Saturday weather
Warm and sunny, intermittent light clouds. circa 20°c, light easterly winds.
RSPB Blacktoft Sands
This was the first of a two day trip in the van to the east coast, to take advantage of a free weekend. Having missed the Albatross on a previous visit to RSPB Bempton Cliffs earlier in the year, that was to be the main target of the weekend, with a trip down the coast to Spurn on Sunday before returning home should the Albatross oblige on Saturday. As it was only a 30 minute detour, I also decided to call in to RSPB Blacktoft Sands en-route where the White-tailed Lapwing was extending its stay.
This was my first visit to Blacktoft sands and a with many RSPB reserves, it looks a top-notch place. On arrival I was directed to the hide where the lapwing could be seen, and within a few minutes it emerged from behind an island and I observed it along with the full-hide of observers. A bonus from one of the hides at the western side of the reserve was a Bluethroat, which again was easily seen from the hide. A pair of Marsh Harriers were on view intermittently and a nice selection of waders and wildfowl was also present.
Highlights:
- White-tailed Lapwing
- Bluethroat
- Spotted Redshank
- Green Sandpiper
- Ruff
- Marsh Harrier
- Red Kite (seen on route – M62)
RSPB Bempton Cliffs
Arrived Bempton around 13:30 and had some lunch before heading for the cliffs. The strategy was simple. Head for Staple Newk and wait for the Albatross to show, no matter how long it took. On arrival at the viewpoint was informed bt the RSPB warden that it was sitting below us, out-of-view but could be seen from further along the cliff-edge where a group of observers was watching from. Walked further along the cliff to look back at Staple Newk and within a minute I was looking at the Albatross. It all seemed a bit too easy, but was none the less exhilarating to see a bird I’ve longed to see, and half-expected never to see without a trip to the southern-hemisphere.
Unlike my last visit, the Albatross put on a great display, flying out from the cliffs and circling close by, flying out to sea for a bathe and returning to the cliffs. A wonderful couple of hours.
As it’s now September most of the auks had now departed but there were a few Razorbills still evident on the sea, and plenty of adult and immature gannets giving superb close views. This must be one of the best places anywhere to see gannets.
Highlights
- Black-browed Albatross
- Gannet
- Fulmar
- Razorbill
Easington Bank, Humber estuary
After an hour and a half drive from Bempton, arrived at Easington Bank where I was overnighting. On arrival, another birder informed me of a juvenile Dotterel in the Golden Plover flock in an adjacent field. However, despite a good half-hour of scrutiny, it did not show itself.
As dusk arrived four Short-eared Owls appeared over the rough Paddock area to the east of the parking area. Great views although the light was fading quickly.
Sunday weather
Cool and bright initially with an light easterly, circa 16°c Heavy rain arrived from the west (despite the low level easterly) between 13:00 and 14:00.
Easington Bank, Humber estuary
Overnight plugged in the nocmig recorder with the microphone on the roof of the van. Got some great calls of geese and waders for reference, including a Common Sandpiper which was added to the trip list as heard only as I didn’t see another one during the weekend.
Left the van just after dawn. The high tide was starting to fall and waders were arriving back on the mud giving close views. The Golden Plover flock had moved back onto the estuary and was scrutinised again for the Dotterel, without any joy. Singles of Spoonbill, Ringed Plover and Spotted Redshank were joined by greater numbers of Dunlin, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, and Little Egret which gradually moved further out as the tide receded. Two Yellow wagtails called overhead but were not seen before a third called close by and was seen passing low overhead. My first of the year. After an enjoyable couple of hours, returned to the van for breakfast before heading to Spurn.
Spurn
Kilnsea Wetland had a nice mix of ducks and waders including several immaculate Ruff, Pintail, Teal and Wigeon. A Little Owl was perched up on the farm buildings visible when exiting the hide.
From a migration point of view Spurn was very quiet. No chats of any species seen at all for example. A thirty minute sea-watch from the Bluebell car park resulted in a steady passage of ducks and terns. Most of the terns were Common but there were several Arctic too of the ones that could be identified with any certainty. A flock of 12 common scoter passed south along with several flocks of teal and wigeon.
Cycled to Spurn Point, which involved pushing the bike for about 500m on sand across the breach which wasn’t pleasant but significantly reduced the time taken to get to the point. Like the rest of Spurn the point was quiet and the best I could do with the half-hour I was there was 3 Cetti’s Warblers and 20+ grounded Meadow Pipits.
On the return back on the bike the heavy rain started, and by the time I got back to the van I was soaked through. But within 5 minutes of being back in the van I was in a dry change of clothes and drinking a brew. #vanlife.
The rain looked set in and it was now after two. The forecast was for the rain to continue and while it was tempting to stay to see what the turned up after the rain stopped, that could have been a while so I headed for home.
Species List
- Black-browed Albatross
- Gannet
- Fulmar
- Razorbill
- White-tailed Lapwing
- Bluethroat
- Dark-bellied Brent Goose
- Greylag Goose
- Redshank
- Spotted Redshank
- Green Sandpiper
- Common Sandpiper (not seen but picked up on the nocmig recording from the van roof)
- Bar-tailed Godwit
- Curlew
- Ringed Plover
- Dunlin
- Knot
- Oystercatcher
- Ruff
- Golden Plover
- Wigeon
- Teal
- Shelduck
- Pintail
- Mallard
- Shoveler
- Mute Swan
- Common Scoter
- Eider
- Cormorant
- Moorhen
- Coot
- Spoonbill
- Grey Heron
- Little Egret
- Common Tern
- Arctic Tern
- Great black-backed Gull
- Herring Gull
- Black-headed Gull
- Common Gull
- Mediterranean Gull
- Marsh Harrier
- Red Kite
- Buzzard
- Kestrel
- Sparrowhawk
- Short-eared Owl
- Little Owl
- Linnet
- Goldfinch
- Chaffinch
- Reed Bunting
- Tree Sparrow
- House Sparrow
- Jackdaw
- Woodpigeon
- Meadow Pipt
- Cetti’s Warbler
- Yellow Wagtail
- Pied Wagtail
- Robin
- Wren
- Jackdaw
- Carrion Crow
- Magpie
Other wildlife
- Grey Seal
- Stoat
- Roe deer
- Common Darter
- Speckled Wood
- Large White