Flamborough Tawny Pipit

I thought I would head up to Flamborough again this morning really to target the tawny pipit but also have another crack at the crag martin if it hung around.
I got there as dawn broke a wonderful clear morning quite chilly but very nice all the same.
I headed off towards there area where the pipit was seen yesterday but apart from a couple of hares, a roe deer and common resident birds there was not much happening.
It was at this point that news came out that the crag martin was still around do I began to make my way back to the car.
As it turned out the tawny pipit had relocated north of the golf course so I headed off soon beginning to wish I didn't have so much gear on.
Once there the tawny showed very well and the sun was behind me and the bird was quite close-then news of the crag martin being re-located broke so one birder chose to break rank and consequently flushed it-thanks for that mate.
It did however return and posed quite nicely, there was no further sign of the crag martin whilst I was there.

Crag Martin!!

I thought today was going to be a write off.I started at Spurn at 7.00 on Sammy's Point it was absolutely freezing and no birds.
Then went to the Warren (in the hope that the crag martin might fly by) and it was absolutely freezing and no birds.
I then decided to go for the tawny pipit at Flamborough and it was absolutely freezing and no birds.It was at this point I heard of 2 series at the Warren at Spurn.
I then decided to head for home in the meantime there was an unconfirmed report of the crag martin sighted at Thornwick bay.I decided to ignore it then I got as far as Lissett when another report popped up so I did a U turn and headed back, calling in for more petrol on the way.
When I did get to Thornwick bay the crag martin was performing magnificently down to less than 10ft as it whizzed by impossibly close and impossible to focus on.
Then next 2 and a half hours were spent watching this bird performing first at Thornwick then moving to North Landing.
Pictures below don't tell the full story!

Spurn Firecrest

I thought I would go back to Spurn again today, mainly because the BBC weather suggested that the best of the sunshine was more likely to be in the East, however I wasn't exactly brimming with optimism given the weather conditions.
I did my usual and started at Sammy's Point again there were no wheatears and the bushes were very quiet with only the odd common bird present.
I was heading towards chalky point ion the hope that yesterday's Lapland bunting might still be hanging around when a firecrest was reported at the warren.
Given that it was pretty grim weather wise, I thought I would head over there.
At first in very blustery conditions the firecrest was very difficult to see let alone photograph but eventually the bird got into a bit of a routine and it then became more easy to predict, the best place to photograph it was when it was amongst the blossom at the back of the warren.
It was while waiting for the firecrest that a red kite drifted south but never came particularly
close and the only other bird of note was a rather confiding brambling that dropped into the bushes for a short while before carrying on its way.

Springtime at Spurn

Springtime is usually a little later at Spurn than the remainder of the country and its usually well into April before the migrants arrive in big numbers.
However the recent mild weather coupled with an almost non existent winter (in terms of cold temperatures) has meant that there has been a definite showing of signs that Spring has well and truly sprung.
First stop was canal scrape and apart from a couple of coots and little grebes, it was very quiet.
Onward then to Sammy's Point in the hope of a spring migrant (ring ouzel?wheatear?firecrest?) unfortunately on the first pass there was no sign of either although there was plant of bird activity and my first swallow of the year, the only other highlight being a couple of chief-chaffs.
I though I would concentrate on one of the chiff-chaffs for a while as quite often watching the antics of one bird can betray the presence of another, however on this occasion is was not to be.
Idid notice that the chief chaff was hovering quite a bit looking for early insects and I did manage to catch a couple of shots in mid hover that I was pleased with.
I then went back to the Crown and again common birds in the bushes so I went to collect my copy of Spurn Wildlife and it has to be said that this years is the best ever and it reflects in great detail what was a very exciting and eventful year at Spurn.
The wryneck from yesterday was still present but I only got fleeting distant views nothing like the showy birds of the Autumn.
It was at this point I saw a merlin heading south.
I thought I would have a look at Sammy's Point again before heading for home and it was here that I was duly rewarded with my first wheatear of the year.
All in all a very pleasant morning.