Birding highlights at Spurn during May 2001

May is one of the most eagerly anticipated months for birders at Spurn, and this year was no exception with good numbers of migrants moving through and a fair scattering of more unusual species.

An adult Mediterranean Gull got the month off to a fine start, flying south past the ‘narrows’ on the 1st. A male ‘Eastern’ Stonechat arrived on the 2nd, staying until the 3rd. The 3rd also saw both a male Subalpine Warbler in Kilnsea and a male ‘red-spotted’ Bluethroat in ‘walker butts’, the latter still present on the 4th, when a Wood Warbler was reported in Kilnsea.

The next few days were quiet with only a Hen Harrier on the 6th, a Black Redstart on the 7th and a Short-eared Owl on the 8th. However a Quail was seen briefly by the lighthouse on the 7th and easterly tern passage was notable with 247 Arctic Terns over the next few days. The 10th saw a Red Kite reported over the ‘Crown & Anchor’, 2 Wood Sandpipers in ‘walker butts’ and a female Red-backed Shrike by the ‘wire-dump’, which stayed until the 12th. Wood Sandpiper numbers increased on the 11th when 3 were in ‘walker butts’ and a further 4 flew north up the Humber.

The 12th was a bit of a ‘red-letter’ day with a nice selection of scarce birds present. A Thrush Nightingale was singing at the ‘warren’  early morning, before moving to ‘canal hedge’ where it remained until the 13th. The 12th also saw an elusive female Bluethroat at the ‘parade ground’, a Spoonbill south over the Humber, an Osprey over the lighthouse and 2 Avocets over the ‘warren’. In addition 1200 Swallows flew south, 30 Little Gulls and 9 Black Terns flew out east and a Short-eared Owl was seen.

Marsh Harriers moved south in good numbers throughout the month with one or two seen most days and an impressive 6 south on the 12th, 5 on the 13th and 5 south on the 16th. A further 1000 Swallows migrated south on the 13th, 3 Avocets flew south over the sea, a female Pied Flycatcher was in Kilnsea and a male Grey-headed Wagtail performed on ‘walker butts’.

Two Black Redstarts on the 15th were the only birds of note over the next two days, however on the 16th a female Montagu’s Harrier, a male Hen Harrier and 2700 Swallows all moved south and a Great Northern Diver moved north over the sea. Another Black Redstart was found on the 17th when a male ‘red-spotted’ Bluethroat was belatedly reported. The ‘narrows’ watchpoint was the place to be over the next two days with a Short-toed Lark south and a second-summer Iceland Gull north (both on the 18th), and 3 Red-rumped Swallows and a Montagu’s Harrier south on the 19th. The 19th also produced a ‘female-type’ Golden Oriole in ‘canal hedge’, a Long-eared Owl in the ‘point dunes’ and a Black redstart at the ‘narrows’. Good birds continued to be found with a Bee-eater south over the point and 2 Long-tailed Ducks south over the sea (both on the 20th), and a female Serin at the ‘narrows’ on the 21st. A Black Brant was also present on the 21st, feeding on the Humber with the flock of Pale-bellied Brent Geese, where it remained until the 23rd.

The 23rd produced both a female Subalpine Warbler and a first-summer male Red-breasted Flycatcher at the ‘warren’, with the fourth Red-rumped Swallow of the month south past the ‘narrows’ and a Black Redstart at the ‘point’. The following day a different Black Redstart was at the ‘point’ and a singing male Firecrest was in the ‘point dunes’. The next few days were quiet, until the 27th when 766 Swifts, 1500 Swallows, 711 House Martins and a first-summer Mediterranean Gull all flew south and a first-summer male Common Rosefinch moved between the ‘narrows’, the ‘warren’ and ‘beacon lane’.

A different Common Rosefinch, this one a ‘red’ male, was at the ‘narrows’ on the 28th, when a ‘female-type’ Red-breasted Flycatcher was at ‘wire dump’ and both a male Nightjar and a singing Wood Warbler were in the ‘point dunes’. In addition a ‘ring-tail’ Hen Harrier and 550 House Martins flew south. Things quietened down towards the months end with a Short-toed Lark south over the ‘narrows’ being the only bird of note in the last three days.

Paul Massey, Spurn Bird Observatory Warden.  

 Bird reports 2000