A trip to Spurn was planned for the 19^th with Ian Brady, Nigel Greenwood, Kevin Lister.  A few days of Easterlies and we decided to take a chance.  Our first stop on arrival was Kilnsea Wetlands on the way to the Easington Lagoons.  The pools were still completely dry here so we had a walk up to Beacon Ponds and then onto Easington Lagoons. 

Before we arrived, we managed to record Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Crow, Black headed Gull, Lapwing, Starling, Magpie, Blackbird, Song Thrush.  As we got out of the car and walked along the path we added Pheasant, Meadow Pipit, Kestrel, Redwing, Great Black Backed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Curlew, Blue Tit, Moorhen, Goldfinch, Wren, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Stonechat, Dunnock, Little Egret, Fieldfare, Skylark, Grey Partridge, Reed Bunting, Pied Wahtail and Tree Sparrow.    

The Thrushes were in an agitated mood and quite jumpy.  There were many in the Hawthorns, a few in the grass and a couple of Blackbirds and a Song Thrush in the open field.  Most if not all of these had just made the sea crossing so were tired, hungry and wary.  They would dart about from one place to another.  Reed Buntings were very active and numerous too.  How many of these would have been migrants judging by behaviour maybe most.  The Skylarks were very active too, calling, maybe some were on active migration.  T least 1 Skylark was in some sort of subsong.  Starlings were noisy and numerous and feeding quite loudly.  We had seen quite a few come in off the sea.  Watching a flock of Starlings feeding in a field we spooked a large covey of Grey Partridge which numbered more than 10?  There were also quite a few groups of Roe Deer active.  Wed just arrived after sunrise so they were making the most of this quite period before the visitors descended.  There were good numbers of Tree Sparrow on the feeders.  For some it was a year tick.  I doubt I have seen these numbers for quite a while myself.

On Beacons Ponds, a brackish lagoon was Mallard, Wigeon Teal, Mute Swan, 13?  Little Grebes and Brent Geese.  At first only 4 Little Grebe showed but, on our way, back 13 showed.  The wind was strong so we couldn't really enjoy the Brent Geese rhythmic, deep, throaty rronk, rronk call.  That description was taken from the BirdAware website. 

Past  Beacon Ponds were the Easington Lagoons where a Pectoral Sandpiper had been present until today of course.  We looked but no joy sadly.  We did manage to get Pintail, Grey Heron, Common Gull, Dunlin, Snipe, Cormorant.

We walked over to the sea and hoped for a Glaucous Gull and 2 Black Redstart but they didn't show.  We managed to see Common Scoter, 3 Eider, Grey Plover, Swallow (just seen by Kevin) and Sanderling. 

We walked back to Easington Lagoons and a Ringed Plover was spotted.  Surprisingly within the vegetation rather than on the lagoon shore was the Pectoral Sandpiper.  We located it and then posted the sighting online.  Other than us 4 just 1 person had been to look for it but, on our way, back we came across dozens walking to the spot.  This was a lifer for the other 3 and maybe my 4^th after having 2 at Burton Mere Wetlands and 1 at Martin Mere.  I was surprised how sharply coloured the bird was.  A very smart contrast of the light underside with the superbly marked upper body.  It associated with a Dunlin and even came up very close to us.  It seemed to appear after the Storms from the West which would indicate it was an American bird.  So many have crossed over from North America that breeding is suspected within Europe especially when juveniles turn up before any storms  in Western Europe.  It was my best view of this species.    

As we watched the Pectoral Sandpiper, Goldcrest called from within the grasses.  They had probably seen this as the first cover after the North Sea crossing. Mistle Thrush was also added to the day list.    

Time for lunch and cake stop.  Nigel and I had Caramel shortbread.  I forgot what the others had lol. I am not sure if the world was existing as I delved into my treat.  

Our next stop was along the Humber where we added Shelduck, Golden Plover, Oystercatcher, Great Tit in the bushes, Turnstone, 4 Siskin in flight over, House Sparrow, Long Tailed Tit and Greenfinch.  We received a tip off that 3 Yellow Browed Warblers were present in corner field which within five minutes of arrival showed but then disappeared before the next big batch of people arrived.  It was sharing the hedge with numerous Goldcrest which were in some sort of frenzy.  One had dropped onto the path earlier.  We heard it call 4 minutes in over 30 minutes and it showed again better just before we left.  We managed to add Chiffchaff and Cettis Warbler here too.  

We also managed to see many Roe Deer, at least 4 Bees and a Migrant Hawker which Kevin identifies as a Southern Migrant Hawker, a first for him and me.  They were first recorded in the area in 2018.  

It was just after 4 and we decided to call it a day.  On the way out of the recording area we decided to stop off at Welwick where on the saltmarsh 4 Glossy Ibis were present.  Sadly no luck but we added Knot, Red Legged Partridge, Marsh Harrier and Short Eared Owl (seen briefly by me).  A Buzzard was seen on the way to Spurn just outside of the recording area. 

Within the Spurn recording area we saw 75 species 18 less than my best but so late in the autumn migration season that was to be expected. A number of probable's were seen and heard such as a probable Diver species, Little Auk, Red Breasted Merganser, Kittiwake, Rock Pipit.  We didn't record Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Jay, Jackdaw, Coal Tit, Merlin, Rook, Shoveler, Gadwall, Little Gull which I would have expected to here.  

Sadly we never made it out to the point itself.  It was my 7^th visit to the area, Ian's 2^nd and a first for both Kevin and Nigel.  It would have been nice to get a few lifers but you have to be in the right place at the right time.  It has been 4 years since my last visit and I hope not to leave it so late again!     

-- Edited by sarfraz on Sunday 19th of October 2025 10:43:35 PM

-- Edited by sarfraz on Sunday 19th of October 2025 10:48:49 PM

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-- Edited by sarfraz on Monday 20th of October 2025 02:53:30 PM

-- Edited by sarfraz on Monday 20th of October 2025 02:54:31 PM