Spurn Week 8

Wednesday 11^th - Tuesday 17^th October

Due to the fact that I have now become rather busy at Spurn, with ringing, birding, working for the Obs and now working for the crown as well I have had no time to keep writing a short daily update, so have opted for a weekly update of all the goings on at Spurn. With me spending most of time in Churchfield ringing I was not seeing a great deal. The Arctic Warbler, the long-staying bird which had set up around the crown car park and Kilnsea churchyard, made a couple of appearances in Churchfield, showing well in the tops of the tall elders. We also saw the Tawny Owl at roost a couple times, although views were usually poor, looking up at the bird through thick vegetation.

In terms of ringing, there was not a great deal different, mainly Redpolls and Blackbirds. I did get to do my first Sparrowhawk though, which was obviously a bit of a different experience to the Thrushes and Finches I had been used to.

Outside of Churchfield I did not get up to much. I went with Sarah down to Middle Camp to try and catch Rock Pipits and Wheatears but sadly we failed on all accounts. A few Pink-footed Geese were still moving, but not in huge numbers, and Yellow-browed Warblers could be encountered on any walk away from Churchfield.

From Friday until the Tuesday I spent some time away from Spurn, making a long weekend visit to South Wales. Although not really a birding trip, we still managed a few bits and pieces. A Spotted Redshank and Little Stint were nice at Newport Wetlands. Bizarrely, having just left Spurn, probably the most twitched Mega of the autumn happened to turn up in Gwent, a Common Rock Thrush. We dipped on the first attempt, although a healthy number of Wheatears made some compensation, but on the second attempt the bird showed extremely well. People had been leaving mealworms out for the bird, and it had clearly gotten used to people being there so was largely fearless. It was awesome to see it scurrying across the quarry faces, looking right at home.

-Rock Thrush

Species List:

Spurn Bird Obs: Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Pintail, Pink-footed Goose, Brent Goose, Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Gannet, Cormorant, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Merlin, Common Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Curlew, Greenshank. Common Redshank, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Gull, Woodpigeon, Collard Dove, Feral Pigeon, Short-eared Owl, Tawny Owl, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Whinchat, Stonechat, Robin, Redstart, Black Redstart, Wren, Dunnock, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Yellow-browed Warbler, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Starling, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Rook, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Brambling, Siskin, Reed Bunting, Migrant Hawker, Common Darter, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral,