March 2006

More passage south with some birds also coming in of the sea, in a stiffening SW wind, a turnover of Blackbirds with new birds in overnight.

Birds heading south included a Sparrowhawk, 10 Lapwing, 140 Black-headed Gull, 5 Stock Dove, 103 Wood Pigeon, 6 Skylark, 1 Swallow, a Rock Pipit, 4 Fieldfare plus 12 in, 6 Great Tit, 13 Rook, 123 Starling, 15 House Sparrow, 411 Chaffinch, 2 Brambling, 44 Greenfinch, 73 Linnet and a Corn Bunting.

New grounded birds observed were a Water Rail (Canal), a Short-eared Owl (Salt Marsh), a “grey” Black Redstart (Point), 2 Wheatear, 81 Blackbird, 89 Redwing (41 Point), 3 Chiffchaff (1 Point, 2 Kew), 4 Goldcrest, 2 Brambling & 2 Siskin (Kew). Birds ringed today included a Black Redstart, 33 Blackbird, 5 Redwing, 2 Chiffchaff, 12 Chaffinch, a Brambling, 2 Siskin, and 7 Linnet in a total of 77.

With the SW winds still in control more southerly passage occurred today with the highlight being the first Swallows of the year.

At sea 36 Red-throated Diver N, 14 Fulmar, 4 Cormorant and 146 Black-headed Gull S were observed. Whilst birds heading south included a Grey Heron, 19 Wigeon, a Tufted Duck, 14 Common Scoter, 2 Sparrowhawk, 6 Lapwing, 31 Stock Dove, 2 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, 1 Rock Pipit, 12 Alba Wagtail, 3 Redwing, 8 Jackdaw, 11 Rook, 619 Starling, 565 Chaffinch, 96 Greenfinch, 78 Siskin, 117 Linnet, a Lapland Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer and a Corn Bunting.

New grounded birds included 2 Rock Pipit (New Road), the long staying Black Redstart (Point), a female Wheatear (Point), 69 Blackbird, 5 Fieldfare, 64 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, the wintering Blackcap at Chalk Bank showed itself today, 7 Goldcrest, 900 Starling (Triangle). 41 birds were trapped today being Wheatear, 18 Blackbird, 4 Redwing, 6 Great Tit, a Starling, 4 Chaffinch and 7 Linnet.

Yet more passage south until the winds became too strong, clouding over by the afternoon but still some new birds in but a big clear out of Redwings.

Birds heading south were 6 Eider, 2 Common Scoter, 3 Sparrowhawk, a Common Buzzard at 09.55, 15 Lapwing, 2 adult Med Gull, 516 Black-headed Gull, 529 Common Gull, 635 Herring Gull, 60 Stock Dove, 56 Wood Pigeon, 30 Skylark, 36 Meadow Pipit, 3 Rock Pipit, 41 Alba Wagtail, 4 Great Tit, 27 Jackdaw, 63 Rook, 366 Starling, 611 Chaffinch, 2 Brambling, 65 Greenfinch, 34 Siskin, 148 Linnet, 7 Yellowhammer.

Grounded birds of note included 2 Woodcock, 2 Short-eared Owl (Wire Dump/ Clubley’s), a Sand Martin that flew off NW, a Rock Pipit, the adult male Black Redstart, 4 Wheatear, 63 Blackbird, 10 Redwing, 3 Chiffchaff, a Firecrest in the Churchyard-Kew area, 4 Long-tailed Tit tried to go southwards but one was lost to a Merlin, a Brambling (Kew) and the Bearded Tit was seen on the far corner of the field next to Sunnycliff Farm. 63 birds were ringed today with 33 Blackbird, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 9 Chaffinch, and 3 Siskin being of note.

Another busy day for passage grounding plenty of birds as the SW wind reached force 6+ and the odd shower occurred.

Birds on the move south included 2 Pintail, 1 Shoveler, a Little Gull, 1047 B.H.G Gull plus 195 out E, 1060 Kittiwake out of the Humber, a Rock Pipit, 11 Alba Wagtail, a Long-tailed Tit which got blown over onto its back, 14 Jackdaw, 22 Rook, 97 Starling, 1045 Chaffinch, 3 Brambling, 7 Goldfinch, 23 Siskin, 42 Linnet.

Grounded birds of note were 3 Littoralis Rock Pipit (Walker Butts), the male Black Redstart (Point), 6 Wheatear (1 Point, 5 Sunnycliff Farm), 5 Fieldfare, 615 Redwing, 3 Chiffchaff (Point/Wire Dump/Chalk Bank), 85 Chaffinch (40 Church Field), the Mealy Redpoll still in the Crown car park, a Yellowhammer (Church Field). Birds ringed today totalled 40 including a Turnstone, 1 Wheatear, 7 Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 19 Chaffinch and 6 Linnet.

An excellent Chaffinch passage for about an hour and a half before the SW wind got too strong with driving rain stopping any further movement, very few new birds in.

Southerly passage today included 50 Wigeon, 11 Stock Dove, 39 Meadow Pipit, 2 Grey Wagtail, 16 Alba Wagtail, 7 Blackbird, 6 Great Tit, 13 Rook, 127 Starling, 1253 Chaffinch, amazingly just 1 Brambling, 53 Greenfinch, 14 Siskin, 33 Linnet, 1 Yellowhammer & 2 Corn Bunting u-turned back north.

Grounded birds of note were 3 Shoveler (Humber), a Water Rail (Point), a Sand Martin late in the evening blogging around the Warren, the 1st of the year, the male Black Redstart (Point), 220 Redwing (200 Church Field), a Mistle Thrush (Point), 4 Chiffchaff (2 Point/Warren), 55 Chaffinch (40 Church Field), the Mealy Redpoll was still in the Crown car park. 26 birds were ringed today including 5 Blackbird, 3 Redwing, a Mistle Thrush, 3 Great Tit, 10 Chaffinch & a Reed Bunting.

Southerly passage really started today with Chaffinches in good numbers in a brisk SW wind with rain moving in late afternoon. Birds on the move included 31 Wigeon S plus 35 out, a Pintail south, 3 Red-breasted Merganser S, a Marsh Harrier S, a Hen Harrier u-turned back N, whilst birds heading south were 151 Stock Dove, 285 Wood Pigeon, 86 Meadow Pipit, 3 Rock Pipit, 3 Grey Wagtail, 35 Alba Wagtail, 40 Great Tit, 28 Rook, 41 Carrion Crow, 127 Starling, 702 Chaffinch, 110 Greenfinch, 72 Siskin, a male Bullfinch, 1 Yellowhammer.

Grounded birds of note included a Pintail, a Goosander, a Peregrine (Point), 2 Woodcock, 81 Black-tailed Godwit, a White Wagtail (Southfield Farm), the Black Redstart (Point), 2 female rubicola Stonechat, 1 Wheatear, 45 Fieldfare, 69 Redwing, a Chiffchaff (Point), 5 Goldcrest, 62 Chaffinch, a Brambling (Church Field), 10 Siskin (Crown), yesterdays tame Mealy Redpoll (Crown) and a male Yellowhammer (Point).

North of the area the 1st winter Iceland Gull was seen at Beacon Ponds. 57 birds were ringed today with 1 Stonechat, 12 Redwing, 11 Great Tit, 17 Chaffinch, and 8 Linnet being the highlights.

Another excellent day for the time of year, with plenty of movement going on, new birds in and plenty of warm sunshine. Birds heading south included 2 Shelduck, 8 Wigeon plus 20 out E, single Sparrowhawk & Kestrel, 35 Lapwing, 3 Curlew, 36 Stock Dove, 40 Wood Pigeon, 34 Skylark, 111 Meadow Pipit plus 52 NW, 10 Rock Pipit, 2 Grey Wagtail, 23 Alba Wagtail, 12 Great Tit, 26 Jackdaw, 39 Rook, 10 Carrion Crow, 137 Starling, 37 Chaffinch, 93 Greenfinch, 6 Goldfinch, 4 Siskin, 39 Linnet, 11 Reed Bunting.

Birds of note in the area were 2 Gadwall & 2 Pintail, a Pochard (Canal), a Red Kite that flew south before u-turning back north, this happened twice during the course of the day, a Peregrine (Humber), a Water Rail (Point), a Jack Snipe, 2 Woodcock, 140 Black-tailed Godwit, a Long-eared Owl (Point), 45 Meadow Pipit, yesterdays cracking male Black Redstart (Point), 2 Stonechat (both rubicola) , 2 Wheatear (Point), 101 Fieldfare, 24 Redwing, a Mistle Thrush (Narrows), 4 Goldcrest, a Brambling (Kew), a very obliging Mealy Redpoll in the Crown car park, 1 Yellowhammer (Church Field).

44 Birds were ringed today including 3 Meadow Pipit, a Black Redstart, 5 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, a Blackcap, a Goldcrest, 5 Great Tit, 8 Chaffinch. North of the area at Sammie’s there was a Ring Ouzel and 2 Chiffchaff.

Appalling bird watching weather with constant rain in the morning, low cloud and then mist and fog, but good for grounding birds as today proved with birds arriving most of the day.

With poor visibility no passage was seen but grounded birds included 2 Lapwing (Point), 3 Woodcock, a Woodlark flew south around the Point, 16 Skylark, 20 Meadow Pipit, a littoralis Rock Pipit (Point), the first Black Redstart of the year a cracking male! A continental Stonechat, 4 Wheatear (2 Point, 1 Middle Camp/Narrows) also the first of the year, 92 Blackbird, 121 Fieldfare, 11 Song Thrush, 34 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush (Point), 2 Goldcrest, 2 Brambling (Point/Kew), a male Snow Bunting (Sea-side Path) down to 5 feet, but the best highlight was a Bittern found at Wire Dump which later flew further south towards the Point before going to ground, a very tired looking bird but a true Spurn mega, being only the 5th record.

A goods days ringing with the best being a littoralis Rock Pipit, 1 Stonechat, 2 Wheatear, 1 Fieldfare.

Another bright sunny day with a SE wind that sadly grew in strength ending the passage of birds in the morning. Birds on the move today were 7 Teal S plus 6 out, 4 Black-tailed Godwit out E, 6 Stock Dove, 12 Skylark, 7 Meadow Pipit 10 Rock Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Jackdaw, 6 Rook, 1100 Starling, 21 Chaffinch, 1 Brambling, 76 Greenfinch, 5 Goldfinch, 16 Siskin, 21 Linnet, a male Snow Bunting & a Yellowhammer all south.

New birds in were 4 Wigeon, a Woodcock (Point), a male Stonechat (Point), 5 Linnet, a Yellowhammer (Warren). Very little at sea, with 18 Red-throated Diver N and a Guillemot S.

Away from the birds a Small Tortoiseshell was on the wing, the first butterfly of the year and 3 lambs were born in the Sheep Field.

A bright sunny day in a light N wind some light passage and a few new birds in.

Birds on the move were 44 Shelduck E, 10 Curlew E, 1200 Black-headed Gull E, 303 Common Gull E, 4 Stock Dove S, 6 Wood Pigeon S, 3 Skylark S, 4 Jackdaw S, 3 Rook S, 1 Linnet S.

Grounded birds included a Long-eared Owl (Kew), a Short-eared Owl (Triangle), 2 Rock Pipit (Warren/Crown), the Waxwing (Point), a Stonechat (Warren), 98 Fieldfare, 14 Redwing, 5 Mistle Thrush (1 Point, 4 Church Field), 2 Siskin (Kew), 4 Linnet, a Yellowhammer (Church Field) and the Bearded Tit showed well next to Sunnycliff. Other notable birds were 3 pale-bellied Brent Geese, 22 Teal, 2 Pintail (Humber), 2 Peregrine over the Humber, a Water Rail (Canal), a 1st winter Iceland Gull also over the Humber. Birds ringed today (24) included a Long-eared Owl, 5 Chaffinch, 2 Siskin, 1 Yellowhammer.

With very little change in weather no real change with the birds either. Seawatching produced 219 Red-throated Diver (210 N), 1 Fulmar N, 2 Gannet S, plenty of Auk’s but very distant.

Grounded birds included a Pintail (Canal), a Jack Snipe (Salt Marsh), 22 Snipe (Scrape Field), 160 Black-tailed Godwit, the Waxwing was still at the Point showing down to 8 feet, a Stonechat, 124 Fieldfare, 17 Redwing, a Mistle Thrush (Point), the usual 2 Blackcap, a Goldcrest (Point), 600 Starling, 21 Chaffinch, 3 Linnet (Triangle), a Yellowhammer (Church Field).

Ringing today included a Stonechat, 8 Chaffinch & a Yellowhammer in a total of 15 birds.

More NE winds slowly increasing to force 5 but at least some sunny spells, less grounded birds around but still some stuff to look at. At sea 125 Red-throated Diver, (120 N), 3 Fulmar N, 12 Wigeon N, 2 Teal N, 36 Common Scoter S, 2 Red-breasted Merganser S, 6 Kittiwake & 5 Guillemot N.

Grounded birds included 2 Pink-footed Geese (Humber), a Pochard (Canal), 1 Merlin (Point), 175 Black-tailed Godwit, a Short-eared Owl (Salt Marsh), a Grey Wagtail (Potato Fields), the Waxwing was still at the Point, 2 Stonechat, 123 Fieldfare, a Mistle Thrush (Point), 2 Blackcap, 600 Starling (Triangle), a Siskin (Kew) & 4 Linnet (Point).

17 birds were ringed today including 1 Waxwing, 3 Blackbird, 4 Starling, 5 Chaffinch and a Siskin ringed away from Spurn was trapped.

A much better day in lighter winds and some sunny spells feeling much more spring like with some passage and an increase in grounded birds. Movement today included a Grey Heron S, single Pochard & Goldeneye S, 59 Lapwing S plus 560 out E, 17 Stock Dove u-turned back N, 10 Skylark, 9 Meadow Pipit and 2 Rock Pipit S, 9 Jackdaw u-turned N, 6 Rook S, a Tree Sparrow, 5 Chaffinch, 2 Siskin & a Linnet all S and 3 Snow Bunting N.

Grounded birds of note were a Merlin (Narrows), a Short-eared Owl (Canal), 14 Skylark, 14 Meadow Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit (1 littoralis), yesterday’s Waxwing was still at the Point, 4 Stonechat, 70 Blackbird, 135 Fieldfare, 60 Redwing, a Mistle Thrush (Point), 2 Blackcap, 4 Goldcrest and the Bearded Tit showed well again.

Other notable sightings at sea or on the wader count were a Great Northern Diver on the sea, 210 Shelduck, 2453 Dunlin, 9 Snipe, 2 Woodcock (Triangle), 192 Black-tailed Godwit including a colour ringed bird (right leg red over white (X), left leg white over yellow), a 1st winter Iceland Gull N, 2 Barn Owl (Triangle/Chalk Bank). More vegetation clearance was carried out at the Point.

With the NE wind still present but lighter hopes were higher than lately and a much better day was had by all.

Highlights today were a Common Crane heading south at around 11.00 and followed down the peninsula and out to sea, an adult Med Gull went south, a Waxwing at the Point, 5 Stonechat appeared in the afternoon the first real sign of any spring passage.

Other birds of note were 194 Shelduck (Humber), a female Merlin (Warren), 3 Barn Owl; a Grey Wagtail (Point), 59 Blackbird, 106 Fieldfare, 14 Chaffinch & the Bearded Tit was showing very well in the sunshine in the afternoon. 16 birds were ringed today including 4 Blackbird, 1 Chaffinch & 7 Greenfinch.

Another cold day with a strong NE wind making it feel really cold, a few birds at sea but little change otherwise.

At sea 1 Red-throated Diver S, 4 Fulmar S, 3 Gannet N, 5 Common Scoter N and 2 Guillemot was about it.

Other notable sightings were 2 Grey Partridge, 153 Black-tailed Godwit another increase from yesterday, the Grey Wagtail was now around Potato Fields, 38 Blackbird, 115 Fieldfare, 13 Redwing, 2 Blackcap (Chalk Bank) & a Goldcrest (Point). North of the area there was a pale-bellied Brent Goose with the flock of 320, a Short-eared Owl (Long Bank) and a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Easington).

With winds still to die for in October very little change as it’s March! A bitterly cold E wind with full cloud cover and wintry showers not ideal for any passage!

Birds of note were 134 Black-tailed Godwit with more are appearing every day lately, a Stock Dove (Triangle), 2 Meadow Pipit, a Grey Wagtail (Point), 42 Blackbird, 75 Fieldfare, a Goldcrest (Point).

At sea most birds were very distant with 26 Red-throated Diver (23 S), 66 Fulmar (6 N, 60 S), 6 Gannet S, 4 Kittiwake S and 6 Guillemot.

With the wind becoming lighter and swinging to the east it felt marginally warmer, an increase in some wader species and still a few thrushes around.

At sea 6 Red-throated Diver S, 12 Fulmar S, 2 Gannet, 13 Wigeon S, 264 Herring Gull S, the adult Iceland Gull was seen blogging around the shoreline, 2 Kittiwake & 4 Guillemot S. On land/mud birds of note were 188 Shelduck, a Water Rail (Canal), 33 Ringed Plover, 6 Lapwing (Humber), 128 Black-tailed Godwits in the fields at high tide, 5 Meadow Pipit, 49 Blackbird, 95 Fieldfare, 19 Redwing and the Blackcap showed itself at Chalk Bank, one of the very few occasions all winter.

14 birds were ringed today including a Water Rail, 7 Blackbird and a Chaffinch. An Owl box was erected in the church field to try to tempt the Barn Owls to nest there.

Another bitterly cold day with frequent snow flurries in the morning turning to sleet/rain in the afternoon in a strong SE wind.

At sea there were 28 Wigeon S, 4 Teal S, 4 Pintail S, 8 Common Scoter, 10 Guillemot and a Razorbill. Grounded birds were hard to find in the conditions with the ones of note being a Water Rail (Canal), 1 Jack Snipe, 7 Snipe (Triangle), 113 Black-tailed Godwit the highest count this winter, a Barn Owl, the Grey Wagtail (Point), 71 Fieldfare, 23 Redwing, the Blackcap at Chalk Bank and a Goldfinch (Point).

Late news for the 12th was a 1st winter Med Gull went south.

A bitterly cold day, one of the coldest days of the winter in a gusting force 7 SE wind was making birding difficult.

An hour and a half looking at the sea produced 7 Red-throated Diver, a Great Crested Grebe, 1 Fulmar N; single Eider and Goldeneye S and 3 Guillemot.

Grounded birds included 2 Water Rail (Canal Zone), a Jack Snipe (Salt Marsh), 2 Snipe, a Grey Wagtail (Point), a Stonechat (Narrows), only 43 Fieldfare, 18 Redwing, 200 Starling and a Goldfinch (Point).

Another raw cold day under a blanket of cloud, some light passage south but very little of note.

Birds heading south included 2 Pintail, 8 Lapwing, a Stock Dove, 1 Meadow Pipit and a Jackdaw. Other noteworthy sightings were a Peregrine (Humber), 23 Black-tailed Godwit, a Grey Wagtail (Point), 64 Fieldfare, 14 Redwing, 450 Starling (Triangle), a Goldfinch (Point) and the Bearded Tit called frequently but was only seen in flight briefly in thick vegetation.

There was no sign of the Grey bellied Brant today despite searching but the northern Long tailed Tit was again showing well in Easington

A cold day in a raw NE force 4 wind with the odd snow flurry with just a glimpse of sun, a few odd birds around but on the whole quiet.

In the Triangle there were 2 Pink-footed Geese and a Grey-lag, 6 Teal, a Sparrowhawk, 43 Black-tailed Godwit and 87 Curlew.

At sea very little was moving except an adult Iceland Gull was seen blogging around the tide line from time to time. Other birds of note were 2 Grey Wagtails that probably went south, 75 Fieldfare, 21 Redwing, a Goldcrest (Point), 500 Starling (Triangle). There was no sign of the Grey bellied Brant until late afternoon, the pale-bellied Brents had increased to 5. The northern Long tailed Tit was again around Easington churchyard.

A much better day especially in the morning with a light SW and some spring passage, although it did not last as it went N later and showers developed.

Birds heading south were 50 Lapwing, 3 Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 3 Rook, 11 Starling, 1 Chaffinch, 18 Greenfinch, 1 Goldfinch, 3 Siskin & 9 Linnet. Grounded birds observed included 220 Brent Gees plus a pale-bellied and the Grey bellied Brant at Chalk Bank, a male Merlin (Point), 2 Grey Partridge (Church Field), 34 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Barn Owl (Triangle), 5 Skylark (Clubley’s), 3 Meadow Pipit, 105 Fieldfare, 16 Redwing, a Blackcap (Chalk Bank), 400 Starling (Triangle), 14 Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch and 3 Yellowhammer (Church Field).

22 birds were ringed today 1 Dunnock, 3 Blackbird, 2 Great Tit, 1 Starling, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Tree Sparrow, 3 Chaffinch, 10 Greenfinch.

The weather was even worse today with thick fog and drizzle coming down from time to time giving poor visibility most of the day, although there was some light southerly passage when the fog lifted.

Birds heading south were 2 Stock Dove, 8 Skylark, 1 Meadow Pipit, and 1 Rock Pipit. Notable sightings were 6 Little Grebe (Canal area), c450 Brent Geese including the Grey bellied Brant at post 40, 300 Golden Plover (Humber), 44 Black-tailed Godwit, 140 Wood Pigeon (North Field area), 10 Skylark (Clubley’s) presumed the local breeding birds returning, 120 Fieldfare (Point), 31 Redwing, a Blackcap (Chalk Bank), a Goldfinch (Cliff Farm).

Eleven birds were ringed today 1 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Starling, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Chaffinch & 5 Greenfinch.

Another poor day weather wise with constant rain and very poor visibility although it grounded a few more thrushes mainly at the Point.

Notable sightings today were 2 pale-bellied and the Grey bellied Brant with the flock between Chalkie’s Point and the Tank Blocks, close in on the shore feeding. A male Pintail (Humber), 48 Black-tailed Godwit mainly in the fields, a Med Gull S over the Humber, 4 Meadow Pipit, 70 Blackbird (45 Point), 102 Fieldfare, 10 Song Thrush, 33 Redwing (25 Point), a female Blackcap (Point).

North of the area the northern Long-tailed Tit was in Easington with a British Long-tailed Tit, a Short-eared Owl (Long Bank), 10 Corn Bunting (Gas Terminal). Five birds were ringed today 4 Blackbird and a Greenfinch.

A cloudy wet day in a southerly wind (for the first time in ages) but little change bird wise.

The only interest was the Grey bellied Brant in with the flock feeding very close to the road on the Humber shore. At sea 25 Red-throated Diver a Common Scoter N, 13 Guillemot N.

Other notable birds were 3 Jack Snipe (Salt Marsh), 4 Snipe, 30 Black-tailed Godwit, a Barn Owl (Triangle), 1 Meadow Pipit, 105 Fieldfare (Point), 11 Redwing, 3 Rook (2 S, 1 u-turned) and the Bearded Tit was calling from its place of residence.

Little change in weather and birds with a cold NW wind all day although plenty of blue sky and sunshine.

Some movement at sea around high tide times with 90 Red-throated Diver (85 N), 1 Fulmar N, 2 Gannet N and 26 Guillemot (24 N, 2 S).

Other birds of note were 220 Brent Geese, a Jack Snipe (Salt Marsh), 2 Barn Owl (Triangle), 47 Fieldfare, 12 Redwing, 2 Blackcap (Chalk Bank), 4 Jackdaw u-turned over the Triangle, 11 Chaffinch and a Goldfinch (Kew).

A much better day weather wise, with plenty of sunshine and a decreasing NW wind. More vegetation management was done by clearing and burning brambles at the Point, it finally looks like we are getting somewhere now with some nice open areas. Sea movement was quite good today with 34 Red-throated Diver, 4 Fulmar, 6 Gannet, a Shag out of the Humber, 3 Eider N, 2 Goosander N, a Red-breasted Merganser N, 266 Guillemot (233 N, 33 S), a Razorbill N, a Puffin S.

Other birds of note were 37 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Barn Owl (Lighthouse/Triangle), a Short-eared Owl (Triangle), 6 Meadow Pipit, a Rock Pipit (Warren), 43 Fieldfare, 6 Song Thrush, 14 Redwing, 2 Goldcrest (Point) & the Bearded Tit showed again albeit briefly.

The most interesting development concerns a Brent, which appears to be of the Grey bellied form (known as Grey bellied Brant) which breeds in the Western Canadian High Arctic, there are very few records of this form in Britain. The bird has been present since at least the end of Jan but only really seen well in the last ten days or so, and was only photographed last week. There is an article on the identification of this form in Birding World Vol 14/4. The Brant seems to be paired to a Pale bellied Brent (hrota), but many Grey bellied Brants at the paler extreme are believed to be inseparable from hrota. One might assume that any hrota at Spurn to originate from the Spitsbergen population which winters around Holy Island but a ringed individual that spent most of last summer in the area had been trapped on Iceland, the main staging post for Canadian hrota proving the occurrence of birds at Spurn from across the Atlantic.

Another cold day with a heavy overnight frost, frequent snow showers in the morning hampered a few hardy souls that were doing some vegetation work at the Point.

Birds of note today were 25 Red-throated Diver, a Great Crested Grebe at sea, 10 Gannet, 2 pale-bellied Brent Geese with 220 dark bellied, 2 Tufted Duck on the sea, 2 Eider S, 2 Goldeneye on the sea, 2 Merlin chasing anything they can see, a Jack Snipe (Salt Marsh), lots of distant Auks almost 1500 mostly S, a Stock Dove S, 1 Barn Owl, 57 Fieldfare, 18 Redwing, a Blackcap (Chalk Bank), 1 Goldcrest, 11 Chaffinch & 3 Goldfinch (1 Point, 2 Church Field). A Water Vole was seen in the Canal Area.

Clearing and burning of Bramble on the Point was carried out although it was tough going in heavy snow showers.

A cold day although plenty of blue skies and sunshine some geese moving first thing but little else.

Birds on the move today were 590 Pink-footed Geese NW all early morning, a Skylark S, 1 Rook u-turned back north. Other notable sightings were 7 Teal (Walker Butts), 3 Snipe, a Woodcock (Point), 5 Skylark (Triangle), 2 Meadow Pipit, a Rock Pipit (Salt Marsh), 52 Fieldfare, 17 Redwing and the Bearded Tit showed itself in the sunshine for the first time for over a week. Six birds were ringed today including a Wood Pigeon, 1 Chaffinch and 2 Greenfinch.

The road was cleared of sand and debris and re-opened to traffic by 14.30.

Another cold day with a more frost and biting winds that eased off late in the day, the tide was over the road last night from post 18-23 depositing more sand and debris.

A few birds ventured south with a Stock Dove, 11 Starling and Greenfinch, other notable sightings were a pale-bellied Brent Goose with 43 dark-bellied, 33 Black-tailed Godwit, a Skylark (Triangle), a Rock Pipit (Narrows), 67 Fieldfare, 8 Song Thrush, 15 Redwing, a Goldfinch (Point) and 13 Reed Bunting.

grounded

A heavy overnight frost and biting winds made birding hard work today, an inspection of the road showed no damage just a lot of sand and debris from post 18-26, but the bigger tides are still to come, the road remained closed all day and will probably not be re-opened until Saturday.

Birds of any note today were 111 Shelduck, 37 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Barn Owl (Triangle), a Meadow Pipit (Scrape Field), 77 Fieldfare, 12 Redwing, 2 Blackcap at Chalk Bank, a Rook S amazingly, a Goldfinch (Warren), 6 Linnet blogging around, a Snow Bunting (Middle Camp) and a Yellowhammer (Triangle).

Amazingly it was so cold today the Humber froze depositing a load of ice on the beach as the waves receded!