For anyone interested in birds, and in particularly bird migration, a trip to Spurn in the next 2 months (Sept and Oct) is very much recommended. From Rossendale take M66 South, M62 East and straight through Hull. Follow signs to Patrington, Easington then Kilnsea until you run out of road! Exit car 2 1/4hrs later into migration/ birding paradise!! Weather and more importantly the wind direction plays a large part in the species of bird most likely to be seen. Westerlies and large numbers of mainly UK migrants with a few Continental birds thrown in will be seen. Easterlies can produce very large "falls" (1000`s) of Continental migrants ( Redstarts, P Fly`s, Robins, Goldcrests, Pipits, Thrushes etc with numerous rare Warblers, Chats, Shrikes etc thrown in). And thats just on the land! Northerlies are excellent for Sea watching for big numbers of Shearwaters, Skuas, Sea ducks, Divers etc. Southerlies and just good steady birding with anything possible. And if all else fails theres always the many 1000`s of Waders 100 yrds away on the Humber estuary...
So a 4am departure for a first light/dawn start to "the" premier UK Mainland migration/ bird watching site. With the wind having been in the west sector for the past few days a large fall of Continentals was not on the cards but UK migrants were visable immediately after getting out of the car. 1st, A quick visit to Sammy`s Point horse paddocks and scrub area and Swallows were on the move already with birds skimming the fields, trees and mudflats which continued all day across the whole Spurn peninsular! Plenty of other UK migrants around including lots of overflying Yellow Wags and M Pipits. Whinchat, Whitethroats, flocks of Goldfinch and common Warblers visable. 2 single fem/imm Marsh Harriers left to the south over the Humber towards Lincolnshire 15 mins apart. 5 Med Gulls in field nearby with BH Gull flock. A Turtle Dove also flew past..
A move down to the Obs headquarters (the Warren) for a spot of Sea watching produced a few Arctic Skuas attacking the Terns for food, 2 of which gave excellent close views overhead. Lots of Terns, R T Diver , C Scoter, Gannets and lots of Guillemots along with Seals and a couple of pods of Dolphins were on a rather quiet sea. Lunchtime and Swallows still pouring through!
A walk up Beacon Lane to Beacon Ponds didnt produce much in the afternoon. 9 Med Gulls together, lots of Terns and 2 more Arctic Skuas on the sea. A few more Y Wags and Pipits over. Buzzard, Hobby and Merlin seen. Swallows passage lulled a bit early afternoon but picked again up later on.
An after tea look at the Waders from the Crown and Anchor pub area onto the Humber produced 2 Curlew Sandpipers straight away amongst 1000`s and 1000`s of birds being pushed up on the incoming tide. Curlew, Blk & Bar tailed Godwit, Ringed, Golden and Grey Plovers, Dunlin, Sanderling, Knot(huge numbers), along with numerous Shelduck. Also present were L Egret, R B Merganser and Peregrine causing havoc! What else was out there?? Even when there is not much happening on the land or sea, the Humber estuary is equal (except Geese) to anything we have on the Lancs coast, in my opinion anyway.
That was it for today. Nothing really rare or unusual but we were not bothered as a very good days birding was had. 1 Barred Warbler and a Long Tailed Skua was present but not seen.
The total number of Swallows passing the watch point, an area of perhaps 100yrds in width, to the South in the day was 13,632 Amazing..
Amazing..
