I set off early for Spurn this morning in hopeful anticipation that the predicted South Easterly winds would bring some interesting birds in.
The welcome sight of a tawny owl flying through the gloom and alighting on the side of a telegraph pole in Skeffling was a good sign.
I parked the car at the gate and made my way back along the canal. It was obvious that there was a good number of birds moving as meadow pipits and grey wagtails called overhead.
A kingfisher shot west down the canal then a peregrine falcon came over low from the north and continued over the humber having a pot shot at a wader as it went.
A couple of willow warblers and a single whinchat was the best of the rest along the canal. I had a quick look for the marsh warbler at Pallas's pond but there was no sign , but a red throated diver flew out of the Humber out to sea.
I had an hour at the migrant watchpoint known as numpties castle. Its a curious name for a migrant watchpoint as the lads who stand there for hours on end have to be admired for their dedication and skill at identifying birds as they fly south sometimes with only seconds to confirm the id.
Nothing special was see here but a spotted flycatcher caught by the ringers was nice as was a flock of common scoter as they flew down the Humber.
By now the sun was up and the marsh warbler had been reported so I made my way accross to the gate. It showed quite well on three separate occasions but never out in the open for a 'clean' shot.
That was it really, a cracking morning out in the sunshine, I guess it never quite lived up to expectation but a nice selection of birds all the same. Conditions look promising for the week ahead.
