A Quiet Day at Spurn

Oh no, another Spotted Flycatcher!

Grey Plover among Knot
Grey Plover in various stages of moult

Redshank

ditto

Redshank & other waders

Pied Flycatcher

Bird of the Day - but nearly 1/4 of a mile away!

ditto

Migrant Hawker (male)

Migrant Hawker (immature?)

Brimstone

John & I checked most nooks and crannies of Spurn today hoping that the north-easterly winds would have brought some interesting migrants in, but only a sustained blast direct from the arctic would achieve that - today's northerly winds stretched only as far north as Scotland. The bird of the day was a Pied Flycatcher just north of the warren. We started at the high tide at Chalk Bank, where the numbers of Knot have been building since my last visit, but there has been a corresponding bleeding of the colours - very few showed signs of the red breeding plumage. Also present: Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Whimbrel, Curlew, Sanderling and Dunlin. At the Point the only passerine migrant recorded had been a Redstart, which we failed to see, but we did find a Spotted Flycatcher, and back near the car park 2 Whinchats and a Wheatear. At Canal Scrape there was a single flava wagtail, and plenty of Meadow Pipits, and a juvenile Whitethroat and several juvenile Willow Warblers. Beacon Lane was almost a waste of time, with only a Whinchat & a Lesser Whitethroat being of note. Finally, on to Sammy's Point, where we added another Wheatear, a few Whimbrel, dozens of Golden Plover, and another juvenile Willow Warbler. Several days of a sustained northerly wind are probably needed to bring in a substantial number of migrants. However, Sunday is a no go because of the Clipper race in the area!

South of Humber Again

Little Egret

Record shot of Spotted Flycatcher
Common Darter

Common Blue Damselfly

All remaining pics for this post (c) 2009 Maurice Gordon
Brown Hairstreak

ditto

ditto

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Yesterday in near gale-force winds, John and I tried out the high tide at Alkborough Flats. We did find the Spoonbill, and a bloke from Derbyshire kindly pointed out the sleeping Ruddy Shelduck through his telescope. We also identified Peregrine (young male), Marsh Harrier & a sparring Kestrel & Sparrowhawk. There were a few Black-tailed Godwits, and at least 5 Ruff flew in. A Greenshank called, but we failed to track it down. Most of the sightings were of distant birds. At least we learned that it's best to visit this location when the high tide is receeding. On to Normanby Hall to see the Little Owl, which we failed to spot - the Red & Fallow Deer were the best species at this location. Finally, on to Far Ings, but the strong winds kept the best of the wildlife out of sight. However, in a sheltered area at the back of the site a pair of Spotted Flycatcher were busy catching insects.

Meanwhile, Maurice has also been in Lincolnshire looking for Brown Hairstreaks. Despite several visits he didn't manage to connect with them until today when they were looking a bit worn. The "tails" had rubbed off & the colours are a little faded. Hopefully, he'll have better luck next year.

Across the Bridge

Lesser Whitethroat - doing its best Waxwing impression!

Lesser Whitethroat - normal view
Reed Warbler
Silver-Y Moth (c) 2009 Ben Coneyworth [Age 10]

Large White on Teasel (c) 2009 Ben Coneyworth [age 10]

Common Darter (c) 2009 Ben Coneyworth [age 10]

Speckled Wood (c) 2009 Ben Coneyworth [age 10]

Drake Shoveler in eclipse (c) 2009 Ben Coneyworth [age 10]

Mute Swan (c) 2009 Ben Coneyworth [age 10]

Popped over the Humber Bridge to mark the final day before Ben returns to school. The first stop was Far Ings where we had excellent views of Reed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat, but the highlight were the pair of Kingfishers which flew in front of the hotel hide at least 10 times. Unfortunately, they were too swift for any pics to be taken. They settled further along the bank well out of sight of our vantage point. Ben wanted to play with the cameras in the Waters' Edge visitor centre, but they were out of action. The Lincolnshire yellowbellies must be workaholics, as all the visitor attractions were closed: the Elsham Hall Butterfly Garden wasn't accessible & Thornton Abbey was padlocked. The day started well, but dribbled away into locked doors & disappointment.

Is it Art?

A Candidate for the Turner Prize?

A sunbed, not an unmade bed!
Cells, grubs & adult wasps

Another garden sighting - a fairly large wasps nest, which prevented the use of the garden shed during the summer. A thing of fragile beauty constructed by many people's bete noire!

Nice Garden Surprise

Spotted Flycatcher

A nice surprise first thing this morning, when not one, but 2 Spotted Flycatchers were observed in the garden. One spent most of its time in the pear tree; whilst the other hung around the apple tree. They did occasionally appear in the same tree at the same time. 15 years ago we wouldn't have thought twice about the sight, but now we only seem to see the birds on the Autumn migration, and even then not every year. We've had one at a time in recent Autumns, but haven't had 2 together for well over a decade. Although they aren't the most colourful birds, there is something charismatic about them, which is quite difficult to explain. It was just a shame it was so overcast, and windy, and the above pics were taken through glass!

Self Promotion

Can't complete this caption, my phone is ringing!

Kestrel - at home!
Juvenile Great Crested Grebe

Juvenile Pied Wagtail

Fruit of Cuckoo Pint

Had the new adverts fitted to the car today. The car wasn't to be washed for at least 48 hours, but on the way back from Shiptonthorpe it poured down & mud was sprayed all over them! Took Ben to Hornsea Mere, but in the strong winds the highlight was a young Great Crested Grebe. Drove round Woodcock paradise on the way home & found a Kestrel. This is quite an unusal sighting these days now that the Sparrowhawks have moved in. They were still around this morning as a female flushed all the pigeons from the next-door building. This young bird will probably be moved on by the hawks.

More of the Sammy's

Common Blue

Juvenile Whitethroat
ditto

Little Egret

Wheatear

Whinchat

Spotted Flycatcher

Common Darter (female)

Very similar species seen as yesterday. A couple of new ones photographed, whilst the others are arranged in a different order. Nothing really to add, unless I remember something later!

Frightfully "Common" Migrants

Spotted Flycatcher (c) 2009 Marcus Conway

For more brilliant pics, please see http://www.ebirder.net/

Photographed at the same site yesterday

ditto
Whinchat (c) 2009 David Ware
Whinchat - wind assisted!
Flava Wagtail (c) 2009 David Ware
Wheatear

Common Darter

I didn’t have high hopes for today’s 1st migrant special because of the strong westerlies we’ve been enduring for several days. However, ebirder’s, visit yesterday indicated that there should have been some interesting species to see, as long as they hadn’t cleared out overnight. We shared cars to Sammy’s Point. At least it was a warm wind! It was pretty strong, so we headed into the bushes earlier than normal to avoid the blast on the Humber bank. We did spot some Dunlin, Ringed Plovers, Shelduck and a single Golden Plover before we abandoned the riverside. In the relative shelter of the hawthorns and the elder we had good views of at least 2 Spotted Flycatchers, a Lesser Whitethroat, a couple of bog standard Whitethroats, and a handful of lemon-coloured young Willow Warblers. We flushed a Snipe from one field, and later another wisp of 4 flew over. Another flyover was a Yellow Wagtail species – we tried to relocate this later without success. In the fields with the horses there were plenty of fairly confiding Wheatears, and several less obliging Whinchats. A clamber back into the “gale” resulted in a pair of Whimbrel flushed from close to the Humber Bank. The butterfly numbers were down compared to recent visits, but we did see Painted Ladies, Common Blues, Small Tortoiseshells and assorted whites. We tried the Crown & Anchor car park where a Pied Flycatcher had been reported earlier in the morning, but without success. We headed back to the Blue Bell where we snatched lunch before walking on to Canal Scrape. Here there were a pair of swans, and a Dunlin flew in briefly, as did another Snipe. However, the highlight from this hide were a pair of Whinchat which occasionally gave good views as they landed on posts near the grazing sheep. Whinchats were ‘lifers’ for some on the session; whilst others had the best views they’ve ever enjoyed of this species. Spotted Flycatchers were also new to some people on the course. This just underlines how scarce they have become in recent years. I grew up with them nesting nearby, but it’s probably 15 years ago now since we lost them as a breeding species. For those wanting to read more about the tragic loss of many of our once common trans-Saharan migrants, I can heartily recommend Michael McCarthy’s new book, Say Goodbye to the Cuckoo. It was great to finally positively ID the strange pink heather-like plant (no relative really) as Red Bartsia - thanks to Meg, Sonia & Val!