Triangle), a Little Egret u-turned back north, a Hobby S, single Turtle Dove and Cuckoo, 3 Swift blogging, a Sand Martin S 12 Swallow and 7 House Martin S, 2 Yellow Wagtail (Canal Scrape), yesterdays Black Redstart (Point), a Spotted Flycatcher (Warren), the Long-tailed Tits were now a family party and very noisy the 1st breeding attempt at Spurn, whilst north of the area a Great White Egret was reported in the fog and heading towards the Humber but unfortunately could not be substantiated. The only migrant moths in the traps were 6 Diamond-back moths.

Yet more fog all day with just the odd clear period amazingly the odd new migrant appeared with a RED-FOOTED FALCON being the highlight when a female was flushed sitting on some rocks at the Narrows it was watched spiralling south past Chalk Bank and the Sheep Field before being lost in the fog.

Other sightings were a Grey Heron blogging, 4 Tufted Duck (Canal area), a Whimbrel, 3 Cuckoo (Point), 1 Swift S, 2 Sand Martin S, 52 Swallow S, 8 House Martin S, 2 Yellow Wagtail (Canal Scrape), a male Black Redstart (Point), 1 Redwing (Point), a Mistle Thrush, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Spotted Flycatcher, the Golden Oriole still at the Point albeit rather elusive.

Very little change in the weather and birds although there was plenty of late morning sunshine before the fog rolled in again inviting a few dragonflies to appear.

On the bird front notable sightings were 9 Fulmar N, 18 Common Scoter S, 2 Artic Skua N, 41 Sandwich Tern, 10 Common Tern out, 5 Puffin N, 4 Cuckoo, 21 Swift S plus 12 N, 11 Swallow S, 14 House Martin S, 2 Yellow Wagtail, a Mistle Thrush (Sunny Cliff), single Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, yesterdays Golden Oriole at the Point and 2 Jackdaw at the Church. Dragonflies of note were 2 male Red-veined Darter and 2 Emperor on Clubley’s.

Fog yet again which cleared slowly before returning in the afternoon again in a light northerly wind, few birds around although there was a surprise late on.

Highlights today were 5 Fulmar N, 2 Manx Shearwater N, 40 Gannet N, 3 Canada Geese S, 3 Arctic Skua blogging, 2 Turtle Dove, 2 Cuckoo, 4 Swift S, a Willow Warbler (Point) and at around 19.00 a Golden Oriole was found at the Point albeit rather flighty some decent views were had around the Poplar trees.

Migrant moths in the traps included 2 Silver Y and 52 Diamond-back moths.

Similar weather with low cloud giving poor visibility yet again breaking up late on with a glimpse of some sun with a force 2 N wind, sea watching was about the only interest but that was limited.

Birds of note at sea were 10 Fulmar, 16 Common Scoter (15N), a Ruff came in then flew N, 2 Arctic Skua blogging, 20 Kittiwake, 17 Sandwich Tern, 4 Common Tern N and a few Auk’s mainly N. Elsewhere a Turtle Dove (Point), 9 Swift N, 12 Swallow S, a Chiffchaff (Point) were the best of it.

At Beacon Lagoons 4 Little Egret were still present. Insects faired better with c70 Painted Lady and a Common Darter possibly the earliest record for Spurn whilst migrants in the traps included 14 Silver Y and 101 Diamond-back moths and a Lyme Grass was the 1st of the year.

Carrying on in the dull weather fog to start with made it even worse than normal, with only a force 3 N today making it typically tropical! Birds of note were few and far between with 12 Fulmar N, 186 Gannet, a Teal (Canal Scrape) along with 7 Tufted Duck, 1 Whimbrel, 19 Sandwich Tern, 3 Common Tern N, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Swift, a Yellow Wagtail, a Blackcap and Chiffchaff at the Point and a Spotted Flycatcher at the Warren.

In the moth traps 15 Silver Y and 72 Diamond-back moths were the only migrants.

Another cold grey murky day with poor visibility and very few birds except at sea in a force 4 N.

Highlights at sea were 2 Red-throated Diver, 43 Fulmar (41 N), 17 Manx Shearwater N, 245 Gannet, a male Scaup N, 5 Eider S, 2 Common Scoter, 2 Arctic Skua blogging, a Yellow-legged Gull N, 55 Kittiwake, 17 Sandwich Tern, a Common Tern, 2 Arctic Tern, 21 Guillemot, 25 Razorbill and 13 Puffin (12 N).

Whilst elsewhere 2 Grey Heron S, 16 Brent Geese on the Humber, 7 Tufted Duck (Canal Scrape), 2 Golden Plover and 2 Whimbrel (Humber), 3 Turtle Dove (Point), 2 Cuckoo, a Swift N, 2 Swallow S, 2 Yellow Wagtail, a Redwing (Point), 1 Willow Warbler were the best of it. Other fauna of note included a Fox at the Point, 36 Silver Y and 118 Diamond-back moths in the traps.

A bright start soon clouded over with a cool N wind curtailing any serious birding with very little of note to be found.

A few birds at sea with 4 Red-throated Diver, 6 Fulmar, 2 Common Scoter plus 5 on the Humber, 12 Sandwich Tern and a few Auks’.

Elsewhere interesting sightings were 2 Tufted Duck (Canal Scrape), a Peregrine over the Humber, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Swift N, 21 Swallow S, 2 House Martin S, 1 Flava Wagtail S, a Yellow Wagtail (Church Field) and 2 Goldfinch S. Painted Lady butterfly’s increased to 140 + with some seen coming in of the sea whilst in the moth traps migrants were 30 Silver Y and 27 Diamond-backed Moth.

Cloud clearing by early morning becoming a bright sunny day albeit with a cool force 4 N wind preventing any passage.

Very few birds of note except 2 Grey-lag Geese (Chalk Bank), 8 Tufted Duck (Canal Scrape), a Hobby, 2 Lapwing S, 2 Cuckoo, a Yellow Wagtail (North Field), a Black Redstart (Point), a Garden Warbler (Church) and the Red-backed Shrike (Potato Fields).

Insects were more numerous with a good influx of some migrants with a Holly Blue (Kew), c50 Painted Lady, 28 Silver Y and 14 Diamond-backed Moth.

Persistent fog all day curtailed any serious birding with visibility poor, the only notable sightings were 2 Grey Heron and 4 Little Egret S, 2 Tufted Duck (Canal Scrape), a Hobby N over the Triangle, 2 Turtle Dove blogging, a Cuckoo, 5 Swallow S, a Redwing (Point) and yesterdays Red-backed Shrike at potato Fields.

No migration watches in the foggy conditions, and the light easterly winds produced just couple of new arrivals.

Birds of note today were; 2 Tufted Duck, 5 Eider, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Lapwing, 6 Whimbrel, 2 Cuckoo, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Wheatear, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Pied Flycatcher on Beacon Lane and a male Red-backed Shrike at Wire Dump.

Narrows watch 05.30 – 07.30 A cool day in E-NE light winds but fog lingering all day.

A couple of new migrants and another heard only Bee-eater over the Point by two different observers at 08.50.Other birds of interest were; 4 Fulmar, 7 Gannet, 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Common Scoter, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hobby, 1 Bonxie, 3 Auk sp, 2 Puffin, 5 Turtle Dove, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Swift S, 1 Sand Martin S, 25 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Black Redstart, 4 Wheatear, 2 migrant Reed Warblers, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler , 1 Spotted Flycatcher.

There were 8 Little Egrets and 2 Curlew Sandpipers at Beacon Ponds.