The Spurn Masked Shrike

I am currently in the middle of a 2 week holiday and have spent most of it observing , photographing and enjoying the wildlife currently on offer at Spurn.

I was there for 7 days on the trot up to last Friday and I thought I would have a break and not go through on Saturday morning, instead catching up on a few jobs.

It was slightly annoying to hear that an Olive Backed Pipit had been found on Saturday morning and then even more annoying to hear that a juvenile wood chat shrike had turned up.

When the shrike had been re-identified to Masked Shrike, I was on my way to Spurn.

First views were distant and partly through a hedge then clearer views albeit further away near the caravan site and also clear views from the river bank and again very distant.

I left just after lunch hopeful that the bird would hang around.

I was back again on the Sunday and had a very enjoyable and relaxed walk round viewing the spectacle of a major twitch that must have involved hundreds of people.

Back again on the Monday I was there at first light and had the rather daunting task of broadcasting the news of its re-appearance as it emerged from its roosting site.It was only 30m away and I got some shots that I was happy with before it resumed its position on the far fence (approximately 300 yards away).

It did come back and fairly close during the afternoon but the heat haze was horrendous making quality photography quite difficult.

Eventually it showed very well in the evening albeit slightly obscured, shooting into the light and then facing almost head on.

Back yet again today but was always distant, will be back again in the morning for another crack!

Magnificent Spurn

I have spent the last few days at Spurn and it has been magnificent, to the point I haven't had time to update the blog until now.

It started last Thursday and whilst relatively quiet I still managed to get a caspian gull, wryneck and some decent views of common migrants including whinchat, wheatear, pied flycatcher and redstart.

Friday was pretty much the same but with red breasted flycatcher and yellow browed warbler as well as a host of common migrants.

Sunday morning started with a bang as reports over the radio of Honey Buzzard heading north had me hurtling round the countryside in the hope of a decent shot however it was not meant to be.Again plenty of common migrants including little stint, stonechat lots of flycatchers and redstarts.

Monday was the big one however, whilst slightly disappointed to miss the pallid harrier the supporting cast more than made up.

First decent bird was a grasshopper warbler in canal bushes and a scattering of yellow wagtails flying overhead then little stint on Kilnsea Wetlands followed by fleeting views of the great grey shrike.Then my first ever shots of a wood warbler in Crown and Anchor car park closely followed by a firecrest then red-breasted flycatcher in the churchyard.Then up to Sammy's Point for a barred warbler.back to the canal for a wryneck and close by was a ring ouzel.There was plenty more common migrants including more flycatchers, wheatears, redstarts whitethroats and a single reed warbler.

back again today and it was a little quieter but a flyover peregrine, wryneck and very showy red-breasted flycatcher capped off a magnificent few days.

More of the same tomorrow bring it on!

Autumn Migration Continues

I chose to give the Migfest a miss this year, I wanted to get out and photograph some wildlife this weekend and I thought that the crowds at Spurn would not be conducive to great photography.

So early Sunday morning I headed up to Flamborough in the hope of some migrant birds and less people to contend with.

First stop was Thornwick Pool, nothing on the walk down to the pond and only a greenshank of interest on the ponds. Not a great start.

I then headed for Old Fall news had come out of a barred warbler at the southern end of the hedge so at least I was in the right place for something.

Upon arriving three locals put me in the right area and soon departed.It wasn't long before the barred warbler was showing quite well and was moving predominantly from left to right along the hedgerow and then just appeared to vanish.

There were quite a few other common migrants in this area including redstart, whitethroat, spotted flycatcher, willow warbler, goldcrest and overhead a marsh harrier and grey wagtail.

The walk back produced another redstart and a distant whinchat. I had a quick look around the outer head and was rewarded with a quite showy pied flycatcher but by now the sun was very high making photography quite difficult.

The next part of the day involved a long trip to Patrington Haven the target was waders and my arrival was timed to coincide with high water.

As soon as I arrived there were quite a few waders roosting at the high tide line including ringed plover, dunlin and curlew sandpiper.

the tide was rising quickly and soon the sky was filled with massive flocks of waders mostly knot and dunlin with greenshank, grey plover golden plover and green sandpiper thrown in.

They were being stalked by a peregrine and made for spectacular viewing as they wildly dispersed in an attempt to foil their tormentor.

There was at least 30 little egrets and a mixed gull flock as well as oystercatcher, curlew , whimbrel,grey heron, wheatear and shell duck to add to the interest.

At high tide it went very quiet and it was time to leave.

The walk back produced a kingfisher and marsh harrier.

All in all a very long day but most enjoyable in lovely weather and a good mix of birds.