Spurn......Easter Visits,Saturday 15th & Monday 17th April 2017.

I hadn't planned to make two visits to this birding mecca over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend,but as so often happens,this fantastic site supplied some excellent birding and rarities to boot,so how could i resist.
 The following is a summary of what i saw over the two days visits.

Saturday 15th April.

Today i walked a large portion of the recording area covering Beacon Lane,Beacon Ponds,Easington straight,Peter Lane,Sammy's Point and back to Numpties for the remainder of my visit.
 I managed to see some great birds and added Grasshopper Warbler and Whimbrel to the ever growing year list.The former was singing in a Oil Seed Rape field along Easington straight and the latter in a roosting flock of Curlew over the high tide off the Warren gate.The Grasshopper Warbler,was apparently,the first record of the year for the recording area.
 Other highlights included 4 Wheatear,a female Stonechat and a U turning Red Kite from Numpties Watchpoint,as well as an escapee Harris Hawk which put on a great show and all three races of Brent Geese on the Humber nearby.The singles of Black Brant and Pale-bellied Brent showed nicely and gave a great comparison amongst their commoner Dark-bellied cousins.
 Non bird sightings included a very confiding Buck Roe Deer and several Brown Hares.
 On the way home i popped in to pick up my 2016 Spurn Bird Report from Kew,words cannot describe how fantastic this report is and it just goes from strength to strength.A big well done to all involved in the production and design of this bumper addition.

Monday 17th April.

After the unbelievable events on Easter Sunday when another! Iberian Chiffchaff was expertly found by Tim Jones and the male Western Subalpine Warbler from earlier in the week was refound,i made the decision to travel over again in the hope that both were still present.
 Unfortunately the Ibe Chiff was nowhere to be found after a good search by a few of us,but thankfully the male Subalp put on a great show,despite being a bit flighty.
 This lovely little Sylvia with his salmon pink underparts,red throat,white moustachials and pastel blue mantle gave some great views and sang his little head off on occasion,with much calling also.What a great little bird and a real privilege to see.
 Other sightings today included the Pale-bellied Brent from Saturday,a female Red-breasted Merganser on the Humber and 5 Whimbrel off the Warren. 

So another couple of great visits to this brilliant site and i look forward to many more in the near future.

Buck Roe Deer,Near To Beacon Ponds.

Buck Roe Deer,Near To Beacon Ponds.

Kilnsea Wetlands.

Big Skies Along Easington Straight.

Black Brant,Off The Warren.

Escapee Harris Hawk,The Warren.

The Best Bird Report Money Can Buy!.

Male Western Subalpine Warbler,Canal Bushes.

Male Western Subalpine Warbler,Canal Bushes.

A Trio Of Whimbrel Off The Warren.