This weekend was the 9th Spurn Migration Festival (Migfest) organised jointly between Spurn Bird Observatory Trust (SBOT) and The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).
The event started for us on Thursday where it was all hands on deck to transform North Field into the central hub for the event. Many volunteers made light work of everything from building marquees, to setting up the catering area, temporary lighting, and signage. In a matter of hours the stage was set.
A couple of hours on Beacon Ponds in the evening gave some nice views of the red- necked phalaropes, wood sandpiper, ruff and other common waders. A shout went out on the radio that the Citrine Wagtail was on Beacon Ponds. I could see it on a raised bank about 30m away. It came closer (around 15m away) and then took flight again unbelievably landing less than 2m away! I could only watch in disbelief.
Red-Necked Phalarope
Wood Sandpiper
Ruff
Yellow Wagtail
Citrine Wagtail
Citrine Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
No early rise the next morning and a wander around Sykes Field produced a couple of pied flycatchers, redstart and a few willow warblers, A couple of both whinchat and wheatears added further variety. Things were looking good!
In the afternoon a steady stream of exhibitors were setting up an impressive mix of stands that included artwork, technology, bird organisations and equipment. My stand focussing on wildlife photography at Spurn was set up within half an hour and early visitors began to arrive.
My wife Joanne was setting up the catering with the ‘Spurn Ladies’ and all was looking good.
All volunteers were briefed on the evening by the SBOT Chairman Rob Adams everything was in place and it was now down to the weather to behave itself and the birds to perform.
The event is a celebration of migration with all manner of walks, talks and presentations crammed into a packed programme.
I had another couple of hours on Beacon Ponds and sadly the two red-necked phalaropes had departed but an impressive amount of waders coinciding with high tide as well as black tern 3 spoonbills, and another good count of little egrets made for some great viewing.
I was up early on the Saturday morning. Despite the forecast I went in hope of a sunrise and wasn’t disappointed as it was magnificent. Wood sandpiper, curlew sandpiper and spotted redshank as well as the 3 spoonbill’s would give visiting ‘migfesters’ some nice variety for their day list when visiting the Kilnsea Wetlands and Beacon Ponds areas. The big question was would the citrine wagtail hang around?
I made my way back to Migfest HQ in readiness for my Wildlife Photography at Spurn workshop. My talk was split between ethics and fieldcraft, equipment and technique and then making the most of your trip to Spurn with your camera. The attendees were enthusiastic and supportive and hopefully they took away some useful hints and tips.
The day was sunny, there were some good birds around and yesterday’s the citrine wagtail hung around and somewhat unbelievably was joined by a second bird. Would they prove to be the birds of the weekend?
The evening finished with a fantastic barbecue ably delivered by the unfaltering and unflappable Spurn Ladies and Spurns own master chef Steve Exley. I went up to Beacon Ponds for the last hour of light and the little egrets and spoonbills posed very nicely in the evening sunset.
Sunday morning dawned clear giving some great views of a bright full moon before quickly disappearing under a veil of mist as the sun rose. Pretty much a repeat of Saturdays birds in a windless start to a proper autumnal morning.
After the mist descended I made my way back to Migfest HQ to prepare for the next photography workshop. There were some lovely spiders webs bejewelled by the mist creating the most Autumnal of scenes. Overhead it was clear that birds were on the move with meadow pipits calling as they made their way south.
Just as I was getting set up, the call went out over the radio ‘ringtail harrier heading south-might be a pallid!’ sure enough it drifted slowly over north field allowing the assembled masses to have great views even circling a few times before making its way over the triangle then doubling back and was lost to view towards Easington. The bird of the weekend just made its presence known!
Good birds kept coming with a couple of distant honey buzzards adding to the excitement.
Pallid Harrier pic by kind permission of Richard Willison
An amazing count of 9000+ migrating meadow pipits signified what the even was all about- migration on full swing and a great buzz in the air.
Things began to quieten down in the afternoon as the happy migfesters began to drift away. Stands were packed away and the volunteers kicked in again making short work of tidying up and packing away all of the equipment in readiness for next year.
The day ended with a celebratory pint or two in the clubhouse on Sandy Beaches.
Lasting thoughts for me were how much of a great event this is. The place, the weather and the people combined for a truly great setting full of like minded people enjoying the spectacle of migration at Spurn.
The work of the volunteers is truly admirable, Migfest is a place where unsung heroes abound. The excellent (nay world class) leadership of the completely unflappable Rob Adams backed up by a brilliant supporting team is something to be admired.
Lastly the birds. Spurn is a magical place that always delivers. This weekend proved it by great numbers and a sprinkling of the more unusual giving something for everyone.
It was a privilege to be involved in such a superb event and no doubt the architects of this event (messers Roadhouse and Garner) would have been looking down proudly.