A day of two halves at Spurn

There have been some good Easterlies over the last couple of days although they hadn’t particularly produced the goods so it wasn’t a clear cut choice of where to go Sunday morning, I opted for Spurn, it was a bit breezy to say the least but a sheltered Crown and Anchor car park held a couple of Pied Flycatchers for starters, the Triangle was hard work and I only really added Whinchat and Lesser Whitethroat, Beacon Lane was no better although a few Dragonflies were enjoying the shelter. After some lunch I tried a seawatch but the wind proved too strong so I ended up heading off to Kilnsea Wetlands, no sign of the Black Tern or Caspian Gull seen earlier but there were a handful of Waders and Egrets present as well as a few Sandwich Terns loafing around, all in all a fairly quiet morning and early afternoon and I was just contemplating leaving early when another birder mentioned that some Short Eared Owls were showing at Sammy’s Point, I thought I’d check it out, as I arrived and set off along the riverside path it soon became apparent a fall was occurring there were birds everywhere, just about every bush held at least three or four, mainly Pied Flycatchers and Willow Warblers but also a few Redstarts, Whitethroats, Spotted Flycatchers, Whinchats and Wheatears, incredible stuff a complete contrast to earlier, couldn’t find that special one though, then to round things off a Short Eared Owl got up from one of the Paddocks and had a little fly around, a nice end to the afternoon.

Walls are most common at the moment

distant Whinchats in the Triangle

a couple of Pied Flycatchers in the Crown and Anchor area

and Lesser Whitethroats

Ruddy Darter down Beacon Lane

loafing Sandwich Terns at Kilnsea Wetlands

winter Knot

and a lady Teal

a Whimbrel on the mud at Sammy's Point, prelude to

this lot

oh yes a Short Eared Owl as well