This species is not infrequently seen as an escape or released bird but it is often difficult to be sure if an individual is a truly wild bird. In this case the bird was found at a time when good numbers had just arrived on the east and west coasts of the UK. So it is fairly likely to be of wild origin and had somehow become separated from a flock.
The bird was found by David Ferguson and subsequently seen by a number of local birders. It frequented an area of Sedges to the west of the lake at Fulmer and was often seen feeding.
As in recent years I visited Spurn Point with my daughter Katherine. We stayed at the Observatory for three nights and enjoyed the excellent facilities that it has to offer.
Unfortunately the winds were from the SW all weekend which is not great for rare migrants. However some compensation was the large numbers of the more common migrants that were passing overhead. Theses included Swallows, House Martins, Meadow Pipits, Chiffchaffs, etc. Of course as soon as we left to head back home the winds turned northerly and then to the North East!
Hopefully the following photos show that the birding can be good despite the "wrong" winds. Click on the photos to see an enlargement.
Pink-footed Geese - One of the fantastic sights that Spurn produces each Autumn as the "Pinkies" arrive from the north, often heard before they are seen. They did not land and headed further south.
Brent Geese - The only two reported during our stay. Many more will no doubt arrive soon.
Cattle Egret - Perhaps the scarcest bird over the first three days. As expected it managed to find some farm animals to feed among,
Kestrel - A juvenile perched along the Canal Bank path.
Shelducks - A daily sight on the Humber at low tide. Many hundreds were present.
Spotted Flycatcher - This individual was found after we walked to the end of Spurn Point. It was happily feeding with a darker individual pictured below.
Spotted Flycatcher - This made the walk to the point and the trudge back just about worthwhile.
Song Thrush - At least four Song Thrushes were feeding in this Yew tree over two days, this one reaching for a berry! They were apparently new arrivals but as to where they came from is anyones guess!
Swallows - Just two of about 30 gathering on the wires in the Triangle.
Little Egrets (and others) - seen on Kilnsea Wetlands. The left hand bird was colour ringed and apparently ringed in Norfolk.
Roe Deer - One of two walking past the hide at Kilnsea Wetlands
Avocets - Three of 10+ on Kilnsea Wetlands taken in poor light conditions.
Common Terns - Several small groups of Terns flew over Kilnsea Wetlands all heading south. Some dropped in for a short time and included a good number of juvenile birds. A few Sandwich Terns and Little Gulls also dropped in.
Little Grebe - Seen on the Canal Scape pool.
Whimbrel - Seen on the Humber from the Canal Scape path. One of two seen over the three days.
Below the Whimbrel flying away.
Curlew - A rather tatty looking individual feeding on the Humber. Good numbers were seen over the weekend.
Common Snipe - Resting by the Canal Scrape hide.
Common Gull - A 2nd calendar bird
Common Gull - An adult along the Humber.
Common Gull - A final two photos of a bird in flight showing the species ID features well and demonstrating how good the Sony RX10 camera is for flight shots!
As in recent years, my daughter Katherine and myself arranged for a weekend at Spurn :Point and on-route called in at the RSPB reserve at Blacktoft Sands.
A Pectoral Sandpiper which had been seen earlier in the day did not show but we did manage to see a good variety of birds.
Redshank - One of many feeding in the lagoons.
Green Sandpiper and Teal
Teal - Several hundred were present.
Black-tailed Godwit - Perhaps over 30 present.
Common Snipe - One of the closer birds
Marsh Harriers were frequently seen on the far side of the lagoons from the hides. Good numbers clearly breed here.
These two photos are not the best quality but show the species in typical hunting mode.
Recent easterly winds and unsettled weather presumably helped this male Common Scoter to drop into Little Marlow GP on 8th Sep. I was unable to visit the lake that day but the bird was still present the following day and I had decent views from in front of the cottages.
