Spurn Bird Observatory Sightings 2025
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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Wednesday, 06 August 2025
Sunny spells and some showers with a decreasing F6 north west wind. Watches 0530-1000, 1730-2000.
The adult Caspian Gull and Yellow-legged Gull were present again off the Riverside while at beacon ponds 2 Curlew Sandpipers, another good count of 382 Little Terns, a Black Tern, 25 Little Gulls and a Short-eared Owl.
Passerine interest was again limited to 7 Willow Warblers, single Goldcrest, a Wheatear, 4 Crossbills and 3 Corn Buntings.
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Caspian Gull - Thomas Willoughby.
Tuesday, 05 August 2025
Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach, which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 200 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.
Not as wild as yesterday and getting better as the day wore on some rain and some sun in strong F7 north west winds. Watches 0555-1000, 1200-1300, 1745-2000.
There was some movement over the sea in the morning albeit modest which saw a Cory's Shearwater head south plus 29 Common Scoters, 14 Oystercatchers, 22 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Turnstones, 10 Knot, 38 Sanderlings, a Black Tern, 60 Arctic Terns, 839 Common Terns, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Arctic Skuas, 2 Fulmars and 67 Gannets. There was little overland movement though 6 Tree Pipits flew south with 3 Crossbills mobile in area.
The beacon ponds area held 24 Black-tailed Godwits, a Ruff, 320 Little Terns, maybe the same 2 Roseate Terns, 25 Little Gulls and a Merlin.
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Whitethroats - Harry Appleyard.
Monday, 04 August 2025
A wild day with a F9 westrly storm coming through with some rain attached. Watches 0630-1000, 1750-2030.
The day saw another great total of 340 Little Terns at beacon ponds where a Curlew Sandpiper, 150 Sandwich Terns and 25 Little Gulls were also present.
There was some light movement including 850 Swifts the first movement of signifance in several weeks while Waders trickled through the toatl of 24 Whimbrels was the best count. The evening Tern roost movement saw 12 Arctic Terns and 1634 Common Terns and 5 Arctic Skuas lingered offshore.
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Sunday, 03 August 2025
Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach, which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 200 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.
Sunny spells and some showers with a stiff F5 north west breeze. Watches 0630-1000 1830-2000.
The day after the annual BBQ at the Obs with the threat of rain a quick clean up followed by some lethargic birding producing a juvenile Caspian Gull blogging around the area, 2 Curlew Sandpipers and 100 Little Gulls at beacon ponds
Ringing 7 Willow warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, 1 Wren, 11/3 Day after the annual BBQ, with most people really lethargic while some grounded migrants included 41 Willow Warblers, a Tree Pipiot and single Crossbill.
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Saturday, 02 August 2025
Cloudy start brightening up later with a light dropping wind. Watches 0630-1000.
The sea had a nice array of species on offer but no big numbers with 2 Teal 2 Tufted Ducks, 111 Common Scoters, 28 Oystercatchers, a Whimbrel, 25 Redshanks, 14 Sanderlings, 184 Arctic Terns, an adult Pomarine Skua, single Puffin, 2 Fulmars, 3 Sooty Shearwaters and 2 Manx Shearwaters.
The Humber had the Little Stint again where there were also 2 Green Sandpipers and a Ruff plus an adult Caspian Gull, juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and an Osprey. Passerine wise a Treecreeper at the Obs, Whinchat in the triangle. Wheatear at beacon ponds and mobile Cuckoo and Tree Pipit.
Just outside the area the Stone Curlew was still present at Skeffling and 2 Ravens here also.
Ringing 1 Willow Warbler, 1/1 AGM today then committee meeting followed by the annual BBQ
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Caspian Gull - Thomas Willoughby.
Yellow-legged Gull - Thomas Willoughby.
Friday, 01 August 2025
Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach, which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 190 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.
Mainly cloudy with the odd glimpse of the sun, with a stiffish F5 northerly wind. Watches 0630-1000, 1730-1930.
Ther first 2 Sooty Shearwaters of the autumn flew north past the seawatch hut plus a Manx Shearwater and 126 Gannets while the Humber had 98 Little Gulls blogging, a Greenshank, single Spotted Redshank, 2500 Dunlin and a Little Stint. Passerines were few in numbers but 18 Willow Warblers were counted and a Red Kite wandered the area.
Ringing 1 Oystercatcher (p), 5 Avocet (p), 2 Ringed Plover (p), 9 Little Tern (p), 17/4
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Thursday, 31 July 2025
Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach, which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 190 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.
Mainly sunny with rain late in the evening and a light F2 north east wind. Watches 0630-1000, 1800-1945.
Despite only 8 Willow Warblers being present a Wood Warbler turned up in the churchyard moving into the crown carpark sometimes showing well where a Treecreeper was also present..
There was no sign of the White-rumped Sandpiper but the 2 Roseate Terns remained on beacon ponds along with 200 Little Terns while a Spoonbill flew north and a Ruff on the Humber.
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Wood Warbler - Harry Appleyard.
Wood Warbler - Harry Appleyard.
Wednesday, 30 July 2025
Lengthy sunny spells with light north west winds. Watches 0630-1000, 1800-2030.
Some movement of seabirds and Waders over the sea 165 Oystercatchers, 17 Whimbrels, 8 Dunlin, a Black Tern, 94 Common Terns, 2 Little Gulls, 2 Arctic Skuas, a Pomarine Skua and 64 Gannets.
The White-rumped Sandpiper continued with high tide visits to beacon ponds and the 2 Roseate Terns still wandering the area with both Little Stint and Ruff on the Humber while autumns first Garden Warbler appeared today and a single Crossbill wandered the area.
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Tuesday, 29 July 2025
Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach, which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 190 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.
Lengthy sunny spells with showers about in light north west winds. Watches 0630-1000, 1345-1645.
Again there was little change overall but a good July count of 1060 Swallows flew south while the usual White-rumped Sandpiper and 2 Roseate Terns remained at beacon ponds plus 2 Greenshanks, 270 Redshanks, 850 Dunlin, 191 Little Terns and 20 Little Gulls. Elsewhere 3 Green Sandpipers were in the triangle and 17 Willow Warblers, a Tree Pipit and 7 Crossbills made up the passerine interest.
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Monday, 28 July 2025
Sunny spells with longer cloudy spells and the odd shower with light f£ north west winds. Watches 0630-1000.
The day saw little change the White-rumped Sandpiper again on beacon ponds with adult Roseate Tern and Curlew Sandpiper here also. There was also 3 Common Sandpipers, 270 Redshank, 2 Greenshanks, 750 Dunlin, 167 Little Terns, 24 Little Gulls and a Red Kite.
There were few migrants bar a Tree Pipit, 8 Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff, 2 Treecreepers, a Stonechat and 2 Crossbills while 2 Green Sandpipers flew south.
A male Keeled Skimmer was in north field (3rd record) and a Red-veined Dater nearby.
Outside the area the Stone Curlew remained at Skeffling where a Lesser Emperor and Vagrant Emperor were also present.
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Water Rail - Thomas Willoughby.
Green Sandpiper - Harry Appleyard.
Keeled Skimmer - Harry Appleyard.
Red-veined Darter - Harry Appleyard.
Sunday, 27 July 2025
Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach, which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 130 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.
Mainly overcast with just a glimpse of the sun with light F2 north west winds. Watches 0630-1055.
The White-rumped Sandpiper continued to show at high tides at beacon ponds with Dunlins as did the adult and juvenile Roseate Terns along with a visit from a Curlew Sandpiper and a Spoonbill. There was another decent total of 25 Willow Warblers (18 ringed in sykes field), a Chiffchaff, single Treecreeper,, 2 Stonechats and 5 Yellow Wagtails.
The day saw some marginally better Wader movement with 9 Oystercatchers, 2 Turnstones, 57 Knot and 11 Dunlin along with a Puffin, 40 Razorbills, 2 Fulmars and 30 Gannets.
Outside the recording area the Stone Curlew remained at Skeffling where over 1000 Curlews were counted.
Ringing 18 Willow Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 5 Reed Warbler, 1 Treecreeper, 22 Starling, 1 Robin, 1 Reed Bunting, 49/7
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Stone Curlew - Thomas Willoughby.
White-rumped Sandpiper - Thomas Willoughby.
Saturday, 26 July 2025
Sunny spells amongst cloudy periods with light north westerly winds. Watches 0630-0930.
The juvenile Stone Curlew which has been at Skeffling visited the area being on the mud at Sammys for a while then flew back west. The White-rumped Sandpiper again found beacon ponds to its liking at high tide with the 2 Roseate Terns (adult and juvenile) still lingering in the area. Beacon ponds also had 2 Little-ringed Plovers, 3 Common Sandpipers, 180 Little Terns, 200 Sandwich Terns and 3 Marsh Harriers with 2 Little Owls at nearby grange farm. A small influx of 33 Willow Warblers to the area included several moulting adults with a Cuckoo trapped in sykes field, 2 Whinchats in the triangle and a wandering Corn Bunting.
Some varied light movement brought 3 Teal, 16 Oystercatchers, 17 Whimbrel, 2 Green Sandpipers, a Puffin, 51 Razorbills, a Redpoll and 4 Crossbills.
Ringing 1 Wood Pigeon, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Blue Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 24 Willow Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 5 Reed Warbler, 6 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 42/9
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Stone Curlew - Thomas Willoughby.
Cuckoo - Thomas Willoughby.
Friday, 25 July 2025
Polite reminder for all visitors: the Little Tern colony at Beacon Ponds is extremely vulnerable to disturbance. PLEASE STAY WELL AWAY from the fenced area of beach, which is clearly signposted, and respect the wardens on duty. Up to 130 birds are present in the colony and can be viewed well from the flood bank.
Bright and sunny most of the day clouding over late on with light winds. Watches 0630-1000.
Quite a ncice varied day started with 2 Cattle Egrets sat on the Humber off the warren which eventually flew off south while the adult White-rumped Sandpiper was on beacon ponds and an adult Roseate Tern was still about. There was also a blogging Wood Sandpiper, a Kingfisher at chalky point, Caspian Gull on the ponds, an adult Yellow-legged Gull on the Humber and maybe 12 Crossbills heading north west. Passerine migrants were few but a Cuckoo, 9 Willow Warblers, a Goldcrest and single Tree Pipit were recorded.
Just outside the area the Stone Curlew was still at Skeffling.
Ringing: Reed Warbler, 2
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White-rumped Sandpiper and Dunlin - John Hewitt.
Water Rail - Bethan Clyne.
Thursday, 24 July 2025
Rain all morning petered out leaving some sunny spells in a decreasing north west wind. Watches 0630-1000.
The White-rumped Sandpiper remained between the Humber and beacon ponds and the adult and juvenile Roseate Terns likewise. The Humber had a Curlew Sandpiper and 550 Little Gulls while some movement offshore had 34 Oystercatchers, a Greenshank, 7 Turnstones, 3 Knot, 136 Sanderlings and 11 Dunlin.
Outside the area the Stone Curlew and 2 Common Cranes were at Skeffling.
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Knot - Bethan Clyne.
Tuesday, 22 July 2025
Sunny spells with showers and lengthier rain in the evening and a F2 easterly. Watches 0630-1000.
The adult White-rumped Sandpiper was still present mainly off the warren while a Black Tern and 2 Roseate Terns (adult and juvenile) blogged around the area. The Humber still had 105 Bar-tailed Godwits, 295 Redshanks, 350 Knot and 1000 Dunlin.
Passerines were represented by a Treecreeper, 5 Willow Warblers and a Crossbill.
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Crossbill - Thomas Willoughby.
White-rumped Sandpiper - Thomas Willoughby.
Knot - Harry Appleyard.
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