Spurn October 2014

This was my first visit to Spurn.  The trip was organised last minute as the weather on the Fylde was forecast to be bad but better on the east coast.  Sadly the wind picked up and was so strong it was hard to hold your bins steady to your face.  There were a couple of Great Grey Shrikes kicking about and a  Rough-legged Buzzard reported but we weren't lucky enough to see them (nor were many other birders from what I gathered).  The trip wasn't wasted as we saw some cracking birds including Twite, Brambling, Redstart, Dark-bellied Brent Goose and Marsh Harrier.  Bird of the day was Short-eared Owl hunting just meters away from us and we also saw our first Redwing of the Autumn.

Peel, Scarlet Point, Douglas Head

We saw a Brent Goose in Peel Bay in the morning.  We moved down south to Scarlet Point and surrounding area hoping for some Geese but nothing.  A Wheatear popped up and there was a soliitary Black-tailed Godwit kicking about and the ever present Shag.  We moved on the Douglas Head and saw a few Gannet offshore and cracking view of a Raven (with camera to hand - sods law).  Quiet day all in all.

Isle of Man - April 2014 - Day 2

Peel Harbour

We started the day with a trip to Peel Harbour / Marina where I'd read that Black Guillemot put in a regular appearance.  They didn't prove difficult to find and I managed a count of 17.

The Neb

From the harbour we walked inland following the Neb river.  We found a pair of Grey Wagtails and a Barnacle Goose at the mouth.  We hoped for Kingfisher as the habitat looked ideal (and my mum had said she sees them there regularly) but no success this time.  As we walked inland the river flowed faster and quite a few large rocks projected.  We hoped for Dipper but no joy.  I've been told that some species are completely devoid from the Island (GS Woodpeckers and Bullfinch) so maybe Dipper is one too?  Or maybe I was just unlucky.  The usual garden birds were present and we caught our first views of Hooded Crow in the adjacent fields.

Peel Hill

We retraced our steps back along the river and ventured up Peel Hill.  Here we had great views from the coast with sightings of Gannet, Guillemot, Chough and a solitary White Wagtail.

  

Peel Castle

A walk around Peel Castle brought close views of Rock Pipit, Eider, Shag and plenty of House Sparrow.

Douglas Head

We then travelled 15 miles east to Douglas on the opposite coast.  We drove to Marine Drive and managed good views of:  Shag, Kestrel, Chough, Raven, Fulmar and Hooded Crow.  The coastal colony of Fulmar were being pestered by four Ravens and a Sparrowhawk.

Derby Haven

We moved on to Derby Haven in the South East of the the Island and saw 59 Brent Goose (WB) and 2 Barnacle.  There were still a few Wigeon hanging about too.