The Magic of Spurn Migfest

Sun 9th Aug, 2026

Birds and wildlife are best shared with friends, both old and new. Spurn Migfest run by Spurn Bird Observatory Trust is community and nature conservation at its best!

I have been involved in this event as a birder, volunteer, part of the community and as part of my Yorkshire Coast Nature professional work since the first Migfest in 2013 and every year I get just as excited as I did at that first event. Held on the second weekend of September it’s the first event written in my diary every year.

Meeting up with friends old and new in the Crown & Anchor pub Migfest 2018

I cherish many wonderful birding memories such as sharing amazing views of a Wryneck feeding on insects on a thistle near the beach on the 9th September 2016 whilst just up the road, only a few hundred meters from the event a Long-billed Dowitcher was found by British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) staff.

Wryneck at Spurn Migfest 9 September 2017 © Richard Baines

On the 8th September 2024 just as everyone started to pack up on the last afternoon, a European Honey Buzzard flew over Kilnsea church in full view of everyone at the marquee. Seeing rare birds from event fields is great but watching a juvenile Pallid Harrier fly past the pub window with a beer in my hand is about as good as it gets!

Watching the Honey Buzzard - Migfest 8 September 2024

The first venue for the festival was originally Westmere Farm in Kilnsea, in later years as the event grew in popularity and needed more space, a move to the large grassland fields east of Spurn Bird Observatory was a big success. Despite a few more punters with over 300 tickets sold at each event the magic has never diminished. This continued success is down to the amazing hard work of volunteers and staff from Spurn Bird Observatory, the British Trust for Ornithology and many more.

The only disadvantage of working at our Yorkshire Coast Nature stall in the marquee is I don’t get to attend many of the large number of free walks, talks and bird ringing demos and in recent years an opportunity to attend a great range of speciality workshops.

Waders, waders and more waders! leading our Waders for beginners walk at Migfest

This year’s event is held over the weekend of 11th – 13th September kicking off at 6.45pm on the Friday and ending late Sunday afternoon. There is a huge events programme with something for everyone and not just birds. Join me and Linda Jenkinson leading our annual Wader Identification for Beginners free walks at 8.30am on the Saturday and 9am on the Sunday and come and say hello at our Yorkshire Coast Nature stand in the main marquee.

Linda Jenkinson (third from the left) and I starting our Wader ID walk at Migfest 2017

Spurn Migfest is a great place to learn from a large group of friendly experts.

To find out more and grab the last few tickets CLICK HERE

Richard Baines