Focus on... Spurn
06 Sep 2016
Lying at the northern tip of the Humber estuary in East Yorkshire, Spurn Point acts as a natural 'funnel' for birds migrating along the east coast of England. The network of hedgerows and scrub around Spurn act as refuelling spot for birds en route further south or having arrived fresh from across the North Sea.
This potential for witnessing bird migration has long been recognised and a bird observatory has been in place since the late 1930s. For a first time visitor, the hedgerows and gardens around the 'Triangle' are a good area to start searching for migrants, and 'Numpties' is good for watching visible migration in action. If it is a quiet day for grounded migrants, spend some time soaking up the wader spectacle on the Humber mudflats as the tide rises, then check the Kilnsea Wetlands over high tide itself. Notable recent rarities have included Masked Shrike and Blackpoll Warbler, so there is always a chance of finding something out of the ordinary!
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