With some favourable winds still blowing on the east coast, myself and Kevin C had a trip over. An early start ensured that we could have a couple of Hours Sea watching, traffic going over was pretty good. There was room in the hide and as we set up our telescopes we noticed that Spurn`s own Sea Watching expert, Steve Ex was present. Firstly we saw 2 Long tailed Skua`s and then 2 Arctic Skua`s these 4 birds stayed in the area for most of the time that we were there. Great fun to watch them (not for the tern`s) chasing some of the Common Tern`s who after catching their prey, had to give it up to the Skuas, that why Skuas are called the pirates of the seas! Another highlight was a single Sooty Shearwater heading north. Lots of Common and Sandwich Terns, Gannets were seen, only one Guillemot remained and a few Red throated Divers moving south. A good couple of hours in good company.
We saw a freshly arrived Whinchat and a few Swallows still passing through, Willow Warbler and a Pied Flycatcher, but in general it was pretty quiet. At Kilnsea Wetlands lots of waders, gulls, ducks and geese were seen as high tide approached. A couple of Little Stint`s being the highlight with Mediterranean Gull`s a close second.
We decided to have another look at the White tailed Lapwing that was still present at RSPB Blacktoft Sands a few miles east of Goole in Yorkshire. Lots of sunshine around as we got to the hide and enjoyed a second helping of this smart wading bird. Unfortunately it spent lots of time sleeping and did not give the photographers much chance to get their photos. We met Mark K who now lives within easy range of Blacktoft and we had a good catch up with him. Thanks Mark for the heavy reading material, they will be put to good use I am sure.
