The drive down to Sammy's Point showed less birds in the hedgerows than had been in the previous days. There were still reasonable numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares feeding on the hawthorn berries, together with Song Thrushes and, for the first time small groups of Brambling. In the car park, this Merlin was perched on one of the bushes. Goldcrests were around in smaller numbers, Chiffchaffs and a female Blackcap were in the bushes together with a Wheatear in the paddocks. The Pallas's Warbler was seen briefly outside Kew as I made my way down to the Canal area. One of the Great Grey Shrikes was still present along the canal, with a Kingfisher and Stonechat passing through. The Jack Snipe on Canal Scrape was brilliant on this sunny morning although constantly chased by the larger Common Snipe. During the morning, several Short-eared Owls had come in from the sea and one flew in front of me at the Warren, whilst I was watching a Long-eared Owl!
In the same area, this colourful Great-spotted Woodpecker was looking for suitable perches. Thrushes were still pouring in on my arrival at Spurn this morning. Setting out along the canal, it was also evident that Robins were plentiful too. I watched a Great Grey Shrike fly from a bush, carrying a Goldcrest in its claws. Apparently, the Goldcrests were rapidly becoming a food source for the Shrikes. You couldn't help feeling sorry for the 'crests, given the journey they had just made. On the foreshore I found two Rock Pipits among with Robins and soon a second Great Grey Shrike made an appearance. A Short-eared Owl flew past and dropped into the field, perhaps just come in over the sea. A Pallas's Warbler had been seen in Beacon Lane and, after some searching I heard a very brief 'chee' sound. I decided to stick with it and soon the Pallas's emerged at the front of a bush (briefly). It was a very energetic bird and moved along the bushes quickly. My camera caught up with it after a while. I thought a tour of Easington would prove fruitful and stopped off at the fields, to look at the American Golden Plover I had seen the other day. Today it seemed even further away, but was good through the 'scope. There were plenty of birds at Sammy's Point where I found a male Firecrest during a rain shower. Driving back through Easington, I noticed a Black Redstart (1w/female type) on the churchyard wall and took a photo from the car. After an unproductive tour of Kilnsea Wetlands, I went back to Kilnsea and connected with the other Pallas's Warbler, having intermittent views of this one.
Another brilliant day at Spurn, always like a Pallas's Warbler (or two!) on the year's records. An interesting day at Spurn and one in which migrants continued to arrive throughout the entire day. Noticeable flocks of Fieldfare, Redwing and Song Thrushes kept dropping from the clouds on a showery and blustery North-Easterly wind. On the Canal Scrape, thrushes were resting and feeding in the hawthorns. For a while they came to the water's edge to drink. One of the two Jack Snipes which have been present for a while continued to show well, in front of the hide and are always well worth watching. After dipping on an Olive-backed Pipit, I continued watching thrushes arriving and looking for an interesting bird. Small flocks of Brambling could be heard and this one fed on the roadside at the Canal. Late in the afternoon, the Red-breasted Flycatcher which had been seen earlier at Southcliff Farm, re-appeared on the roof. It was a day of waiting to see what would arrive next. 6 Whooper Swans flew South, a Peregrine was over the sea and 2 Wheatear were on the Humber shore. A Stonechat and Grey Wagtail were in Kilnsea.
As the sun rose this morning, it was clear that hundreds of Goldcrests were still in the Spurn area. Every hedgerow and every tree seemed to have at least one. I'd no sooner started my walk in the canal area when a Radde's Warbler was caught in the Heligoland trap in Church Field and was subsequently ringed. The image colouring is a bit 'off' with the early morning sun. During my walk around Kilnsea, I noticed more Redwings, found two nice Fieldfares perched up and three Ring Ouzels around Kilnsea Road. I briefly saw a female Black Redstart on the church roof, before flying over the road. While watching the numerous Goldcrests in Cliff Farm, this female Great-spotted Woodpecker flew in. Around mid-morning, I was suggesting to another birder that a Red-Flanked Bluetail would be a good find today and, ten minutes later, one had just been seen in Church Field. In the course of re-finding it, the Bluetail (a female) had found its way into the Heligoland trap and was also ringed. The Red-flanked Bluetail was only my fourth sighting, all previous ones seen at Spurn, on the Point. I was now very happy with two rare year ticks and great to have close views too. Today I hoped to see the American Golden Plover on Easington fields and was soon having distant views through the 'scope of yet another fine rarity. This was only my second record, my first being in Sept 2007 in Lincs. On the subject of distant views, I kept trying for a better look at the Richard's Pipit in Kilnsea, but it never really obliged! Finally, a cracking bird I always delight in seeing - Great Grey Shrike. This one was a beautiful bird in the afternoon sun, found off Peter Lane near Easington. Again, a bit distant unfortunately.
Another really excellent day in the Spurn area and some great records. Thanks to an informative Tweet early this morning, I was able to pop over the Humber Bridge and see this very obliging Snow Bunting. I had a good idea where it would be, having seen Snow Bunting in this location before, on the edge of the estuary. In the same area as the Snow Bunting was this male Stonechat which perched within ten feet.
Two Bearded Tit flew into the nearby reedbed and a Cetti's Warbler was calling in its explosive way. Not bad in the space of half an hour!! A gallop to Spurn this morning with fingers crossed, that the Citrine Wagtail had stayed overnight. I'd missed one or two in the past and in the first hour of light at Canal Hide, I heard a 'different' yellow wagtail call. It flew in and landed in front of the hide, turned round and flew out again! Shortly after, it flew in again - circled the hide and was gone. It was some time before it returned and settled down to feed in front of the assembled watchers. An excellent tick in the form of a 1st winter bird, showing its bright wing bars, lack of yellow on the undertail and pale grey back. Also on Canal Scrape was a Jack Snipe and Common Snipe. Around 8-00a.m. there was a significant arrival of thrushes, most of which appeared to be Redwings. Good numbers of Song Thrush were with them, a few Fieldfares called out and Ring Ouzels were really noticeable too. A flock of 6 Ring Ouzels flew across the Triangle, I saw two males behind Rose Cottage in a hedgerow and 5 other separate birds, including this one trapped at the Warren. After a clear start, the wind increased and rain showers passed through. It was difficult to know whether yesterday's number of Yellow-browed Warblers were still around in these conditions.
I found one in Crown & Anchor car park, together with Brambling, male Blackcap, Chiffchaff and this Great Spotted Woodpecker. Early morning started off quite well with a Firecrest trapped at Kew - a female. In the course of the day, five Yellow-browed Warblers were seen - 2 near Bluebell, 1 in canal bushes, 1 at Cliff Farm and 1 in Vicars Lane. Canal Scrape was interesting this morning, A Cetti's Warbler called occasionally, a Jack Snipe was in front of the hide but well hidden and asleep all morning! Four Stonechats were feeding on the seedheads in the reedbed to the left of the hide. The Common Snipe showed well too! Other notable birds I encountered included 16 Pink-footed Geese and 5 Barnacle Geese (separate flocks) flew South down the sea. Two Common Buzzard and two Sparrowhawks were seen over Kilnsea and eight Little Egrets and a Greenshank were on the Humber.
A Barn Owl flying down Kilnsea Road started my morning at Spurn, as I made my way to the Canal Hide. On Monday I had seen Jack Snipe there and fancied a quiet session photographing them, if they were around. In the hide, I heard a Jack Snipe was in Clubley's Field but I was already onto one and soon made out another, together with a Common Snipe. I was distracted briefly by the appearance of a Kingfisher which perched up and fished for a while. It was quite some time before the Jack's made a reasonable show, often hidden amongst the cut reed stems. A little later I took a walk around Easington and in Vicar's Lane there was a Pied Flycatcher and a Yellow-browed Warbler, together with a few Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs. Sammy's Point was quiet but did improve later in the day as the temperature rose remarkably for the end of September! Back in Kilnsea, a cracking Firecrest was moving up and down the hedgerows around the Bluebell and Beacon Lane. Down the road at Southfield Farm, 4 Stonechats were on the fence lines and were presumably new in today. A Meadow Pipit alighted from the same field. I would like to say thanks to those who retweet and favourite my images - thanks a lot!
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