Birding highlights at Spurn – April 2002

Main movements and falls, etc.  ( with race and unusual species in bold )

1^st        Southerly passage ;  Sparrowhawk 4, Meadow Pipit 112, Alba Wagtail 14, Swallow 1, Siskin 64, Linnet 415, Greenfinch 51, Chaffinch 22 and Yellowhammer 2. A Little Gull flew west. Grounded migrants ; 8 Wheatears, single Ring Ouzel, Black Redstart and Firecrest and 2 Chiffchaffs.

2^nd        Southerly passage ;  Skylark 4, Meadow Pipit 64, Chaffinch 3, Linnet 215, Greenfinch 29 and Sisikin 17. Grounded birds ;  11 Blackbirds, 2 Ring Ouzels, 2 Fieldfares, 31 Redwings, Black Restart, Willow Warbler (1^st of year ), 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Firecrests and a White Wagtail. There had been a large influx of wildfowl onto the Humber, with 198 Wigeon, 113 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 2 Tufted Ducks, 35 Scaup,159 Common Scoter, 2 Red-breasted Merganser and a Goosander.

3^rd        Very little migration today with 4 Sand Martins south, a White Wagtail, 5 Wheatears, 2 Fieldfares, 2 Redwings and single Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.

4^th        A Sand  Martin, a Goldfinch and 6 Linnets were the only southerly movement. Grounded birds ;  Short-eared Owl, Black Redstart, Stonechat, 2 Wheatears, 4 Redwings, 3 Fieldfares, 3 Chiffchaffs and a Firecrest.

5^th        A ringtail Hen Harrier and 2 Swallows was the only southerly passage. Grounded birds ;  a Black Redstart, Stonechat, 2 Wheatears, 6 Fieldfare, 7 Redwings, a Willow Warbler and 2 Brambling. 2 Avocet were on the Humber.

6^th        Grounded migrants ; Long-eared Owl, 3 Black Rdedstart, Stonechat, 3 Wheatear, 4 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, a Blackcap, 4  Chiffchaff, 9 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest, 5 Chaffinch and 3 Brambling.

7^th        Southerly passage ; 2 Swallow, 4 Jackdaw. Grounded birds ; Woodcock, 5 Robin, 4 Wheatear, 2 Black Restart, Stonechat, 2 Fieldfare, a Redwing and Mistle Thrush, 3 Chiffchaff, 5 Chaffinch and a Brambling. A drake Goosander flew south over the Warren.

8^th        Very few birds today with 2 Swallow south, single Fieldfare, Redwing, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Firecrest.

9^th        Grounded birds ; Wheatear, Ring Ouzel and Mistle Thrush, 5 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Firecrest and 2 Chaffinch.

10^th      Grounded migrants ; Short-eared Owl, Ring Ouzel, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest and 2 Firecrest.

Seabirds : 2 Fulmar and a Gannet north and 7 Common Scoter south.

11^th      Grounded birds ; Ring Ouzel, 3 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare and 2 Chiffchaff. On the Humber there were 2 Tufted Duck and 2 Canada Geese flew over south. An Iceland Gull flew east over the Narrows.

12^th      Grounded birds ; 2 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow, Stonechat, Ring Ouzel, Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, Mistle Thrush and Chiffchaff. A Nightingale sang briefly ( also seen ) near Rose Cottage. 2 Whooper Swans spent the day between the sea and the Humber and 4 Greylag Geese flew NW.

13^th      3 Swallow and 5 Goldfinch was the only Southerly passage. Grounded birds ; White Wagtail, Ring Ouzel, 5 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, and a Chiffchaff. Yesterdays 2 Whooper Swans left NE and 2 Canada Geese and 2 Greylag Geese u-turned over the peninsular.

14^th      Southerly passage ;  2 Swallow, 7  Jackdaw, 3 Rook and 7 Goldfinch. Grounded birds ; included the first Yellow Wagtail of the year, 2 Sand Martin, Black Redstart, Ring Ouzel, 2 Fieldfare, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and 3 Chaffinch. A Gadwall and 46 Teal were on the Humber and a 2^nd or 3^rd year Glaucous Gull flew NE.

15^th       Grounded migrants ; 26 Fieldfare, 7 Song Thrush, a Goldcrest and 2 Chaffinch. Seabirds ; single Red-throated Diver and Fulmar flew north.

16^th      5 Rook and 2 Carrion Crow flew south, Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush were the only grounded migrants and a Peregrine was seen over the sea.

17^th      Southerly passage ; a Merlin, 2 Swallow, 3 Rook, 8 Goldfinch and 14 Linnet. Grounded birds ;  a Moorhen at the Warren, Fieldfare, Redwing, Willow Warbler, Redwing, Blackcap and Brambling.

18^th      Southerly passage ;   10 Sand Martin, 8 Swallow, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Jackdaw, 11 Rook, 9 Carrion Crow, 27 Goldfinch and 168 Linnet. Grounded birds ;  Wheatear, 3 Fieldfare, Redwing, Goldcrest, 2 Brambling and 6 Goldfinch.

19^th      2 Sand Martin flew south. There was an increase in Grounded migrants ; with a Jack Snipe, 2 Sand Martin, 6 Swallow, 10 Wheatear, 5 Fieldfare, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and a Chaffinch.

Seabirds ;  2 Fulmars north, Cormorant 2 south and 4 out and 4 Little Terns were seen    (1^st of year ).

20^th      Southely passage ;  2 Whimbrel ( 1^st of year ), 22 Sand Martin, 19 Swallow, House Martin, Jackdaw, 4 Rook, 22 Carrion Crow, 6 Greenfinch, 42 Goldfinch, 109 Linnet and a Yellowhammer. Grounded birds ; were a Tree Pipit ( 1^st of year ), Yellow Wagtail, 3 Wheatear, 5 Fildfare, Song Thrush, Whitethroat ( 1^st of year ), Chiffchaff, 11 Willow Warbler, 3 Goldcrest and a Lesser Redpoll.

Seabirds ; a Fulmar south and 3 over the Humber, 2 Cormorants north, 114 Common Gull south and 4 Little Terns.

21^st      Southerly passage ; 4 Whimbrel, Swift ( 1^st of year ), 23 Sand Martin, 162 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 13 Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, 3 alba Wagtail, 2 Greenfinch, 36 Goldfinch and 48 Linnet. Grounded birds ; 9 Wheatear, 3 Fieldfare, Redwing, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat ( 1^st of year ), 3 Whitethroat, 19 Willow Warbler, 2 Chaffinch, Brambling and a Siskin.

22^nd      Southerly passage ; a Harrier sp, a Sparrowhawk, 3 Sandwich Tern, 3 Skylark, 60 Sand Martin, 80 Swallow, 6 House Martin, 12 Flava Wagtail, 3 Jackdaw, 20 Rook, 33 Carrion Crow, 107 Goldfinch and 200 Linnet. Grounded birds ;  Whinchat ( 1^st of year ), Stonechat, 3 Wheatear, Fieldfare, Sedge Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and 8 Willow Warbler. An Egyptian Goose flew south along the peninsular.

23^rd      Southerly passage ;  Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, 100 Sand Martin, 80 Swallow, House Martin, 24 Flava Wagtail, 4 Alba Wagtail, 15 Jackdaw, 52 Rook, 41 Carrion Crow, 3 Chaffinch, 120 Goldfinch, Siskin and 120 Linnet. Grounded birds; 7 Wheatear, Fieldfare, Sedge Warbler ( 1^st of year ), 7 Whitethroat, Blackcap, 4 Willow Warbler and a Brambling.

Seabirds; Great Crested Grebe 1 on sea, Gannet 1 (N) 2 (S), Kittiwake 1 (S), Little Tern 2 (S), Sandwich Tern 2 (S).

24^th      Southerly passage ; 11 Sand Martin, 20 Swallow, House Martin, 7 Flava Wagtail, 17 Rook, 11 Carrion Crow, 13 Goldfinch and 8 Linnet.Grounded birds ; Yellow Wagtail, 8 Wheatear, 2 Sedge Warbler, 5 Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chaffinch and Brambling. 60 Brent Geese and 2 Whimbrel were on the Humber.

25^th      Southerly passage ; 3 Whimbrel, 3 Sand Martin, 4 Swallow, House Martin, 2 Rook, 9 Carrion Crow, 9 Goldfinch and 3 Linnet. Grounded birds ;  a ringtail Montagu’s Harrier hunted along the Humber shore and was later seen between Kilnsea and Easington. Jack Snipe, 7 Yellow Wagtail, Redstart ( 1^st of year ), 10 Wheatear, Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 21 Whitethroat, Blackcap, 7 Willow Warbler and 3 Brambling.

26^th      Southerly passage ;  3 Kestrel, Swift, 3 Swallow and 5 House Martin. Grounded birds ; Cuckoo ( 1^st of year ), 39 Wheatear, Sedge Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler and a Lesser Redpoll.

Seabirds ; Fulmar 3 (S), Gannet 2 (S), Cormornat 1 (N), Sandwich Tern 6 (S),

General ; Marsh Harrier over the Humber, 11 Whimbrel and 500 Grey Plover on the Humber.

27^th      Southerly passage ; Swift, 7 Sand Martin, 19 Swallow, 3 House Martin, Flava Wagtail, 30 Goldfinch and 4 Siskin. Grounded migrants ; Long-eared Owl, Turtle Dove ( 1^st of year ), 4 Whinchat, 20 Wheatear, Fieldfare, 2 Song Thrush, Grasshopper Warbler ( 1^st of year ), 3 Sedge Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 29 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 16 Willow Warbler, male Pied Flycatcher (1^st of year ), Brambling and Lesser Redpoll.

Seabirds : Red-throated Diver 1 (N), Great Crested Grebe 1 on sea, Fulmar 1 (N), 2 (S), Manx Shearwater 1 (N), Gannet 7 (N), 3 (S), Common Scoter 9 (S), 7 (N), Herring Gull 1000+ (S), Sandwich Tern 5 (S), “Commic” Tern 1 (S) ( 1^st of year ), Little Tern 22.

28^th      Southerly passage ; 4 Whimbrel, 4 Sand Martin, 11 Swallow, Tree Pipit, 2 Flava Wagtail, 11 Rook, 3 Goldfinch and 2 Siskin. Grounded migrants ; Turtle Dove, Whinchat, 7 Wheatear, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 12 Willow Warbler, 2 Chaffinch and 2 Lesser Redpoll.

Seabirds ; Fulmar 4 (N), Gannet 2 (N), 3 (S), Shag 3 (S), Iceland Gull 1^st year on beach at Wire Dump, Sandwich Tern 2 (S), Commic Tern 2 (N), Little Tern 7, Auk sp 2 (N). General ; Avocet south onto the Humber, Spotted Redshank and Greenshank ( 1^st of year ).

29^th      Southerly passage ;  4 Swallow, 2 Chaffinch and 21 Goldfinch. Grounded migrants ; Turtle Dove, Yellow Wagtail, 4 Wheatear, 2 Sedge Warbler and 2 Willow Warbler. 2 Ruff and 11 Whimbrel.

30^th      Southerly passage ; 5 Swallow. Grounded birds ; 7 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Whinchat, 5 Wheatear, Grasshopper Warbler and 3 Willow Warbler.

Seabirds ; Fulmar 4 (N), Gannet 7(S), 2 (N), Sandwich Tern 2 (S), Auk sp. 32 (N),2 (S).

Andy Roadhouse

SPURN BIRD OBSERVATORY TRUST                      Registered charity 1084312

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