Spurn Point Visit

 I visited Spurn Point with my daughter Katherine for three days.  Unfortunately the winds were westerly during our visit, so this reduced the chances of any rare migrants dropping in but there was plenty of birds to look out for.

The star bird was a Lesser Yellowlegs, a species that breeds in N America and does turn up in the UK most years.  This individual had been present since 3rd October.  It was my 3rd UK sighting.

Lesser Yellowlegs with Ringed Plovers

Below - A short video clip of the Lesser Yellowlegs taken in very windy conditions

Despite the winds there were a reasonable number of newly arrived Redwings and Brambling present, plus Yellow-browed Warblers in several locations, although these were keeping low in the strong winds.

Sea watching was slow with the best being a Pomarine Skua. Lots of Gannets, a few Common Scoters and Red-throated Divers.

The birds collecting on Beacon Pond at High Tide

Hundreds of Wigeon were present.

Waders and Gulls roosting on a gravel bar. 
The 7th Gull from the left is a Yellow-legged Gull

Dunlin and Redshank coming into roost

Redshank arriving.

Merlin - We were lucky to see this juvenile Merlin perched close to the screen
we were at which overlooked the Humber river.

Merlin - The same individual turned up in the Canal Scrape and was seen bathing and drinking.

Stonechat - Several were seen around the area.

Golden Plover - Several flocks were seen over the weekend.

Wheatear - A Surprise Garden Tick

 

Wheatear - Near the top or driveway with plenty of cars passing by.

Little Grebe at Wycombe Rye

 This adult Little Grebe came rather close while we were having coffee while sat outside at The Dyke on Wycombe Rye.  The Grebe was attracted by a group of Mallard that someone was feeding.

It was good to see one there still.  I assume it has a mate somewhere near.  In the past there were much bigger number here.  In February 1994 I counted 15.  These days the site is much more disturbed and along much of the length far less aquatic plant life.

Little Grebe - adult

Dunbar Battery

 Dunbar Harbour and Battery was impressive with quite a few birds around.  A few offshore rocky islands provided good perches for Shags and Cormorants, the rocky crags near the harbour gave suitable nest sites for Kittiwakes and a few Gannets could be seen offshore.

Dunbar Harbour

Dunbar Harbour

Dunbar Battery

Rocky Islands viewed from the Battery

Rock viewed from the Battery

Shags - Good numbers were present.

Plus a Great Black-backed Gull

Eider - Presumed a female in the background and two juveniles.

Kittiwake - A juvenile presumed to have been raised in the immediate vicinity.

Farmland near Croston

 A walk around farmland close to Croston, Lancashire.  A very flat low lying area.  A good number of Yellowhammers were seen or heard, also Sedge Warbler, Swallows, Kestrels, c150 Lapwing and also several Tree Sparrows heard.

Brown Hare - Two in this field.

Swallows - Presumed part of a family party

White Coppice - Lancashire

 No sign of the Redstarts or Pied Flycatchers that breed in the area but both are easy to miss,  It is quite possible that they have finished breeding and have now headed south.

A number of the resident species were seen including Tree Creeper, Nuthatch, Stonechat and Dipper.

Stonechat - a male seen close to where several juveniles were seen in the bracken.

Dipper - Two individuals seen in different areas.

Breeding Avocets - Plus

 Another trip to the excellent Hesketh Outmarsh RSPB Reserve.  There were probably 200 Avocets present with a few fairly close family groups.  Unfortunately very windy conditions made videoing difficult.

Avocets 

Avocet - Dive bombing a Gull that wandered to close to the young.

Little Egrets - Several of these in the area.

Oystercatcher - One of a pair with young nearby.