Due to family commitments the date of our annual get together had to be brought forward a couple of weeks and with the lack of any rentable caravans in the area a change of accommodation also. A later start also with myself and Bob K going in the same car with Steve K joining us a little later. Our first stop as usual was to see our old friend John Ward from Leeds who counts the birds this time of year at Stone Creek, Sunk (Skull) Island. John has dedicated himself to this task and is quite a font of knowledge, not just birds either. He told us it was a little quiet and after a good natter we did our walk towards the battery with not much to report apart from a couple of Chiff-Chaff`s.
Next stop was the long walk down to Patrington Haven and as the tide was coming in, lots of waders began to gather. It was quite spectacular really with Knot, Black & Bar tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Curlew, Ringed Plover. Some of the birds had retained their breeding plumage and really stood out in the large flocks of waders.
We met up with Steve K and had poor views of the Yellow Browed Warbler in the Crown & Anchor car park, we had hoped we could locate the Blyth`s Reed Warbler again in Church Field! We met up with Billy J and Martin Q and went into our digs at Westmere Farm. Excellent accommodation, breakfast and friendliness and a reasonable price. We adjourned to the Crown & Anchor for our evening meal and had a few drinks and had a good catch up.
Saturday morning we had a nice walk up to Sammy`s Point and the highlight was a Pied Flycatcher that sat out for us all to photograph. Then after breakfast a spot of sea watching revealed lots of Gannets, Red Throated Divers and the usual gulls and a few terns. After a bit of a twitch to try to see a possible Pacific Golden Plover, that was in with the rather large flock of Golden Plover, which we could not pick up, we did Kilnsea Wetlands. Quite a few Med Gulls were present, along with a Dunlin (Curlew Sandpiper) and a Ruff (Wood Sandpiper) how did I get them wrong? Myself and Steve K had a walk across the breach (thats right breach) and managed to watch a cracking Great Skua really close into the shore. Evening meal again at the Crown & Anchor and a few more pints to celebrate my team Rochdale`s win at Charlton in the afternoon!
Sunday activities centred on the Crown & Anchor car park and Church field ringing area, still a few Swallows and House Martins in evidence also. We did manage another glimpse of the Yellow browed Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher. Really a rather bird less weekend but we really enjoyed the company and as usual a good laugh. See you all next year??
