Spurned

Snow Bunting

Water Rail

Water Rail

Water Rail

Squealing like a pig!

Redshank with fish

Stonechat (female)

Fieldfare - just after being ringed

Record shot of Siskin

Didn’t have to change today’s meeting place because of the weather or the intrusion of the 21st-century’s progress, which was a bonus. Even before the am class officially started there was a burst of Skylark song. I looked up and there was a Merlin trying to catch it. It spun round in circles, fanning its tail, and lunged for its prey several times, but the Skylark appeared to get away. We walked along the road and turned left & walked along a tiny hedge, which masquerades under the overblown soubriquet of “Big Hedge” – don’t ask! I turned left as Tony Robinson instructed from yesterday, but it was very disappointing. Only a Great Black-backed Gull fled from us in terror from the shoreline. We turned round & ventured south along the cliff & then came across 4 very confiding Snow Buntings. They were much less accommodating in the afternoon, but were still much friendlier than the female Bullfinch we saw at lunch time – a local rarity here. After the Snow Buntings we walked to the Warren & saw a male Stonechat, and had a very brief glimpse of an eastern race Lesser Whitethroat. We were in time to see an underweight Fieldfare being released – hope it makes it! Then we walked to Canal Scrape & had fairly good views of a Water Rail, although there was little else around. On the foreshore there were masses of Knot, and Golden Plover, and we heard Grey Plover, and in the afternoon Black-tailed Godwits. In the Crown & Anchor car park were at least 2 Chiffchaffs, and a flock of about 8 Siskins. Again there was a good sighting before the pm session began – a flock of 50+ Pink-footed Geese heading south in a perfect V-formation. The Snow Buntings showed well again, but were disturbed by 4 morons on the beach. The Water Rail showed even better from the Canal Scrape hide, and a Redshank had a real tussle with a tiny fish. Some Fieldfare also dropped into the bushes. The light made viewing difficult on the mudflats, but the sounds of the estuary were evocative. A pair of Stonechats on the Canal Zone were new since the morning and a couple of Reed Buntings gave good views. On the return journey we enjoyed several excellent views of Redwings. It was actually a pleasant afternoon at Spurn, as the am wind had died right down. May be foggy tomorrow if the wind doesn’t pick up!