Birding highlights at Spurn Bird Observatory – July 2003

 

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

 

 

1st        Southerly passage ;  Hobby 1, Swift 160 +1200 north. Seabirds ;  Gannet 11, Kittiwake 3, Commic Tern 1, Little Tern 48.

 

2nd       Southerly passage ;  Hobby 1, Swift 2. Seabirds ;  Manx Shearwater 2, Gannet 86, Kittiwake 10, Common Tern 12, Auk sp. 21, Guillemot 34.               General ;  Australian Shelduck 1 on the Humber, Curlew Sandpiper 1, Black-tailed Godwit 1.

 

3rd        Southerly passage ;  Swift 3.                 General ;  Velvet Scoter 1 north, Whimbrel 10, Greenshank 1.

 

4th        Southerly passage ;  Swift 112, House Martin 3, Flava Wagtail 2.

Seabirds ;  Fulmar 1, Gannet 15, Kittiwake 3, Auk sp. 4, Guillemot 9.

 

5th        Southerly passage ;  Black-tailed Godwit 1, Greenshank 1, Swift 52.

Seabirds ;  Gannet 27, Kittiwake 3, Yellow-legged Gull 1, Guillemot 5.

 

6th        Southerly passage ;  Swift 850, Sand Martin 100, Swallow 25, Goldfinch 1 and a Grey Wagtail north.               Seabirds ;  Gannet 25, Cormorant 16, Little Gull 3, Little Tern 27.

General ;  Eider 1, Curlew Sandpiper 2, Grasshopper Warbler 1.

 

7th        Southerly passage ; Swift 1000+, Sand Martin 150.

 

8th        Southerly passage ;  Swift 1100, Sand Martin 180, Meadow Pipit 1, Yellow Wagtail 2.

Seabirds ;  Cormorant 50, Arctic Skua 1, Sandwich Tern 120, Common Tern 11, Arctic Tern 2, Little Tern 5.              General ;  Curlew Sandpiper 1, Black-tailed Godwit 1.

 

9th        Grounded migrants ;  Kingfisher 1 on the Canal, Great-spotted Woodpecker 1, Blackcap 1, Willow Warbler 1.                        Seabirds ;  Bonxie 1, Yellow-legged Gull 1.

General ;  Common Scoter 50 (S), Curlew Sandpiper 2.

 

10th      Southerly passage ;  Hobby 1, Swift 2500, Sand Martin 111, Swallow 11, Goldfinch 3.

Seabirds ;  Fulmar 1, Cormorant 29, Arctic Skua 1, Sandwich Tern 230, Common Tern 53.

 

11th      Southerly passage ;  Sanderling 12, Swift 1500, Sand Martin 7, Swallow 5.

Grounded migrants ;  Yellow Wagtail 1, Wheatear 1, Spotted Flycatcher 1.

Seabirds ;  Manx Shearwater 3, Gannet 24, Sandwich Tern 244, , Common Tern 22, Arctic Tern 6, Auk sp. 3, Guillemot 4.

 

12th      Grounded migrants ;  Wheatear 3.                     Seabirds ;  Fulmar 2, Gannet 9, Little Gull 128, Arctic Tern 13, Auk sp. 18, Guillemot 26.

 

13th      Southerly passage ;  Oystercatcher 7, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Whimbrel 59, Teal 4, Swift 200.              Grounded migrants ;  Wheatear 1, Willow Tit 1 at Kew.   Seabirds ;  Fulmar 1, Gannet 46, Arctic Skua 1, Little Gull 80.

14th      Seabirds ;  Fulmar 1, Gannet 5, Arctic Skua 2, Kittiwake 1, Guillemot 7.

General ;  Black-tailed Godwit 1, Whimbrel 20.

 

15th      Southerly passage ;  Oystercatcher 10, Knot 10, Sanderling 45, Whimbrel 1.           Seabirds ;  Fulmar 1, Gannet 49, Little Gull 178 (S), Kittiwake 4, Auk sp.6, Guillemot 12.

General ;  Eider 6, Common Scoter 60, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Whimbrel 44, Spotted Redshank 1.

 

16th      Grounded migrants ;  Yellow Wagtail 2.                        Seabirds ;  Gannet 8, Arctic Skua 1, Common Tern 39, Guillemot 1.      General ;  Curlew Sandpiper 3, Green Sandpiper 2, Common Sandpiper 4.

 

17th      Southerly passage ;  Oystercatcher 19, Ringed Plover 2, Knot 146, Sanderling 62, Dunlin 72, Whimbrel 1, Redshank 35, Greenshank 2, Swift 500.                       Seabirds ;  Manx Shearwater 3, Gannet 20, Cormorant 41, Arctic Skua 2, Little Gull 24, Kittiwake 6, Sandwich Tern 90, Common Tern 87, Little Tern 2, Auk sp. 2.

 

18th      Southerly passage ;  Little Egret 1, Osprey 1, Oystercatcher 23, Golden Plover 2, Grey Plover 4, Knot 228, Sanderling 398, Dunlin 180, Bar-tailed Godwit 1, Whimbrel 80, Curlew 7, Redshank 53, Turnstone 20, Swift 1000, Sand Martin 2, Yellow Wagtail 3.

Grounded migrants ;  Yellow Wagtail 5.               Seabirds ;  Manx Shearwater 16, Gannet 23, Arctic Skua 1, Little Gull 37, Kittiwake 6, Sandwich Tern 190, Commic Tern 6, Common Tern 160, Little Tern 10, Auk sp. 2, Guillemot 6.                                General ;  Brent Goose 1, Shelduck 455, Common Scoter 28, Velvet Scoter 1 north.

 

19th      Southerly passage ;  Knot 10, Sanderling 22, Dunlin 34, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Bar-tailed Godwit 9, Whimbrel 16, Curlew 44, Redshank 4, Turnstone 9, Swift 300, Sand Martin 75, Swallow 25, House Martin 1, Yellow Wagtail 5.

Grounded migrants ;  juvenile GREAT-SPOTTED CUCKOO at the Point wandered as far north as Chalk Bank ( 2nd for Spurn ), Yellow Wagtail 9, Black Redstart 2.

Seabirds ;  Gannet 5, Arctic Skua 1, Little Gull 17, Sandwich Tern 146, Common Tern 192, Arctic Tern 2, Little Tern 2, Guillemot 1.

 

20th      Southerly passage ;  Oystercatcher 6, Knot 16, Dunlin 4, Whimbrel 8, Swift 450, Sand Martin 500, Swallow 300,  Yellow Wagtail 9, Chaffinch 2.

Grounded migrants ;  Great-spotted Cuckoo 1, Common Cuckoo 3, Yellow Wagtail 3, Black Redstart 2, Treecreeper 1.                     Seabirds ;  Manx Shearwater 3, Gannet 3, Arctic Skua 1, Little Gull 11, Kittiwake 1, Yellow-legged Gull 1, Sandwich Tern 154, Commic Tern 26, Common Tern 44, Arctic Tern 19, Guillemot 1.             General ;  Whimbrel 16, Ruff 1, Spotted Redshank 1, Greenshank 1.

 

21st      Southerly passage ;  Little Egret 1, Oystercatcher 11, Ringed Plover 5, Knot 77, Sanderling 362, Dunlin 140, Bar-tailed Godwit 7, Whimbrel 48, Redshank 70, Turnstone 75, Collared Dove 6, Turtle Dove 2, Swift 500, Sand Martin 73, Flava Wagtal 2.

Grounded migrants ;  Great-spotted Cuckoo 1, Black Redstart 1, Willow Warbler 2.

Seabirds ;  Gannet 25, Arctic Skua 5, Little Gull 147 (S), Yellow-legged Gull 1, Common Tern 276, Arctic Tern 27, Little Tern 15.                       General ;  Teal 5, Eider 2, Common Scoter 32, Black-tailed Godwit 6, Whimbrel 11.

 

22nd     Southerly passage ;  Oystercatcher 4, Ringed Plover 2, Golden Plover 17, Knot 29, Sanderling 44, Dunlin 4, Whimbrel 13, Common Sandpiper 1, Turnstone 5, Swift 169, Sand Martin 70, Flava Wagtail 11.                      Grounded migrants ;  Great-spotted Cuckoo 1, Yellow Wagtail 4, Black Redstart 2, Blackcap 1, Willow Warbler 1.

Seabirds ;  Fulmar 1, Arctic Skua 1, Little Gull 34, Yellow-legged Gull 1, Sandwich Tern 253, Common Tern 30, Little Tern 1, Guillemot 2.                  General ;  Little Ringed Plover 1, Common Snipe 1, Curlew Sandpiper 1.

 

23rd      Southerly passage ;  Oystercatcher 21, Ringed Plover 2, Knot 13, Sanderling 73, Dunlin 125, Whimbrel 5, Curlew 15, Redshank 4, Turnstone 9, Swift 85, Sand Martin 63, Swallow 75, Yellow Wagtail 6.                  Grounded migrants ;  Great-spotted Cuckoo 1, Sand Martin 100+, Swallow 250+, Yellow Wagtail 4, Black Redstart 2, Reed Warbler 1, Willow Warbler 2.

Seabirds ;  Gannet 26, Arctic Skua 7, Little Gull 4, Sandwich Tern 525, Commic Tern 58, Common Tern 165, Arctic Tern 19, Guillemot 3, Razorbill 1.

 

24th      Southerly passage ;  Oystercatcher 67, Golden Plover 2, Knot 32, Sanderling 37, Dunlin 21, Bar-tailed Godwit 4, Whimbrel 5, Redshank 7, Turnstone 8, Collared Dove 1, Swift 150, Sand Martin 24, Swallow 300, House Martin 6, Yellow Wagtail 6, Alba Wagtail 5.

Grounded migrants ;  Great-spotted Cuckoo, Cuckoo 1, Sand Martin 50, Swallow 50, Yellow Wagtail 12, Black Redstart 1, Willow Warbler 2.              Seabirds ;  Gannet 15, Arctic Skua 3, Little Gull 1, Sandwich Tern 252, Common Tern 69, Arctic Tern 2, Auk sp. 1.

General ;  Lapwing 38 in / off, Sanderling 300, Dunlin 5000, Whimbrel 25, Greenshank 1.

 

25th      Southerly passage ;  Oystercatcher 8, Ringed Plover 4, Golden Plover 1, Knot 51, Sanderling 67, Dunlin 94, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Bar-tailed Godwit 1, Whimbrel 1, Redshank 35, Turnstone 41, Swift 385, Sand Martin 12.     Grounded migrants ;  Great-spotted Cuckoo 1, Blackcap 1.                   Seabirds ;  Fulmar 2, Gannet 150, Arctic Skua 3, Little Gull 1, Kittiwake 16, Sandwich Tern 36, Common Tern 246, Arctic Tern 27, Little Tern 2, Guillemot 4.

General ;  Curlew Sandpiper 1, Whimbrel 8.

 

26th      Southerly passage ;  Oystercatcher 32, Knot 11, Dunlin 15, Whimbrel 38, Redshank 17, Sand Martin 30, Swallow 56, Crossbill 1. Grounded migrants ;  Great-spotted Cuckoo 1, Cuckoo 1, Swallow 130, Willow Warbler 11.                Seabirds ;  Fulmar 2, Manx Shearwater 1, Little Gull 51, Yellow-legged Gull 1, Kittiwake 27, Commic Tern 32, Common Tern 1066, Arctic Tern 230, Little Tern 9, Black Tern 4.

 

27th      Southerly passage ;  Oystercatcher 14, Dunlin 3, Bar-tailed Godwit 6, Whimbrel 56, Redshank 35, Turnstone 1, Sand Martin 36, Swallow 362, House Martin 10.

Grounded migrants ;  Great-spotted Cuckoo trapped itself in the heligoland trap!, House Martin 50, Willow Warbler 3, Corn Bunting 1.                        Seabirds ;  Gannet 14, Little Gull 191, Yellow-legged Gull 1, Kittiwake 24, Sandwich Tern 175, Roseate Tern 2 (S), Common Tern 40, Arctic Tern 10, Little Tern 22, Black Tern 1, Guillemot 4.

General ;  Sanderling 500, Curlew Sandpiper 9, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER 1 adult seen on both high tides off the Warren, Dunlin 5000, Whimbrel 12, Spotted Redshank 1, Green Sandpiper 1, Common Sandpiper 5.

 

28th      Southerly passage ;  Oystercatcher 479, Ringed Plover 8, Grey plover 5, Knot 46, Sanderling 86, Dunlin 739, Black-tailed Godwit 7, Bar-tailed Godwit 24, Whimbrel 87, Curlew 11, Redshank 116, Common Sandpiper 1, Turnstone 17, Collared Dove 1, Swift 69, Sand Martin 85, Swallow 985, House Martin 15, Yellow Wagtail 6, Alba Wagtail 1, Chaffinch 1.

Grounded migrants ;  Great-spotted Cuckoo 1, Yellow Wagtail 4, Willow Warbler 4, Treecreeper 1, Goldfinch 20.              Seabirds ;  Gannet 48, Arctic Skua 2, Little Gull 85, Sandwich Tern 372, Commic Tern 607, Common Tern 16, Arctic Tern 69, Little Tern 7, Guillemot 3.

General ;  Great Crested Grebe 1, Teal 8, Merlin 1, Curlew Sandpiper 3, Dunlin 6000, Black –tailed Godwit 6, Whimbrel 12.

 

29th      Southerly passage ;  Oystercatcher 10, Golden Plover 2, Knot 10, Sanderling 32, Dunlin 27, Whimbrel 9, Curlew 1, Redshank 32, Turnstone 6, Swift 1531, Sand Martin 15, Swallow 26, Yellow Wagtail 9, Alba Wagtail 3.                      Grounded migrants ;  Great-spotted Cuckoo 1, Cuckoo 1, Yellow Wagtail 4, Black Redstart 1, Willow Warbler 2.

Seabirds ;  Manx Shearwater 8, Gannet 153, Arctic Skua 2, Little Gull 134, Sandwich Tern 376, Common Tern 187, Arctic Tern 75.             General ;  Teal 7, Common Scoter 52, Merlin 2, Curlew Sandpiper 3, Dunlin 7000, Black-tailed Godwit 1.

 

30th      Southerly passage ;  Oystercatcher 19, Ringed Plover 17, Sanderling 24, Dunlin 42, Whimbrel 1, Sand Martin 65, Swallow 135, Flava Wagtail 12.

Grounded migrants ;  Great-spotted Cuckoo, Common Cuckoo 2, Swallow 100, Yellow Wagtail 2, Black Redstart 1, Willow Warbler 6.                    Seabirds ;  Fulmar 6, Manx Shearwater 4, Gannet 37, Cormorant 31, Little Gull 1, Kittiwake 39, Sandwich Tern 393, Commic Tern 6, Common Tern 92, Arctic Tern 24.

General ;  Marsh Harrier 1, Merlin , Common Scoter 129, Curlew Sandpiper 2, Whimbrel 6.

 

31st      Southerly passage ;  Oystercatcher 84, Ringed Plover 2, Grey Plover 1, Sanderling 13, Dunlin 94, Bar-tailed Godwit 2, Whimbrel 38, Curlew 2, Turnstone 4, Swift 28, Sand Martin 57, Swallow 285, House Martin 8, Meadow Pipit 25, Yellow Wagtail 17.

Grounded migrants ;  Great-spotted Cuckoo for its last day, Cuckoo 2, Kingfisher 1, Yellow Wagtail 6, Black Redstart 1, Whinchat 1, Song Thrush 1, Garden Warbler 1, Blackcap 1, Wood Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 1, Willow Warbler 10.

Seabirds ;  Fulmar 2, Gannet 49, Cormorant 35, Arctic Skua 4, Little Gull 15, Black-headed Gull 800, Kittiwake 21, Sandwich Tern 348, Commic Tern 1076, Common Tern 511, Arctic Tern 242.                        General ;  Greylag Goose 1, Tufted Duck 1, Common Scoter 12, Merlin 1, Dunlin 15000, Ruff 1, Spotted Redshank 1, Redshank 1500,,Greenshank 2, Green Sandpiper 1, Common Sandpiper 2.

 

 

Andy Roadhouse

 

SPURN BIRD OBSERVATORY TRUST          Registered charity   1084312

 

Spurn Bird Observatory, Kew Villa, Kilnsea, via Patrington, E.Yorkshire HU12 OUG