Usually considered a quiet month, the average June has more than its fair share of interest.  Typically the month opens up with the last of the spring migrants passing through and can be one of the best times of the year for rarities.  The second half of the month is often quiet but Westerly winds can bring the largest swift movements of the year.

1st – An osprey flew south, as did 230 Swallows and 245 House Martins 2^nd – Offshore about 500 auks flew south, including 45 puffins and a further 210 swallows and 250 house martins also flew south. 3^rd – Offshore a further 400 auks flew south, including 114 razorbills – a good total for Spurn, also flying south was a hobby, 150 swifts, 50 swallows and 50 house martins.  There was also a good arrival of migrants for the time of year, with 4 turtledoves, a cuckoo, 2 Winchats, 2 wheatears, 5 willow warblers, 12 spotted flycatchers, a pied flycatcher, 2 female red-backed shrikes and 2 common rose finches. 4^th – Another good day with a little ringed plover, a hunting marsh harrier, 420 swifts and 60 house martins flew south, 6 spotted flycatchers were left and a male golden oriole was singing all day at wire dump.5^th – A hobby flew south and 2 common rose finches were seen again. 6^th – A very late Merlin was seen, the 2 rose finches were seen again and a female Subalpine warbler was reported from the point 9^th – A flock of 56 Canada geese flew south offshore, the largest number ever seen at Spurn.  Also 75 swifts and a siskin flew south.10^th – Another good goose day with 16 graylags, 2 Canada’s and what was probably a blue phase snow goose flying south offshore, 2 little gulls were seen and 160 swifts, 100 swallows and 120 house martins flew south.  A handful of other migrants were also seen including a cuckoo, 2 spotted flycatchers and a common rose finch 11^th – A good day for southerly movement, with 3 herons, 23 lapwings, a honey buzzard, a hobby, 1680 swifts, 75 swallows, and 150 house martins.  A little ringed plover was seen again, as were 6 little gulls and a rose finch. 12^th – A late short-eared owl was seen and a heron, 3 little gulls and 20 swifts flew south. 13^th – A curlew sandpiper was on the Humber and 4 herons, a hobby and 100 swifts flew south. 14^th – A crane came from the North West circled over the observatory and returned North again continuing the amazing number of records this year. 15^th An unseasonable black redstart was seen on the point. 16^th – A bonxie flew north offshore. 17^th – An osprey came in off the sea and flew North West, an avocet was on the Humber and 1000 swifts, a yellow wagtail, 100 swallows and 150 house martins flew south.18^th – 2, 2^nd summer Mediterranean gulls flew south, as did a hobby and 100 swifts.19^th – 2 little ringed plovers, a hobby, 4500 swifts and 110 house martins flew south.20^th – A marsh harrier, 2 hobbies, and a further 700 swifts flew south and 9 rounded migrants included 2 cuckoos and a garden warbler. 21^st – A further 600 swifts flew south. 22^nd – 2500 swifts flew south. 23^rd – A black-tailed godwit dropped in on the Humber and 500 swifts flew south. 24^th – 20 Manx shearwaters flew north offshore, 5 Canada geese flew south and 200 swifts flew northwest for a change. 25^th – A good day offshore, with 97 Manx shearwaters, 6 little gulls, 500 kittiwakes a roseate tern and 42 puffins flying north and 40 curlews came in off the sea. 28^th – 70 swifts flew south and a kingfisher was present all day. 29^th – 3 common sandpipers on the Humber were very early, 20 curlews came in off the sea and 110 swifts and a grey wagtail flew south. 30^th – 30 curlews flew south offshore and the first yellow-legged gull off the year was on the Humber.

MONTHLY MAXIMA FOR THE HUMBER

Although the quietest month on the Humber nowadays there are waders present throughout the month, with birds returning as early as the second week in June. Brent goose – 11, with 3, including a pale-bellied bird staying throughout the month, Shellduck – 520, Eider – 15, Oystercatcher – 177, Ringed Plover – 40 , Golden Plover – 28 , Grey Plover – 44, Knot - 200 ,Sanderling – 64, Dunlin – 112, Whimbrel – 6, Curlew – 32, Spotted Redshank – 1, Redshank – 21, Greenshank – 1, Turnstone – 34