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,