Spurn Bird Observatory Sightings 2024
With so many birders covering the Spurn area it is always helpful for us to get as many records submitted to us as possible. Please try to send in sightings on the same day so we can get them added to the log.
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Monday, 06 May 2024
Another nice sunny day again with light winds from the south. What was presumably yesterdays Rough-legged Buzzard flew west over Easington the best of the grounded migrants a Wood Lark at the Point with totals of 2 Cuckoos, 3 Willow Warblers, 11 Chiffchaffs, a Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, a Redstart, 10 Wheatears and a Whinchat around the area while there are now 41 Little Terns at the colony at beacon ponds.
Also of note a Capian Gull at Kilnsea wetlands, 3 Pintails at long bank, 2 Little Gull around beacon ponds and a Jay which headed back north.
Ringing: Stock Dove 1, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Chiffchaff 2, Sedge Warbler 1, Linnet 2. 8/5 Watch times: 05:04-09:45
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Wood Lark - Thomas Willoughby.
Common Buzzard - Paul Willoughby.
Little Gull - John Hewitt.
Sunday, 05 May 2024
A nice day with light winds mainly from the south west. There was unfortunately no sign of the Collared Fly but the day was not a complete loss with several good sightings a second Rough-legged Buzzard in two days was part of some noteable Raptor movement which included a Sparrowhawk, single Marsh Harrier, a Red Kite, 5 Common Buzzards and a Hobby. A Wood Sandpiper and male Grey-headed Wagtail headed south among a trickle of other species with 8 Whimbrels, 2 Grey Herons, a Great White Egret, 15 Carrion Crows, 14 Sand Martins, 62 Swallows, 6 Flava Wagtails and a Corn Bunting.
Migrants were thin on the ground but boosted by returning breeders with Whitethroats now upto 32. Others of note were Grasshopper Warbler, a Garden Warbler, 14 Lesser Whitethroats, a Pied Flycatcher, single Whinchat, a Redstart, 7 Wheatears, a White Wagtail, 2 Bramblings and a Lesser Redpoll.
Ringing: Blue Tit 1, Chiffchaff 2, Willow Warbler 2, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Whitethroat 1, Sedge Warbler 3, Goldfinch 1, Linnet 3, Chaffinch 1, Lesser Redpoll 1. 17/10
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Brambling - Thomas Willoughby.
Spoonbill with Avocets - Martin Standley.
Saturday, 04 May 2024
Long sunny spells and a F4 south westerly. The star bird was still present in north field, the male COLLARED FLYCATCHER saw a steady stream of twitchers during the day with some lucky enough to see a 2cy male Rough-legged Buzzard which flew south. The day again saw a good scatter of grounded migrnats around the area 12 Willow Warblers, 8 Chiffchaffs, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 18 Lesser Whitethroats, 12 Whitethroats, a Goldcrest, single Mistle Thrush, a Redwing, single Ring Ouzel, 3 Pied Flycatcher, 2 Redstarts, a Whinchat, 17 Wheatears, 7 White Wagtails and a Brambling.
Ringing: Sparrowhawk 1, Chiffchaff 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Blackcap 1, Song Thrush 1, Great Tit 1. 6/6 Watch times: 05:45-09:15, 15:00-16:00
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Rough-legged Buzzard - Jacob Spinks
Collared Flycatcher - Thomas Willoughby.
Collared Flycatcher - David Carr.
Friday, 03 May 2024
A cloudy wet day with long periods of rain and generally light variable winds. A stunning start to the day with Spurns 4th COLLARED FLYCATCHER a second calendar male trapped in churchfield and showed later in north field plus small numbers of other grouded migrants including a Cuckoo, 4 Willow Warblers, 11 Blackcaps, 11 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Redwings, a Fieldfare, 6 Pied Flycatchers, 3 Whinchats, Yellow Wagtails, 2 Tree Pipits and 2 Bramblings.
Ringing: Chiffchaff 3, Blackcap 2, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Whitethroat 1, Chaffinch 1, Dunnock 1, Collared Flycatcher 1. 11/7
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Collared Flycatcher - Paul French. Our 4th record but the 2nd male for Spurn
Collared Flycatcher - John Hewitt.
Pied Flycatcher - Noah
Thursday, 02 May 2024
After a cool start, sunny for the day with a F4 north easterly.
The superb adult male Golden Oriole spent the morning in the triangle eventually flying north the day also producing several firsts of the year Hobby heading south, Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Garden Warblers along with a Cuckoo, 26 Sedge Warblers, a Grasshopper Warbler, 12 Lesser Whitethroats, 18 Whitethroats, 9 Blackcaps, 5 Willow Warblers, 9 Chiffchaffs, 2 Pied Flycatchers, a Redstart and 3 Wheatears.
The Black Brant was still present bankh 520 Brent Geese and a Pale-bellied Brent on long with a Red Kite wandering the area.
Ringing: Chiffchaff 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1. 2/3. Watches: 0800 - 1000
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Sandwich Terns - Denise Shields.
Golden Oriole - Denise Shields.
Wednesday, 01 May 2024
A foggy start slowly cleared during the day to leave a fine sunny afternoon along with a F2 easterly.
A fine adult male Golden Oriole stole the show at Sammys but an equally fine adult male Montagu's Harrier which flew south ran it a close second and adding in 15 Black Terns and 58 Arctic Terns out to sea, 2 Spoonbills on Kilnsea wetlands, a Wood Lark heading south, single Red Kite blogging and a Little Stint on the Humber made for a great day. There was again a scattering of common migrants with 2 Cuckoos, 27 Sedge Warblers, 5 Reed Warblers, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 18 Lesser Whitethroats, 14 Whitethroats, 2 Ring Ouzels, a Whinchat and 12 Wheatears.
Also of note were 24 Siskins and a Corn Bunting heading south, 11 Avocets and 3 Greenshanks on Kilnsea wetlands and 11 Little Terns on beacon ponds. Full counts on Trektellen.
Ringing: Chiffchaff 1, Blackcap 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Willow Warbler 1, Lesser Redpoll 1. 5/5 Watch times: 07:30-11:00
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Golden Oriole - Thomas Willoughby.
Golden Oriole - Thomas Willoughby.
Golden Oriole and Cuckoo - Thomas Willoughby.
Montagu's Harrier - Paul Willoughby.
Spoonbills - Denise Shields.
Tuesday, 30 April 2024
A lovely sunny day with a F4 south easterly.
The 'green' Golden Oriole remained around the triangle mainly in flight while there was a significant reduction iin common migrants with noteable counts of 14 Chiffchaffs, 18 Sedge Warblers, 15 Lesser Whitethroats, 15 Whitethroats, a Ring Ouzel, 3 Whinchats and 23 Wheatears. The day also saw some decent movent for the vismiggers incuding 11 Jackdaws, 52 Sand Martins, 81 Swallows, 14 House Martins, 10 Flava Wagtails, a Tree Pipit, 18 Linnets, a Crossbill, 22 Goldfinches, 2 Corn Buntings and a Yellowhammer.
There were still 636 Brent Geese including the Black Brant, 11 Little Terns at beacon ponds and 2 Pintails on the Humber.
Ringing: Willow Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Robin 1. 4/3 Watch times: 06:20-08:20
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Golden Oriole - Harry Appleyard.
Green Hairstreak - Harry Appleyard.
Monday, 29 April 2024
The windy F7 southerly with sunshine and rain later was conducive to a great day of arrivals bringing some fantastic counts of grounded migrants to the area 2 Cuckoos, a mobile Wryneck, a Golden Oriole towards Kew over the triangle, single Wood Lark at Sammys, 31 Willow Warblers, 17 Chiffchaffs, 12 Sedge Warblers, 15 Blackcaps, 25 Lesser Whitethroats, 11 Whitethroats, a Ring Ouzel, single Pied Flycatcher, a Black Redstart, 3 Redstarts, 2 Whinchats, 97 Wheatears, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 3 White Wagtails, a Tree Pipit and 11 Bramblings. Also present were 14 Little Terns, a Green Sandpiper, 10 Whimbrels, ringtail Hen Harrier blogging and 553 Brent Geese on long bank marsh.
THe day also saw some increased southerly movement with 2 Common Swifts (first of the year), 7 Whimbrel, a Spoonbill, 22 Sand Martins, 56 Swallows, 2 House Martins, 19 Flava Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, 47 Linnets and 56 Goldfinches.
Ringing: Willow Warbler 2, Chiffchaff 2, Wheatear 2. 6/3. Watches
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Wryneck - John Hewitt. Initially seen by the Bluebell it quickly moved through to Trafalgar cottage and then Chapel cottage where it showed well.
Wryneck - John Hewitt.
Sunday, 28 April 2024
A day of mostly wet and windy weather, coming from the NNE eventually cleared mid-afternoon to north-westerly and an arrival of birds was evident with a Jack Snipe, 2 Cuckoo, 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 6 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 9 Blackcap, 10 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroat, a Fieldfare, 5 Ring Ouzels of which 4 flew north-west, 3 Common Redstart, 79 Wheatears, 4 White Wagtails, 3 Tree Pipit, 6 Brambling and a Lesser Redpoll. While the Humber produced 9 Pintail, a pair of Scaup, 4 Tufted Ducks, an Eider, 3 Fulmars, 17 Gannet and 6 Arctic Terns. In the Triangle, a Jack Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper and the Pink-footed Goose remained. In the Kilnsea Wetlands and Beacon Ponds area 6 Tufted Ducks and a Greenshank.
Some light passage east out to sea consisted of 7 Shoveler, 6 Wigeon and 3 Curlew while a Song Thrush and 2 Stock Dove arrived ‘in-off’, also an Osprey flew north over Sammy’s Point in the evening.
Ringing: Blackcap 1, Brambling 1. 2/2 Watch times: 13:10-14:10
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Redstart - Thomas Willoughby.
Ring Ouzel - Thomas Willoughby.
Saturday, 27 April 2024
The wind turned more to the east, resulting in more common migrants being grounded including a Cuckoo, 20 Willow Warbler, 10 Chiffchaff, a ‘Siberian’ Chiffchaff at the Gas Terminal, 11 Sedge Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, 14 Blackcap, 13 Lesser Whitethroat, 7 Whitethroat, a Goldcrest, a Redstart, a male Whinchat along the Canal, a female Ring Ouzel at the Point, 13 Wheatear, a singing Tree Pipit at the Warren and a Brambling. The Common Sandpiper was at the Warren while the single Pink-footed Goose and a Green Sandpiper was in the Triangle. In the Kilnsea Wetlands and Beacon Ponds area there were 2 Canada Geese, 3 Tufted Duck, a Red-legged Partridge, 2 Little Ringed Plovers (plus the bird still along Peter Lane) also 14 Little Terns were back at the colony early doors before flying out-east.
Movement overland was highlighted by 3 Arctic Skuas going ‘out-east’ from the Humber as well as 4 Arctic Terns, 22 Curlew and 24 Herring Gull while the southbound passage was limited with the best being 21 Swallow and 2 Yellow Wagtails. The sea was particularly quiet, two Mediterranean Gulls flying south being the only birds of note.
Ringing: Chiffchaff 2, Willow Warbler 1, Blackcap 4, Robin 1. 8/4 Watch times: 05:30-07:30, 18:10-19:10
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Friday, 26 April 2024
In a weaker north-easterly wind, an increase in common migrants occurred with a Cuckoo, 18 Swallow, 3 Sand Martin, 7 Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 9 Sedge Warbler, the first 2 Reed Warblers of the year, a Grasshopper Warbler, 9 Blackcap, 12 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Whitethroat, 2 Goldcrest, a Black Redstar, 5 Wheatear, 6 White Wagtail, a Brambling, a Bullfinch and a Siskin. A single Pink-footed Goose remains in the Triangle while in the Kilnsea Wetlands and Beacon Ponds area there were 4 Tufted Ducks, a Ruff and a Little Gull. A Little Ringed Plover was along Peter Lane, a Common Sandpiper at the Warren while 9 Whimbrels were logged in the area.
No timed watch for the day, although 6 Curlew flew east out to sea, a Fulmar flew north while 11 Rook and 20 Crows flew south.
Ringing: Magpie 1, Willow Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 1. 3/3
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White Wagtail - John Hewitt
Bar-tailed Godwits - Harry Appleyard
Thursday, 25 April 2024
A cold cloudy day with a F4 northerly.
It remains hard work looking for migrants in the cold winds from the north today returning a Cuckoo, the first 2 Little Terns of the spring, 3 Willow Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 4 Lesser Whitethroats, just a single Whitethroat, a Goldcrest, single Fieldfare, a Wheatear, single Brambling and 2 Siskins with also 2 Little-ringed Plovers, 2 Greenshanks, a Ruff and 4 Tufted Ducks on Kilnsea wetlands. The best of little movement were 23 Curlews heading off north east acroos the sea.
The drake Green-winged Teal was still present on long bank with 36 Teal, the ringtail Hen Harrier wandering the area and 3 Pink-footed Geese in the triangle.
Ringing: Willow Warbler 2, Blackcap 2, Goldfinch 1. 5/3 Watch times: 07:00-08:00
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Whimbrel - John Hewitt.
Wednesday, 24 April 2024
A cloudy day yet again with the cold F5 north easterly remaining.
Another poor day for migrants with little change either way the best being a Tree Pipit and Cuckoo in the triangle and 14 Arctic Terns going out northeast with also 3 Eiders, 6 Grey Plovers, 45 Knot and 3 Dunlins doing the same.
The drake Green-winged Teal was still on long bank plus in the nearby area 48 Teal, 12 Shovelers, 8 Avocets, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, a Ruff, 3 Greenshanks, 3 Whimbrels, a Green Sandpiiper and 2 Short-eared Owls.
Ringing: Chaffinch 1, Goldfinch 1. 2/2 Watch times: 05:45-07:45, 16:30-18:30
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Ruff - John Hewitt.
Short-eared Owl - John Hewitt.
Tuesday, 23 April 2024
Sunny spells with a F4 northerly.
Typically for spring the day after a good arrival then saw a general clearout leaving a fraction of the grounded migrants with just 11 Willow Warblers, 12 Blackcaps, a Fieldfare, single Ring Ouzel, 13 Wheatears and 3 Bramblings.
The ever present drake Green-winged Teal was still present on long bank marsh along with 87 Teal, 9 Tufted Ducks on beacon ponds, Ruff on Kilnsea wetlands with 3 Short-eared Owls
Ringing: Willow Warbler 1, Blackcap 4. 5/2 Watch times: 07:00-09:30, 17:05-18:30
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Monday, 22 April 2024
A cloudy wet murky day with a cold F3 north westerly.
There was a nice arrival of migrants around the area arriving in the drizzle including some new for the year with a Cuckoo, 107 Willow Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 15 Blackcaps, 9 Lesser Whitethroats, single Whitethroat, a Goldcrest, 4 Redwings, a Fieldfare, single Redstart, 30 Wheatears, 11 White Wagtails, a Tree Pipit, 3 Bramblings, 4 Siskins and 2 Lesser Redpolls with a Bearded Tit along the canal maybe one of the previous birds.
The day also saw 40 Arctic Terns head out east and 2 Egyptian Geese head south with both the drake Green-winged Teal and Black Brant still on long abnk where 7 Whimbrel lingered and 3 Tufted Ducks were on Kilnsea wetlands.
Watches: 0650 - 0900
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Willow Warbler - Martin Standley.
Whitethroat - Martin Standley.
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