SPURN - 4th January

Still breezy but nice and sunny through the day; a walk along the Humber to just beyond Sammie’s in the morning produced 57 White-fronted Geese (20 juveniles) and 94 Pink-footed Geese in fields north of Sammie’s, a Red Kite which flew north up the river over Sammie’s (probably my first at Spurn!), a Marsh Harrier also going up the Humber and scattered flocks of Brents containing 11 Barnacle Geese and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose.   

A drive to the two sites on the Humber in the afternoon then produced a Merlin at Skeffling while during a pleasant couple of hours at Welwick in the easing wind there were 3 Short-eared Owls showing well, a ringtail Hen Harrier and 6+ Kestrels.   Also of note through the day were the two Long-tailed Tits and a female Blackcap at Kew, the 14 Whooper Swans still and an excellent covey of 13 Grey Partridges at Grange Farm along Easington Straight at dusk.

Red Kite

Marsh Harrier

Hen Harrier at Welwick

Pale-bellied Brent Goose with Barnacles and Dark-bellied Brents