December at Spurn

Just a couple of days at Spurn to see friends and do a little light birding. It being December there was not a great deal going on, but I had a nice couple of days anyway. The only birds of real note were a flock of White-fronted Geese on Easington Straight, and in their company was a single Bean Goose, the identification of which being an area of contention. It was initially identified as a Taiga Bean Goose but in the field structurally seemed to better fit Tundra Bean Goose. 

-Bean Goose (Jonnie Fisk)

There was little else of note. The only bird that I ringed was a Water Rail, which was a pretty cool bird for the only one. A Short-eared Owl was about the only other bird of any note. 

Species List:

Spurn Bird Observatory: Bean Goose, White-fronted Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Water Rail, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Dunlin, Redshank, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collard Dove, Short-eared Owl, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Fieldfare, Redwing, Robin, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting,

November at Spurn

I was only at Spurn for a week, seeing a few people in between trips to Germany. The weather was nice during my stay so I was able to spend a bit more time out and about birding whilst not ringing. Ringing on the whole was extremely slow, as is expected at this time of year, but the outstanding highlight was a cracking Long-eared Owl which I flushed into the Heligoland trap one morning. That means I have now rung four of the five resident species of British Owl this year, the exception being Short-eared Owl. 

-Long-eared Owl

There was precious little else, a good passage a Woodpigeons and Stock Doves during the Tuesday and Wednesday. A few Woodcock made an appearance, as did a few Pink-footed Geese and Whooper Swans.

Species List:

Spurn Bird Observatory: Pink-footed Goose, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Gannet, Cormorant, Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Dunlin, Redshank, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collard Dove, Short-eared Owl, Long-eared Owl, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Fieldfare, Redwing, Robin, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting,

October at Spurn

I arrived back from Germany late in the evening of the 8^th of October, ready to continue ringing and birding until the end of the month. My return started with a bang, as the previous evening a Red-flanked Bluetail had been found at the Potato Fields. I cycled down but the bird proved extremely elusive and only the occasional fleeting glimpses were obtained. During the afternoon I even headed down for seconds but on this occasion I did not even see the bird. On the same day I had a Shore Lark fly south over the breach, although consensus is that it was the bird that had been seen regularly in front of Chalk Bank hide.

-Red-flanked Bluetail

Now that the license to occupy has been renewed there was finally the opportunity to ring again at the Warren. During my first week back I spent most of my mornings down here, picking up such goodies as Rock Pipit, Yellow-browed Warbler and plenty of commoner birds.

Between ringing and working at the pub I had limited time available for actual birding. That being said, just being at Spurn means birds are around, and when I clocked off work on the 11^th at lunchtime, I was immediately greeted by Jonnie Fisk racing out of Kew to inform me that an Olive-backed Pipit was flying overhead. We both got onto the bird as it called and whizzed overhead. I got to enjoy nice on the deck views of this bird as well, when it set up at the north end of the canal. On the 9^th I also saw the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling that had turned up along the canal during my stay in Germany. It occasionally drifted down towards the Warren, but despite trying to use tapes we failed to catch it.

The weather turned at the end of the week, but at Hornsea Britain’s first White-rumped Swift made for an exciting turn of events. I was of course working and did not get to see the bird, and it never made an appearance at Spurn.

Ringing ticks continued to pour in over the next week; Stonechat, Grey Wagtail, Coal Tit, Yellowhammer and Barred Warbler, a bird which I myself drove into the Heligoland trap. I was of course buzzing when I pulled it out of the catching box. As I was walking the trap, the bird ahead of me, I began to wonder what on earth this bird was, but I had inkling long before I reached the end that it was indeed a Barred Warbler. Even rarer for Spurn, although not this autumn, was a Cettis Warbler that Tim caught in Corner Field. On the 20^th we caught a Willow Warbler in Kew. Not only is it an extremely late date, but the bird was enormous with a huge wing comparatively. We took some feathers for DNA but it seems unlikely that anything will come of it.

-Coal Tit

-Grey Wagtail

-Yellowhammer

-Rock Pipit

-Willow Warbler

-Cetti's Warbler

-Barred Warbler

The highlight of the autumn for some was a Great Skua that was picked up aisled on the beach and brought to Kew for some TLC. Of course, it being a great skua, the bird was violent and aggressive but easy to look after as we threw it any manner of roadkill to keep it occupied. When the day came for its release it was ringed and brought down to the Bluebell. I had the privilege of holding the bird during its transport, and in a moment of lapse concentration was reminded why these birds are so vicious, as it marked my face less than an inch from my right eye. The bastard then did not even fly off, and returned to our care for a few days before we let it loose on the Humber. Because of its temperament, I gave it the name Lucifer.

-Great Skua 'Lucifer'

Towards the end of my stay the ringing list got a real boost. A Merlin caught on the 24^th was sadly not ringed by me, but was still an absolute treat to see in the hand, a bird very rarely caught at Spurn. A Waxwing on the same day spent the afternoon around the trees at Kew but frustratingly bounced out of the net. We also finally caught the Kew Tawny Owl after nearly 12 months of trying. Our method was brutal but effective, and I had the honour of finally ringing it. Right before I headed off to Germany there was an influx of Mealy Redpolls, including some real stunners. I was able to ring around 20 birds, and among them, although not ringed by me, was a cracking Coue’s Arctic Redpoll, a solid Spurn tick. On the same day I caught a Firecrest, which was a nice bonus to what felt like a real autumn day.

-Merlin

-Tawny Owl

-Coue's Arctic Redpoll

My last days were dominated by birds on the sea. I spent very little time at the Sea-watching Hut but did enjoy a nice Pomarine Skua passage when I finally did venture down. I flew out to Germany again on the 29^th effectively ending my autumns birding at Spurn.

Species List:

Spurn Bird Observatory: Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Pheasant, Grey Partridge, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Gannet, Cormorant, Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Merlin, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Water Rail, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Dunlin, Redshank, Greenshank, Common Snipe, Jack Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Skua, Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skua, Guillemot, Razorbill, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collard Dove, Short-eared Owl, Long-eared Owl, Tawny Owl, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Shore Lark, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Cettis Warbler, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Waxwing, Wren, Starling, Rose-coloured Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Robin, Redstart, Black Redstart, Wheatear, Red-flanked Bluetail, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Dunnock, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Mealy Redpoll, Coue’s Arctic Redpoll, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting,

Germany

Thursday 27.09
After work we headed out birding some of the areas not too far north of Husum. Most of our birding was scanning over areas of flooded wetland or fields. In the evening light it was tricky but we had a pleasant enough evening featuring a nice array of species. Highlights included only my second and third ever White-tailed Eagle, as well as a stunning male Hen Harrier and a really smart perched up Merlin. Whooper Swan, Barnacle Geese and Spoonbills made up a pretty splendid supporting cast.

Species List: Shoveler, Mallard, Teal, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Barnacle Goose, Greylag Goose, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine, Buzzard, Hen Harrier, White-tailed Eagle, Grey Heron, Great White Egret, Spoonbill, Lapwing, Dunlin, Common Snipe, Curlew, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Meadow Pipit, White Wagtail, Swallow, Starling,

Saturday 29.09
For our first full day off Tim and I decided to head out to Helgoland, the famous landmark bird observatory where so many rarities are seen. Obviously the islands reputation preceded it, so we obviously had high expectations. And we were not disappointed. The first bush we looked into had a Yellow-browed Warbler in it, the first of an incredible NINE that we found across the island. Other regular migrants included Redstarts, Pied Flycatchers, Whinchats, Stonechats, Wheatears, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs. Meadow Pipits adorned every area of lawn, all the while Chaffinches and Bramblings migrated overhead in their hundreds. The beach at the north had a Richards Pipit feeding among the Rock and Meadow Pipits, as well as five Shore Larks. The gull flock perched on the beach had a stonking 2cy Caspian Gull present. Even the boat over had goodies such as Long-tailed, Arctic and Great Skua, as well as Kittiwake and Red-throated Diver. To say that we were impressed with our first Helgoland experience would be an understatement.

-Barnacle Geese

-Caspian Gull

-Shore Lark

-Richards Pipit

Species List: Barnacle Goose, Greylag Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Wigeon, Common Scoter, Eider, Red-throated Diver, Cormorant, Gannet, Grey Heron, Kestrel, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Lapwing, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Curlew, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Caspian Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Kittiwake, Long-tailed Skua, Great Skua, Arctic Skua, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Shore Lark, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Richards Pipit, Grey Wagtail, White Wagtail, Swallow, Starling, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Lesser Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Yellow-browed Warbler, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Redstart, Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Chaffinch, Brambling, Siskin, Greenfinch,

Sunday 30.09
As the software we were working on was being updated over Sunday morning we took a short drive to try and catch the two world ticks that were possible in the area; Black and Middle Spotted Woodpecker. The woodland was small but the birding was really good as we found ourselves surrounded by Marsh Tits whilst Hawfinches flew over. We only managed one of our Woodpecker targets; Middle Spotted Woodpecker, which Tim expertly picked out in the tops of the trees.

-Middle Spotted Woodpecker

Species List: Pheasant, Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Woodpigeon, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Chaffinch, Brambling, Siskin, Greenfinch, Hawfinch,

September at Spurn

September started slowly, with very few grounded migrants, a product of the persistent westerly winds. A few Willow Warblers, plus a couple of Garden Warblers were the best that the nets had to offer. A few Ortolan Buntings were around the area, but I failed to connect with them and the tapes I produced were insufficient for bringing them into a net. A Kingfisher on the fourth was a bonus, still only the second I have ever ringed.

On the 2^nd September I had the surprise of my life when, on the way back from work, I had a Badger feeding on the lawn at Cliff Farm. I was so startled I nearly fell off my bike, but managed to compose myself to watch it scuttle under the hedge and into the bushes at Kew.

Sadly over the Migfest weekend I was extremely busy so had very little time for any birding or bird related activities. However, the day after I began trying to target waders around the Humber shore. Turnstone was my first target as they are bold, predictable and lovely birds. It took some work but I managed to catch two different birds, an adult and juvenile, both stunning. After those I really wanted to catch Sanderling, but found it difficult to find any individuals behaving in a way such that we could move them into a trap. However, at Beacon Ponds we found a very reluctant to fly Bar-tailed Godwit, which after some amount of work, we were finally able to manoeuvre into the trip trap, only the 34^th ever to be ringed at Spurn.

-Turnstone

-Bar-tailed Godwit

The following days produced very high numbers of birds in the nets. Most of the birds were Tree Sparrow, and we did over 150 in two days. Meadow Pipit numbers also increased dramatically, although they were initially more reluctant to drop near any traps. Two Redstarts were nice, and after many individuals bounced, it was nice to finally catch a Sparrowhawk.

On the 20^th I was treated to a great flyby Great White Egret that passed nearly overhead whilst I was ringing Meadow Pipits in Churchfield. Had I my camera I would have been able to get some great photos, but sadly not on this occasion.

Species List:

Spurn Bird Observatory: Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Gannet, Cormorant, Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Water Rail, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Lapwing, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Curlew, Dunlin, Redshank, Greenshank, Ruff, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collard Dove, Short-eared Owl, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Robin, Redstart, Wheatear, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Dunnock, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting,

August at Spurn

Obviously a large section of August was spent in Madeira, but my time at Spurn was pretty productive for the most part. A number of nice species were ringed, and I had a great time with the abundance of Dragonflies and Damselflies which had emerged as a product of the warm weather. The most exciting of these was the reappearance of Small Red-eyed Damselfly along the canal after an absence of about five years, the entire time that I had been visiting Spurn. Whilst out photographing them I also found a female Banded Demoiselle, which was a Spurn tick for me and only the 19^th record.

-Small Red-eyed Damselfly

-Banded Demoiselle

Birding remained fairly slow but a cracking male Red-backed Shrike in Canal Hedge on the 8^th August, the day before my departure to Madeira, was a nice treat and made for an excellent start to the autumn. Sadly it remained distant and mobile whilst I was observing it. Ringing remained slow and steady but a Treecreeper was a nice surprise in the nets one morning. A Common Crane flew south over Kilnsea one Saturday whilst I was at work. Of course I abandoned my work and scanned from the foreshore in front of the pub. I was lucky enough to be with Jonny Holiday who had bins with him and was able to pick the bird up.

-Treecreeper

Upon my return the first migrants of the autumn had begun to appear, with 150 Willow Warblers seen in the area on one day. Wheatears and Whinchats also started to appear, and I went out with spring traps and managed to catch on of each, as well as another Whinchat in Corner Field. Pied Flycatchers also began to increase towards the end of the month, and we caught a few of these in the garden. We also caught a Wood Warbler, a real scarcity at Spurn, which Paul brought round to the pub for me to ring whilst at work. A Kingfisher in Churchfield was probably the ringing highlight of the month, and maybe even the year. A really stunning bird!

-Whinchat

-Wood Warbler

-Kingfisher

A cracking male Black Darter on the 24^th was another dragonfly Spurn tick for me, this time found by Tim at the end Churchfield Heligoland trap, as so many rare dragonflies area. On the 29^th Adam, as he so often does, found a Woodchat Shrike at the Warren. It was extremely elusive and difficult to connect with, but as the morning warmed up it became more active and was soon feeding out, even if it remained a little obscured. During the afternoon I headed off to Hornsea with my parents, and as a result I missed out on ringing an Icterine Warbler. The next day a new bird was in the garden at Kew but sadly never went in any nets, but fortunately it reappeared in the nets later the following morning. I was pretty thrilled when I took it out put it that way, even if it’s not a self-find. That was one of two birds that I ringed on the 31^st, the other being a Red-backed Shrike at Sammies Point that Adam and I caught using spring-traps. What a day that was!

-Woodchat Shrike

-Black Darter

-Icterine Warbler

-Red-backed Shrike

Species List:

Spurn Bird Observatory: Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Gannet, Cormorant, Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Lapwing, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, Whimbrel, Curlew, Dunlin, Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Little Tern, Common Tern, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collard Dove, Swift, Barn Owl, Little Owl, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Red-backed Shrike, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Robin, Redstart, Wheatear, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Dunnock, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting,

Madeira complete species list

BIRDS
Cory's Shearwater	Calonectris borealis
Bulwer's Petrel	Bulweria bulwerii
Desertas Petrel	Pterodroma deserta
Zino's Petrel	Pterodroma madeira
Band-rumped Storm Petrel	Oceanodroma castro
Common Buzzard	Buteo buteo
Eurasian Sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus granti
Yellow-legged Gull	Larus michahellis
Common Tern	Sterna hirundo
Roseate Tern	Sterna dougallii
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus
Sanderling	Calidris alba
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres
Common Ketrel	Falco tinnunculus canariensis
Peregrine	Falco peregrinus
Trocaz Pigeon	Columba trocaz
Feral Pigeon	Columba livia domestica
Eurasian Collared Dove	Streptopelia decaocto
Plain Swift	Apus unicolor
Berthelot's Pipit	Anthus berthelotii
Grey Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea schmitzi
Eurasian Blackcap	Sylvia atricapilla
Common Whitethroat	Sylvia communis
Madeira Firecrest	Regulus madeirensis
European Robin	Erithacus rubecula
Common Blackbird	Turdus merula cabrerae
Madeiran Chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs maderensis
European Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis parva
Atlantic Canary	Serinus canaria
Common Waxbill	Estrilda astrild
MAMMALS
Brydes Whale	Balaenoptera brydei
REPTILES
Madeiran Wall Lizard	Lacerta dugesii
AMPHIBIANS
Perez's Frog	Pelophylax perezi
BUTTERFLIES
Monarch	Danaus plexippus
Red Admiral	Vanessa atalanta
Clouded Yellow	Colias croceus
Small White	Pieris rapae
Lang's Short-tailed Blue	Leptotes pirithous
Speckled Wood	Pararge aegeria
Madeiran Grayling	Hipparchia maderensis