Spurn in Spring

I had my first proper trip to Spurn of the year today.
A beautiful Spring day with hardly any wind and mild temperature.
I started at sammy's Point, straight away adding willow warbler, swallow and wheatear to the year list.
I had my radio with me and it was rather quiet on the airwaves apart from a few common migrants, so I stayed longer than I normally would mainly targetting the wheatear.
I had my lunch at the Crown and Anchor car park and was rewarded with a pair of blackcaps, then on to canal scrape.
At first glance not much doing then I noticed a rather pale looking pipit on the other bank, a quick look with the scope and it was clear it was a water pipit with that one of the regulars popped in and put it out on the radio.Within minutes the hide was full everyone wanting a glimpse.
It then became clear that this was only the 16th water pipit ever recorded at Spurn.
I had no idea that it ws such a significant bird, and I felt quite chuffed.
Also from canal scrape was a couple of flyover buzzards, a scandinavian rock pipit, a couple of immaculate yellow wagtails and lots of chiff chaffs feding in the reeds.
All in all a very pleasant day.

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North Yorks Trip

I had a trip up to North Yorkshire at the weekend and had quite varying amounts of luck.
first stop was Holbeck for the mediterranean gulls, I got there before 7 and waited half an hour after putting bread out.
No sign but there were 3 herons flying over south bay and a pair of stonechat on the bushes.
Moved on to Forge valley, the sun was still behind the hill when I got there but there was plenty of activity from the common woodland birds there.I also a pair of mandarin ducks flying over.
Once the sun did come out the photographic opportunities were fantastic and I stayed longer than the time I had anticipated.
Then on to Wykeham Forest looking for crossbills, by now I was running out of time so I had a drive round but didn't see any sign.
On the way back I called in at Tophill Low and managed some decent views of the bittern and 3 woodcock near the visitor centre.
Hopefully some summer migrants around next weekend.

East Park

Been pushed for time just lately and decent weather but managed a couple of hours on East park yesterday morning.
The almost residenr redwing flock were very obiliging yesterday.
Initially they would fly up as I approached but quickly carried on searching for food when I stood still.Some were coming extremely close (within 2ft) as I stood watching them.
A quick look on the lake produced some nice shots of some common wildfowl plus a kingfisher showed quite well on one of the islands.
Hopefully will be out a bit more as the weather improves.

Filey Brigg

I had a trip to Filey Brigg this morning, despite being very cold it was a pleasant day.
The waders in the bay corner were most obliging and the light was very good first thing.
Further round on the brigg there were 3 long tailed ducks that were quite skittish, plus an obliging eider and a couple of shag.
I was in a rush to get back to at Haven for the raptors but it was very disappointing with only a kestrel seen.
In hindsight I would have been better off staying at Filey.
Ah well there's always next week.

Black Throated Thrush

I had a trip up to North Yorkshire for the black throated thrush yesterday.
The trip wasn't too bad but the amount of snow still on the Moors made for some dramatic scenery.
I got to Newholme for about 8.20 and there was already a small crowd which was growing by the minute.
The bird was showing staright away and was quite confiding although the light was poor for photography.
As it brightened up the bird appeared to get more mobile and spent some considerable time away from the gardens.
A nice bird and a well behaved bunch ensured a nice day out, I was back in Hull for about 1.30

2010 List

I had an absolutely cracking day's birding around East Yorkshire today.
I went with my mate Sam with a plan to record as many species as we could during the full day.
The list started with a sparrowhawk on Hedon Rd and a barn owl and kestrel on the way up to Filey.
Carr Naze didn't yeild much apart from a stonechat and skylark.
It was then down to the Brigg where we found purple sandpiper, common scoter, velvet scoter, long tailed duck, red throated diver, great northern diver, shag, rock pipit and eider.Also a nice bonus in the form of a woodcock flushed from the side of the cliff along with close views of common waders.
next it was on to Flamborough (North Landing) where almost immediately we had a fantastic view of a corn bunting. Further along we found lots of small birds in the subbole fields including some superb lapland buntings, snow buntings, twite another woodcock and more corn buntings.
Then off to Tophill Low where we found a smew (plus lots of common wildfowl)willow tit,siskin and bullfinch.
Finally we called in at Paull and added black tailed godwit (plus a couple more common species) to the list.
In total we finished with 89 species with notable exceptions being grey heron, little grebe,kingfisher,sanderling, brambling and pink footed goose.
All in all a superb day and a good marker set for a similar event next new year.