Spurn in Spring

I had my first proper trip to Spurn of the year today.
A beautiful Spring day with hardly any wind and mild temperature.
I started at sammy's Point, straight away adding willow warbler, swallow and wheatear to the year list.
I had my radio with me and it was rather quiet on the airwaves apart from a few common migrants, so I stayed longer than I normally would mainly targetting the wheatear.
I had my lunch at the Crown and Anchor car park and was rewarded with a pair of blackcaps, then on to canal scrape.
At first glance not much doing then I noticed a rather pale looking pipit on the other bank, a quick look with the scope and it was clear it was a water pipit with that one of the regulars popped in and put it out on the radio.Within minutes the hide was full everyone wanting a glimpse.
It then became clear that this was only the 16th water pipit ever recorded at Spurn.
I had no idea that it ws such a significant bird, and I felt quite chuffed.
Also from canal scrape was a couple of flyover buzzards, a scandinavian rock pipit, a couple of immaculate yellow wagtails and lots of chiff chaffs feding in the reeds.
All in all a very pleasant day.

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North Yorks Trip

I had a trip up to North Yorkshire at the weekend and had quite varying amounts of luck.
first stop was Holbeck for the mediterranean gulls, I got there before 7 and waited half an hour after putting bread out.
No sign but there were 3 herons flying over south bay and a pair of stonechat on the bushes.
Moved on to Forge valley, the sun was still behind the hill when I got there but there was plenty of activity from the common woodland birds there.I also a pair of mandarin ducks flying over.
Once the sun did come out the photographic opportunities were fantastic and I stayed longer than the time I had anticipated.
Then on to Wykeham Forest looking for crossbills, by now I was running out of time so I had a drive round but didn't see any sign.
On the way back I called in at Tophill Low and managed some decent views of the bittern and 3 woodcock near the visitor centre.
Hopefully some summer migrants around next weekend.