Sunshine Scrub and Spurn Point

With the lockdown restrictions lifted a week ago a trip to the East coast was planned with the Ticklers unfortunatly Stuart was away seeing the Grandkids in Telford so he was missing. I got picked up at 6am with Bacon Sausage and Black pudding sarnies in hand and away we were. A quick mcdonalds stop for coffee at Goole and we carried on our way.

The banter was good in the car talking bout various things from Past trips and a great choice of music brought some great dance moves from Ryan. We arrived at Spurn at 7.45 and as we stepped out of the car Ryan picked up a bird calling which landed infront of us which was a Common sandpiper a first of the year for me so a good start and was soon followed by a Whitethroat which was another first for me this year. We got packed up with food and drink and set off for the long walk down to the point.

It wasnt long before Ryans Radio was soon coming into action and reports of a Common Redpoll trapped and rung wasnt good news as we were just over the breach and it would have been a lifer for Paddy. As we carried on it wasnt long before we saw our first good bird a Snow Bunting which had been there for a few days and Paddy Martin got this great picture.

As we continued we found there were quite a good number of Linnets flying around which was nice to see and we heard and saw our first Willow Warbler which is a nice sound and sight to see. We were checking all the bushes and fields on the way down which had Meadow Pipits Linnets the odd Chiffchaff Brent geese were feeding on the Humber which is always a great sight to see. We decided to stop after a while to have a rest and a drink and food and scan the Humber which produced Curlew 3 Whimbrel and A Bar Tailed Godwit which was feeding in the mud when Paddy found 7 Sanderling feeding and Ryan picked up 2 Ringed Plovers in flight.

After a short while we decided to carry on and reports of a Ring Ouzel came through at the point behind the houses on the parade ground as we got down to the Lighthouse we heard another Whitethroat which we soon saw and then a Male Blackcap popped out briefly and we carried on when Ryan picked up picked up a Siskin in call which flew overhead a nice bird to get. After arriving at the point we headed for the Parade Ground and stood near the VTS tower and we had been talking about the call of the Ring Ouzel and right on cue we heard it Chacking away and we got some great views of the male and also 2 Wheatear on the deck too feeding away was great to see Ryan got some great pics and heres his shot of the Wheatear and a couple of dodgy ones of mine

We decided to walk round the point to the Green Beacon and we had just set off from the VTS tower when we heard the Cettis Warbler which is a great bird for Spurn as the Habitat doesnt warrant that many records i believe and then myself and Ryan heard a Grasshopper Warbler for about 4 seconds reeling which is its call which sounds like a Fishermens reel when you wind it in. We reached the Green Beacon and sat on the bench there for lunch and refreshments.

Another Whitethroat and the Cettis was still calling away whilst we were eating lunch. After lunch we decided to make our way back towards the Warren so we set off back walking through the scrub when a pale warbler popped out and back in so we stopped to see what it was and whilst waiting for it Ryan and Paddy sorted out my scopepac which wasnt fitted correctly since ive had it about 2 years so thanks guys and we got some good views of the warbler and we concluded it was a Northern looking Willow warbler which is paler than our regular ones i believe.

Whilst walking round the point we came across some great art work which Paddy just had to show you im sure you will all appreciate this as its definatly a great piece.

On our way back up to the Warren the Snow Bunting was showing very well which was lovely to see we noticed a few dog walkers which i always thought werent allowed but thats another blog on its own.

We reached the Breach and could see the tide was coming in but boy the Breach is hard work especially on the way back so we trudged on and got back to the car and decided to move onto Kilnsea Wetlands a nice area with water and grass and mud so a bit of everything for the birds we went here via the Crown and Anchor pub so Ryan could book a table for a couple of weeks time as he is coming with his family for the weekend.

We pulled up in the Car park and i recognised a car in there already it was Andrew Connor and his mum who were there for the day so after a brief chat we decided to start watching the birds on show here . The first bird we saw was a splendid male Cuckoo a bird most people hear but dont see and Ryans picture is a beauty and the Heat Haze was bad so his picture is really good

This bird was on show for about 15 mins other birds here were Whooper Swan Blacktailed Godwit Redshank Yellow Wagtail Oystercatcher Shelduck and some more Brent Geese. The wind started to pick up so we decided to head home it was 15:35 so we decided to call it a day we saw 57 Species of birds which was good it was really good to see the guys again but wished Stuart could have been there with us but hopefully next time so a good day was had by all so stay safe and happy birding

Justin