Spurn and East Yorkshire - Autumn 2025 - Part One - Needle-tailed Swift

I arrived at the Kew Villa campsite on the evening of the 22nd September, where I was booked to stay for the first week.  A leisurely stroll turned up a Jack Snipe on Canal Scrape that first evening.  

Next morning, my first 85 Pink-footed Geese of the year were seen heading South, no doubt, on their way to North Norfolk.  2000 Red Knot were amongst the 61 species noted over the course of the day.

A Hawfinch flew over the road outside Kew Villa on the 26th.

Due to the lack of Easterlies, it was a relatively slow start, which remained the case through most of the Autumn, but there were at least some better days to come.  In the meantime, I met the Bird Observatory staff, locals and hard-working volunteers with their energetic approach to the census and habitat management tasks that's required of them.

Spurn is a special place, visited by a large number of birders throughout the Autumn, a number of whom of whom live in the area.  Many have retired to Kilnsea, Easington and other nearby towns.  Amongst them, professional and semi-professional ornithologists.  I try to hide my amateurish and lazy approach to birding, but it's clear I'm not up to the average Spurn birder's high standard.  Ah well, I'll bird in the "shadows" then.

A Dusky Warbler appeared on the 26th September and stayed for 3-4 days.  I managed to glimpse and/or hear it five times over three days, but most of those instances were heard-only.  Nonetheless, it attracted a good number of people to church field.

On the 27th, a quick visit to the new Environment Agency area, the Outstrays near Patrington  produced two distant Glossy Ibis.

On the 29th September, whilst cleaning out my camper van, I missed a White-tailed Eagle flying directly over.  That hurt as I keep on missing this species in England.

I very briefly saw the Barred Warbler, that John Young and Reg had found 30 minutes previously at Sammy's 3rd Paddock on the 30th September.

OCT 2025

During this first few weeks, I connected with some familiar Kent locals including the friendly Frank Cackett who, very sadly, and unexpectedly, passed away a few weeks later.  It was a huge shock.  I'd only started to get to know him a little bit here at Spurn after many years hearing his name and seeing him around the birding hotspots in Kent.  A very sad loss.

On the 2nd October, thanks to Digger the dog, I managed to see, and get a snap of that same Barred Warbler John and Reg had found.  Luckily, the next one, a few weeks later, would prove the complete opposite when it fed openly in a local garden. 

Over the course of the 6th October, 77 Whooper Swans flew over in three flocks including this group of 21 high over the triangle.

On the 8th October, I was mentally preparing to leave Spurn at midday for Flamborough Heaad for a few days.  Something happened that put a stop to that.  A White-throated Needletail had been spotted at Tophill Low and purportedly headed Southeast!  

Birders made their way to the numpties at various speeds, to await what would be a first for Spurn.  And that's where many of us waited for 4-5 hours.  The pleasant weather allowed for a fun and friendly atmosphere as we anticipated a mega fly past.  It didn't show of course.

When the bird reappeared at Bempton late in the day, and was assumed to have roosted, the RSPB announced that the car park would remain open over night for the inevitable twitchers.  I set off in my camper van, arriving to see a Barn Owl quartering, then found a completely empty car park instead of the expected overnight crowds.  

I stuffed my earplugs in, anticipating arrivals throughout the night, and went to sleep, dreaming of missing the bird, not once, but twice.  Sometime after 5am, I was finally disturbed enough by arrivals to wake from the unrestful slumber.  Peering out of the window I was staggered to see a full car park with an RSPB volunteer staff member directing proceedings.  Hundreds of cars full with twitchers had come from all over the nation.

The watchpoints were brimming with of twitchers way before sunrise.  It was a little cold, but nothing too painful.  I attempted humour with strangers as we waited.

After an hour or so with no sign, I got bored standing around like a lemon and went for a longish walk towards Flamborough Head.  Some way past Danes Dyke, I came across two birders at the cliff top.  One of them turned out to be local stalwart Johnny Mac.  He'd seen the swift performing very well at Bartlett Nab the previous evening.   Lucky bugger!

When I returned to Bempton some time later, many were giving up and heading home as hunger set in.  The swift had been a no-show.  I stayed on to explore the area, hoping the bird would return that evening.  After all, I had my home on wheels with me, and no other place to be for the rest of the year.

At around 5.25pm I overheard Will Scott talking about something at Filey.  He sounded excited, so I asked what was there, and he replied it was the White-throated Needletail.  Do we stay and wait, and hope it comes this way, or do we go?  A mini exodus commenced.  I've come this far, so I may as well, right?  

Just after Bempton town I got stuck behind two cars and a very slow tractor behind which I remained until just before Filey!  I thought I was in a comedy movie it was so ill-timed.  Such was the rush to leave that I'd left the glass cover to the sink up, and it was slowly becoming loose.  Items were sliding and falling off behind me.  I wanted to stop, but didn't dare., imaging dipping and breakages for my trouble. The glass lid did finally fall, directly  on to the plastic tap, but thankfully didn't cause any damage, as had happened with my previous van.  

Arriving in a panic at 6pm, it took a minute to locate the bird, even with directions.  The views weren't great but I'd seen it at least.  And the Bempton crew were all there, pleased to see it after a disappointing morning.

As dark fell and the chances of seeing it again seemed low, most of us left, and I went to town to enjoy a celebratory Chinese takeaway.  As I parked up outside the restaurant, I realised that my telescope wasn't in the van, so immediately rushed back to the brig, hoping it was still there.  It wasn't.  I prayed that the Bempton staff had taken it with them.  This scope has been trying to disappear all year, and I'd only just received it back from a service in Austria.

There was one birder still there, and fortunately, he was connected to the local whatsapp groups.  Before long, we had established that it was in the safe hands of the beautiful people from RSPB Bempton.  Johnny Mac helped co-ordinated the return.  Thanks mate!

I don't deserve this scope, but the Chinese tasted great after that drama.

The following day, I returned to Bempton to collect my scope and deposite a box of beer as a thank you.  It didn't seem enough.  I stayed on site for 11 hours, exploring every nook and cranny and had a chat with Alan Davies, one of the most nicest people in birding.  Bird of the day was a Jack Snipe which flew past along the cliff tops!  We were also treated to a score or more of Bottlenose Dolphins that performed well for us as they travelled West. 

 

I stayed around Flamborough/ Filey area until the 13th, searching for migrants, hoping to find another nice warbler, but didn't manage to see very much by East Yorkshire standards, although a Snow Bunting put on a typical show of nonchalance along the paths of Filey Brigg.

There was a thrush arrival on the 13th Oct.  I searched and searched for a Ring Ouzel but came up empty handed, returning to Spurn later that day via Hornsea, where six Scaup had recently taken up residence. 

Part Two here when the rarities finally came to town.