Yorkshire – Spurn Point – 25th September 2009

This was our first visit to this site therefore our only familiarity was from books and previous site reports, but, for those who have not been, it is a very narrow peninsula on the north side of the Humber estuary stretching out in the North Sea. Driving up to the light house on the Humber mud/sand flats we saw hundreds of waders and gulls including Knot, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Redshank. As the tide moved out these birds frequently took flight in large formations blackening the sky. We eventually parked as close to the lighthouse as permitted and walked "the point" which includes a trapping area. Here a Lapland Bunting perched in easy view on top of the trap, where we also saw a few Reed Buntings, Meadow Pipits and a number of Dunnocks. Life bird count: 389 Year bird count: 240 Month bird count: 79

Suffolk – Landguard – 19th September 2009

As mentioned before, this is a great site to visit at this time of year with migrant ticking in mind. However, on this visit I have to prove the point with a "dip", in that a Greenish Warbler had played a blinder and disappeared during the Friday night. During a 4 hour visit on Saturday morning I did however see 10+ Wheatear, 10+ Meadow Pipits, 50+ Swallows, 2 Pied Flycatchers, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. Plus a number of the more common residents including a large flock of Starlings that proved to be very obliging photo subjects. Life bird count: 389 Year bird count: 239 Month bird count: 71

Norfolk – Cley– 5th September 2009

Looking at the calendar, its sea watching time again and as per last year we decided to get out early to the beach at Cley. On arrival there was already quite a gathering and talk of a few sightings, in our two hour stay we had Fulmars close in, Sandwich Terns continually fishing, four Great Skuas and a distance they half filled the scope and two Arctic Skuas at about the same. Also going past were Scoter, Teal, Oystercatcher and Turnstone. Not a fantastic species list, but nice to see birds closer in. We then took the opportunity to visit the reserve and queued for short glimpse of the Ortolan Bunting. Then on the scrapes we had very good views of 6 Spoonbills as they were dodging cattle moving around in the water. Also in the scrapes was a Curlew Sandpiper, White Wagtail, numerous Black-tailed Godwits, Ruff and Dunlin. Life bird count: 389 Year bird count: 239 Month bird count: 59

Suffolk - Landguard - 30th August 2009

This is a good time of year to be visiting this site right on the entrance to Felixstowe dock and renowned for migrants making a day stop over’s. Unfortunately our visit there was spoilt by high winds, forcing any birds present to be taking cover in the low lying bushes.

We only saw Meadow Pipit and Wheatear in any number plus a single Willow Warbler. Not the best day but undoubtedly a situation that will change day by day as the autumn passes through. Life bird count: 389 Year bird count: 233 Month bird count: 71