Quiet but pleasant day at Spurn

It's been a while since I last did any bloggage! I had another exam a couple of days ago so the weeks leading up to that were spend cramming my brain with as much knowledge about evolution (the subject of the module I had been studying) as I could. Now that's out of the way I am very much enjoying being able to relax for a bit before I start studying my next module (oceanography!) towards the end of this month. Only that and one other module, my final project, to go then I will have finished the whole degree by this time next year, EXCITEMENT!!!!! It will have taken in total just under 6 years, I am going to feel pretty pleased with myself when the end finally comes :oD

In less exciting news (to me at least) my thumb affliction is no better - for a while it really seemed to be improving but then for some reason it got worse again. So I am still unable to recommence my daily drawing/painting, grump. Looks like I am probably going to have to head back to the doctors and get that steroid injection.

Anyway, last Sunday I decided to join the West Midland Bird Club's trip to Spurn Point, as my revision had been going well so I could afford to take a day off (well most of the day - I did take a bunch of revision notes to read on the coach). Most of the rarities of the previous few weeks had cleared off, although apparently there was a Richard's Pipit knocking around somewhere - however we didn't fancy our chances with that skulker! As our time there was limited instead we headed off to see whatever we might find. As soon as we got off the coach we saw a few Swallows, and Linnets in the hedgerows. Soon we were enjoying waders galore in the estuary - Ringed Plover, Knot, Turnstone, Golden Plover, Redshank, Curlew, Sanderling, Oystercatcher and Dunlin, along with many Shelducks and a few gulls. Closer in, a Red Admiral butterfly fluttered past too.

The Humber estuary.

We decided to stop for lunch sitting on the rock armour overlooking the estuary; just before we sat down we spotted a lovely Wheatear on the rocks a bit further down from us. As we sat eating our lunches quietly watching the Wheatear, it slowly came closer and closer giving us excellent views, before a bunch of overenthusiastic photographers appeared and spooked it away back down the bank. Blah!

Nice spot for a Wheatear.

As usual I was on the lookout for new plants to try and learn, here are a couple:

Couldn't work out what this one was - some member of the daisy family? Suggestions welcome!

Not 100% sure but I think this might be Spear-leaved Orache (Atriplex prostata)?

We continued onwards, taking in Skylarks, Reed Buntings, a Stonechat and looooads of Little Egrets. Although the sea had been quiet when we first arrived, we stopped at the seawatching hide to give it another go and saw a lot more - I spotted Wigeon, Razorbill, Gannet, Red-throated Diver and Common Gull, along with plenty of Grey Seals! As the weather was so nice though everything was far out, and I think I have mentioned previously that I lack patience/skill when it comes to seawatching. I could make out distant skuas and terns, but of what species I could not ascertain!

We walked back along the estuary path again, where by now the tide had come in, bringing the waders much closer - we added Grey Plover, Snipe and Bar-tailed Godwit to our lists, and also Brent Goose and a distant Raven flying down the estuary.

The Humber estuary, now full of water with some Brent Geese.

We bumped into another member of our group who told us he'd seen a Whinchat nearby, so Andy M and I followed his directions to the spot - Whinchat isn't a bird I get to see often and it would be a year tick. Sure enough the Whinchat was exactly where we were told it would be and very fine it looked too in the late afternoon sun.

Although we hadn't really seen anything out of the ordinary, it was nonetheless an enjoyable day in nice weather at Spurn......it had been too long since I last went out birding, and it was just nice to be ourdoors in nature having a break from working/studying/revising. Nature is the best for restoring zen-like calm and happiness if you've been feeling a bit stressed out!