Spurn Point! PART ONE

The last week or so of autumn migration has been fairly busy with many thrushes, warblers and some waders moving through. With this in mind I was very excited at the prospect of spending a weekend at Spurn Point in Yorkshire. Recently I have spent some time at Holme NOA, seeing a Yellow Browed Warbler and watching good visible migration. Here is what I saw over the two days I was present at Spurn.

22/10/05

Arrived at the point at 7:30 am. Started of by looking around the Warren. Visible migration was clearly in evidence with many hundreds of Redwings and Starlings moving through. Twelve Siskins, two Rock Pipits and a Brambling flew over while a Redpoll gave good views. On the way up to the point stopping at the side of the road in several places provided more Bramblings and a Wheatear. The next viewing place was the Narrows. Thirty Rock Pipits and three Redpolls flew over but there was little else of note. Back to the Warren for a look at the hilights board. After this we moved to the triangle where the Long Eared Owl was quickly located in a bush. It was then back up to the point for four Black Redstarts which showed well on the wall by the cafe. Seawatching was relatively quiet but a Pintail, five Gannets and seven Common Scoters were logged. An evening walk around the Kilnsea area produced two Ring Ouzels, four Barn Owls, Redpoll, two Tree Sparrows while several Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Kestrel and Sparrowhawks where also in evidence . The day finished with a super Short Eared Owl hunting near Canal Scrape Hide.

23/10/05

Started the day by being at the point by 7:30 am. Quickly located the Little Bunting and got okay views. Other hilights on the point included Firecrest and Jack Snipe. One Black Redstart was still around the cafe and it was then time for seawatching. Four Little Auks, one Great Crested Grebe and seven Gannets were seen while ten Rock Pipits passed overhead. After having lunch in the Bluebell cafe. Our search for a Firecrest at Kilnsea church was cut short when we heard the bird had been trapped and ringed in the Crown and Anchor car-park. We saw the bird in the hand. A seawatch from the Bluebell car-park provided seven more Little Auks, one Guillemout and more Gannets. Two Stonechats and a Kestrel near the seawatching hide and two Lapland Buntings and two Tree Sparrows at the Triangle ended my very enjoyable trip tp Spurn! In several days time, I am going back with the rest of the group! Who knows what we will see!