Spurn Point

Early start to the each coast and the migration hot spot in Yorkshire the mighty Spurn Point but was it to deliver today.

We arrived 9:30am to reports of the Subalpine Warbler remaining and in the Canal Scrap area, so that was our first port of call, parking up in the Canal Hide car park. It became clear after asking around that the last place the said bird was seen was viewable from the Canal Scrap Hide, so that’s where we went, 40 mins later and no sign, but we added to the day list whilst searching, Little Grebe, Mallard, Blackcap ♂♀, Willow Warbler, Reed Bunting. We decided on tea and cake back at the car and inadvertently, by yours truly, attracted the Subalpine Warbler to a nearby bush (won’t say how, but nobody complained), this gave many people over the next few hours great views of a very attractive bird.

Next was a walk around the triangle picking up on Lesser Black backed Gull, Redshank, Curlew, Knot and Brent Geese, a few Peacock Butterflies were also out now, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Starling, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Swallow, Sand Martins, Meadow Pipit, Oystercatchers were all seen, and a distant Wheatear

We decided on a call out to Kilnsea Wetlands , after we picked the car up, here we saw Avocet, Shelduck, Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon, Little Egret, Greylag Goose, whilst here we got the news of the Black Brant (a new bird for me) on beacon ponds, after a little walk and scanning thru the Brent Goose flock we eventually picked up the American visitor, a sub species of the Brent Goose, slightly different neck markings and a darker bird on the neck and back

It was now 4pm so we decided on finishing at Spurn and popping in at North Cave Wetlands on the journey back home.

Birds of Spurn Area : Avocet, Blackbird, Blackcap, Black headed Gull, Blue Tit, Brent Goose, Black Brant, Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coot, Curlew, Dunnock, gadwall, Golden Plover, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Kestrel, Knot, Lesser Black backed Gull, Linnet, Little Egret, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Redshank, reed Bunting, Robin, Shelduck, Shoveler, Skylark, Starling, Subalpine Warbler, Swallow, Teal, Wheatear, Wigeon, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren

An hour and 15 later we were at North Cave Wetlands on Dryham lane looking at Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Little Ringed Plovers, Redshank, Mediterranean Gulls, a distant Buzzard, Black headed Gulls (lots), Sand Martins and Swallows overhead. A walk around the Perimeter Path gave us views over the ponds where a Male Mandarin was seen, along with plenty of Tufted Duck, a Reed Warbler was also heard, a Green Woodpecker was heard. At the turret hide more Black headed Gulls, Ruff, Shelduck, Teal, Pochard, Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon and  Herring Gulls and more Avocet along with a single Pied Wagtail. Back on the trail a Male Blackcap was found along with Goldfinch

Birds of North Cave : Avocet, Blackcap, Black headed Gull, Buzzard, Crow, Chaffinch, Coot, Curlew, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunnock, Gadwall, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Green Woodpecker, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Lapwing, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Little Ringed Plover, Magpie, Mallard, Mandarin Duck, Mediterranean Gull, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pochard, Redshank, Reed Warbler, Robin, Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon, Ruff, Sand Martin, Shelduck, Shoveler, Swallow, Teal, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Willow Warbler

Avocet at Kilnsea Wetlands