After a years break from our annual trip to Spurn it was nice to have another get together and enjoy the birds. Bob K, Kev C and myself left a wet and windy Rochdale at 6am and Bob soon had us through all the regular bottlenecks on the M62. We arrived at our first call at Stone Creek, Sunk Island and met up with our old friend, John Ward who has been counting the birds that pass through this area for many years. Nice to have a good catch up with him about birding in general. We headed on towards Easington & Kilnsea calling at Sammy`s Point were a Merlin sat out for us, then a Great White Egret and Short Eared Owl where seen. We had a good look around for various Yellow Browed Warblers that had been reported without any luck. At Kilnsea wetlands a report of a Caspian Gull was next on our list, but upon arrival we were told that the bird had flown. At the Big Hedge Kev C finally caught up with his first Lapland Bunting, after finding it himself, well done! We headed for our accommodation in Easington at The Duke of Granby and met up with Billy J, followed by a good meal and a couple of beers.
Saturday morning dawned and after a hearty breakfast we headed out to see what we could find. On Vicar`s Lane, Easington a Yellow Browed Warbler performed very well for us all and then news that a Barred Warbler had been located near the Spurn Observatory had us heading over to hopefully, see it. Quite a few birders were assembled looking over a gate into a fellow birders garden as we arrived. The owner allowed us into his garden and the usual views of a Barred Warbler were had (very brief as bird headed for cover) we headed away. Down Beacon lane an Eastern type Lesser Whitethroat was seen, then a great show was enjoyed when a Short Eared Owl was seen hunting. The owl seemed oblivious to our presence and passed low over our heads a couple of times, what a cracking bird! A Snow Bunting was being admired at the end of the lane on the sea cliffs and it showed really well as they usually do. A Jack Snipe was seen bobbing on the Canal Scrape and a few Redwings were seen passing through the area along with Song Thrush, Fieldfare and a few Swallows. At Kilnsea wetlands better news that the Caspian Gull was still present reached us, we met up with Martin Q and had a good look at the bird from firstly the hide and then from the upper gate. Lots of issues were raised but in the end everyone seemed happy with the gulls identification. We called in at the Sunny Beaches café for one of their famous sandwiches and a cup of tea and whilst we were there we saw: - Long Finned Pilot Whale, Great Skua, and Great Northern Diver (close inshore) Brent Geese. Afterwards another Yellow Browed Warbler was admired, then during a walk back towards the sea watching hide a beautiful Redstart was seen and a freshly arrived Redwing on the path in front of us. The bird did not have the energy to fly away from us after such a long journey, but after we gave it sometime it hopped into the grassy area to rest. Another nice meal and a few beers back at our accommodation followed, the news that Sunday`s weather would not be good dampened our hopes though.
Sunday morning arrived and with it lots of rain, another nice breakfast then out birding. The Jack Snipe at Canal Scrape was really the only bird of note that we saw in the conditions. We headed for home at 11-30am having all enjoyed our time at Spurn!
