Spurn

Decided to stay overnight near Spurn so I could spend the full day there today. Arrived at dawn and it was packed with birds. Hundreds of Thrushes (mainly Redwings, but quite a few Fieldfare as well as Blackbirds and Song Thrushes). All coming in off the sea along with Robins, Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs. Birds were everywhere!

Parked and started at the Canal Scrape carpark where a Dusky Warbler had been seen the day before. No joy, but found a couple of Twite. Then began a long slow walk to the point (about 3.5 miles away), birding on the way. Highlights of the walk down were two fly-over Lapland Buntings together, at least ten Bramblings and a similar number of Mealy Redpolls, three Short-eared Owls, two Woodcocks and Redstart and Black Redstarts.

I stopped for lunch at the lighthouse before moving on to the point. When I did arrive at the point I was told that an amazing three Dusky Warblers were present (an even more impressive total of seven – including the three at the point – were on the Spurn peninsula). I managed to see two of them in the couple of hours I spent at the point and got a (very) poor photo of one…

… and a rather better photo of a showy Robin whilst waiting for it to reappear…

The point was full of birds but, in comparison to the Triangle, hardly any birders. With so much cover and so many birds, but with so few birders, who knows what may have been found if people had been prepared to make the 7 mile return trip?

After a couple of hours I made a (slightly faster) walk back as I had to get across before high tide. Once back in the Triangle, I tried for a Radde’s without success and then joined in a flushing of a Locustella that was eventually forced into the net. Unfortunately it turned out to be a Grasshopper Warbler (people were obviously hoping for more), so I didn’t go to the release at Church Field as I’d had enough of walking.

Left about 6pm for the drive home, rather tired having been on my feet all day.

Spurn
15 October 2016 07:10 - 17:50
Drizzle in morning, brightening later with sunny afternoon 11C 14E
Mute Swan, White-fronted Goose, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Pheasant, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Kestrel, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin, Redshank, Woodcock, Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Short-eared Owl, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Swallow, Dusky Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Grasshopper Warbler, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Black Redstart, Redstart, Stonechat, Wheatear, Dunnock, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Brambling, Goldfinch, Siskin, Linnet, Twite, Lapland Bunting, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Brown Hare, Western Roe Deer, Mealy Redpoll