Our annual trip to the Spurn Point area began at 6am Friday morning as myself and Bob K left Shaw with me driving. The all important weather forecast promised lots of sunshine and little wind, not what we were hoping for! Our first call, as ever, was at Stone Creek, Sunk Island to meet John Ward. He has been counting bird passage for many years in this area and always has a story or two to inspire us to find birds. His best find was the Mugimaki Flycatcher a few years ago at Sunk Island Battery, which has yet to be accepted. A few Meadow Pipit and Swallow were passing and the local Kingfisher was seen again. We have visited the area twice recently to see the almost resident juvenile Black Stork (now departed after a one month stay)and always enjoy the area. We walked up to Patrington Haven in lovely sunshine but the lack of birds was a bit strange. The reserve was very dry and apart from a Marsh Harrier had little to see. Next stop Easington for a search for a Yellow Browed Warbler, but the bird had passed through and had probably headed south. We had a nice chill out watching the sea from behind the gas terminal with a Sooty Shearwater and a single Great Skua for company. Gannets, Common Scoter and a few gulls also passed through. A Mediterranean Gull was found on the beach and Bob tried to get some pictures, all he got was a sore ankle for his trouble! We headed for our caravan at Sunny Beaches, Kilnsea and waited for others to arrive. A search around the hot spots revealed a Whinchat but no sign of a Yellow Browed Warbler. Chris B and Martin Q arrived as darkness fell, then not long after Steve K arrived with various pans and ingredients to make us a good meal of Chicken Paprika. Thanks Steve. A trip to the Crown & Anchor ending off the day in style. Saturday arrived in glorious sunshine with a few Wheatear, lots of pipits and Swallows heading south. A Yellow Browed Warbler was watched for 20 minutes near the Blue Bell Cafe and a few Pink Footed Geese flocks passed over Spurn. Redstart and Yellow Wagtails also seen in the Well Field. A small sea watch had a few Red Throated Divers, Gannet and a single Puffin passing south. The Harbour Porpoises and Common Seals were highly entertaining and with the sea being flat calm showed really well. We watched the high tide roost at Kilnsea Wetlands, then a Barn Owl was seen hunting. Another evening in the Crown & Anchor followed meeting lots of birders and having a good laugh. Sunday dawned with lots of mist around, maybe this was what we were waiting for? Firstly, a cracking Firecrest on Beacon Lane closely followed by a Red Breasted Flycatcher only 100 yards away. Spurn then became alive with lots of visiting birders rushing to see the RB Flycatcher, I managed to fall in a ditch, but not as bad as my last tumble at New Brighton, ouch! More Yellow Wagtails, Redstart and single Yellow Browed Warbler in the Crown & Anchor car park. A last trip out to Sammy`s Point to see a Barred Warbler was next. Upon arrival another Yellow Browed Warbler was seen in the horse paddock and a further two more near the car park. A total of 5 seen on the trip, the Barred Warbler remained, as ever, hard to find. We decided to head for home, but was it to soon? As we passed through Hull, news of an Arctic Warbler at Kilnsea was heard, shall we turn back? We did not and arrived home around 5pm, another good trip to Spurn with around 75 species being seen.
