Summertime at Kilnsea Wetlands

July 18, 2021

Normally Kilnsea Wetlands are better known for the waders and wildfowl in Autumn and Winter but it is rapidly becoming an all year site. With yesterday’s fantastic numbers of Sandwich Terns along with 4 spoonbills, 1 great white egret little gulls common terns and the summer breeding little terns proving beyond doubt that there is some great birding to be had even in the traditionally quiet month of July.

I arrived at just after 6 and the sun was well up (sun rises are just too hard at this time of year!). The first thing I noticed since my last visit was the amount of noise-mainly from young Sandwich terns that had been brought by their parents from breeding grounds further north. At first the parents were bringing very small fish but as the sun rose (an potentially the temperature increased) they were bringing back large sandeels which no doubt made for a substantial meal. A quick scan on to Beacon Ponds had me viewing a distant great white egret which soon came very close and was not deterred by my presence one bit.

Back on to the wetlands and the little gull numbers were starting to build. These diminutive gulls are at their best in mid-summer with a sooty black head and bright red feet. As the end of the month approaches, their black heads get increasingly faded and disappear altogether as we get closer to autumn.

Another look on to Beacon Ponds produced the rather spectacular sight of around 40 little terns taking flight to see off a kestrel as to flew too close to the breeding area.

Someones dog was clearly out of control as it splashed around at the edge of the lagoon, perilously close to the breeding area-thankfully it appeared that no lasting harm was done.

One last look at Kilnsea Wetlands resulted in a nice fly-by from a pair of common terns and spoonbill numbers increased to 4 albeit they remained distant.

By 10am the sun was up, the heat was increasing as was the heat haze.

Time to go.

Another fantastic visit to the Uk’s premier wildlife watching site.

Sandwich Tern with young and Black-Headed Gulls

Summer Seabirds

July 10, 2021

Using the combination of two tried and tested scientific theories (one being who dares wins and the other being third time lucky), I had a trip up to Bempton earlier this week to see if I could see the Black-Browed Albatross.

Some of the photos and accounts have been stunning and to think that this is a rare bird in the northern hemisphere and when they are seen it is usually at a distance at sea, this one is very tempting.

I arrived at around 6.15pm and it was a very pleasant evening with plenty of common sea-birds on view (thousands in fact!)

At first there was no sign of the BBA so it was just a case of enjoying the scenery and the sounds of thousands of seabirds flying in an out of their cliff side perches. It’s quite a spectacle.

Rumours of the bird being sat on the water a long way out gave some hope and it was’t long before it was sighted-the tiniest of dots on the sea. It seemed quite content and I thought it was going to stay on the sea until it got dark, however it took flight and made its way towards us.

It headed inshore and snaked in and out of view as it went behind cliff headlands.

There was a running commentary as it got closer and it was quite exciting. It carried on past Staple Newk and continued towards us eventually going underneath the cliffs and out of view.

It circled round and came back into the bay and after 10 minutes or so took up its favourite position on the cliff in readiness to roost.

Not quite the views some have had but very nice all the same. Great to have seen a Black Browed Albatross off the east Yorkshire Coast.

I went again this morning but unfortunately theer was no sign (it had been seen before I arrived. Somewhat surreal having to use the overflow car park at 6.30 in the morning!

I spent the morning photographing puffins which was a absolute delight.

Spring Arrives at Last at Spurn

May 16, 2021

There have been a few decent birds around East Yorkshire of late and I could easily have gone somewhere else other than Spurn today.

Quite often on leaving the house I think shall I go left or right and the thought comes back every time-put your faith in Spurn.

Today was no exception and with news of a purple heron yesterday there was an extra draw. It was quite overcast, misty and murky and a completely uneventful drive through saw me arrive at about 6.15.

I thought I’d check Twitter to establish the whereabouts of the purple heron and sure enough it had been flushed from Sykes field and was on canal scrape.

I chose to try from the canal banking and it was nice to take in the early morning sounds of linnets, reed warblers, sedge warblers and a distant reeling grasshopper warbler.

After a while my attention was distracted by the news of a summer plumaged pomarine skua over the humber. By the time I found it, it was resting on the water a very long way out.

Given that the heron was not showing, I set off for the breach-I thought that if the skua was to take flight it would head out to sea over the breach.

Eventually it did just that but unfortunately for me it was on the south side and never came remotely close.

News that the purple heron had taken flight crackled over the radio and I managed a distant view as it headed west to Sammy’s Point.

I thought I would head back to the canal and here was a nice scene with cygnets and their parents enjoying some early morning sun.

A sedge warbler posed nicely as dis a couple of swallows, then news of a golden oriole heading south along the canal banking came over the airwaves. Immediately I looked across and there it was-for all of about 4 seconds. I managed to rattle off a few shots as it carried on.

Things were hotting up!

I thought I would try Sammy’s Point and on the way news of a Temmincks Stint on KIlnsea Wetlands came over the radio-I was there within minutes to see the stint on an island near the gate. Quite distant but very nice to see.

I went out to Sammy’s Point and the only bird of note was a cuckoo.

Back to the wetlands for slightly better views of the stint, then a fleeting glimpse of a hobby as it headed south.

I finished the morning with a rather dapper yellow wagtail on Easington Straight.

So ended an excellent morning, my faith in Spurn been truly re-paid with a very memorable session.