I'd been looking forward to a day at Spurn for a while and with a morning high tide, an 0530 a.m. start was needed to catch the waders at their best on the Kilnsea Wetlands. The Wetlands appeared fairly quiet on arrival but as the tide flooded the estuary mud, waders began dropping in at regular intervals. I had seen a small flock of Redshanks with Black-tailed Godwits and a single Greenshank. Two Avocets also remained from the summer months. A Green Sandpiper called overhead and quickly dropped close to the hide. The water level is very low and I was surprised to see both Swallows and Sand Martins resting on the mud. There were juvenile Yellow Wagtails present too, at least five just near the hide. More waders were arriving including a single juvenile Ruff which fed in front of the hide for a while. Juvenile Little Ringed Plovers indicated a breeding success with four birds in the near vicinity. A large female Sparrowhawk flew low through the Wetland, disturbing the waders for a short time and separating off one of the Black-tailed Godwits which landed near the hide. Before leaving the hide, a flock of Red Knot circled the pools seemingly unable to settle but making quite a spectacle as they twisted and turned. I left the hide and walked up to Beacon Ponds where the true wader spectacle can be found. Numbers of Grey Plover are increasing and huge flocks were in the air, albeit at the far side and over the beach. Loafing around the edges were Little Egrets and a Grey Heron. Some noisy Sandwich Terns were flying about, both adults and juveniles. I didn't walk the length of the pond but did see the Little Terns in the distance and took this shot, 'for the record'. They have had a good breeding year with I believe, 22 chicks fledged. Before leaving the ponds I encountered the female Sparrowhawk again as it flew so close to my left ear, I could hear the whoosh of its wingbeats!! A female Reed Bunting was sitting in the hedgerow as I walked away. My next visit was to hopefully see the Marsh Warblers in Corner Field and, leaving the car in Bluebell car park I was surprised to find my first Wheatear of the Autumn - a very confiding bird. In the Corner Field, Willow Warblers were passing through the willow trees quite regularly and around the small pond, Reed Warblers were flitting about. I latched on to this candidate for a juvenile Marsh Warbler. A quiet sub-song was coming from a small willow and unlike the other Reed Warblers I had seen busily flying about, this bird remained in the same place for a considerable time. I was lucky to watch it for some time and although I am far from able to distinguish the finer differences in two very close species, it appears to have longer primaries than Reed Warbler. Perhaps some of my viewers will give their opinion? Another highlight today were the Whinchats which I found in Walker Butts field. At one time, I counted nine on the fencing and there were possibly more on the ground. In the first heat hazy image, five are close together. It was an interesting day for raptors too. I met the Sparrowhawk for the third time, a Peregrine flew over while in Corner Field (together with a Tree Pipit heard). I missed a Merlin and Red Kite but had two Common Buzzards, two Kestrel and a Marsh Harrier.
Andrew McCafferty
25/8/2021 03:35:08 pm
Is that a Black-eared Wheatear in your third photo? You didn’t mention it but it looks like one to me!
Andrew McCafferty
25/8/2021 03:36:09 pm
5th photo, sorry… Comments are closed.
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