The Easterly winds had started over a week ago and focus was one question? - When will we be going to Spurn and environs?   After much dithering Sunday the 9th was the chosen day and I met Craggy (Mr C) at about 5am.

We set off at a relaxed place and reached out first point just before 7.30am.  This was known as Sammy's Point near the village of Easington and it faces the Humber estuary.  I had heard of this area before but CB had taken us there first time.  We had not even parked up yet but 2 Roe Deer on the road, a Ring Ouzel flying in front of us and hundred of Redwings was a great start to the day.  Once parked up we walked along the scrub and horse paddocks.  A red flash from one perch to another revealed a female Redstart.  There were lots of Robins and Reed Buntings as well.  I did wonder was the letter R going to be the theme of the day?  Would we see lots of birds beginning with the letter R?  Redwing and Song Thrush flew out of every bush, many passed overhead.  It was like a busy but chaotic airport - some just arriving, some setting off, some just parked up refuelling.  There was a Great Grey Shrike  reported yesterday but it either eluded us or moved on.  There were lots of waders on the shoreline including Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit and Dunlins.   

We started chatting to a local who mentioned a Pallas Warbler showing in Easington at the church - after all t was Sunday where else would it go?  Once there we I spotted Mr Dave Ousey and we chatted to him.  Mr C said "I can't believe I touched and twitched Dave Ousey".  The A Team was missing members as were the Pretenders to the throne!  We watched the trees above hoping to get a glimpse of the sprite but dozens of Chiffchaff and Goldcrest crawling all over.  We waited anxiously and then got a shout that it was spotted very close by.  Faster than Olympic athletes and as skilful as a Starling murmuration  as we did not bump into one another we  all managed to arrive at the spot and within seconds caught site of a small fast moving bird flicking around a tree.  What that bird would have been thinking with all these people following it everywhere I have no idea.  We caught a few more glimpses and it flew off as if to say you can't follow me everywhere.  I did not manage to see any key features of the bird, just something small although others did.  Mr C if I had seen t clearly I replied no and did he?  "No just a small bird, bloke next to me said there is the Pallas Warblers.  Well that's that then!" 

We headed closer to the main reserve and decided to stop of at Kilnsea Wetlands as I had never been here before.  We parked in the car park alongside the only other car present.  Highlights of the reserve were a Redstart, what we believe to be a Migrant Hawker dragonfly,  Wheatear, Brent Geese, 7 Little Grebe, Dunlin, Linnet and a Roe Deer which did not fear people at all as it grazed with sheep.  We moved to the Church Field to see the Rustic Bunting but it was not showing but we did manage to meet Mr Ousey again.

We moved on and parked at the Bluebell Café had lunch and coffee with a slice of cake.  We had arrived at the main reserve and first port of call was the Canal scrape hide to see the Jack Snipe but sadly they had gone into hiding.  We worked our way up the point and at the start of the reserve I got a brief glimpse of a Lesser Whitethroat and a Blackcap fed near a feeder.  There was an alleged Pallas Grasshopper Warbler right tat he point but we were not going to rush for it.  We tried to do a bit of sea watching and managed to see a Little Gull, Kittiwake, some Gannets and on the Turnstone, Sanderling and Ringed Plovers on the shoreline.  However, the biggest surprise was a large bird over the sea which I thought at first was a large Gull, then a Buzzard but soon realised was a Short-eared Owl.  We watched it coming in off the sea, a first for me.  It did not seem to be travelling in a direct way but eventually turned towards the Humber estuary.  Russell managed to pick up another following behind.  We lost them both although someone reported two Owls further up at the point.  We met Mr Ousey again who had just walked up to the Point but no Pallas Grasshopper Warbler.  We walked 1/2 way up to the point and then turned back due to time.  We were told  of a Red-breasted Flycatcher at the Rose and Crown but on arrival we saw a group watching.  We asked and was told it was a Spotted Flycatcher.  A bit of a disappointment as it was not it's smaller cousin but still it was not only the first of the day  but the only one I have ever seen in October in the UK.  We had also glimpsed a Whinchat on the way which attracted a far bit of attention. I saw a man disappear behind a house along the estuary and I decided to follow him to see what was there.  The area was known as Cliff Farm and I was told a Yellow Browed Warbler was there.  Mr C arriving a minute later pointed and asked "Is that it?"  I noticed a small warbler with a yellow brow sat on the edge of a branch and eventually so did the others who were stood there longer than us.  They smiled and got the cameras out click click click.  A Garden Warbler flew across and landed in a tree.  Two more additions to the day list.

We were told of a Red-Breasted Flycatcher at Easington and decided to go there and to Sammy's Point where the Great Grey Shrike had been showing again.  I phoned Dave Ousey and he told me they were watching an Olive Backed Pipit in Easington at the Gas Terminal.  We made our way to the terminal and once again met Mr Ousey and he pointed the Pipit out to us which was walking on gravel in between two tall metal gates.  "It is like a zoo" commented Mr C.  It walked around confidently pumping its tail.  It was my second lifer of the day first being the Pallas Wabler.    Mr Ousey mentioned the Red-breasted Flycatcher was showing very well at Easington Cemetery and we shot off.  It showed within seconds and looked stunning in the evening sun.  This was my first British sighting.  A Northern Bullfinch had been reported also.  

5.45pm had arrived and we decided it was time to go.  It had been an interesting day with some highlights.  Around 90 species of birds were seen sadly Kestrel was the only Bird of Prey.  We missed some common species such as Mistle Thrush and Coot.