Ellis' Birding Blog: Autumn Delights!

This weekend we travelled down to Spurn again, a few people suggested to us that it would just be as good as last weekend so we really couldn't wait.

We set off late morning and with a good couple of species already sighted we had high hopes. As we arrived we first checked the field opposite Westmere Farm for a Richards Pipit which had been present earlier that morning but unfortunately it was no where to be seen but the field was so big it could easily still be present. It wasn't a to good start but then someone told us about a male Black Redstart just across the road so we rushed over and soon enough there it was, sitting on a garden fence, showing really well, a top bird! We also had a chat with Andrew Dove who we have met at Spurn before and he told us about a few bits and pieces at Sammies Point like Yellow Browed Warbler and Ring Ouzel so we were going to have a look there but first we had a little walk across the Point but we didn't see much other than a couple of Reed Buntings.

Black Redstart

We got news of a Yellow Browed Warbler in the Crown and Anchor car park so we had a quick look there but we had no luck other than a Chiffchaff. We then started heading towards Sammies but first we had one last look at the Black Redstart where we had some more nice views but thanks to a few people who were watching it they told us hat the Richards Pipit was showing! We quickly went to the spot and although it took me quite a while to get on the bird I finally got to see it and got some nice views.

Richards Pipit

While we were watching it a Merlin flew over chasing some starlings. After seeing the Pipit we started our drive over to Sammies where on the way we had another Merlin fly over. Once we arrived we met Steve Furber who is someone I know of Twitter, after a while he kindly pointed out a Short Eared Owl to us which was hunting over the paddocks. We spotted a couple of Goldfinch feeding on some thistle which we stayed to photograph for a while.

Goldfinch

Short Eared Owl

On our walk we also had 2 Med Gulls fly over plus near the end we had brief views of a Barn Owl. On the walk back I saw a big bird flying over the Humber I looked through my bins to see that it was a Great Skua! This was a very nice surprise. Just as we were about to leave a Woman told us of an American Golden Plover on Kilnsea so we rushed over. As we were walking people were saying it had flown towards the Humber but then some people were saying its back so we quickly went up to the viewing area. As we arrived Matt Bruce (someone I know off Twitter) said it had flown off but thankfully he was just joking around and it was still present! Matt let me look through his scope and I got to see the bird well! I was talking to a few other birders when someone said there is 2!! So I went to go and have a look at the other but on this one there was much debate on weather it was one or not but from the sounds of it now it sounds like it was one! I thought the day possibly couldn't get any better! A truly incredible and memorable moment! I also got to chat to Jonnie Fisk as well who I have seen many times at Spurn before.