On our arrival on Tuesday there were still seven good birds hanging around from the previous week - Slavonian Grebe, a Barred Warbler, a Rose-coloured Starling, an Olive-backed Pipit, a Red-backed Shrike, a few Bearded Tits and an Arctic Warbler. We made a point of going for the Bearded Tits and Barred Warbler first as they were the nearest to the Obs. After a slow walk down the canal I heard the Beardies pinging and two birds appeared briefly flying along the reed tops before disappearing into the reedbed. A few minutes later and two birds popped up and flew back north, but they had come from a different spot to where we saw the first pair drop in, so we waited and sure enough five minutes later another two came out and flew past us in the same direction as the first two. Great to see them and a nice Spurn tick for me and a lifer to start Rob's week off. We dipped on the Barred Warbler
We then tried the churchyard for the Arctic Warbler, also without success, so after lunch we decided to go for the Starling.
The Starling was frequenting a garden in a group of bungalows. Not a very 'birdy' location but it was supposedly quite an easy bird to see, and it was. After only a couple of minutes it showed really well for a good ten minutes perching in bushes and on the roof of the adjacent bungalow.
Rose-coloured Starling
Unfortunately it wasn't a black and pink adult, but still a nice bird and another lifer for Rob. From here we went to the Olive-backed Pipit (or OBP) site. We had to walk along Vicars Lane and the site of last years Siberian Accentor, which brought back some brilliant memories, especially as it was almost 12 months to the day since its appearance.
Our search for the OBP proved fruitless, as did all subsequent attempts. A pity as it would have been yet another lifer for Rob. Still two lifers in a day isn't bad going.
The wind on day two (Wednesday) was a strong 20mph+ South Westerly and most things were just hunkered down. We started the day in the hide at Kilnsea Wetlands where we had great views of good numbers of waders, including a few Little Stints. Sadly we couldn't find the Spotted Redshank or Curlew Sandpiper - both lifers for Rob, but he did get the Slavonian Grebe that was hanging around. We didn't stay long as there was some interesting 'hide etiquette' on show, Some people are just plain rude.
From here we went to see the Red-Backed Shrike. It was showing really well, perched on top of a bush along the hedgerow.
Phoneskoped Red-backed Shrike
Then, it was off to see if we could nail down the Arctic Warbler which we did after a bit of chasing between the churchyard and the Crown and Anchor car park (yet another lifer for Rob). Trying to photograph this little cracker was a challenge with my limited gear - the photo below is about as good as it got. Don't think I'll ever make a wildlife photographer.
Arctic Warbler (if you can find it)
Thursday was a day for a bit of 'Vis-Migging' and between 08:00 and 11:00 over 1800 Goldfinches were counted going south, along with a couple of hundred Skylarks, good numbers of Redpolls, plus a few Siskins, Greenfinches etc etc. Sadly, not much else was around so we spent the rest of the day having another look at the Arctic Warbler and chasing a Pied Flycatcher!
Vis-Migging at Numpties!
On the way to the pub on Thursday evening the sunset was stunning. As per usual, I had left my main camera with its wide angle lens in the car so I had to make do with an iPhone picture, which I think does the sunset justice.
Sunset across the Humber Estuary
Although the birding was a little bit 'slow' the 'Observatory Experience' is about so much more than just the birds - although birds are obviously a very important bit! The characters you get to meet are so varied and interesting that there's always someone to talk to who has a story to tell, or who is doing something unusual. This time I had the fortune to meet Bob Pyefinch - a name I recognised but couldn't place until we chatted for a while when I realised he was the co-author of the Atlas of Breeding Birds in Lancashire and North Merseyside, a book that I have used a lot over the years. Another 'Obs' guest was a birder called Ross. It turned out he was the finder of the Eyebrowed Thrush in the North East last autumn, an experience that encouraged him to become a birder. Another birder I've met a few times before but had not really spoken to, turned out to be an expert entomologist and we had a good chat about carabid beetles, and then on the last day I met Tiffany, a nature writer who was doing a bit of research and brainstorming. Sounds like her new book is going to be very interesting. Really interesting people with great stories. Well worth the fee for staying over.
