Saturday 10th October turned-out to be a typical “Spurn Day”, but we had to wait until the afternoon before the birds got interesting. We decided to walk out to the point first of all, a glorious morning and a seven mile slog there and back for a spooked Roe Deer, a Red Admiral, a stunning little Firecrest and a pair of Stonechat. There had been Olive-backed Pipit and Richard’s Pipit early on, but these seemed to have disappeared when we finally arrived at the point area mid-morning. Food and drink was called for when we got back to the car and so a visit to the Crown and Anchor was in order. Finally birds started to show themselves and we were soon looking at a cracking male Black Redstart and a Richard’s Pipit that had been rather elusive, finally giving itself up in the late afternoon. A few Goldcrest and several Chiffchaff were also seen around the area. By this time it was late afternoon and time to pay a visit to Sammy’s Point before heading off home. Just as we were about to leave, all hell broke loose as an American Golden Plover had been found at Kilnsea Wetlands. Parking up and walking out to the Wetlands, we were soon watching a superb juvenile American Golden Plover.
After a short time viewing, the bird took off with a large flock of mixed waders, then disappeared out over the estuary. What only seemed to be a few minutes later, a group of waders returned and suddenly there appeared to be two American Golden Plovers back on the wetlands. The original bird, plus another! The new bird took some sorting out as it appeared to be at the opposite end of the variation within the species. Looking slightly larger and more Grey Plover like in it’s appearance.It was a difficult bird to call with any confidence, especially in the light conditions and being distant. What we all needed was to see the underwing and until it raised it wings during a preening session and showed the greyish axillaries, it was finally sorted as another AGP. This is what I call a “Spurn Day”, you never know what will turn up. Disappointingly I wasn’t able to get a record shot of the American Goldies.
Black Redstart – male – near Westmere Farm, Spurn area – Tony Davison©
Stonechat – male – Spurn Point area – Tony Davison©
Richard’s Pipit – really poor record shot of this distant bird – Westmere Farm, Spurn area – Tony Davison©
– Spurn Point area – Tony Davison©
Spurn Groynes – Above three images – Fantastic structures along the beach heading towards the point – Tony Davison©
