Birding highlights at Spurn Bird Observatory – March 2003
Main movements and falls, etc. ( with unusual species in bold )
1st Grounded migrants ; Woodcock 1, Robin 11, Song Thrush 5, Fieldfare 3, Redwing 1, Mistle Thrush 1.
2nd Visible migration ; Southerly movement produced Lapwing 400, Wood Pigeon 54, Skylark 5, Meadow Pipit 5, Carrion Crow 8, Redpoll sp. 1, Linnet 1 and Siskin 1. Birds moving out NE included Shelduck 16, Wigeon 53, Teal 1 and Black-headed Gull 1800.
Grounded migrants ; Rock Pipit 1, Robin 16, Fieldfare 1, Redwing 2, Song Thrush 8.
3rd Visible migration ; A Sparrowhawk flew (S) and 15 Oystercatcher left (NE).
Grounded migrants ; Woodcock 1, Blackbird 23, Song Thrush 6, Redwing 1.
General ; Red-throated Diver 9, Gadwall 4.
4th Grounded migrants ; Woodcock 2, Mistle Thrush 1. General ; Teal 25 (S) offshore.
5th Visible migration ; southerly passage involved Lapwing 150 offshore, Meadow Pipit 1, Chaffinch 1. Grounded migrants ; Song Thrush 3. Redwing 6, Greenfinch 39.
6th Visible migration ; southerly passage included Skylark 11, Jackdaw 1, Goldfinch 2. 4 Meadow Pipit flew (NW) and 70 Bar-tailed Godwit moved out (NE). Grounded migrants ; Blackbird 54, Song Thrush 3, Redwing 26. General ; 9 Pink-footed Geese on the Humber.
7th Grounded migrants ; Song Thrush 1, Redwing 1, Goldcrest 2.
8th Grounded migrants ; Woodcock 1, Redwing 4, Song Thrush 3. Seabirds ; Red-throated Diver 23, Great Northern Diver 1 (N), Kittiwake 7, Auk sp. 183, Guillemot 722, Razorbill 7.
General ; 5 Teal , 11 Common Scoter and 2 Goosander all passed south offshore.
9th Grounded migrants ; Common Snipe 16, Rock Pipit 1, Stonechat 1. Seabirds ; Red-throated Diver 75, Gannet 1, Kittiwake 4, Guillemot 4. General ; Pink-footed Geese in the Triangle.
10th Southerly passage ; Meadow Pipit 2, alba Wagtail 3, Starling 188, Siskin 2.
Grounded migrants ; Rock Pipit 2, Mistle Thrush 1, Redwing 36, Goldcrest 1.
11th Southerly passage ; Starling 440 + 2in, Chaffinch 7, Greenfinch 2, Reed Bunting 1.
Grounded migrants ; Rock Pipit 1, Skylark 8, Song Thrush 1, Redwing 28. Seabirds ; Red-throated Diver 14, Guillemot 6.
12th Seabirds ; Red-throated Diver 1, Kittiwake 175, Guillemot 6, Auk sp. 8.
13th Southerly passage ; Skylark 3, Meadow Pipit 5, Greenfinch 5, Linnet 11, Redpoll sp. 1.
Grounded migrants ; Meadow Pipit 29, Black Redstart 1, Song Thrush 3, Redwing 1. Seabirds ; Red-throated Diver 103. General ; Whooper Swan 5 (N) offshore.
14th Southerly passage ; Chaffinch 4. Grounded migrants ; Meadow Pipit 64, Robin 12, Black Redstart 1, Stonechat 1, Goldcrest 3, Redwing 1, Song Thrush 2.
15th Southerly passage ; Stock Dove 3, alba Wagtail 5, Carrion Crow 5, Starling 2200, Greenfinch 3, Linnet 4. Grounded birds ; Woodcock 1, Meadow Pipit 28, Robin 8, Song Thrush 2, Chiffchaff 1, Goldcrest 4. General ; Pink-footed Goose 14 (S).
16th Grounded birds ; Goldcrest 21, Chiffchaff 1.
17th Grounded birds ; Short-eared Owl 1, Song Thrush 1, Goldcrest 24, Chiffchaff 2.
18th Grounded birds : Sand Martin 1 ( 1st of year ), Song Thrush 2, Black Redstart , Meadow Pipit 76, Goldcrest 24, Chiffchaff 4.
19th Southerly passage ; Rock Pipit 1, Jackdaw1. Grounded birds ; Fieldfare 2, Redwing 3, Grey Wagtail 1, Black Redstart 1, Chiffchaff 4. General ; Greylag Goose 2 (N).
20th Southerly passage ; alba Wagtail 3, Grey Wagtail 1, Jackdaw 6, Rook 1, Carrion Crow 2, Linnet 2. Grounded birds ; Redwing 1, Blackbird 17, Goldcrest 7, Black Redstart 1.
21st Southerly passage ; Grey Wagtail 1, Starling 300, Rock Pipit 3, Yellowhammer 3.
Grounded birds ; Long-eared Owl 1, Blackbird 200, Redwing 17, Song Thrush 3, Fieldfare 1, Goldcrest 7, Chiffchaff 1, Black Redstart 1.
22nd Southerly passage ; Avocet 3 offshore, Meadow Pipit 9, Grey Wagtail 1, Rook 3, Greenfinch 7, Siskin 2, Yellowhammer 1. Grounded birds ; Blackbird 76, Fieldfare 2, Redwing 17, Starling 2000.
23rd Southerly passage ; Siskin 2, Yellowhammer 1. Grounded birds ; Water Rail 1, Short-eared Owl 1, alba Wagtail 7, Black Redstart 3, Wheatear 1 (1st of year), Blackbird 46, Song Thrush 3, Chiffchaff 5, Goldcrest 25.
24th Southerly passage ; Peregrine1, Skylark 1, Sand Martin 1, Meadow Pipit 7, Rock Pipit 1, alba Wagtail 6, Jackdaw 7, Rook 16, Carrion Crow 8, Starling 1240, Greenfinch 37, Siskin 4, Linnet 111, Corn Bunting 1. Grounded birds ; Common Snipe 12, Black Redstart 1, Wheatear 2, Black bird 34, Song Thrush 4, Redwing 4, Chiffchaff 6, Lesser Redpoll 1, Yellowhammer 3. General ; a Hen Harrier was in the Triangle, Brent Goose 109 + 3 Pale-bellied.
25th Southerly passage ; Wood Pigeon 2, Rock Pipit 1, alba Wagtail 1, Jackdaw 1, Rook 3, Starling 118, Siskin 2. Grounded birds ; Tawny Owl 1, White Wagtail 1, Black Redstart 3, Blackbird 18, Song Thrush 3, Redwing 7, Chiffchaff 3, Goldcrest 16, Crossbill 1.
General ; Hen Harrier 1, Peregrine 1.
26th Visible migration ; 60 Meadow Pipit were noted coming in from the (SE) and 10 Linnet and 3 Chaffinch moved south. Grounded birds ; Woodcock 1, Rock Pipit 3, Wheatear 2, Fieldfare 5, Redwing 20, Chiffchaff 5, Goldcrest 25. General ; Wigeon 38.
27th Grounded birds ; Water Rail 1, Black Redstar 1, Fieldfare 17, Redwing 5, Chiffchaff 2, Goldcrest 13.
28th Grounded birds ; Short-eared Owl 1, Meadow Pipit 12, Ring Ouzel 1, Blackbird 19, Redwing 23, Wheatear 4, Black Redstart 1, Goldcrest 30. General ; 170 Brent Geese + 4 Pale-bellied.
29th Grounded birds ; Woodcock 1, Wheatear 1, Black Redstart1, Blackbird 22, Redwing 7, Chiffchaff 10, Goldcrest 21. General ; Greylag Goose 3.
30th Southerly passage ; alba Wagtail 1, Goldfinch 5, Sand Martin 1. Grounded birds ; Wheatear 5, Blackbird 14, Redwing 12, Song Thrush 2, Meadow Pipit 100, Chiffchaff 6, Goldcrest 26.
31st Grounded birds : Chiffchaff 5.
SPURN BIRD OBSERVATORY TRUST Registered charity 1084312
Spurn Bird Observatory, Kew Villa, Kilnsea, via Patrington, E.Yorkshire HU12 0UG