Stormy Seawatch And Greenland Beauties....The Spurn Area,05.11.2016.

With a full day to myself and the prospect of an icy northerly blast,i headed over to Spurn to join the other regulars at the sea watch hut to see what the sea would reveal.
 I decided to stand outside of the hide,instead of being restricted inside the hide and settled myself in the lee of the wind on the southern side of the hide.
 Occasional showers didn't bother me at all,as i was pretty sheltered and i began to scan to see what was on the move.
 First highlights went to a north bound Purple Sandpiper with a small flock of Dunlin and a steadily moving Adult Med Gull,which moved it's way south past the breach.
 It wasn't long before the first of the expected Pomarine Skuas flew south and the final count totalled at least 11 birds this included 1 mixed flock of both Poms And Bonxie,a great sight to see and a good chance to compare size and build of both species.
 The next highlight was a pretty good one for me personally,as i saw my latest Sooty Shearwater fly south,the first time i have recorded this Southern Hemisphere breeding species in November.
 The final goodie seen,was a single female type Long-tailed Duck which followed the Skuas and the Med Gull south.
 Other species observed included Guillemot,Kittiwake,100+ Common Scoter and a Short-eared Owl which came to land just south of the breach.
 As the sea went quiet,i decided to go for a wander and spent a short while at the Warren gate watching waders on the dropping tide.This included great views of some lovely species which included 100's of Knot and smaller numbers of the stunning Grey Plovers and Bar-tailed Godwits.
 I then spent half an hour watching from Canal Scrape hide and managed to take some nice images of the resident Little Grebe and also a mixed flock of Wigeon and Mallards,the Wigeon showing particularly closely.After enjoying my fill of photographing the species on the Scrape,i then decided to drive over to Easington to see the Greenland Whitefront family which were still residing on the stubble field on the outskirts of the village.
 On arrival,they were on the other side of the field,but i spent at least an hour and a half watching them and they came quite close and allowed me a great chance to study this relatively rare species,these being in fact only the second time i have seen this often mooted full species.
 The adult was very distinctive with it's longer,orange pale tipped bill,darker upperparts and more mottled plumage with the belly barring extending just onto the undertail coverts when compared to the european race 'Albifrons'.The juveniles were equally as striking with their buffy edged coverts,orange bills with fine dark tips and bright orange legs and feet.
 I managed to take some fairly decent record shots of this cracking goose family and it was very instructive to enjoy such good views of them and was a great end to the day.

 On the way home,the lovely sight of at least 500 Pink-footed Geese heading for the Humber at dusk was a just fantastic.

Drake Wigeon,Canal Scrape.

Female Wigeon,Canal Scrape.

Little Grebe,Canal Scrape.

Little Grebe,Canal Scrape.

Little Grebe,Canal Scrape.

Greenland White-fronted Geese,Easington.

Greenland White-fronted Geese,Easington.

Greenland White-fronted Geese,Easington.

Greenland White-fronted Geese,Easington.