In contrast to my week guiding there in mid-October (see here), the winds and weather systems were never going to provide the spectacle of large-scale arrivals from the continent - westerlies / south-westerlies and accompanying low pressure and weather fronts throughout were the theme this time.
By no means the end of the world, however - with much to enjoy in the Kilnsea / Spurn area as always, and a reliably stunning ace up the sleeve just a few minutes along the river....
Of passerines in the Kilnsea area, highlights included two superb Shorelarks, Twite, Snow Bunting, Siberian Chiffchaffs, Black Redstart, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, lots of Redpolls, Siskins, Fieldfares, Redwings, Chaffinches, Blackbirds and other late autumn staples; on the sea, we'd Little Auk, Long-tailed Duck, Great Northern Diver, Common Scoters and more;
Flocks of Knot and Golden Plover (above), Hen Harriers (below)
... while the waders at the Warren and the Breach were fabulous, both for close-up views and the spectacle of massive murmurations.
Siberian Chiffchaff, Redwing
Which would all have been enough, but with the newly created and increasingly productive habitat of the Outstrays - extensive brackish marsh, mudflats and grassland stretching from Patrington Haven in the west to Skeffling in the east - it was a real joy to throw this new and consistently entertaining hotspot into the mix.
Starling, Wigeon
Just a ten-minute drive from Kilnsea, the Outstrays played a starring role in the week's birding adventures, and I visited the area several times with different groups to soak up the avian bonanza on offer there.
Little Egret, Lesser Redpolls
The sheer spectacle of tens of thousands of swirling, murmurating waders - mostly Golden Plovers and Knot, with huge, shimmering flocks of both - were more than enough to make any birding day, and it's the kind of place you can comforting spend a full day at this time of year; as well as the waders, we enjoyed Glossy Ibises, flocks of finches, pipits, buntings and thrushes, Great and (many) Little Egrets and much more.
(Another) Siberian Chiffchaff, Redwing arriving in off the sea at the breach
But rivalling (and arguably surpassing) the shorebird show here were the birds of prey. There was barely a moment when there wasn't something hunting around us, and the roll call included Peregrines, Merlin, multiple Marsh Harriers and Short-eared Owls, and most impressively, Hen Harriers - two sparkling males illuminated the skies above the marsh on various occasions, and - along with all the above - left my teams more than happy with the minor north-westbound diversion.
Another great week - back next year, and you can reserve your places here!
Hen Harrier, Brent Geese
Common Scoters at sea
