July 2014 Bird Sightings Round-up

Tue 5th Aug, 2014

The midsummer lull can often reduce July to an also-ran, but this month provided plenty of action for coastal birders, particularly over the sea. The undisputed highlights were a Fea's-type Petrel about 6km off Easington on 13th and a second calendar year Baltic Gull watched following a fishing boat off Flamborough on 26th, followed soon after by a Caspian Gull (the latter later refound on the beach at Sewerby). Further ‘Casps’ were at Halsham and Long Nab, while a healthy scattering of Yellow-legged Gulls dispersing from the continent totalled up to eight along the coast. 

At the other end of the size scale, the traditional build-up of Little Gulls at Hornsea Mere didn't disappoint, with peaks of 2660 on 19th and 2200 on 26th. In an excellent period for wader passage, the same site hosted an impressive 52 Common Sandpipers on 19th, with 34 at Wykeham South Lake the following day. Scarcer shorebirds included a good scattering of Wood and Curlew Sandpipers, Spotted Redshanks and others, while 256 Black-tailed Godwits past Spurn on 3rd broke the day record there. 

Tern passage kept sea-watchers interested, and although the roving Bridled sadly failed to put in an appearance, Roseates and Littles were well represented towards the month's end. Strong Manx Shearwater movements included 805 past Filey on 19th (with 708 past Long Nab), but scarcer Shearwaters were confined to a single Cory's at Spurn on 19th and the odd early Sooty. 

Skuas have been hard to come by, too – hopefully reflecting a good breeding season further north – with just a few Pomarines and modest numbers of the common species. Blue Fulmars were noted at several watchpoints, while overnight trapping sessions successfully lured European Storm-petrels inshore at Filey, Long Nab, Flamborough and Spurn. 

Scarce wildfowl were exactly that, with just a scattering of Velvet Scoters along the coast and an unseasonal juvenile Goldeneye at Filey Dams, and rarer birds of prey were confined to a flyover Honey-buzzard at Kilnsea on 12th. Spurn was naturally the place for Swift movements, with an epic 9050 through on 4th among several big tallies there. 

Other bits and pieces included Flamborough's Corncrake lingering until 2nd, several Black Redstarts and Quail, a Great White Egret at Hornsea and Crane at Arram and Leven Carrs for several days mid-month, and a couple of Spoonbills in the outer Humber area. 

News of the successful breeding of Marsh Warblers at Spurn was welcome and reflected a great season for both common and scarce terrestrial species this summer. More to follow in next month's summary. 

Mark James Pearson