Spurn - Eastern subalpine warbler

We're fortunate in the UK to enjoy hundreds of miles of beautiful coastline - the geopolitics of being an island nation certainly has it's disbenefits, but what it does to enhancing biodiversity is unrivalled.

However, a few places possess real magic.  Spurn is definitely one of them.  It's a long old slog to get there - I hadn't planned this trip - a spontaneous decision during the early part of Friday evening had me heading up the A1 for an overnight stop near Lincoln, a nice dinner and a couple of beers.

The weather was glorious - arriving just before 8am, I headed straight down for the eastern subalpine warbler only realising afterwards that I had walked straight passed a bluethroat that showed intermittantly at the end of the canal by the Warren.

The warbler however was much more obliging - a real cracker of a bird - one that makes trips like this so worthwhile.  Disappering for short periods, it would then pop out, and on occasions popping around close to the path.  It was also heard singing.  A stunning bird.

Having watched it for over an hour, I made slow progress down to the Point.  It was generally quiet birdwise but it's such a lovely walk and I was in my element.  

Sitting at the Point, I checked my phone for any updates on local sightings. Seeing that a bee-eater had been observed flying over the Warren literally a minute earlier, my senses were on high-alert and within three to four minutes, the bee-eater cruised by overhead heading south feeding on insects as it continued its journey. That was the day made.

Other sightings during the day were a singing cetti's warbler at the Point along with blackcap, lesser whitethroat and common whitethroat.  Two spotted flycatcher were present there, one in the heligoland trap and another by chalk bank.

A female black redstart was present in paddocks by the Triangle and hirundines trickled through for much of the day.

Half a dozen green hairstreak were present near the lighthouse, and a couple of roe deer were spooked from the dense vegetation.