YCN Wildlife & Birding Trips - October 2025

Sun 2nd Nov, 2025

October is a month we all look forward to. As it’s one of the key months for bird migration we try to pack in as many birding trips as possible. In this busy period, we completed ten Spurn Migration Days, one five-day Spurn Birding Holiday, two Flamborough Migration Days, three Humber Estuary Days, two Goshawk Safaris and two Black Grouse Safaris. In total we enjoyed 19 one day small group trips, sharing our expertise with 105 guests.

Siberian Stonechat - Bempton October 2025 © Mark Pearson

Yellow-browed Warbler - Flamborough Headland October 2025 © Mark Pearson

On the 1st and 2nd October Mark led two beautifully timed Flamborough Migration Specials. A fall of migrants at the end of September meant our guests enjoyed some great sightings. Amongst the scarcities such as Siberian Stonechat, Yellow-browed Warbler and Barred Warbler were some very memorable encounters with our more common migrant birds.

One of the most memorable involved Mark finding a tiny Goldcrest on the edge of a vertical sea cliff at Bempton RSPB reserve. You can read more about this encounter in Mark’s blog CLICK HERE.

A few days later on the 6th October Johnny Mac led one of his Black Grouse Safaris. A fine start to the day involved great views of 20 Black Grouse and a nearby White-throated Dipper. After lunch John took his guests to Nosterfield Nature Reserve where a Eurasian Bittern was found by the group. Black Grouse and Bittern on the same day was a real treat for everyone.

Next up I led a Tailor-Made Goshawk Safari introducing one keen birder to wonderful views of two juvenile Northern Goshawks fighting with each other, one of which couldn’t resist taking on a nearby Common Buzzard. Songbird migration was underway with large numbers of Chaffinches and one Brambling feasting on the local Beech mast.

Johnny Mac led the next Goshawk Safari on the 11th. His group enjoyed good views of two adult Goshawks but the thousands of migrating Pink-footed Geese over the forest almost stole the show. September and early October is a fantastic time for Pink-footed Goose migration. Many of these birds were heading for the Humber estuary where autumn counts upwards of 40,000 have been made in recent years.

Short-eared Owl - Humber Estuary October 2025 © Richard Baines

This was a busy week for our trips, next up were three Estuary Birding Days based near the village of Patrington only 20 minutes from Spurn.

Hen Harrier (male) - Humber Estuary October 2025 © Richard Baines

Margaret Boyd and I led these trips and we both were thrilled with the birding. A great total of five Glossy Ibis, four Short-eared Owls, seven Marsh Harriers, two Merlin, two Peregrine and two male Hen Harriers spread across the three days.

Marsh Harrier (male) - Humber Estuary October 2025 © Richard Baines

Our guests didn’t know which way to turn as the raptors performed over the marshes flanked by 10,000 Red Knot and 5,000 European Golden Plover over the estuary. With good timing we managed to consistently get into position for the high tide wader murmurations on every trip.  

Red Knot over the Humber Estuary October 2025 © Richard Baines

The great thing about being only a short distance from the coast meant we could also watch migrant songbirds moving inland. Alongside the waders and raptors, we enjoyed flocks of migrating Redwings and Fieldfares.

Fieldfare - Flamborough Headland October 2025 © Mark Pearson

In the hedges and grasslands were lots of Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings and on the edge of the saltmarsh Rock Pipits and Meadow Pipits feeding on the plentiful supply of natural seed and invertebrates.

Two of the last three weeks of the month were spent at the wonderful Spurn National Nature Reserve and Bird Observatory. Sixty guests spread over ten Spurn Migration Days and one five-day holiday group with five guests based in Kilnsea reaped many great birding rewards.  

South-west and westerly winds had been dominating the weather for the previous two weeks but on Monday the 13th (Marks first guiding day of that week) everything changed. North-west and light northerlies replaced the south-westerly airflow and the migration tap was turned on. The biggest arrivals occurred on the Monday and Friday. 12 Yellow-browed Warblers arrived on the 13th along with the first real autumn arrival of thrushes. But Friday was the big thrush day when 12,194 Redwings, 5,512 Fieldfares and 10 Ring Ouzels were counted by Spurn Bird Observatory staff and volunteers.

By the end of the week our guests had enjoyed Ring Ouzels, Woodcocks, Great Egrets, Peregrines, Spotted Redshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Yellow-browed Warblers, Jack Snipe, Bramblings, Short-eared Owl, Twite, Hawfinch, Great Northern Diver and Whooper Swans on migration.

The last week of October found Mark and I back at Spurn for another week of guiding. We really enjoy slow birding. The chance to really drink in the experience and share our detailed knowledge without rushing around the county chasing rare birds. Spurn and Humber are great places for this type of experience.

With not a sniff of any easterly or northerly airstreams we expected the week to be quiet for bird migration. But this was Spurn where every day is different and migration is always happening.

The Humber Estuary Sunset at Outstrays October 2025 © Richard Baines

The week started with some visible songbird migration. Good number of finches stole the show with lots of Lesser Redpolls, Eurasian Siskins, European Chaffinches, European Goldfinches and Twite moving south. Six Merlin sightings on the 27th was remarkable including two sightings of two birds close together.

Black-tailed Godwit, Red Knot & Dunlin with Spurn Lighthouse in the background - Humber Estuary October 2025 © Richard Baines

We then combined Spurn with Outstrays a few miles further west on the Humber to take in a wider variety of birds.

By the end of the week my five-day guests had seen or heard exactly 101 species; a really good tally considering the lack of classic fall conditions. Highlights for both groups included: great views of two Shorelarks and a Siberian Chiffchaff, up to four Glossy ibis, Velvet Scoters, two male Hen Harriers, lots of Marsh Harrier action, two very close Short-eared Owls and a Barn Owl.

Siberian Chiffchaff - Spurn October 2025 © Richard Baines

But it was the huge numbers of waders on the estuary which once again wowed our guests. Watching a Peregrine chasing thousands of waders over a wild landscape takes some beating!

Peregrine chasing Black-tailed Godwits - Humber Estuary October 2025© Richard Baines

One of our many five star reviews this month on Google:

My day out on the estuary with Yorkshire Coast Nature was truly remarkable and memorable on many levels. Firstly, to be out in nature at these magnificent locations for the day is worth every penny, then to see such incredible wildlife, I was blown away by what we saw! But then to have Richard Baines as our guide who is so generous and patient with his vast knowledge, it was a real privilege. An unforgettable day and I’ll be back! Kate Mars

Mark & Richard having a fabulous time leading our Yorkshire Coast Nature Birding Groups.

A fantastic month full of exciting wildlife encounters from the forests of North Yorkshire, to the coast at Spurn and Flamborough, and in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Richard Baines

YCN Director and Wildlife Guide