I had another trip out to Spurn this morning. I got there just before day break and there was a fantastic sound as the dawn chorus was in full swing.
I started off at Kilnsea Wetlands and there was a few nice birds around including common sandpiper, yellow wagtail, grey heron, avocet, some common wildfowl and the resident whooper swan. After some nice photos in good light.I made my way to Beacon Ponds after a while. Not a lot there but some mute swans made for some decent photos in the morning mist. Also distant little terns were the first of the year for me.
I moved on to Sammy’s Point and whilst there was nothing of note there, it was nice to listen to more birdsong. An increase in whimbrel on the Humber and a common buzzard was about the best of it.
I then headed to Cliff Farm, with the intention of photographing waders in flight as they were pushed off the mud by the incoming tide. Quite a few whitethroats as well as a ‘reeling’ grasshopper warbler which was another first for the year. A wheatear posed nicely on the rocks and a short eared owl hunted distantly over the saltmarsh.
I had the intention of ending the morning by having another look at Sammy’s Point, however news of a Richard’s pipit in Walker Butts crackled over the radio, so I made a u-turn and soon I was watching a very distant pale pipit in heat haze-not the most enthralling of views but a nice bird all the same. As I was watching the pipit a spoonbill flew overhead.
I ended the morning with a view of a pair of house martins-another first for the year.
So Spurn delivered again this time with some nice photos and a sprinkling of quality migrant. Hopefully the change in the wind will bring some more Spring migrants.