Snipe at Blacktoft Sands, Yorks

Caspian Tern, Spurn

Wow ! This was an unexpected bonus tonight. What a stunner of a bird. The best couple of hours we have ever spent at Spurn. Thank you to the finder of these two today.

Rock Thrush, Spurn

A UK first for us two. Came on the pager at lunchtime and then we had all afternoon at work to wait, keeping all fingers crossed that it would still be there. So drove to Spurn getting behind every 20mph driver in Yorkshire ! Had an emergency stop to do at Cliff Farm when 2 roe deer decided to cross the road at great speed, missing our car by a couple of yards! The rock thrush showed well, but did remain distant. It was flushed by a couple of walkers, oblivious to the 200 people looking through telescopes at them ! But, it returned to the fence line after a few minutes. The weather did turn, with cloud and spots of rain so we thought we would beat a retreat. Just reversing the car out when a mass of birders ran past us shouting 'caspian tern'. What a fabulous evening, it doesn't come much better than that. These two put Karen's UK list now at 337.

Grasshopper Warbler

One of our favourite warblers that refused to come out in the open. Very mobile but very vocal. Our first grasshopper warbler of the year.

Blackcap

A walk around Messingham NR tonight, not alot birdwise and after such a lovely warm day, there was a definate chill again in the air. Fleece, hat and gloves still on ! The highlight was this male blackcap singing his heart out.

Nightingale

Another nightingale from this evenings stroll. I think this is my favourite birdsong of all time !

Western Subalpine Warbler

Gibraltar Point, Lincs. Drove their with fingers crossed that the bird would still be around. We saw it within a minute straight out the hide window! But, talk about mobile and with hundreds of twigs and thorns, photography was certainly not easy. A cracker of a bird taking Karen's UK total to 335.

Nightingale

The most northern nightingales in Britain. 3 males singing their hearts out tonight, with just us two to hear them. Perfect !

Perch

Baikal Teal, Flamborough

Photographs by Steve Routledge

Made a dash to Flamborough after work to see this mega rarity, and it was certainly worth seeing. A right stunner of a bird and a first for us two. Viewing was not easy, especially for us smaller people ! We stayed for about an hour and had a catch up with old mates. Was hoping to go back the following evening but the next morning there was 'no sign'.

Spurn

 Plenty of toads around

 Just one wheatear was on Canal Scrape

 White Wagtail above and Pied Wagtail below

Lots of Goldcrests around while we waited for the Siberian Chiffchaff to appear. No photos of the chiffchaff as it was a very fleeting glimpse.

A lovely day at Spurn with temperatures reaching a staggering 15 degrees. Had a good laugh in excellent company.