Spurn - Raddes, Yellow Browed Warbler and our own Firecrest!

I went with my Dad for what is becoming an anual pilgrimage to the birding mecca that is Spurn Point. We arrived full of hope and were not sure how things would work out, but as it turned out the birding was spot on. We started at the Blue Bell Cafe and car park. As soon as we pulled in a group of birders were watching a tree. As I got my boots on Dad went to see what they were upto...our first good bird of the day insued, a Yellow Browed Warbler. This bird would prove a real pain for many during our frequent returns to the car, as two Goldcrests shared the same tree (but more of that later). It's amazing how you can confuse a Goldcrest and a Yellow Browed when you are desperate to see the later! We stopped and admired the tiny gem for a good length of time before getting ourself ready for a walk. As we did a birder came running into the car park telling all that the Raddes Warbler, found the day before, had been relocated on Sammies Point. We dicided then to walk from the car park to the Crown and Anchor pub before deciding whether or not to walk upto Sammies. So we set off to find our own birds. After finding little and arriving at the Crown and Anchor pub we started the 2 mile walk to Sammies point, seeing Alba Wagtail (White) and a single Wheatear on the way.

Wheatear taken with a Sony Erricson K750i camera phone, shot through my Opticron Bin's It was easy to locate the Raddes as a large group of birders were assembled around a group of small bushes. We joined the bunch and asked of the Raddes wearabouts. At which point the Raddes decided to fly to the smallest clump of trees I have ever seen. The bush was about 10inch thick and offered no cover. At which point some dumb photographer decided that his zoom lense was to small and decended on the bush (and bird). At the same time an old dear in her 90's decided to blind side the Raddes. Well you can hardly blame the bird for buggering off! Fortunately it didn't fly far and we managed to get goods veiws within the half hour. It ended up with the bird playing cat and mouse with 40 birders in hot pursuit, and at one point Dad ending up 4 feet from the Raddes! We decided, after seeing the Raddes that enough was enough and to leave the Raddes and it's admirers alone. We made our way back to the car and drove onto Spurn Point stopping by the narrows for lunch (soup and sandwichs). We scanned the waders on the shore and got a couple of pictures of a Brent Goose and Knot with the camera phone and through the scope.

Brent Goose taken with a Sony Erricson K750i camera phone, shot through my Kowa TSN1 scope

Knot taken with a Sony Erricson K750i camera phone, shot through my Kowa TSN1 scope Dad pickup a large rapter flying at the waders and immediately called out 'Peregrine'. We had excellant views of the impressive predator hunting along the shore line, then rising up and away towards the Lincolnshire coast line. I was determined to find our own 'good' bird in the afternoon and set our sights on the area of Spurn point known as the Chalk bank area. We spent the next couple of hours scanning every bush and where rewarded in kind with a stunning little Firecrest. Our bird of the day as we found it ourselfs, and what a cracking little bird! We went back up to the Blue Bell cafe for one more look around and take a look at the Yellow Browed again. I am glad we did as the funnest moment of the day was watching 20 birders all tell each other that they could see the Yellow Browed, when in fact the Yellow Browed had quite simply decided to 'hide' round the back of the tree, the stunning little bird they could see was in actual fact one of the two resident Goldcrests. Mass hallucination is so funny! So that was it, it was time to go home after a great days birding. Three great birds and great company. what more could you ask for...apart from to return soon.