An organised meet up with Tim today visiting the fantastic Spurn area,resulted in a top class,but knackering day out.The following is what we encountered during the day with a few photos and video clips.
We started by parking near the canal and after getting the kit together we began the long walk down the peninsula to the point.
The walk down was pretty good to be fair,with plenty of migrants to keep it interesting,including a Jack Snipe flushed from the shore near to Chalk Bank,several Redstart,Chiffchaffs,Willow Warbler,Redwings,Song Thrushes,a couple of Wheatear,Peregrine,Common Sandpiper and a Short-eared Owl.
We spent a good while in between the showers covering the point area with 10+ Redstart,2 Whinchat,a pair of Stonechat,25 Chiffchaff,a female/immature Black Redstart near to the Pilots jetty,a single Ring Ouzel which gave some superb views and the best of the bunch a cracking Bluethroat which,with patience gave some nice,close views as it skulked in amonst the Marram and bushes on the Humber side of the point.This is the first one i have seen since the singing male White-spotted bird i found on my local birding patch at East Halton on 3rd April 2018.
The walk back towards the car,was a bit knackering to be fair in the now hot sun,but it had been all worth it.
A few additional sightings on the way back included a couple more Wheatear,a Stonechat,Chiffies and more Redstart sightings.
After we eventually reached the car,a quick change of clothes and footwear and we were off once again to go and visit the Red-flanked Bluetail at Cliffe Farm.
On arrival we saw this stunningly beautiful little bird straight away and at close range,hopping around on the grass in front of the house,what a lovely little species they are,with their big eyes,pale eye ring,white throat patch and orange flanks and obviously that cobalt blue tail.It was getting some unwanted attention from a male Redstart,which constantly chased it around,but still i managed to get the best views of this species i have had to date,what a cracker!.
Also in and around the garden,were 4+ Redstart,a lovely juvenile Spotted Flycatcher,several Goldcrest including one very tired looking individual and a few Chiffchaffs,what a garden!.
After getting our fill of the Bluetail,we wandered back to the car and then drove up to Easington in an attempt to see the elusive Bonelli's Warbler,which we unfortunately didn't see.
A few species here included a few Brambling and a Garden Warbler which gave some really nice views and more Chiffchaffs.
A few personal totals of migrants seen today included 53 Chiffchaff,24 Redstart,2 Willow Warbler,7 Wheatear,34 Brambling and 40 plus Song Thrush.The most Redstarts I've seen in a day for a long time and also 7 species of Chat in a day is also a personal first.
A brilliant day out today at this superb site for witnessing rare birds and bird migration.
Female Redstart,At The Point.
No comments:
Post a Comment