Spurn

3rd October

October: a month in the calendar when non-consensually planned weekend social events are met with the disdain they deserve. The diary has usurped any attempt to shoehorn in a meeting with what, for every other month of the year, I would loosely refer to as ‘friends’.

So, rather than enduring the indignity of forced social interaction, a trip to Spurn was planned to ignite those autumn vibes hoping that this year will be a fruitful one.

Heading up Saturday, the weather was glorious, too good, clear blue skies, a moderate south to south-westerly. Perfect for a day out to the beach, terrible for the hoped for mig-fest.

The previous week had seen an easterly blow that had pushed in some gripping birds over a two-day period, which had now all departed leaving a few interesting remnants.

Parking up at the now completely dry Kilnsea Wetlands, a vocal brambling flew over which ignited a bit of hope for other interesting passerines. Following the coastal path toward Beacon Ponds, a chatty group of tree sparrow were assembled within the hawthorn. 

The target was the popular shore lark that was still present around the lagoons associating with a mixed group of meadow pipit and linnet, fairly close but very active.

The site was excellent, supporting a high tide roost of waders that included hundreds of dunlin, good numbers of ringed plover, a few knot, a couple of ruff, bar-tailed godwit, sanderling and redshank.

A wander further along the lagoons didn't reveal anything new so I headed down towards the Discovery Centre. 

Walking towards the Warren, a merlin shot past low and purposeful in pursuit of a passerine. A brief stop at the seawatching hut produced a couple of Arctic skua, a little gull, a decent passage of common tern and a year first manx shearwater.

While scanning the waves, news of a lesser yellowlegs that had been found on Beacon Ponds came through the airwaves. Nationally, not an almighty rare but an interesting bird nonetheless. This is the kind of autumn birding I had missed. A rapid walk to the car and it was straight back to the ponds where the 'lesserlegs' was reported to have flown north. Heading in that the direction, the nearctic wader flew straight back past the frantic group of birders. It settled on the south side of the lagoon showing beautifully in the evening light. This represented only the 2nd Spurn record (1st in 2018), so a big deal for the local listers. A nice chat with Paul and Bridget James ended a really nice day. It was great to be back.

4th October

Another early start arriving at Sammy's Point before sunrise. Two barn owl were quartering the fields and a brambling flew over.

Parking up at the Bluebell car park in Kilnsea, a wander round with Paul James produced little despite a modest but steady passage of meadow pipit, a single redpoll and a few siskin. After a couple of visits to the Cemetery, I finally caught up with an autumn-first yellow-browed warbler, full of eye-stripes and wing bars.

It was quiet though, the weather was once again absolutely glorious, so after breakfast at the excellent Discovery Centre, I made tracks back home. It was a nice start to build the anticipation for the coming weeks.