Spurn Point in the distance with a P&O ferry coming in from the sea. Since I was awake very early this morning, I found myself at Spurn by 5-20 a.m and ready for some enjoyable birding. On the canal bank where the above photo was taken, the quiet of early morning soon rewarded me with the sound of a Grasshopper Warbler 'reeling' constantly from nearby bushes. I narrowed the sound down to one particular bush and although the call was really loud now, I couldn't see the bird in the dense foliage and undergrowth. After a while, the reeling sound moved unseen to the next bush which I studied carefully for any movement. Low down in the bush I found the singing Grasshopper Warbler. By a piece of luck the bush was shared by a Sedge Warbler who, possibly fed up with the incessant reeling noise, tried pushing the Grasshopper Warbler out of the bush. Still singing, it began to show better as it was edged out of its hiding. A great start and a lovely little warbler to watch in action. The wind was blowing from the South-West and after a night of heavy rain showers, the morning produced a large Southerly movement of Common Swifts. The counters recorded 2500 swifts by 9-00 a.m and a figure of 3996 as the day's total. The fast eroding coast, eating away at Spurn's seaward side. My next call was at the Wetlands just outside Kilnsea. There were few waders here even with an incoming tide on the estuary. Six Black-tailed Godwits, three Oystercatchers, four Redshank and a Ringed Plover. The gull roost was more interesting. Among the Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a single Kittiwake rested which was unusual but do occur here. Four adult Little Gulls were with the Black-headed flock and several Mediterranean Gulls were also present. Behind the Little Gulls, a selection of Grey Herons and Little Egrets rested on the bank. Along the top hedgerow at Beacon Ponds, a Meadow Pipit was seen chasing a Cuckoo with some ferocity. The Cuckoo taking a rest. This was the same hedgerow where I re-found last weeks' Golden Oriole, in the afternoon.
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