Birding highlights at Spurn Bird Observatory – May 2003

 

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

 

 

1st          Southerly passage ;  Marsh Harrier 1, Sand Martin 15, Carrion Crow 15, Chaffinch 2.

Grounded migrants ;  Turtle Dove 1, Cuckoo 1, Yellow Wagtail 1, Wheatear 9, Song Thrush 1, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Blackcap 1, Siskin 2.

 

2nd        Southerly passage ;  Swift 5, Swallow 25, Goldfinch 25, Linnet 30.

Grounded migrants ;  Turtle Dove 1, Long-eared Owl 1, Rock Pipit 2, Flava Wagtail 1, Whinchat 1, Wheatear 6, Fieldfare 1, Grasshopper Warbler 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Blackcap 2, Chiffchaff 2,  Willow Warbler 4.         General ;  Whimbrel 4.

 

3rd          Southerly passage ;  Marsh Harrier 1, Hen Harrier 2, Hobby 1, Swift 2, Skylark 1, Sand Martin 24, Swallow 400, House Martin 17, Flava Wagtail 3, Alba Wagtail 1, Rook 9, Carrion Crow 12, Goldfinch 336, Linnet 128.

Grounded migrants ;  a Tawny Pipit spent the afternoon in the Triangle, Turtle Dove 1, Tree Pipit 1, Wheatear 4, Fieldfare 1, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Whitethroat 21, Blackcap 1,Chiffchaff 1, Willow Warbler 3.               Seabirds ;  Cormorant 2, Pomarine Skua 1 (N), Arctic Skua 1 (N), Sandwich Tern 2.

General ;      a Common Buzzard was seen over the Triangle, 3 Black-tailed Godwit on the Humber.

 

4th          Southerly passage ;  Marsh Harrier 1, Wood Pigeon 6, Swift 21, Skylark 3, Sand Martin 9, Swallow 300, House Martin 18, Flava Wagtail 17, Rook 1,  Goldfinch 207, Linnet 155.

Grounded migrants ;  Short-eared Owl 1, a Wood Lark at the Narrows, the Tawny Pipit still present in the Triangle, Tree Pipit 1, Flava Wagtail 9, Whinchat 3, Wheatear 20, Fieldfare 2, Grasshopper Warbler 3, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Chiffchaff 2, Willow Warbler 8, Spotted Flycatcher 3, Siskin 1.

Seabirds ;  Fulmar 1, Gannet 11, Little Gull 1, Common Tern 1,  Arctic Tern 1, Black Tern 3, Guillemot 5.          General ;   a 1st year male Montagu’s Harrier u-turned back north over the Triangle.

 

5th           Southerly passage ;  Marsh Harrier 1, Montagu’s Harrier 2 ( adult male 08.30, imm male 09.00), Osprey 1 at 11.00, Stock Dove 10, Swift 16, Sand Martin 15, Swallow 1350, House Martin 70, Flava Wagtail 6, Jackdaw 5, Rook 3, Carrion Crow 15, Goldfinch 258, Linnet 226, Redpoll sp 2.

Grounded migrants ;  Cuckoo 1, Whinchat 6, Wheatear 7, Fieldfare 1, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Pied Flycatcher 1.               Seabirds ;  Yellow-legged Gull 1,  Sandwich Tern 2.    General ;  Gadwall 2, Whimbrel 7, Short-eared Owl 1.

 

6th           Southerly passage ;  Little Egret 1 at 10.30, Hen Harrier 1, Swift 1, Skylark 4, Sand Martin 1, Swallow 900, House Martin 20, Flava Wagtail 3, Jackdaw 3, Greenfinch 3, Goldfinch 150, Linnet 2.

Grounded migrants ;  Turtle Dove 1, Cuckoo 2, Blue-headed Wagtail 1 male, Wheatear 1, Lesser Whitethroat 2.              General ;  Dunlin 3000, Whimbrel 7, Long-eared Owl 1, Barn Owl 1.

 

7th            Southerly passage ;   Swift 4, House Martin 12, Flava Wagtail 1, Chaffinch 2, Goldfinch 31. Grounded migrants ;  Whinchat 4, Wheatear 14, ,Mistle Thrush 1, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 4, Blackcap 1, Willow Warbler 2, Chiffchaff 1.

Seabirds ;  Sandwich Tern 2, Common Tern 3, Little Tern 4.                                                 

 

8th            Southerly passage ;  Harrier sp 1, Hobby 1, Swift 2, Sand Martin 2, Swallow 200, House Martin 4, Flava Wagtail 2, Wheatear 2, Jackdaw 2, Goldfinch 14, Linnet 18.          

Grounded migrants ;  Cuckoo 1, Flava Wagtail 1, Whinchat 1, Wheatear 10, Chiffchaff 1, Willow Warbler 1, Chaffinch 7.              General ;  Long-eared Owl 1, Short-eared Owl 1.

 

9th            Southerly passage ;  Swallow 50 , House Martin 6, Alba Wagtail 1, Carrion Crow 3, Greenfinch 2, Linnet 2.

Grounded migrants ;  Cuckoo 1, Yellow Wagtail 3, White Wagtail 1, Wheatear 2, Reed Warbler 2, Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 1, Willow Warbler 2, Chaffinch 1.         Seabirds ;  Gannet 6, Cormorant 7, Little Tern 1.             General ;  Whimbrel 26.

 

10th           Southerly passage ;  Sand Martin 3, Swallow 150, House Martin 21, Flava Wagtail 2, Alba Wagtail 1, Jackdaw 2,  Greenfinch 2, Goldfinch 64, Linnet 2.

Grounded migrants ;  Cuckoo 1, Wheatear 9, Reed Warbler 2, Lesser Whitethroat 5, Garden Warbler 1, Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 2, Willow Warbler 2, Spotted Flycatcher 2, Siskin 1.

Seabirds ;  Red-throated Diver 1, Fulmar 2, Gannet 1, Cormorant 16, Kittiwake 12, Sandwich Tern 11, Commic Tern 4, Little Tern 11.              General ;  Brent Geese 171, Tufted Duck 2, Common Scoter 19, Grey Partridge 2 ( 1st of year ), Long-Eared Owl 1, Short-eared Owl 1.

 

11th           Southerly passage ;  Marsh Harrier 2, Swift 6, Great-spotted Woodpecker 1, Skylark 5, Sand Martin 8, Swallow 160, House Martin 28, Flava Wagtail 5, Jackdaw 2,  Rook 1, Carrion Crow 9, Greenfinch 4, Goldfinch 68, Siskin 2, Linnet 71.

Grounded migrants ;  Turtle Dove 1, Cuckoo 2, Grey Wagtail 1, Wheatear 9, Reed Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Chiffchaff 1, Willow Warbler 4, Spotted Flycatcher 2, Long-tailed Tit 1, Siskin 1.

Seabirds ;  Red-throated Diver 3, Gannet 9, Cormorant 8, Kittiwake 7, Sandwich Tern 17, Commic Tern 1, Auk sp 1.          General ;  Brent Geese 117, Wigeon 2, Tufted Duck 2, Common Scoter 35, Whimbrel 13, Grey Partridge 2, Barn Owl 1, Long-eared Owl 1.

 

12th           Southerly passage ;  Little Egret 1 at 11.20, Marsh Harrier 4 + 2 u-turned, Kestrel 4, Swift 16, Skylark 3, Sand Martin 11, Swallow 220, House Martin 44, Tree Pipit 1, Flava Wagtail 4, Alba Wagtail 2, Jackdaw 2, Chaffinch 4, Greenfinch 7, Goldfinch 76, Linnet 66.

Grounded migrants ;  Water Rail 1 at Chalk Bank, Turtle Dove 1, Cuckoo, Flava Wagtail 1, Whinchat 1, Wheatear 3, Blackcap 1, Willow Warbler 1, Siskin 4.                 Seabirds ; Gannet 1, Cormorant 11, Arctic Skua 1, Little Tern 3, Auk sp 2.                  General ;  Grey Partridge 2, Barn Owl 1, Longe-eared Owl 2, Short-eared Owl 1.

 

13th            Southerly passage ;  Wood Pigeon 25, Swift 7, Sand Martin 3, Swallow 90, House Martin 24, Flava Wagtail 2, Grey Wagtail 1, Carrion Crow 4, Goldfinch 47, Linnet 51.

Grounded migrants ;  Cuckoo 1, Wheatear 2.                 Seabirds ;  Red-throated Diver 1, Fulmar 1, Gannet 8, Pomarine Skua 1 west, Kittiwake 218, Sandwich Tern 10, Little Tern 5, Auk sp 15, Guillemot 3.       General ;  Brent Geese 68 ( including 2 Pale-bellied ), Common Scoter 9, Kestrel 7, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Long-eared Owl 1.

 

14th            Southerly passage ;  Swallow 8, Flava Wagtail, Jackdaw 1.

Grounded migrants ;  Cuckoo 1, Wheatear 2, Chiffchaff 1, Chaffinch 3.     Seabirds ;  Fulmar 1, Gannet 17, Kittiwake 2, Auk sp 8, Guillemot 6, Razorbill 1.      

 

15th             Southerly passage ;  Sand Martin 1, Swallow 200, House Martin 1, Flava Wagtail 1, Jackdaw 2, Carrion Crow 6, Goldfinch 6, Linnet 8.

Grounded migrants ;  Cuckoo 2, Chiffchaff 1.             Seabirds ;  Red-throated Diver 1, Gannet 6, Cormorant 5, Kittiwake 20, Ausk sp 13.         General ;  Dunlin 3200.

 

16th                Southerly passage ;  Merlin 1, Swift 3, Swallow 31, House Martin 5, Alba Wagtail 1, Goldfinch 28, Linnet 1.

Grounded migrants ;  Cuckoo 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1.                Seabirds ;  Gannet 23, Kittiwake 11, Commic Tern 1, Little Tern 1, Auk sp 18, Guillemot 4.

 

17th                 Southerly passage ;  Merlin 1, Swift 63, Sand Martin 3, Swallow 250, House Martin 60, Flava Wagtail 5, Serin 1 male at 13.40, Siskin 1, Goldfinch 21, Linnet 32.

Grounded migrants ;  Cuckoo 2, Yellow Wagtail 1, Wheatear 4, Sedge Warbler 1, Blackcap 1, Spotted Flycatcher 5.      Seabirds ;   Gannet 4, Guillemot 6, Razorbill 2.        General ;  Marsh Harrier 1 left NNE, Spotted Redshank 1.

 

18th                 Southerly passage ;  Merlin 1, Cuckoo 1, Swift 14, Sand Martin 3, Swallow 600, House Martin 150, Flava Wagtail 3, Jackdaw 3, Goldfinch 10.

Grounded migrants ;  Cuckoo 1, Yelow Wagtail 1, Whinchat 1, Wheatear 1, Chiffchaff 1, Spotted Flycatcher 2.        Seabirds ;  Fulmar 1, Lesser BB Gull 13, Sandwich Tern 1.

 

19th                 Southerly passage ;   Greylag Goose 2, Hobby 1 at 10.20, Swift 4, Sand Martin 3, Swallow 600, House Martin 300, Flava Wagtail 1, Greenfinch 4, Goldfinch 8, Linnet 10.

Grounded migrants ;  Turtle Dove 1, Cuckoo 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1.       General ;  Short-eared Owl 1.

 

20th                 Southerly passage ;   Swallow 20.                  Grounded migrants ;  Turtle Dove 1, Cuckoo 2, House Martin 1, Tree Pipit 1.           Seabirds ;   Diver sp 1.          General ;  a pair of Coot nesting on Canal Scrape, the first nesting attempt at Spurn.

 

21st                 Southerly passage ;  Swift 1, Swallow 900, House Martin 250, Flava Wagtail 1.

Grounded migrants;  Turtle Dove 1, Cuckoo1, Fieldfare 1, Spotted Flycatcher 1.

General ;  Brent Geese 61, Whimbrel 2.  

 

22nd                Southerly passage ;  Marsh Harrier 1, Swift 2, Swallow 500, House Martin 200, Goldfinch 5.              Grounded migrants ;  Turtle Dove 2, Wheatear 2, Chiffchaff 1.

Seabirds ;  Gannet 2, Kittiwake 55.   

 

23rd                Southerly passage ;  Swift 5, Skylark 3, Swallow 500, House Martin 150, Jackdaw 2, Rook 5, Carrion Crow 13, Goldfinch 6, Siskin 1, Linnet 26.

Grounded migrants ;  Chiffchaff 1.            Seabirds ;   Fulmar 1, Sandwich Tern 15.

General ;  Curlew Sandpiper 1.

 

24th                Southerly passage ;  Montagu’s Harrier 1st summer male at 11.35, Wood Pigeon 5, Skylark 3, Swallow 66, House Martin 44, Jackdaw 3, Greenfinch 2, Goldfinch 28,Linnet 29, Yellowhammer 1, Corn Bunting 1.

Grounded migrants ;  Turtle Dove 2, Cuckoo 1, Tree Pipit 1, Yellow Wagtail 1, Wheatear 2, Blackcap 1, Willow Warbler 1, Spotted Flycatcher 6.             Seabirds ;  Red-throated Diver 2, Fulmar 2, Manx Shearwater 2, Gannet 20, Cormorant 9, Kittiwake 2, Auk sp 19.            General ;  Brent Goose 45 inc. 3 Pale-bellied.

 

25th                 Southerly passage ;  Swift 1, Swallow 49, House Martin 31.

Grounded migrants ;  Turtle Dove 6, Black Redstart 1, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Spotted Flycatcher 3.

Seabirds ;  Red-throated Diver 2, Gannet 5, Cormorant 7, Sandwich Tern 6.        General ;  Brent Goose 46, Curlew Sandpiper 2, Short-eared Owl 1.

 

26th                Southerly passage ;  Swift 3, Skylark 1, Swallow 550, House Martin 100, Carrion Crow 3, Goldfinch 22.                 Grounded migrants ;  Turtle Dove 4, Cuckoo 1, Wheatear 1, Song Thrush 1, Willow Warbler 2, Spotted Flycatcher 9, Lesser Redpoll 2.          Seabirds ;  Gannet 2, Cormorant 3, Sandwich Tern 6, Little Tern 6.            General ;  Barn Owl 1, Long-eared Owl 1, Short-eared Owl 1, Grasshopper Warbler 1.

 

27th                Southerly passage ;  Stock Dove 2, Turtle Dove 1, Swift 6, Skylark 4, Sand Martin 3, Swallow 250, House Martin 150 , Flava Wagtail 2, Jackdaw 4, Goldfinch 2.

Grounded migrants ;  Wheatear 2, Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 1, Willow Warbler 1, Spotted Flycatcher 2.

Seabirds ;  Gannet 10, Cormorant 4, Kittiwake 34, Sandwich Tern 18, Little Tern 15, Auk sp 22.

General ;  Greylag Goose 3, Brent Goose 27, Grey Partridge 1, Long-eared Owl 2.

 

28th                Southerly passage ;  Swift 8, Swallow 200, House Martin 50, Mistle Thrush 2 u-turned.

Grounded migrants ;  Reed Warbler 1, Blackcap 2, Spotted Flycatcher 1.

Seabirds ;  Diver sp 1, Fulmar 2, Gannet 2, Kittiwake 34, Sandwich Tern 10, Common Tern 4, Auk sp 11, Guillemot 3.         General ;  Brent Goose 27, Eider 2, Avocet 2.

 

29th                Southerly passage ;  Turtle Dove 2, Swift 5, Sand Martin 6, Swallow 100, House Martin 21.                   Grounded migrants ;  Turtle Dove 1, Cuckoo 1, Wheatear 1, Grasshopper Warbler 2, Reed Warbler 4, Lesser Whitethroat 3, Blackcap 2, Chiffchaff 2.

Seabirds ;  Fulmar 1, Gannet 6, Kittiwake 16, Sandwich Tern 15, Common Tern 3, Guillemot 5, Puffin 2.              General ;  Sanderling 204.

 

30th                Southerly passage ;  Wood Pigeon 8, Swift 2, Swallow 90, House Martin 21, Goldfinch 4, Corn Bunting 1.                  Grounded migrants ;  Black Redstart 1, Garden Warbler 1, Wood Warbler 1( 1st of year ), Chiffchaff 1, Willow Warbler 2, Spotted Flycatcher 1.       

Seabirds ;  Fulmar 7, Gannet 12, Little Gull 2, Kittiwake 114, Sandwich Tern 19, Commic Tern 10, Common Tern 1, Arctic Tern 46 east, Guillemot 84, Razorbill 16.           General ;  Greylag Goose 8, Brent Goose 11, Common Scoter 8, Marsh Harrier 1.

 

31st                 Southerly passage ;  Wood Pigeon 16, Swift 5, Skylark 2, Sand Martin 1, Swallow 600, House Martin 80, Jackdaw 3, Goldfinch 5.

Grounded migrants ;  Black Redstart 1, Wheatear 2, Reed Warbler 1, Spotted Flycatcher 2.

Seabirds ;  Red-throated Diver 1, Fulmar 13, Manx Shearwater 3, Gannet 36, Cormorant 12, Kittiwake 70, Sandwich Tern 2, Common Tern 18, Auk sp 3, Guillemot 37, Razorbill 5.

General ;  Grey Heron 1, Eider 1

 

 

Andy Roadhouse

 

SPURN BIRD OBSERVATORY TRUST          Registered charity   1084312

 

Spurn Bird Observatory, Kew Villa, Kilnsea, via Patrington, E.Yorkshire HU12 0UG