I've still not seen an Eastern Subalpine Warbler

After the split of Subalpine Warblers I reviewed my previous sightings but all were Western or had been left as "species" and not recorded as Eastern or Western. I had seen an Eastern at Landguard but my view of it was so brief I decided at the time not to accept it on my lists so when news came through that one was showing really well at Spurn it grabbed my attention. Unfortunately I had obligations that kept me from travelling until yesterday. The bird had been on site three days and was seen into Saturday evening so I called the Jims and we headed north Sunday morning.

As we passed Kilnsea wetlands car park Jim checked on news of the warbler and noted that a Purple Heron had just flown over the triangle. I could see a Heron approaching so pulled over and sure enough the bird was indeed a Purple Heron and it dropped into the wetlands behind us. As we left the car park it was spooked by other birders and flew over our heads chased by a Grey Heron. It circled and dropped into a ditch giving really good views before being lost to view. We headed out towards the point and stopped at the general area where the warbler had been but sadly our target had moved on. The spurn area has provided good memories for me over the years but I have also dipped Brown Shrike, Collared Flycatcher and now Eastern Subalpine Warbler. 

The Jims picked up a couple of year ticks with Turnstone on the beach and a couple of Great Northern Divers flew through which we picked up at distance with just bins too far out to ID but the obs guys had them scoped as GND. Otherwise the place was very quiet with just a Wren and a very busy pair of Mipits to keep us entertained during our vigil.

Meadow Pipit

The Purp being chased off by the Grey

We decided to move on and as Bempton was our original destination we headed in that direction pulling into the car park at lunchtime just missing ten Beeeaters. Tree Sparrows were active in every bush with lot's of fledglings making themselves heard. We had a brief encounter with the resident Barn Owl who popped out of the nest box for a couple of minutes as we reached the viewing platforms. The reserve was extremely busy but we found some space and enjoyed watching the spectacle of all the sea birds. Thousands of Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars, Kittiwakes and Herring Gulls with a smaller scattering of Puffins. We had a fabulous few hours watching the birds at close range going about their business before leaving for home.

Gannet

Puffin

Razorbill

Razorbills

To break the home run we diverted to see Ospreys at Rutland Water. It was good to see the birds on the nest feeding a youngster as we viewed from the bridge over looking Manton Bay.

The year list slowly edges forward to just 192 and the life list is still missing Eastern Subalpine Warbler and remains at 421.