Ive been a bit pressed for time just lately so havent been down to Spurn as much as I would have liked.

However last weekend I managed to get down there with the hope of seeing and photographing a long-tailed skua. I started at Kilnsea on the sea side and although it was quite cloudy the light wasn’t too bad. Some sanderlings on the shoreline and oner or two ducks off shore made for some nice photo opportunities. No sign of any skuas so I made my way back to the car. I was met by a waver of birders heading hurriedly back to the cliff top. ‘Long-tailed skua heading north over the warren close in!’ was the message crackling over the radio. As quick as a flash I set up my gear and the shape of the skua quickly came into view. Unfortunately it was heading out to sea rather than along the coast but very nice to see and a welcome addition to my bird photos collection.

I then had a quick look around the bushes near canal scrape but there wasn’t much doing so I headed for Sykes’ field. There were a few migrants kicking around including a pied flycatcher. I was hoping to see one of the recently reported red-backed shrikes. I wasn’t to be disappointed as two were performing out in the open at quite close range feeding on bumble bees. Also nearby was an elusive barred warbler, it didn’t show that well but still very nice to see.

Quite a few more common migrants around including good numbers of pied flycatchers. A quick look at Sammy’s Point produced anotherpied fly. Two short-eared owls and a marsh harrier ahead of a rain band were nice-then the rain came and drew the visit to a close.

This morning I was up early and at Kilnsea Wetlands for 6am. Some nice waders in the rising sun were photogenic. A look in the hide produced some nice waders. High tide was around 9a.m and there was a constant stream of birds coming in off the Humber. Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper and Ruff all performed well in front of the hide.

I moved off to Canal Scrape after a while and I was treated to some nice views of a Water Rail in the newly cut back clearings in the reeds. It then became evident that there has been a reasonable fall of migrants. Willow warblers were the most prominent along with the odd redstart and pied flycatcher. I thought I would have a look in the bushes and so it proved-lots of willow warblers and also a cracking juvenile cuckoo.

More wader action at the gate and as I walked back up one of the new-in short-eared owls took flight briefly.

Two marsh harriers were heading south and a quick look on Well field produced some good numbers of Whinchat.

All in all a top visit. Nothing particularly scarce but great birding for late summer.

Spurn being Spurn is the greatest place to watch and photograph wildlife in the UK. It never lets me down.