Spurn Bird Observatory Sightings 2026
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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Sunday, 24 May 2026
An incredible minimum flock of 22 Bee-eaters flew south over Easington cemetery with another single south an hour later which flew down the peninsula and lingered at the point. (Presuambly this single was the 1+ over Patrington earlier). Also today 2 Turtle Doves and 2 Spoonbills along with several Red-veined Darters.
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Bee-eater - Thomas Willoughby.
Bee-eater - Thomas Willoughby
Saturday, 23 May 2026
A lovely hot summers day with a swinging light south east wind.
Highlight from today saw 2 Turtle Doves (point, westmere farm), a Temminck's Stint again on Kilnsea wetlands and a Spoonbill here also which flew to canal scrape in the afternoon.
Other bits included a Pale-bellied Brent with 410 Brent Geese, 14 Gadwalls and 2 Wigeon at the wetlands and 122 Little terns on beacon ponds. Migrant/ breeder totals included 26 Sedge Warblers, 22 Reed Warblers, 10 Lesser Whitethroats, 48 Singing Whitethroats, a Redwing, 15 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Wheatears and a Tree Pipit.
Ringing 7 Great Tit (p), 1 Willow Warbler, 9 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Dunnock
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Spotted Flycatcher - Simon Jump.
Sedge Warbler - Simon Jump.
Friday, 22 May 2026
Highlights from the day saw a Golden Oriole fly south, a Temminck's Stint around the wetlands, a drake Garganey over the Humber and an arrival of at least 13 Spotted Flycatchers. Full details to come.
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Golden Oriole - Thomas Willoughby.
Golden Oriole- Thomas Willoughby.
Temminck's Stint - Tim Jump.
Spotted Flycatcher - Tim Jump.
Thursday, 21 May 2026
Sunny spells with an increasing F5 south west wind. Watches 0530-0900, 1015-1240, 1315-1400,
A Golden Oriole along the canal appeared to fly south while a Cattle Egret lingered in the triangle and 2 Hawfinches flew south off the point. Also moving 17 Sand Martins, 96 Swallows, 8 House Martins, 8 Flava Wagtails and a Corn Bunting.
Ringing 1 Magpie, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Robin
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Cattle Egret - Harry Appleyard.
Hawfinches - Simon Jump.
Wednesday, 20 May 2026
A cold F5 north west wind along with a cloudy start brightened up slightly after midday. Watches 0630-1000, 1630-1830-1950
A Quail at the point was new for the year but maybe the only new migrant of note. A Black-throated Diver lingering in the area offshore was the highlight of the seawatch which also included an Arctic Skua, 26 Large Auks, 2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Manx Shearwaters and 9 Gannets while overland a Marsh Harrier, 11 Sand Martins, 239 Swallows, 37 House Martins, 2 Chaffinches and 8 Goldfinches.
Ringing 2 Chiffchaff
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Quail - Thomas Willoughby.
Quail - Thomas Willoughby.
Tuesday, 19 May 2026
A wet and windy start with a F7 southerly clowing, the day got a little better and dryer in the afternoon but overall a poor day. Watches 0630-1000
While the spring has somewhat fallen flat mainly due to poor weather and unhelpful winds good birds have trickled in today saw a nice Red-necked Phalarope appear on Kilnsea wetlands but it didnt remain too long evetually being found further up the Humber at Oustrays. The only other passage Waders were a Common Sandpiper and several Whimbrels. It was equally poor for grounded migrants with just 2 Wheatears and a the first Cuckoo for a wee while.
There was again a Pale-bellied Brent around the ponds plus 232 Brent Geese and a blogging Hobby while vizmig had just 37 Swifts, 16 Swallows and 21 House Martins.
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Monday, 18 May 2026
Sunny spells with showers by midday with a light southerly winds. Watches 0630-1000
The day was similar to the previous with some light movement of sea and land which included a Shoveler, 2 Gadwalls, 4 Little Egrets, 26 Sand Martins, 81 Swallows, 11 House Martins, a Grey Wagtail, 4 Alba Wagtails, 12 Chaffinches, 18 Goldfinches, a Siskin and 3 Corn Buntings while a Rock Pipit was around the warren area.
A joint count around the area saw 588 Ringed Plovers recorded but 5 Whimbrels and 105 Little Terns were about the best of the rest.
Ringing 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Robin (p), 1 House Sparrow
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Ringed Plover with trespassing Turnstone - Tate Lloyd.
Ringed Plover with trespassing Turnstone - Tate Lloyd.
Ringed Plover with trespassing Turnstone - Tate Lloyd.
Ringed Plover with trespassing Turnstone - Tate Lloyd.
Sunday, 17 May 2026
An intially breezy day with sunny intervals throughout. A F4 west wind eventually calming into the evening.
Some light southbound passage included a Marsh Harrier, 19 Sand Martins, 98 Swallows, 2 House Martins, 2 Flava Wagtails, 21 Chafficnhes and a Siskins while a Short-eared Owl went out high east.
The beacon ponds area held a great count of 143 Little Terns along with 2 Pale-bellied Brents, 150 Brent Geese and a Greenshank.
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Saturday, 16 May 2026
A largely cloudy day with some sunny intervals, later turning increasingly windy with light rain in the evening.
Sightings were definitely on the quality rather than quantity side of things today with a summer plumage American Golden Plover on the Humber off the gate (and later at Oustray) and now 2 Temminck's Stints on beacon ponds/wetlands area which eventually flew off north while a lovely female Montagu's Harrier flew south. The best of other south bound vismig were just 104 Swallows.
Other bits saw 2 Pale-bellied Brents with 286 Brent Geese in the ponds area while Passerine migrants were poorly represented by just 5 Wheatears.
Ringing - 1 Blackcap.
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Montagu's Harrier - Thomas Willoughby.
Montagu's Harrier - Thomas Willoughby.
American Golden Plover - Colin Bushell.
American Golden Plover - Colin Bushell.
Friday, 15 May 2026
A largely cloudy and dull day with strong F5 northwesterly winds, eventually dropping around dusk.
A nice adult Long-tailed Skua headed south over the sea plus 52 Kittiwakes, an Arctic Skua, single Puffin, 22 Guillemots, 4 Razorbills, 4 Fulmars, 4 Manx Shearwaters and 55 Gannets.
There was no sign of the Temminck's Stint but in the area 14 Gadwalls, a Wigeon, single Pochard, 12 Avocets, a Short-eared Owl and 40 Sand Martins.
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Fulmar - Harry Appleyard.
Thursday, 14 May 2026
Initially chilly morning with some brief heavy rain clearing for a pleasant afternoon with warm sunshine and light winds.
The same or new Temminck's Stint was at Kilnsea wetlands showing well while a Hooded Crow flew south in what has been a good spring for them so far. Also moving were a Wood Sandpiper, single Arctic Skua, a Puffin, 5 Jackdaws, 4 Rooks, a Tree Pipit and 2 Redpolls.
Other bits saw the Black Brant still on beacon ponds, a Short-eared Owl here also while Passerine migrants included a Willow Warbler, single Garden Warbler, a Black Redstart and 7 Wheatears.
Ringing - 1 Willow Warbler.
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Temminck's Stint - Neil Hunt.
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
A day of sunny spells and showers some on the heavy side. Watches 0630-1000
The White-fronted Goose remained at beacon ponds where there was also Black Brant, the 2 Pale-bellied Brents, 200 Brent Geese, a Pochard, 2 Common Sandpipers, 41 Little Terns and a Short-eared Owl.
Passerine interest was limited with just a Black Redstart and 3 Wheatears of note as was the vismig with a Little Gull, single Marsh Harrier, a Common Buzzard, 36 Swallows, a Grey Wagtail and 2 Siskins plus a Hobby hunted the area.
Ringing 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackbird
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Short-eared Owl - John Hewitt.
Pale-bellied Brent - Simon Jump.
Tuesday, 12 May 2026
A cold F6 north west wind blowing strong but sunny spells making it pleasant out of the wind. Watches 0630-1000
Despite the conditions it was a better day all round the highlight a relatively brief Temminck's Stint on the wetlands the area also having 3 Spoonbills, a White-fronted Goose, the Black Brant, 2 Pale-bellied Brents, 300 Brent Geese, a Caspian Gull, 2 Wigeon, 4 Teal and 50 Little Terns while a grey Curlew Sandpiper was on the Humber.
Again there was little on the move though an Osprey headed south over the sea plus 4 Tufted Ducks, 2 Marsh Harriers and 24 Swallows.
Ringing 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat
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Mallard with young - John Hewitt.
Temminck's Stint - Steve Exley.
Monday, 11 May 2026
A cold windy day with a F7 north easterly with plenty of sunshine though. Watches 0630-1000.
The day saw very little of note in difficult conditions, Passerines represented by a Willow warblers, single Black Redstart and 2 Wheatears. On the move 41 Common Scoters and a possible Hen Harrier flew south over the sea.
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Sunday, 10 May 2026
A cold wind blowing today warming up by midday out of the wind. Watches 0630-1000
The years first Turtle Dove was welcome as it flew from Sammys towards Kilnsea but in terms of vismig and grounded migrants it was poor with 2 Willow Warblers, a Black Redstart and 4 Wheatears the most obvious among the breeders.
Elsewhere the Black Brant was on beacon ponds with 250 Brent Geese, 2 Water Rails in the triangle, 294 Ringed Plovers had gathered in the area with 11 Whimbrels still lingering, a Short-eared Owl and Hobby hunting and 2 Tawny Owls in Easington..
Ringing 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Robin (P)
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Avocet - John Hewitt.
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