Filey Brigg

I had a ride out to Filey Brigg this morining, got there just before sunrise and it was a pretty spectacular one at that.

At first it looked pretty quiet with only common waders, a few distant scoter and shag on the end of the Brigg. Then the long tailed duck came into view but it was pretty distant so I had a look on the sea side-I was pretty surprised to see a tern fishing not too far out to sea, plus a couple of red throated divers, a fulmar and a few gannet.

back to the bay side and the ltd had come much closer so I crept over the rocks to get closer. It didn't seem bothered by my presence and although the light was harsh I was happy with my shots. there was also a few common scoter and 3 velvet scoters did a u turn in the bay. On the way back the common waders were very obliging in the corner.

Yellow Browed Warbler

capped off a great extended weekends birding today. i was a bit pushed for time but i thought I'd have an hour at Kilnsea for a yellow browed warbler. caught this beauty in late afternoon sunlight, also got a distant view of a red-backed shrike and ring ouzel.

Spurn & Flamborough

With the influx of migrants on the east Coast whetting the appetite, I went to Spurn again yesterday, didn't fare so well as Thursday but still managed to connect with the jack snipe (now moved further away after being flushed by the sheep!), merlin, short eared owl, ring ouzel and still lots of common migrants. things got quieter as the day wore on so I went for a look at Stony Creek, just a few common waders around and a massive flock of fieldfares.

Went again to Spurn this morning-it was obvious things had got quieter but still saw the jack snipes also the scaup on the borrow pit has been joined by a common scoter. A female black redstart was new in also a single wheatear along the road. I heard news that the red-flanked bluetail was still at Flamborough so headed off up there, there was quite a few birders around but no sign of the rfb. A yellow browed warbler revealed itself near the car park for a consolation prize.

With continued westerly winds forecast for next week, things don't exactly look prosperous.

Spurn Point

It was a very Autumnal feeling about Spurn today. The wind blew steadily from the east, it was overcast and there were birds all over the place.

first stop was canal scrape to view the jack snipe that have taken up residence there. there were at last 4 there this morning along with lots of redwings and a few fieldfares. Next it was Sammy's Point-not much there in terms of rarities but again plenty of thrushes and quite a few goldcrests.

I then had a ride down to the point, again lots of thrushes and a very obliging kesterel. i went for some dinner at this point feeling somewhat disappointed at the lack of rare birds-that was soon to change. news of a great grey shrike crackled over the radio at post 41 so I headed off down there-never too close it gave some reasonable views before heading off to the north.There was also a short eared owl here.

Then back to the point where a long eared owl was showing well but distantly and at the same spot I had a fleeting view of a yellow browed warbler. i headed back up the road to have another look for the ggs but to no avail, however there was a nice merlin perched menacingly on the rocks waiting for some tired migrant.

I headed back up to canal scrape and the jack snipe were still showing well along with a ring ouzel and quite a few redwings, fieldfare and a single brambling.

Finally i called in at the crown and missed a yellow browed warbler.

All in all a pretty enjoyable day.