14th October 2020 - Spurn (Day 2 of 6)

Started the morning by hearing Redwings and having a Woodcock fly over our accommodation in Easington around 06:45. We set off to the The Warren in high hopes and on route came across a Barn Owl hunting over Syke’s Field. Upon arrival at The Warren it was clear that there were birds around although mainly comprising of Redwing and Fieldfare. We walked back north along the cliff where we saw a Great Northern Diver and c30 Wigeon head south over the sea. Calling in at the Canal Scrape hide didn’t produce much other than four flyover Mute Swans (three adults and a juv). Heading along The Canal we found Blackcap, Grey Wagtail passed overhead and a Water Rail was heard squealing from the reedbeds. 

Mute Swans, Kilnsea, East Yorkshire

Upon arrival at Cliff Farm we found a smart Yellow-Browed Warbler flitting around with Goldcrests in the trees. We moved into the Crown & Anchor car park where we found little other than another Blackcap and a couple of Chiffchaffs flitting around in the trees. The field behind the pub was alive with Fieldfares, Redwings and Blackbirds although nothing scarcer could be found with them. We picked up a tweet whilst in the car park that there was another Yellow-Browed Warbler at Pancho’s Pond, a brief look failed to produce the goods. A rain shower passed through and we took shelter under the bird observatory cycle shed. Once the rain had cleared we headed into Church Field where again we enjoyed the thrushes behind the Crown & Anchor. After Church Field we headed into the Churchyard where there were a few Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff, it seemed likely that the crests had dropped in after the shower. 

Moving onto Syke’s Field we found two Yellowhammers, a few Tree Sparrows, a Blackcap, a Redstart and more Goldcrests. From here we headed up Beacon Lane and was alerted to a PALLAS’S WARBLER at Chalk Bank. We chose to ignore the news and finish our circuit but it was agreed amongst the three of us we would go and look once back at The Warren. Between Beacon Lane and The Warren we didn’t see much although a Short-eared Owl flew South and headed over The Humber. 

Redwing, Kilnsea, East Yorkshire

We set off down the point and arrived at Chalk Bank with no sign of the PALLAS’S WARBLER despite several others looking. There were plenty of Goldcrests and Mum flushed a Woodcock from the dunes. A heavy shower passed through and we took shelter in the hide. A message came through to say the PALLAS’S WARBLER has been re-found at Middle Camp. We waited for the rain to pass and headed up there. Upon arrival there was plenty of birders looking and at one point the bird was surrounded, it took flight and headed south again back down the point, I obtained poor views, very unsatisfactory. It was then once again relocated where I saw it briefly perched and then the bird went to ground and wasn’t seen again, a very frustrating experience. Whilst standing on the dunes the radio went off to say ‘RADDE’S WARBLER trapped and ringed in Church Field, it will be shown at 13:00’. There was no way we would make it so it's one that got away. We arrived back at the car and quickly called into Church Field but there was no sign after the bird had been released. We headed back to our accommodation in Easington for some food. The afternoon was spent looking around Easington (Terminal Wood and south along the cliff) best birds seen was a Redstart and two Bullfinches in Terminal Wood whilst the rest of the walk produced more of the same classic east coast migrants (Redwing, Fieldfare and Goldcrests) we had  seen earlier in the day.