Wet my Lips

News came through mid-afternoon that the Quail was calling again on Snakey. As I was driving along Richard was coming towards me, obviously being the source of the information! He informed me that he'd heard 2 birds.

After a brief location confirmation I continued and parked up in the said area. In no time at all I heard a bird calling, some 20 yards from my car! True to form I had no sightings but it was special to hear this Species so close to home. I contacted Jayne and she arrived promptly to enjoy the sounds.

So, yet another quality Bird locally.

Spurn - July Triple!!!

Wednesday...

A fine view looking North towards Withernsea. Just for the record!!!

Birders are already talking about Autumn "Birdwise" BUT hang on, we haven't had any Summer yet!!!

News that the Humpback Whale and calf had been seen again off Easington Gas Terminal yesterday after noon had me heading down there around 2. They had been touring the East Coast from Flamborough to Spurn for a while now but I hadn't managed a view. Alas I didn't connect but the Sea was full of Birds!!!

I had a wonderful hour enjoying the Sunshine...yes...Sunshine, while scanning through the plentiful  Gannets, Gulls, Terns, Waders and Auks. A single Puffin was a big surprise! Looking East in the afternoon helped!

I also tried Cliff Farm but still no sign of the Whales. I did add Mediterranean Gull, Little Tern, and Razorbill to the Year List.

Yesterday...

Whilst enjoying the Cricket/ Golf Combo...a message on the Spurn WhatsApp...

14.17: Pratincole Wetlands

Short and simple BUT significant. Had to be the Black-winged from Finningley. As I was heading down the road I was reflecting on the Border shenanigans earlier in the Month! This time there was no doubt about the authenticity. Also this would possibly be my 3rd Spurn Tick in 15 days. Remarkable!

Anyway, first things first. I arrived to discover the Bird had flown South. What to do? I waited 45 minutes but no further sign had me heading back home....briefly...

16.01: Black-winged Pratincole back on Wetlands briefly but flew towards Sammy's

As I was driving down Easington stright I could see 3 Birders on Long Bank looking...interested. I couldn't safely stop so I continued to the car park. Turned out they had the Bird but it was dropping onto the Wetlands as I passed. Could I have seen it?

I walked from the car park towards the Hide but I could see a small group watching from the gate. Mick Turton was one of the said group. Conversations confirmed it had indeed landed on the Wetland but was out of view in the channel behind the Little Egrets...

Again, looking East helped but the length of the wait was obviously unknown. I'd seen Jayne in the Village on the way down and she was now present with around 8 others. Birders were positioned in the Hide and on the Bank separating the Wetlands from Beacon Ponds...

Radios meant that the Bird would be "flagged" the moment it flew. After a wait of around 45 minutes...we had the Bird. It did a couple of brief low flights in a small area around the Egrets. Good enough and long enough to confirm the ID. It never ceases to amaze me how many Birds end up funneling through Spurn!?

Eventually it took to the skies and flew around the area taking in the area to the South as well as Beacon Ponds. It never came close but I managed a record shot of the Bird way up high beyond the Hide...

Other Species enjoyed while waiting...

Whimbrel

Great White Egret...

Avocet

Merlin

Mediterranean Gull

So...

3/7     Least Sandpiper

14/7   Gull-billed Tern

18/7   Black-winged Pratincole

A quality trio in anybodies book.

Spurn Life: 324

Moving out here 13 Years ago meant that I would be handily placed to "Cherry Pick" this Rarity "Hotspot". The last couple of weeks have emphasized this theory in spades. 

However, it's not rocket science...lol!

Gull-billed Tern - Spurn Tick!

I try to be "on the ball" regarding reacting to relevant messages. Fortunately this lunchtime I was in the right place and reacted immediately...

12.47 : Gull-billed Tern Kilnsea Wetlands 

I made it in 10 minutes and headed for the Hide. As I turned the corner I could see the locals looking high West. I looked up and saw 2 birds. The first was a Black-headed Gull...the second GBT!!!

The Bird continued South and was reported flying over the Humber. There have been no further reports as I write. Rather exciting!!!

This was my 323rd Species for the Spurn Area and the areas 3rd according to The Birds of Spurn. It was also my 3rd in Britain following on from my first at Seaforth July 1995 and my Yorkshire tick at Old Moor June 2015.

Change is as good...

I opened the curtains this morning to see yet another grey, wet day. I'd had enough. I had to try and find some better weather. I couldn't go on holiday so I headed inland, away from the North Sea.

News came through that the Black-winged Pratincole was still present in the Finningley area. There had been much confusion regarding messages and opinions since the Birds arrival as to exactly where the Bird was located. 

Anyway, I arrived on Site and immediately bumped into Gary Dayes. It was good to see him as I hadn't seen him for quite some time. After a chat I made my way the (thankfully) much shorter distance to the Pool by the Sewage Works...

The Bird was performing on arrival, giving decent views at c100 yards. Jonathan Wasse, a fellow Cyprus stalwart was present with his Dad. It was good to see him again. Maybe we'll meet again next Spring? 

Thankfully the rain had abated which made the 60 minutes I spent there enjoyable. I was treated to a couple of prolonged flight views as the Bird fed over the water. The rest of the time it rested on a spit to the right with the Lapwings and was hidden most of the time, although it did give itself away on a couple of occasions...

One of my classic hand-held Phone-scopes!

The views through the Scope were MUCH better. I managed a decent flight shot despite the gloomy conditions, distance and speed of the Bird...

I returned home to heavy drizzle. What a horrendous Year we're having!!!

This is only my second record for Britain and my first for England (probably my 500th). My British Tick was in Scotland at Monikie Country Park, Angus 16/8/1996.

BWP (2)

I made the trip over to Finningley yesterday afternoon as news came through that the Black-winged Pratincole was still in the area. The Bird performed brilliantly but unfortunately, it stayed South of the road, around the pool for the entirety of my 4 hour visit! Tantalizingly, it made a couple of flights VERY close to the Boundary at Fiftyeights Road BUT I couldn't be certain it had crossed it?!

However, the visit gave me chance to glean some information about it's previous movements. Having weighed up the opinions, I left at 6, clear on my strategy for the following morning.

I arrived early and retraced my steps. This was a strange scenario as most were just here to see it at the pool to the South. I was here to see it in Yorkshire! I tucked myself away in a spot that gave me a clear view North of the road in line with the pool. I needed to concentrate...not talk!!! I would have a much more time here as opposed to viewing over the trees from the South.

The tactics were simple...scan all Birds coming in from the North. It took a while but eventually I picked it up before it crossed the road. I had my Yorkshire Tick (402).

Local Proximity - Always a Bonus!

After last Weekends disappointment, I had another opportunity today to add a quality Bird to a List. Something always turns up...eventually.

As previously mention, when I moved out here to the East Coast, one of the advantages was going to be that I would be adjacent to Spurn. This would be rather handy if something "good" appeared. Today was such a day.

First news broke at 3.16 on the Spurn WhatsApp...

LONG-TOED STINT possibleadult (or LEAST SANDPIPER) photographed flying west through Kilnsea Wetlands

I've seen both in Yorkshire but neither at Spurn.

3.33 Another WhatsApp message...

The Stint Sp is currently on Kilnsea Wetlands

Time for a drive down. 20 minutes later I was approaching the busy Hide. A few familiar faces were present as I luckily found a space on a bench... and waited. The Bird had walked around the other side of a spit and wasn't in view, just to add to the occasion. Fortunately it re-appeared after some 15 minutes in the company of a Ringed Plover.

The Bird started to move around the scrape...

I was hoping the Bird would continue towards the Hide but alas it turned and headed away...and I headed for the car...

It transpired that the Bird was a LEAST SANDPIPER, my 321st Species for Spurn. I've seen a couple previously in Britain. My LIFE Bird was at Pagham Harbour in 1995 and my Yorkshire Bird was at Blacktoft Sands in 1999.

The Bird flew off South at 5.38.

So things have picked up as the week has progressed. After dipping the Pratincole at "Least" I connected with this one. Couldn't resist!

Inside Info - Always a Bonus!

News of a Black-winged Pratincole just outside the County at Finningley, Notts on Saturday got the Listing juices "sort of" flowing? There was one report from Potteric Carr...which is in Yorkshire.

A touch of dodgy detective work found me trying to figure out how close to the Border it was. I couldn't confirm the Boundary, so I retired on Saturday none the wiser. Early news on Sunday informed me the Bird was still present but I wasn't going to travel as I'd seen this Species elsewhere in Britain. I was still slightly uneasy as I wasn't familiar with this Site even using Google Satellite view.

7.39 Black-winged Pratincole, Finningley SOUTH YORKSHIRE!!!

My question was answered...VERY close!

Harry Hindsight kicked in. Could I have dug deeper for info? Maybe but being a private sort of chap with limited contacts I don't think so? Turns out the road along where the pools are is actually the Border! So basically it had flown North of the road and was now in Yorkshire! Oh dear I thought.

I grabbed my gear and headed West. Would it wait for me? Answer...No! A message at 9.15 informed me the Bird had flown back South of the Road and remained there all day before flying of South mid-evening. The Bird didn't return and hasn't been seen since.

Apparently a few made it but must have had early info from Birders on Site. Fair enough.

Years ago I set a target of trying to reach 500 for Britain and 400 for Yorkshire. I've lived long enough to achieve both. So I'm happy. I'll still give it my best shot for both Lists depending on circumstances but dipping doesn't sting these days. I've mellowed with age lol!

VERY quiet locally at the moment...