Spurn & Swinemoor 04/10/08

Leaving Thornton at 06.30 we headed north. Highlights en-route were 3 Roe Deer, flocks of Golden Plover and the veggie early starter breakfast at the Brough Little Chef....

On arrival at Spurn we duly paid our £3, parked up and had a snoop around the obs trapping area. Plenty of crests but little else. A Red Throated Diver from the sea watching hide was the only other thing of note. Here is a run down of the day.....

Canal Zone & Cliff Farm

Visible movements of Goldfinch, plenty of Meadow Pipit and a small flock of Linnet. Much more out on the Humber including lots and lots of immature Gannet that were making their way up and down the estuary. Little wonder that there were several inland records over the weekend. Plenty of waders on the mudflats. Bar-Tailed Godwit, Redshank, Grey Plover, Curlew, Turnstone and 2 Greenshank were amongst the highlights. We also had a hunting Peregrine, 3 Little Egret, Brent Geese and Shelduck.

Crown and Anchor and Kilnsea Churchyard

Plenty of Knot and Bar Tailed Godwit on the flats opposite the pub. In the pub car park were several more crests and Blue and Great Tit. In the churchyard, plenty more crests again and a superb Pied Flycatcher. Tree Sparrow was found in the private area that escapes my name before we were kicked out for not being 'Friends of Spurn'.

Southfield Farm

The immature Red Backed Shrike was showing but with strong winds and showers it made viewing less than ideal. Luckily we had better views later in the day.

Chalk Bank

Fleeting but good views of the Shore Lark that has been present since July. The first Redwing of the year and Stonechat.

Narrow Neck/Middle Camp

1 Wheatear and Pied Wagtail

Canal Scrape and Hide

Two (occasionally) very obliging and freshly arrived Jack Snipe were the stars. Also present were Little Grebe, Common Snipe and Redwing

Swinemoor

Flooded fields north east of Beverley that had been home to 3 immature Pectoral Sandpipers. We managed to get onto 1 very late on (we think!)plenty of Ruff, Dunlin, Wigeon and Teal.

Not quite the migrant fest we had hoped for but a cracking days birding nevertheless and big thanks to Dave Wright for driving.