Summer Seabirds

July 10, 2021

Using the combination of two tried and tested scientific theories (one being who dares wins and the other being third time lucky), I had a trip up to Bempton earlier this week to see if I could see the Black-Browed Albatross.

Some of the photos and accounts have been stunning and to think that this is a rare bird in the northern hemisphere and when they are seen it is usually at a distance at sea, this one is very tempting.

I arrived at around 6.15pm and it was a very pleasant evening with plenty of common sea-birds on view (thousands in fact!)

At first there was no sign of the BBA so it was just a case of enjoying the scenery and the sounds of thousands of seabirds flying in an out of their cliff side perches. It’s quite a spectacle.

Rumours of the bird being sat on the water a long way out gave some hope and it was’t long before it was sighted-the tiniest of dots on the sea. It seemed quite content and I thought it was going to stay on the sea until it got dark, however it took flight and made its way towards us.

It headed inshore and snaked in and out of view as it went behind cliff headlands.

There was a running commentary as it got closer and it was quite exciting. It carried on past Staple Newk and continued towards us eventually going underneath the cliffs and out of view.

It circled round and came back into the bay and after 10 minutes or so took up its favourite position on the cliff in readiness to roost.

Not quite the views some have had but very nice all the same. Great to have seen a Black Browed Albatross off the east Yorkshire Coast.

I went again this morning but unfortunately theer was no sign (it had been seen before I arrived. Somewhat surreal having to use the overflow car park at 6.30 in the morning!

I spent the morning photographing puffins which was a absolute delight.

Spring Arrives at Last at Spurn

May 16, 2021

There have been a few decent birds around East Yorkshire of late and I could easily have gone somewhere else other than Spurn today.

Quite often on leaving the house I think shall I go left or right and the thought comes back every time-put your faith in Spurn.

Today was no exception and with news of a purple heron yesterday there was an extra draw. It was quite overcast, misty and murky and a completely uneventful drive through saw me arrive at about 6.15.

I thought I’d check Twitter to establish the whereabouts of the purple heron and sure enough it had been flushed from Sykes field and was on canal scrape.

I chose to try from the canal banking and it was nice to take in the early morning sounds of linnets, reed warblers, sedge warblers and a distant reeling grasshopper warbler.

After a while my attention was distracted by the news of a summer plumaged pomarine skua over the humber. By the time I found it, it was resting on the water a very long way out.

Given that the heron was not showing, I set off for the breach-I thought that if the skua was to take flight it would head out to sea over the breach.

Eventually it did just that but unfortunately for me it was on the south side and never came remotely close.

News that the purple heron had taken flight crackled over the radio and I managed a distant view as it headed west to Sammy’s Point.

I thought I would head back to the canal and here was a nice scene with cygnets and their parents enjoying some early morning sun.

A sedge warbler posed nicely as dis a couple of swallows, then news of a golden oriole heading south along the canal banking came over the airwaves. Immediately I looked across and there it was-for all of about 4 seconds. I managed to rattle off a few shots as it carried on.

Things were hotting up!

I thought I would try Sammy’s Point and on the way news of a Temmincks Stint on KIlnsea Wetlands came over the radio-I was there within minutes to see the stint on an island near the gate. Quite distant but very nice to see.

I went out to Sammy’s Point and the only bird of note was a cuckoo.

Back to the wetlands for slightly better views of the stint, then a fleeting glimpse of a hobby as it headed south.

I finished the morning with a rather dapper yellow wagtail on Easington Straight.

So ended an excellent morning, my faith in Spurn been truly re-paid with a very memorable session.

An Excellent Day at Spurn

May 02, 2021

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.

Whooper Swan & Oystercatcher-Kilnsea Wetlands

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Summer Seabirds

Spring Arrives at Last at Spurn

An Excellent Day at Spurn