A Weekend To Remember

Martin Standley September 29, 2024

Well the 24 hours between friday teatime and Saturday teatime will live in the memory for a long time.

I had planned to go to Spurn on Friday night but seeing as the long staying hoopoe on Bransholme was still there, I called in.

It was probably the easiest bird I’ve ever had the pleasure of photographing, I parked up, took my camera out of the car and began photographing the bird. It was as easy as that.

It was nice evening sunlight and I got down low to capture just the profile of the bird, some Autumn leaves added extra colour.

I made my way to Spurn and after a wander around at dusk, I settled in for the night. I was hoping that there might have been some activity over the sea on Saturday morning but it was surprisingly quiet.

I missed an early hawfinch and a barred warbler refused to come out of its elderberry bush and I was beginning to think it would be one of those days.

I had a drive up to Welwick and whilst it was very quiet, I was blessed with some cracking views of the pallid harrier-it caught me completely off guard as it seemed to appear out of nowhere, so only one half decent photo.

I could still pick up a radio signal at Welwick and news came out of a probably greenish warbler near the discovery centre. By the time I had got back to the car this was confirmed as an arctic warbler.

Initially it showed very well but then becamme elusive. News of the pallid harrier moving to Kilnsea wetlands had me heading down there, it jad been blogging around for some time giving some great views but for me the light was all wrong so again no decent photos.

I figured it would work its way back up the Humber so headed back to Welwick.

I saw a flock of birds rise up in the distance and they were disturbed not by the pallid but by a cracking male hen harrier!

It came towards me giving some great views and disappeared very soon after-whet a bird.

News came out again of the pallid harrier showing well again at Kilnsea Welands. There was only about an hour of light left so I hurredly headed back. I was looking for a crowd of people on the bank top but there was no sign I still headed out and no sooner as I got there, the pallid flew past me not more than 20m away!

It perched up on a post for a good 5 minutes allowing some great views. After a while it took off, looped round then headed back over Kilnsea Wetlands. I was buzzing!

It was a good learning day for me-I was caught off guard a couple of times and I could easily have headed home after being out all day, a classic case of who dares wins!

Autumn Magic at Spurn

Martin Standley September 22, 2024

This was one of those weekends that you hope for at Spurn. Promising winds during the week and one or two good birds around. Then on Saturday, most birds had stuck around but with the bonus of lovely warm sunshine and light winds-perfect for photography.

I had a look near the bearch to start with, it was a massive tide with hardly any land left!

Not much happening overvthe sea or on the Humber so I made my way back towards the bushes.

The first decent bird was a firecrest, it must have just arrived because it seemed to be flying around looking for some decent cover and lept returning to its favoured hawthorn bush. Only fleeting views but ended up with better views later in the afternoon.

Next up was a yellow-browed warbler which showed reasonably well near Pallas’s pond along with a few common migrants.

The red-breasted flycatcher that was around the discovery centre bushes the day before continued its stay often calling and perching out in the open briefly before carrying on its mad search for food.

A barred warbler was called out near Chapel Cottage but there was no sign in the short time I was there.

As you might expect on a Saturday in late September, it was packed with people and there seemeed to be a constant procession of people enjoying the birds in the warm sunshine.

I had a spot of lunch then went up to Easington for a bit of peace and quiet. I certainly found it as I only saw 2 people in the 2 hours I was there! It was quite quiet for migrants but after a tip off from one of the birders I saw he gave me good directions to a very showy yellow-browed warbler. At times it came ridiculously close oblivious to my presence as it followed its incessant instinct to feed after its journey across the north sea.

I headed back towards Spurn late afternoon and thankfully the crowds had died down, so I went back for the red-breasted flycatcher which continued to put on a great show.

the day ended with some nice views of the firecrest which was (at times) feeding more openly in the afternoon sunshine.

Only a day visit for me but a full day out with the camera, in lovely warm sunshine and a few nice birds at the UK’s premier nature watching venue-what’s not to like?

R.S.P.B. Skua & Shearwater Cruise

Martin Standley September 15, 2024

Its been a few years since I went out of Bridlington on board the Yorkshire belle on one of the R.S.P.B.’s Skua and Shearwater cruises.

I must admit I wasn’t expecting it to be spectacular as the winds werent really right and there wasnt much reported from the seawatchers at flamborough the day before.

Anyhow I was on the quayside bright and early and a few birds were about, turnstone and redshank in the harbour, kittiwake on the pier ledge and the odd sandwich tern calling.

9.30 arrived and we set sail. It wasnt long before the first bird was shouted out-a rather unexpected peregirne falcon given we were half a mile out, but vey nice all the same.

Next up was a red-throated diver and a couple of shags then the first decent bird of the trip-a manx shearwater heading south.

Next was an arctic skua mobbing small gulls and terns which was quite spectacular.

The volunteers started ‘chumming’-throwing a combination of pieces. for fish and bread over the side to attract common gulls in the hope of them in turn attracting something more interesting.

There was a nice mix of gullemots, razorbills and a few puffins and it wasnt long before we were joined by some groups of gannets. Another arctic skua and more terns and small gulls including some adult and juvenile little gulls.

The next good bird was a great skua or bonxie as they are commonly known. This one did a few circuits around the boat then settled on the sea giving some nice views.

It wenet quiet after a while and we were left with the group of large gulls following the chum line, these included at least 3 caspian gulls as well as a mediterranean gull and a yellow-legged gull.

All too quicky it was time to head back to the harbour.

A thoroughly enjoyable morning and well worth the trip.

Thanks to the crew of the Yorkshire Belle and all of the R.S.P.B volunteers in doing a sterling job of looking out for the birds then providing a detailled commentary so that everyone could get on the birds.

I’m already looking forward to my next trip.

A Weekend To Remember

Autumn Magic at Spurn

R.S.P.B. Skua & Shearwater Cruise

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