As always a very busy month –

1^st On the move 200 Teal, a Marsh Harrier, an Osprey, 86 Oystercatchers, 30 Sand Martins and 40 House Martins flew south.

2^nd Quite a few new grounded migrants appeared during the day – a Corncrake, Wryneck, 2 Tree Pipits, 7 Redstarts, 24 Whinchats, 25 Wheatears, a Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Garden Warblers, 10 Willow Warblers, 12 Pied Flycatchers a Red-backed Shrike and a Common Rose Finch.

An Osprey flow south and offshore 622 Fulmars, 20 Manx s Shearwaters, 120 Gannets, 60 Teal, 4 Pomarine Skuas, 240 Arctic Skuas and 18 Bonxies flew south, with 7 Sooty Shearwaters North. The Arctic Warbler was still on the Point.

3^rd Quieter offshore – 56 Sooty Shearwaters flew north, with a Velvet Sorter, 2 Pomarine Skuas, 70 Arctic Skuas and a Juvenile Long-tailed Skua south. Less grounded migrants were present but 2 new Corncrakes were found and Wrynecks have increased to 5.

4^th Quite a few new grounded migrants present again – 2 Wrynecks, 2 Tree Pipits, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 14 Redstarts, 15 Whinchats, 7 Garden Warblers, 18 Willow Warblers, 13 Goldcrests, a Red Backed Shrike and another Common Rose Finch. A Sub alpine Warbler was seen briefly on the Point in the morning, a Marsh Harrier flew south and in the evening 2 Roseale Terns flew south, along with 940 Common and Arctic Terns.

5^th Quite a bit of movement – 80 Teal, 520 Sand Martins, 1800 Swallows 115 Meadow Pipits, 21 Flava Wagtails, 3 Grey Wagtails and 40 Linnets flew south. A Long-tailed Skua was on the Humber and 9 Roseale Terns flew south in the evening amongst 2000 Common and Arctic Terns.

6^th Offshore 82 Fulmars, 29 Pintail, 96 Arctic Skuas, a Long-tailed Skua, 300 Sandwich Terns, 3 Roseale Terns, 3125 Common and Arctic Terns and 3 Black Terns flew south.

7^th 1880 Meadow Pipits flew south in the morning and there was a slight increase in grounded migrants, including a Short-eared Owl and 12 Winchats. In the evening another 9 Roseale Terns flew south, among 1060 Common and Arctic Terns and 2 Black Terns.

8^th On the move 255 Sand Martins, 400 Swallows, 160 House Martins, 2800 Meadow Pipits, 16 Flava Wagtails and 215 Linnets flew south; a Pectoral Sandpiper was present on a flooded field for a short while and in the evening 370 Sandwich, 7 Roseale and 1250 Common and Arctic terns flew south.

9^th More passage again with a Wood Sandpiper, 480 Sand Martins, 560 Swallows, 140 House Martins, 3600 Meadow Pipits, 26 Flava Wagtails, 12 Grey Wagtails, 32 Tree Sparrows, 7 Siskins and 210 Linnets flying south. 2 Mediterranean Gulls were present offshore for a while in the morning.

10^th On the move 250 Sand Martins, 630 Swallows, 530 House Martins, 65 Meadow Pipits and 140 Linnets flew south. Quite a few migrants arrived in the afternoon including a Cuckoo, 6 Redstarts, 30 Whinchats, 18 Wheatears, 16 Willow Warblers, 17 Goldcrests, 4 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Lapland Buntings and an Ortolan Bunting. A Marsh Harrier flew south and offshore 2 Goosanders, 3 Pomarine Skuas and a juvenile Sabine’s Gull flew south.

11^th Still a good scattering of grounded migrants left over from yesterday with 2 Common Rose Finches the only new birds. In the evening 250 Sandwich, 6 Roseale, 870 Common and Arctic and a Little Tern flew south. 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese came in off the sea.

12^th A very busy day for passage – 174 Wigeon, 447 Teal, 40 Pintail, a Marsh Harrier, 7 Swifts, 300 Sand Martins, 6000 Swallows, 8000 House Martins, 5500 Meadow Pipits, 12 Flava Wagtails, 6 Grey Wagtails. 16 Tree Sparrows and 330 Linnets all flew south. 10 Sooty Shearwaters flew north, 3 Short-eared Owls came in off the sea and an adult Long-tailed Skua flew south offshore in the evening.

13^th A Red-necked Grebe flew north; 220 Swallows, 50 House Martins, 1700 Meadow Pipits, 5 Grey Wagtails, 15 Tree Sparrows and 220 Linnets flew south.

14^th A bit more southerly passage included 133 Teal, 2000 Swallows, 1800 House Martins 4800 Meadow Pipits, 5 Grey Wagtails and 200 Linnets. 5 Roseale Terns flew south in the evening along with 1500 Common and Arctic Terns.

15^th Offshore a Leach’s Petrel flew north, with 120 Gannets, 450 Wigeon, 256 Teal and a juvenile Sabine’s Gull flew south. A few migrants appeared in the afternoon including a Honey Buzzard circling the peninsula for about 5 minutes and 7 Redwings and 20 Goldcrests.

16^th Strong northerly winds so all eyes turned to the sea and were rewarded with 119 Sooty Shearwaters, 12 Manx Shearwaters, a Leach’s Petrel, 265 Gannets, 30 Little Gulls and a juvenile Sabine’s Gull flying north; with 2 Pomarine Skuas, 93 Arctic Terns and 10 Bonxies flying south. A Marsh Harrier drifted south and presumably the same Sub alpine Warbler seen on the 4^th reappeared on the Point.

17^th Another busy day for passage – 120 Wigeon, 110 Teal, 11 Pintails, 5 Scaup, 6 Sparrowhawks, a Buzzard, 6 Kestrels, 265 Sand Martins 1600 Swallows, 950 House Martins, 6000 Meadow Pipits, 11 Grey Wagtails, 30 Siskins and 460 Linnets flew south, the first Snow Bunting of the autumn was flying up and down and offshore 35 Little Gulls flew north and 2 Roseale Terns flew south. Highlight of the day however was an adult Crane which circled over the Humber for 10 minutes before flying south.

18^th A quiet day, although a Leach’s Petrel and 1100 Auks flew north offshore.

19^th Offshore in the morning 48 Wigeon, 146 Teal, 10 Pintail, 12 Shoveler and 4 Scarp flew south, with a juvenile Sabine’s Gull north. Quite a lot of migrants appeared in the afternoon – 4 Redstarts, 11 Whinchats, 70 Song Thrushes, 6 Redwings, 10 Blackcaps, a Yellow-browed Warbler, 10 Willow Warblers, 7 Chiffchaffs, 45 Goldcrests, 3 Spotted Flycatchers and 2 Lapland Buntings and a Honey Buzzard which appeared toward dusk and roosted by the church.

20^th An incredible day, which took a bit of time to know where to look first. Highlight of the day was undoubtedly an unprecedented movement of raptors – between 0700-1130 a total of 15 Honey Buzzards flew south, mainly over the Humber, including a flock of 5. Yesterdays bird that roosted very slowly worked its way south frequently stopping on bushes giving incredible views. Other raptors on the move were a Marsh Harrier, a Common Buzzard

2 Ospreys, 9 Kestrels and a Hobby. A Little Egret also flew south. There was also an increase in grounded migrants – 3 Rock Pipits, 25 Robins, 17 Redstarts, 43 Whinchats, 3 Fieldfares, 45 Song Thrushes, 11 Garden Warblers, 18 Blackcaps, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers, 15 Chiffchaffs, 10 Willow Warblers, 28 Goldcrests, 4 Spotted Flycatchers and 40 Siskins. Offshore a Leach’s Petrel, 39 Brent Geese, 290 Wigeon, 604 Teal and Little Tern flew south.

21^st Another good day for movement, with the following all flying south – 58 Pink-footed Geese, 250 Wigeon, 182 Teal, 11 Tufted Ducks, a Honey buzzard, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Sparrowhawks, 2 Hobbies, 160 Swallows, 3200 Meadow Pipits, 13 Tree sparrows, 30 Goldfinches, 40 Siskins, 780 Linnets and 2 Lapland Buntings. 2 Jack Snipes were seen and the first Brambling of the autumn.

22^nd Another good passage day – 32 Brent Geese, 1090 Wigeon, 830 Teal, 121 Pintail, 9 Shoveler, 7 Polhard, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Honey Buzzards, a Marsh Harrier, 2 Ospreys, 3 Kestrels, a Hobby, 540 Dunlin, 4300 Swallows and 125 Linnets flew south. A Little Owl was seen perched on wires along the peninsula.

23^rd Yet another good passage day – a Marsh Harrier, 5 Sparrowhawks, and Osprey, 2300 Swallows, 290 House Martins, 3700 Meadow Pipits, 11 Grey Wagtails, 77 Goldfinches, 1250 Linnets, 24 Redpolls and 24 Reed Buntings flew south

24^th A large arrival of migrants during the day – with the following present a the end of the day – 3 Jack Snipes, a Short-eared Owl, 3 Tree Pipits, 15 Robins, 2 Black Redstarts, 50 Redstarts, 40 Whinchats, 20 Wheatears, 3 Fieldfares, 18 Song Thrushes, 3 Reed Warblers, 10 Garden Warblers, 25 Blackcaps, 20 Willow Warblers, 45 Goldcrests, a Firecrest, 20 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 7 Brambling, 22 Siskins and 2 Lapland Buntings. A Great Northern Diver flew off the Humber and out to sea.

25^th A large clearout of yesterdays migrants, although Robins increased to 40 and Chaffinches to 60. Quite a bit of southerly passage including 64 Pink-footed Geese, 472 Wigeon, 303 Teal, 12 Pintail, a Hen Harrier, 5 Sparrowhawks, 9 Kestrel, a Hobby, a Black Tern, 820 House Martins, 2300 Meadow Pipits, 9 Rock Pipits, 12 Flava Wagtails, 17 alba Wagtails, 20 Rooks, 500 Starlings, 42 Chaffinches, 100 Greenfinches, 50 Siskins, 405 Linnets, 2 Lapland Buntings and 24 Reed Buntings.

26^th A large overnight fall of migrants – a short-eared Owl, 20 Tree Pipits, 400 Meadow Pipits, 8 Rock Pipits, 65 Robins, 20 Redstarts, 17 Whinchats, a Stonechat, 145 Wheatears, 15 Ring Ozvels, 340 Song Thrushes, 16 Pied Flycatchers, 110 Chaffinches, 60 Bramblings and 45 Siskins.

27^th A bit of passage in the morning included 14 Kestrels, 200 Swallows, 320 House Martins, a Richard’s Pipit, 8 Tree Pipits, 2250 Meadow Pipits, 15 Rock Pipits, 20 alba Wagtails, 15 Tree sparrows, 123 Green Finches, 113 Gold Finches and 560 Linnets flying south. Most of yesterdays migrants had moved on, although Willow Warblers had increased to 50 – a very high number for so late in the autumn and a very late Little Tern flew south in the evening.

28^th Another good raptor day, a Marsh Harrier, 94 Kestrels and 7 Merlins flew south, along with 4 Herons, 160 Swallows, another Richards Pipit, 2025 Meadow Pipits 26 Rock Pipits, 162 Green Finches, 334 Gold Finches, 602 Linnets and 10 Reed Buntings. Generally less grounded migrants around again, but including a Black Redstart, 30 Wheatears, 4 Ring Ozvels, 90 Song Thrushes, 30 Willow Warblers and 20 Bramblings.

29th A little passage in the morning included 2 Sparrowhawks, 15 Kestrel,

33 Skylarks, 230 Meadow Pipits, 5 Grey Wagtails, 50 Chaffinches and 135 Gold Finches. Again less grounded migrants, but a Richard’s Pipit was seen in the saltmarsh.

30th The only movement was 50 Skylarks, 160 Meadow Pipits and 7 Grey Wagtails flying south, but quite a few new grounded migrants started appearing in the afternoon – 2 Short-eared Owls, 6 Tree Pipits, 25 Robins, a Black Redstart, 10 Redstarts, 12 Wheatears, a Ring Ozvel, 160 Song Thrushes, 21 Redwings,

4 Reed Warblers, a Barred Warbler, 5 Yellow-browed Warblers, 2 Tristis Chiffchaffs, 120 Chaffinches, 40 Bramblings and an incredible 4, Radde’s Warblers, half the number ever recorded at Spurn.

 

SEPTEMBER MAXIMA FOR THE HUMBER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHERS

MOTHS – Grey shoulder Knot (Lithophane ornitopus) – I caught on the 30^th was a new record for Spurn.

The Delicate (Mythimna vilellina) – Singles caught on the 28^th and 29^th, with 2 on the 30^th – a very rare migrant at Spurn.

Hummingbird Hawk Moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) – singles on the 11^th and 24^th.

Convolvulus Hawk Moth (Agrius cornolvoli) – a total of 8 caught during the month.

BUTTERFLIES – Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) – singles on the 21^st and 23^rd were only the 3^rd and 4^th records for Spurn.

Clouded Yellow (Colias Crocea) – 22 butterfly days during the month with a maximum of 4 on the 4^th.

DRAGONFLIES – Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) – one on the 24^th was new for Spurn.

FISH – Sunfish (Mola mola) – singles seen offshore on the 1^st and 15^th.