I had a couple of nights at the caravan over the weekend. Both nights couldnt have been any more different in terms of weather.
I arrived at Spurn mid afternoon on Friday in very warm temperatures and the hike for the long staying red-necked phalarope only added to the heat factor.
it was feeding at the southern end of Easington Lagoon on the abundance of flies on the surface of the water. I stayed with it until the light faded and made my way back-thankfully the temperature had dropped making the walk back slightly more pleasant.
I’d heard on the grapevine that a humpback wahle was showing off the borrow pit so hastened my pace back to the car. Unfortunately there was no sign when I got there so I made my way back to the caravan.
I set up the moth trap and just before I settled for tea, news of the humpback whale came over the airwaves. By now it was nearly dark so I grabbed my kit and hurried back to the borrow pit. There was a group of observers at the top of the cliff and all eyes were on the sea.
As I arrived the whale was blowing and then for the next half hour it was swirling around, breaching and blowing before finally heading off back north-what an experience that was. My first humpback whale ever in close view off the East yorkshire coast.
I went back to the caravan and switched on the moth trap.
It soon becam apparrent that there were hundreds of insects flying of all kinds. This provide a feeding frenzy for the bats and I counted at least nine flitting around overhead-another great spectacle.
Saturday morning dawned bright and still. I headed back to the cliff top to look for the whale but there was no sign so I made my way along the beach to the Warren.
I was struck by the amount of birds passing overhead-mainly meadow pipits interspersed with siskins, swallows and a host of other birds all heading south.
The sea was flat caml and there was a wonderful stillness about it all.
A spoonbill was the highlight of a short stop at the watchpoint.
The moth trap was surprisingly quiet for migrant species, however there were 3 shore wainscot-scare in Yorkshire and a new moth for me.
I had a wander back up to see the red-necked phalarope in the afternoon. It was quite dull so not so good for photography.
rain soon follwed and that was that for the day.
the evening started very still and I contemplated putting the moth trap put, however right on cue gale force winds swept in from the north and blew all night with torrential rain thron in for good measure.
Sunday morning was a completely different affair, added layers of clothing was required as the temperature had plummeted by at least 10 degrees!
I spent the whole moring on the beach at the breach which gave me good views over both the sea and the Humber.
The windy conditions made for great photo opportunities and whilst there wasn’t as much activity over the sea as I hoped, there was enough action from common gulls, waders and wildfowl over the sea, the local sparrowhawk and a marsh harrier heading south as well as a couple of great skuas.
A couple of rainbows added further interest.
All in all another fantastic weekend at the UK’s premier wildlife watching venue-there’s nowhere else like it.
