Craig, Craggy and I  managed to go to Spurn yesterday as there had been a few days of Easterlies.  We met up just after 4am in Rawtenstall and the biggest surprise of the day was all the 18-30's walking around - Rawtenstall had a nightlife!   I left I had stumbled into Manchester.   Spurn is not close but for just under 2 hours of it you have an easy drive as it is more or less just a straight road. 

Our first wild encounter was a beautiful Roe Deer before the reserve started.  We arrived just after 6.30am and must have been the first to arrive at Sammy's Point, a place which Craig recommended we should start.  We could see straight across the estuary and our first surprise was a Mediterranean Gull.  Not just one but quite a few over the next couple of hours.  I could not help but shout out "Med Gull" as one flew past on angel like wings.  Eventually Craig did have to say "stop it, you are not at Grane now!"   We heard a Kingfisher and then managed to see it.  Craggy asked "are there Seals here?"  Before I could answer "I think so" we spotted one lying on a jetty, a Common Seal.   Other less common species seen here included Whimbrel, Greenshank, Dunlin, Wheatears resting on stones and the shoreline, Little Egrets as well as the usual suspects.   One of the Little Egrets was sporting his favourite brand, a Calvin Klein follower to the core.  Above Swallows streamed over and Meadow Pipits dribbled in small groups.  We had a look around some scrub where Craig spotted a Reed warbler-esque bird.  Other birds spotted included a good number of Redstarts, Spotted Flycatcher, a Pied Flycatcher, Willow Warblers, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, 4-5 Whinchat, a couple of Tree Pipits and somewhere between 4-10 Yellow Wagtails over at this point alone.      As we walked back to the car a Short-eared Owl flew close to us in a field briefly before landing out  of view not seen by a band of birdwatchers and photographers thoroughly engrossed by Wheatears and Whinchats sat on posts. 

Our next target was the Black Stork at Sunk Island.  Once there we waited for what appeared to be a long time.  We were watching where it was supposed to be and where I felt I saw something black move when suddenly it came out behind us in flight.  A magnificent bird indeed - black and white contrasting nicely.   It was a juvenile bird which made it across from France.  We saw it twice in flight soaring above.  It was definitely bird of the day. 

We parked up by the Bluebell café and Craggy took a brief visit to the coast line 10 metres ahead of us.  Close in an Arctic Skua flew past, he was the only member of the group to have seen that.  A bright red flash would dart out of the bushes and back out of view.  There were lots of Redstarts - probably over 30?  We took a walk around.  We were told about a Red-backed Shrike and a Convolvulus Hawk Moth.  The moth was a huge specimen resting on a post, maybe 8-12cm long.  I had never seen this specimen before.  The Shrike was a juvenile and it took a bit of time showing.  The rare birds really tested our patience this day.  We tried for a Yellow Browed Warbler but no sighting since the morning of which it was heading away from the spot.   More Redstarts and more time spent watching and taking photographs of them. 

We decided to end the day sea-watching from the car park where Craig spotted Gannet, Auk species, Kittiwake, Little Gulls (?), Red-throated Diver.  A Grey Seal was also seen by us.  The two birds I could have really done with today as new ticks for me would have been Long-tailed and Pomarine Skuas.  a Barred Warbler was present past the warren but we never got to the warren.  We also managed to see a number of Butterfly species such as Speckled Wood, red Admiral, Tortoiseshell.  The Dragonfly I remember seeing by name was a Migrant Hawker - I am sure the others will remember the names of species missed.  We must have seen a minimum of 14 Yellow Wagtails all in flight throughout the day.

It was a brilliant day - a big success.  I did not get life ticks but within the first our I felt  content that if I had not seen any thing else I would have been happy.  We do plan to go again when the Thrushes arrive and maybe even before that.  If any one is interested  do let us know.   We can't pre-book dates sadly because it is all about the Easterlies but ANY, ALL members of the club are always more than welcome.  I did make a bird list but it has got lost LOL.   It will be added later with photos. 

Big thanks to Craig - it is always easier to go to Spurn with someone who knows the area well and is better at finding birds than us.