Spurn 3rd to 6th October

Made our annual 'Leeds Birders' trip to Spurn in October, I decided to go a couple of days early which proved to be a good decision. A Booted Warbler had been found on 1st October and ringed early on 2nd but not seen for the rest of the day, fortunately for me it was re-found on the morning of the 3rd in the field full of sunflowers by Southfield Farm. It was on view when I arrived though towards the middle of the field. It was feeding low down but kept landing on top of the sunflowers then flying a short distance and occasionally flying further. I hung around and eventually it flew directly towards me and landed in the bush a few metres away before moving on to the fence. Great views and my 3rd seen at Spurn.

Booted Warbler

Caught up with Yellow-browed Warblers on Vickers Lane, Easington and in Kilnsea plus a flyover Lapland Bunting over the Wetlands, also Merlin there and a Great White Egret south over the Triangle - was that my first at Spurn?
Friday the 4th produced a 3W Caspian Gull on the Wetlands and I managed 4 Yellow-browed Warblers out of 16 reported in the recording area.

Caspian Gull - 3rd winter 

The 'Leeds Birders' started to arrive in the afternoon before dinner at the Crown & Anchor and a few beers and exchange of news of our families and various birding travels. Mick Cunningham was a late arrival and missed the photo shoot!

In the foreground Roger Barnes (left) and Johnny McLoughlan with behind from L to R Paul Doherty, Vaughan Lister, Martin Quinlan, Me and Richard Hart

Saturday got off to a good start with a Barred Warbler in the bushes opposite Driftwood then Yellow-browed Warbler at the Crown & Anchor followed by 6 Bearded Tits dropping in to Corner Field.

Bearded Tit

A female type Common Redstart in Big Hedge looked interesting with a grey shawl and slight pale wing panel, possibly the eastern race samamisicus?

 

Common Redstart

An 'eastern' type Lesser Whitethroat was in roadside bushes by Sykes Field (5 were seen that day and one definite Siberian trapped). Finally a Snow Bunting showed well on Beacon Lane along with a dozen Redwing and several Brambling along the track.

Snow Bunting

Sunday rained all morning, I sat in the Scrape Hide and was rewarded with a Jack Snipe bobbing in the gloom before heading for home late morning only to hear that a Little Bunting had turned up in the same area after I left and then a Siberian Stonechat by the Crown & Anchor. 
Another great Spurn weekend!

Jack Snipe