The coastal hotspots at Spurn and Kilnsea on the East Yorkshire Coast are as good a bet as anywhere to produce migrants during the autumn months. This weekend was no exception, as it was the 5th Migration Festival weekend, so with such a lot of people in the area, birds were bound to be found. On our arrival at Kilnsea, we quickly got to see a very obliging Wryneck, a Black Redstart and a Wheatear. At the Kilnsea wetlands reserve, a couple of juvenile Little Stint, several Curlew Sandpiper, a few Ruff and a Whinchat were all present. Lots of very fresh Red Admiral and a sprinkling of Painted Lady butterflies were on the wing. After a mid-afternoon Bacon Buttie and cup of tea at the Caravan Park Cafe, we decided to head off to Notts to look for a couple of Pectoral Sandpiper. We all knew it would be a big mistake to leave Spurn so early in the day and sure enough, after an hour or so from Spurn, news broke around 4pm of the discovery of a juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher. Not so sure I will be doing that again when I next visit Spurn.. My year list has move on to 219.
Wryneck – Kilnsea, East Yorkshire – above 5 images – Tony Davison© – A very obliging individual that performed on and off at various places around Kilnsea Caravan Park during the morning.
Black Redstart – Kilnsea, East Yorkshire – Tony Davison©
Northern Wheatear – juvenile – above 2 images – Kilnsea, East Yorkshire – Tony Davison©
Swallow – Kilnsea, East Yorkshire – Tony Davison© – Still singing in the autumn sunshine, before heading off on its long journey south.
Starling – Kilnsea, East Yorkshire – Above 2 images – Tony Davison© – Often during the autumn and winter months, our local populations are increased by migrant birds from as far east as Russia.
Red Admiral – Kilnsea, East Yorkshire – Tony Davison© – Lots of very fresh individuals were on the wing in the warm autumn sunshine.
