On Sunday, I led the York Birding trip to the East Coast. Eight
of us had a lovely morning in brisk northeasterly winds at Spurn,
followed by a gentle, sunny walk at North Cave Wetlands in the afternoon.
The
fresh winds had all but stopped migration, with very few passerines
around, besides a handsome male Greenland Wheatear at Sammy's Point, and
over ten Whimbrels scattered across the wider site. The large flock of
Brent Geese that dropped in to Beacon Ponds as we arrived, held the
wintering Black Brant which took a bit of picking out, as the flock
bobbed in the rough water mostly facing away from us. Waders along the
rising tide included a single Knot among large numbers of northbound Bar-tailed
Godwits and Oystercatchers. Several Yellow Wagtails in the paddocks by
Sammy's Point car park held a pale, grey-headed female, which looked
good for a Blue-headed.
Early afternoon, we began our journey
west, calling in at the busy North Cave Wetlands for a change of
scenery and birdlife. The skies were filled with hirundines,
interspersed with scything Swifts. We soon picked out five pairs of
Mediterranean Gulls among the throngs of Black-headeds, Common Terns and
Avocets on the islands. Four noisy Whimbrels circled, whistling
excitedly, before dropping on to a spit to rest and bathe and giving
great views.
A Tawny Owl was roosting in a barn, whilst a Cuckoo gave
itself up on a distant tree. Little Ringed Plovers and a Common
Sandpiper fed along the shingly shores of the islands and an unexpected
Raven cronked overhead. Plenty of butterflies were seen in sunny,
sheltered corners today, including Wall, Orange-tip, Painted Ladies and
Red Admirals.
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