Jim's Birding: Spurn Point

Tuesday

Katherine and I arrived in steady rain on Tuesday afternoon after leaving Bempton an hour or two earlier. Due to the rain we decided to go to the hide at Kilnsea Wetlands where at least we would be dry. There were a good variety of birds on view including a Caspian Gull, Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stints, Dunlins, Black-tailed Godwits, several Ruff, a single Snipe and a variety of wildfowl and Gulls.

Ruff - several were present at Kilnsea Wetlands

Little Stint - Three were feeding over at least two days.

In the evening we drove over to Sammy's Point and saw at least four Short-eared Owls hunting and what was presumably two separate pairs flying high in the air close to one another and circling around for a few minutes. An excellent end to the day.

Wednesday

We decided to start with some Viz Mig at the Warren where good numbers of Meadow Pipits were heading south along with a variety of other species. A brief sea watch included eight Red-throated Divers, three Arctic Skuas, two Manx Shearwaters and plenty of Gannets. A Pied Flycatcher at the ringing hut was nice but brief. This bird had been ringed the previous day by ringer Sarah.

Then a walk around the triangle. It was generally quiet the highlights being another Pied Flycatcher, a Spotted Flycatcher and six Pale-bellied Brent Geese. Then a walk along Beacon Lane was also quiet for passerines with the highlight being a small flock of Golden Plover landing quite close. A larger flock, possibly containing the recently seen Dotterel, landed much further away and unfortunately could not be viewed.

Pale bellied Brent Geese - On the Humber. Recently arrived.

Spotted Flycatcher - In front of Cliff Farmhouse

This Pied Flycatcher was camera shy!

Golden Plover - A small flock conveniently landed close to us by Beacon Lane.

Thursday

Another day, another seawatch. This time the Long-tailed Skua that had been reported in recent days, put in an appearance and a Sooty Shearwater flew north. A flock of Little Gulls, a single Arctic Skua, ten Red-throated Divers, Sandwich and Common Terns, some Guillemots were the supporting cast.

With no news of migrants around the area we decided to walk along the peninsula, crossing the breach along the way. A Hoopoe had been seen the previous day so there was the chance that we might come across that (but we didn't). We reached the lighthouse and turned back ( 1km short of the point but still a decent trek). Along the way we saw up to 20 Wheatear, lots of Meadow Pipits, an Arctic Skua, two Yellow Wagtails and plenty of Swallows.

On reaching the breach on our return, it was approaching high tide and the gathering waders was very impressive, especially when a Hobby flew through and tried to take one! There were perhaps six thousand waders including Knot, Dunlin, Grey Plover, both Godwits, Turnstone, Oystercatcher and Curlew.

Then we returned to Kilnsea Wetlands where there were plenty of birds to look through. Mostly the same species as before but with two juvenile Caspian Gulls (one wearing a German colour ring). Six Avocets and a Spoonbill were nice.

Wheatear - conveniently perched along the peninsula.

Some of the remains of mans attempts to tame the sea were littered along parts
of the North Sea side of the peninsula.

Wire sculpture near the lighthouse.

A short video clip of a small part of the waders

at the breach a while before high tide.

Friday

Our final seawatch produced four Arctic Skua and about twenty Red-throated Divers flying south, plus the usual species. Then back to the Observatory to load up for the journey home. Just outside the Obs was a Whimbrel.

Just as we were about to leave I heard the radio report of an Isabelline Wheatear that had just been found near Easington! A short time later we would have missed this news and been on the road.

So a stop off in Easington and a walk down to the rocks to join a group of about ten birders already watching the bird. Strangely my only other sighting of this species in the UK was about half a mile further south!